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"Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by networking.“

Lynn Margulis

Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Evolution from Our Microbial Ancestors (1986)

News

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Our first attempt at outreach in Krakow - Małopolska Noc Naukowców 2024!

Thanks to Aleksandra Błażejowska, Grzegorz Czelakowski and Karina Kapela for their help!

To get to know our team members - Meet the Team!

Our Research

Drosophila Have Bugs!

Animals are commonly associated with microbial partners interacting with them in intricate ways. Insects in particular commonly host intracellular bacteria capable of provisioning nutrients, manipulating reproduction, or protecting their hosts from pathogens. Intracellular Wolbachia, the most prevalent symbiont of insects and parasitic filarial nematodes, induces reproductive manipulations and antiviral protection in its hosts. These properties make Wolbachia useful in the control of vector-borne diseases, like dengue and Zika. Wolbachia is also a target in filariasis treatment. However, as Wolbachia cannot be cultured outside of host cells or genetically manipulated, the mechanisms of its action remain poorly explored, and this inhibits wider exploitation. We are adressing the mechanism of Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection using whole flies and Drosophila cultured cells. 

There Ain't No Party Like A Mosquito Party

Following up on our work in Drosophila, we are studying Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection in dengue and Zika vector, Aedes aegyptii. We are currently working with a wAlbB-infected colony, but planning to include wMel infected A. aegyptii soon as well.

Temperatureeriffic!

As a follow-up on Chrostek & Martins 2021, we are studying temperature dependence of various microbial symbioses.

Bodo lifestyle

Obligate symbioses are common in nature, and present a particular challenge for genetic analysis.
In many cases, the host is a non-model species with poor tools for genetic manipulation. In the majority of cases, the symbiont cannot be cultured or gene expression manipulated to investigate function.
We are developing tools for analysis of host and symbiont gene function within a Bodo-Bodocedibacter symbiosis through ablating gene expression, to enable functional analysis of host and microbial factors that determine symbiotic capacity.  kinetoplastids.

Let’s Connect

Whether you are interested in joining our team, collaborating, the methods we use or the work we do - we'd love to hear from you!

Institute of Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Biology

Jagiellonian University

Gronostajowa 7

30-387 Krakow 

Poland

 

e.chrostek[at]gmail.com

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