Microbes Rulers of Us All: Microbial Interactions and Their Influence over Host Fitness

Organizer(s)

• 

  Patrick Stillson

  Ph.D. Student
  Department of Biology
  University of Texas
  Arlington, Texas
• AB

  Alison Blanton

  Graduate Student
  Department of Biological Sciences
  University of Texas
  Fort Worth, Texas

The symposium will be focused on how microbes, microbiomes, and symbionts are associated with host insect physiology and fitness, especially in regards to various traits such as insect vector competency, pesticide degradation and host survival.

Presentations:

• 1:30 PM – 1:32 PM PT

  Introductory remarks
  

  Presenting Author: Patrick Thomas Stillson – University of Texas
• 1:32 PM – 1:55 PM PT

  Type VI secretion system-associated effectors from the termite gut as a means of symbiont-meditated pathogen protection
  

  Presenting Author: Brittany Peterson – Southern Illinois University

  Co-author: Emma R. Chilcoat – Southern Illinois University

  Co-author: Kamila Lopez-Duque – Southern Illinois University

  Co-Author: Jordan Robinson – Southern Illinois University
• 1:55 PM – 2:18 PM PT

  Mosquito-microbe multipartite interactions shape pathogen infection and mosquito survival
  

  Presenting Author: Jose L Ramirez – USDA-ARS
• 2:18 PM – 2:41 PM PT

  Mosquito-microbiota interactions shape the structure and stability of carnivorous pitcher plant communities
  

  Presenting Author: Aldo A. Arellano – University of Wisconsin

  Co-author: Erica B. Young – University of Wisconsin

  Co-Author: Kerri L. Coon – University of Wisconsin
• 2:41 PM – 3:04 PM PT

  Lack of specialization in an environmentally-acquired bug-bacteria symbiosis
  

  Presenting Author: Nicole Gerardo – Emory University

  Co-Author: Kayla Stoy – Emory University

  Co-Author: Levi Morran – Emory University
• 3:04 PM – 3:10 PM PT

  Break
• 3:10 PM – 3:33 PM PT

  Complex symbiont acquisition behaviors maintain a horizontally transmitted insect-microbial mutualism
  

  Presenting Author: Scott Villa – Davidson College

  Co-Author: Jason Chen (he/him/his) – Emory University

  Co-author: Zee Kwong – Emory University

  Co-author: Alice Acosta – Emory University

  Co-author: Nic M. Vega – Emory University

  Co-Author: Nicole Gerardo – Emory University
• 3:33 PM – 3:56 PM PT

  Move over, cellular microbes: Symbiotic viruses as key players in parasitoid wasp success
  

  Presenting Author: Kelsey A. Coffman – USDA-ARS

  Co-author: Gaelen R. Burke – University of Georgia

  Co-author: Scott M. Geib – USDA-ARS
• 3:56 PM – 4:19 PM PT

  Gains and losses of bee-microbe symbioses
  

  Presenting Author: Tobin Hammer – University of California

  Co-author: Alan E. Silva Cerqueira – University of Texas

  Co-Author: Nancy Moran – University of Texas

  Co-author: Nickole A. Villabona – University of California

  Co-author: Alejandro Reyes – Universidad de Los Andes

  Co-author: Quinn McFrederick – University of California

  Co-author: Stephen Buchmann – University of Arizona

  Co-author: Bryan N. Danforth – Cornell University
• 4:19 PM – 4:42 PM PT

  Evolving beneficial symbioses between leafhoppers and bacteria
  

  Presenting Author: Gordon Bennett – University of California
• 4:42 PM – 5:05 PM PT

  Digestive symbioses in Cephalotes turtle ants
  

  Presenting Author: Benoit Bechade – Drexel University

  Co-author: Yi Hu – Drexel University

  Co-author: Christian S. Cabuslay – Drexel University

  Co-Author: Dharman Anandarajan – Drexel University

  Co-author: Valerie J. Fiers – Drexel University

  Co-author: Richard Lu – Drexel University

  Co-Author: Benjamin E. Rubin – Princeton University

  Co-Author: Corrie S. Moreau – Cornell University

  Co-Author: John T. Wertz – Calvin College

  Co-Author: Jacob Russell – Drexel University
• 5:05 PM – 5:10 PM PT

  Closing remarks
  

  Presenting Author: Patrick Thomas Stillson – University of Texas