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CHOUAIA Bessem

UMR Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie

I am a microbial ecologist focusing on symbiotic interaction within arthropod hosts. My main research activities mainly investigate how symbiotic bacteria influence and shape the physiology and evolution of their hosts. In particular, I am interested in the co-evolutionary dynamics and functional relationships between hosts and symbionts in ancient and more recent interactions. My aim is to understand the impact of long-lasting symbiotic relationships on the metabolic interactions between the different partners, mainly in sap feeding hemipterans. Since 2024, I integrated INRAE where I study the metabolic interactions and evolutionary pressures within a symbiotic model formed by a hemipteran, its primary co-symbionts and the phytopathogen its vectors.

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DITTMER Jessica

UMR Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences

I am a microbial ecologist with a particular interest in host-microbe interactions between Eukaryotes and bacteria. My main research interests are: (i) host-microbiome interactions in arthropods and plants, (ii) genomics of nutritional endosymbionts of plant-sap feeding insects, and (iii) the ecology and evolution of insect-vectored plant pathogenic bacteria. For instance, we recently demonstrated that horizontal gene transfers played a key role in the evolution of phytopathogenicity in the mainly insect-associated genus Arsenophonus. Since my arrival at INRAE in 2022, my research focusses on the complex interactions between Xylella fastidiosa, its host plants, insect vector and their associated microbiomes.

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JOUSSELIN Emmanuelle

UMR Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations

I work on the evolution of interspecific interactions (plants/phytophages, phytophagous insects/bacterial symbionts) and their role in the diversification of life. Since joining INRAe, I have developed a research program on aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae). They are not only fascinating biological models in evolutionary biology due to the complexity of their life cycles and their specialization with respect to their host plants, but also an agronomically important group, as they include species responsible for significant damage to crops and ornamental plants. My work aims, through targeted phylogenetic studies on a few groups, to highlight the role of adaptation to host plants as well as that of bacterial symbionts in the evolution and diversification of aphids. To this end, I work at different taxonomic scales (from the family level up to species complexes) that reflect various timescales.

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SANTOS-GARCIA Diego

UMR Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations

I've always been driven by curiosity and a passion for continuous learning. Watching Jurassic Park as a kid first inspired me to become a researcher. Although I initially studied developmental genetics, the Spanish economic crisis in 2009 made me shift my focus towards evolutionary biology,  one of the few fields with enough funding. Happily, I got fascinated by my PhD subject: insect-bacteria interactions. Since then, I've integrated molecular biology, bioinformatics, ecology, and evolutionary approaches to study the co-evolution between hemipteran insects and their bacterial symbionts. Currently, I work as a researcher at INRAE, investigating multitrophic interactions in insects. I'm also exploring how symbionts can contribute to Integrated Pest Management strategies - and, just for fun, I'm learning about the taxonomy of whiteflies.

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