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Insect-Pathogen Interactions

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Welcome to the Lazzaro Lab at Cornell University

Our research is focused on the evolutionary and functional genetics of insect-pathogen interactions, emphasizing questions such as why individuals vary in susceptibility or resistance to infection, how pathogens react to host immunological state, how immune systems evolve, and how the abiotic environment influences both host defense and pathogen infectivity. We consider host and pathogen as interacting components of a single system that incorporates the full physiology of both participants. Our research combines functional genetic manipulations with inferences drawn from short-term and long-term evolution of natural populations. This gives us an extraordinary power to deconstruct the host-pathogen system from genetic, genomic, and immunological perspectives.

picture of Drosophila melaogaster

Evolutionary and Functional Genetics of Drosophila Immunity

We primarily study bacterial infections in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. By leveraging powerful genetic tools to manipulate both the host and the pathogens, we can interrogate how innate immune systems function in physiological contexts and evaluate how pathogens react to innate immune defenses.

Drosophila is an outstanding biomedical model for innate immune function. Insects regulate their immune systems using the same signaling pathways that vertebrates use to control inflammatory responses, and the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by insects to kill bacteria are functionally equivalent to those produced by humans. In addition, D. melanogaster serves as an immunological model for other insects, including those that vector human disease or damage agricultural crops.

Research
Publications
photo of Drosophila melanogaster being injected with bacteria
Insect Immune System Function

We study how insect immune systems work, and examine how environmental, physiological, and genetic factors affect the quality of immune defense.

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photo of Drosophila melanogaster feeding on a drop of sugar water
Immunity in Physiological Context

Our research tests the impacts of metabolic state, reproductive investment, and other physiological demands on the effectiveness of the immune response.

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image of bacterial cells
Bacterial Anti-Immune Defense

We evaluate bacterial counter-defenses against the host immune response, and how feedback between host and pathogen determines infection outcome. 

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image of the Cecropin gene cluster
Evolution of Insect Immune Systems

We analyze evolutionary patterns in individual genes and at genome scale between species to understand how natural selection shapes insect immune systems.

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Contact Us

Mailing Address:

Department of Entomology
3125 Comstock Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
USA

Contact Dr. Lazzaro

em: bplazzaro@cornell.edu
tel: +1-607-255-3254

Currently Recruiting

Postdoctoral Researchers: Antimicrobial Peptide (AMP) function and evolution
Recruiting experienced scientists with interest in any of the following areas:
  • using Drosophila genetics to examine the role of AMPs in fighting bacterial infection
  • protein biochemistry and manipulation to probe AMP molecular function
  • AMP effects on bacteria, and bacterial responses to AMPs
  • quantitative genetic analysis of AMP allelic variation in D. melanogaster populations
  • molecular evolution and population genetics of Drosophila AMPs 
Join Us
Laboratory manager / technician
This is an entry-level, full time research position although the responsibilities could be scaled for a candidate with more experience. Primary duties will include supervised research on the genetics of Drosophila antibacterial immunity, as well as general lab maintenance and support. Please contact Dr. Lazzaro with any questions.
Join Us
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