Team Leader
Esme Cope
Texas A&M
Genetics and Genomics
esmecope@tamu.edu
Project Type
Research
Who Can Join
Undergraduate Students
Project Description
Mosquitoes use immune genes to fight off infections from bacteria and fungi. These genes are turned on by specific promoters that respond to infection. In this project, we are testing how well the immune gene promoters respond to different microbes.
We will expose mosquito cells and transgenic mosquitoes to bacteria and fungi. Using fluorescent reporter genes controlled by the immune gene promoters, we will measure how strongly each promoter is activated after infection.
To confirm these results, we will also measure the natural expression levels of the immune genes using RT-qPCR. This will help us understand which microbes activate which promoters and how strong that activation is.
The goal is to identify immune promoters that respond reliably to infection. This information can be useful for designing new mosquito tools that only turn on in response to pathogens.
Team Needs
Seeking students with backgrounds in molecular biology, microbiology, entomology or biology. Experience with techniques such as cell culture, PCR, RT-qPCR, or fluorescence microscopy would be beneficial. Students with an interest in host–pathogen interactions, mosquito biology, or synthetic biology will find the project relevant. Motivation to learn new techniques, contribute to collaborative research, and potentially co-author a publication is a strong asset. To participate, team members should be comfortable working in a laboratory setting with basic biosafety level 1–2 microbes and should either have or be willing to learn sterile technique, pipetting and molecular assays. A commitment to careful data collection, open communication, and teamwork is essential.
Special Opportunities
Team members will gain practical skills in cell culture, RT-qPCR, fluorescent imaging, and microbial infection assays using Aedes aegypti as a model system. Participants will also have opportunities to present their work at lab meetings, conferences or symposia and potentially contribute to the publication of a manuscript. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to build technical expertise, strengthen their communication skills, and be part of a collaborative, publication-driven research team.