Microbiota Working Group
The microbiota work group (led by Fabian Staubach) is interested in the small organisms that live in association with Drosophila (bacteria, viruses, protist, fungi, nematodes). We leverage the DrosEU collection framework and sequencing data to catalog the microbial diversity of natural Drosophila populations on a continental scale. We are constantly discovering new viruses, bacteria and also protists that live in association with Drosophila. We are also interested in the spatio-temporal dynamics of the Drosophila microbiome and work in close collaboration with the population genetics work group. Ongoing projects also include assessment of microbiome mediated phenotypes in the fly host.
