Research

Current Projects

1. Comparative physiology and genomics of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic midges. In a project funded by National Science Foundation, we are investigating the physiological and genomic mechanisms that allow insects to survive the harsh conditions of Antarctica. From this work we hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of the key adaptations required to survive on Earth’s harshest continent. This multinational collaboration includes scientists from the US (University of Kentucky and Ohio State University) and the UK (University of Birmingham and British Antarctic Survey). 

The Antarctic midge, Belgica Antarctica. This species is the only insect endemic to Antarctic and the world’s southernmost insects. We are interested in the midge’s ability to survive in a frozen state for nearly 9 months per year.

2. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of thermal tolerance.​  Temperature variation is one of the greatest challenges faced by insects and other arthropods. In collaboration with researchers from the University of Vermont, Providence College, and Salve Regina University, we are investigating the genetic and epigenetic processes that contribute to thermal plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster. See www.thermofly.org/ for more details. Side projects include identifying the mechanisms of rapid cold hardening and characterizing sublethal consequences of thermal stress in insects. 

Drosophila melanogaster

Model for role of calcium signaling in regulating rapid responses to cold.

3. Overwintering biology of economically important insects.  Detailed information on the overwintering biology of pest and beneficial insects can be used to predict species distributions and design new pest control strategies. Current projects related to these efforts include transcriptional regulation of diapause in corn rootworms, seasonal biology and cold tolerance in invasive fruit pests, and thermal tolerance of invasive fire ants.   

Spotted wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (left) and Northern corn rootworm, Diabrotica barberi (right)

4. Improving cryopreservation and gene editing in insects.​In work funded by NIH and the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies, we are using sonoporation to load cryoprotectants and genetic reagents into insect eggs. Permeabilizing insect eggs and loading them with various reagents can be challenging, and sonoporation provides an alternative to microinjection and other loading methods. We are testing whether sonoporation-mediated loading of small cryoprotectants and protective proteins improves cryopreservation outcomes in Drosophila, and we are also testing whether this method can be used for gene editing in insects recalcitrant to microinjection. 

Schematic of our sonoporation system used to load molecules into insect eggs.

Drosophila eggs loaded with calcein blue using sonoporation.

5. Environmental factors influencing the efficacy of insecticidal RNAi.In work funded by the USDA NIFA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program, we are investigating the extent to which temperature and nutrition influence the susceptibility of insects to RNAi-based pest control. Using Colorado potato beetle, we are feeding beetles from distinct populations dsRNA at different temperatures and on different host plants to quantify genotype and environment interactions that influence RNAi efficacy. 

Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Schematic of RNAi pathway