We study the evolution of conflict. Host-pathogen interactions are hotspots of genetic conflict and battlefronts for influence over host functions. Infections strongly influence fitness of both pathogens and hosts, which can drive some of the most dramatic adaptations observed in nature. We use host-pathogen interfaces as model systems for studying evolution and are specifically interested in the many cases where pathogens deploy factors that influence essential cellular processes, such as membrane trafficking pathways. We are determining how pathogens impact the regulation and complexity of cell functions, by combining evolutionary analysis and cell biology.
Keywords: Evolutionary genetics, Cell biology, Vaccinia virus, Molecular mimicry, Experimental evolution
Keywords: Evolutionary genetics, Cell biology, Vaccinia virus, Molecular mimicry, Experimental evolution
