Manipulative Tenants: Bacteria Associated with Arthropods

Kostas Bourtzis, PhD, is a professor of molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry in the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Western Greece. His research is focused on the interactions between insect pests/disease vectors and symbiotic bacteria, with special emphasis on Wolbachia-mediated cytoplasmic incompatibility, genetic manipulation of Wolbachia, the molecular mechanism of cytoplasmic incompatibility, and Wolbachia genomics. His group has recently shown that Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility can be used as a means to suppress insect pest populations.

Einat Zchori-Fein, PhD, is a researcher in the Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel. Her research is focused on the interactions between insect pests and symbiotic bacteria, with special emphasis on the diversity and phenotypes of secondary symbionts of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci, horizontal transmission of secondary symbionts, and the multitrophic interactions among plants, plant pathogens, arthropod vectors, and natural enemies.

Per their research interests and personal beliefs, Prof. Bourtzis and Dr. Zchori-Fein are the chair and vice chair of the EU COST Action FA0701, Arthropod Symbioses: From Fundamental Studies to Pest and Disease Management, dedicated to promoting the use of endosymbiotic bacteria as a tool for the development of environmentally friendly approaches for the control of arthropods of medical and agricultural importance.