Position(s):
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Bioscience & Biotechnology

Office: 313 Stratton Hall
Lab: 310 Stratton Hall

Phone: (215) 895-1643 (Office)
            

Email: Jacob.A.Russell@drexel.edu

B.S. - Syracuse University, Molecular Genetics
Ph.D. - University of Arizona, Evolutionary Biology

I have long been fascinated by the phenomenon of symbiosis, in which different species engage in intimate and prolonged associations.  Many of these interactions play significant functional roles and are the product of millions of years of coevolution.  My research focuses specifically on the functional significance and evolutionary histories of symbioses between insects and bacteria.  Through a combination of molecular, phylogenetic, and experimental techniques, I am currently investigating the diversity, evolution, and significance of microbes found in the ants and butterflies.

Publications

Baldo L, Ayoub NA, Hayashi CY, Russell JA, Stahlhut JK, Werren JH. Insight into the routes of Wolbachia invasion: high levels of horizontal transfer in the spider genus Agelenopsis revealed by Wolbachia strain and mitochondrial DNA diversity. Molecular Ecology, in press.

Russell JA, Moran NA (2006) Costs and benefits of symbiont infection in aphids: variation among symbionts and across temperatures. Proceedings of the Royal Society  B – Biology 273: 603-610.

Russell JA, Moran NA (2005) Horizontal transfer of bacterial symbionts: heritability and fitness effects in a novel aphid host. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71:  7987-7994. 

Moran NA, Russell JA, Koga R, Fukatsu T (2005) Evolutionary relationships of three new species of Enterobacteriaceae living as symbionts of aphids and other insects. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71: 3302-3310.

Oliver KM, Russell JA, Moran NA, Hunter MS (2003) Facultative bacterial symbionts in aphids confer resistance to parasitic wasps. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100: 1803-1807.

Russell JA, Latorre AL, Sabater-Muñoz B, Moya A, Moran NA (2003) Side-stepping secondary symbionts:  Widespread horizontal transfer across and beyond the Aphidoidea. Molecular Ecology 12: 1061-1075.

Sandström J, Russell JA, White JP, Moran NA (2001) Independent origins and horizontal transfer of bacterial symbionts of aphids. Molecular Ecology 10:  217-228.

Vitae

Personal/Laboratory Website(s):

Pierce Lab