Publications

functional convergence in reduced genomes of bacterial symbionts spanning 200 my of evolution.	the main genomic changes in the evolution of host-restricted microbial symbionts are ongoing inactivation and loss of genes combined with rapid sequence evolution and extreme structural stability; these changes reflect high levels of genetic drift due to small population sizes and strict clonality. this genomic erosion includes irreversible loss of genes in many functional categories and can include genes that underlie the nutritional contributions to hosts that are the basis of the symbiotic as ...	2010	20829280
de novo transcriptome assemblies of four xylem sap-feeding insects.	spittle bugs and sharpshooters are well-known xylem sap-feeding insects and vectors of the phytopathogenic bacterium xylella fastidiosa (wells), a causal agent of pierce's disease of grapevines and other crop diseases. specialized feeding on nutrient-deficient xylem sap is relatively rare among insect herbivores, and only limited genomic and transcriptomic information has been generated for xylem-sap feeders. to develop a more comprehensive understanding of biochemical adaptations and symbiotic ...	2017	28327966