Martina Pfeiffer Martina is working with strains of the parasite Crithidia bombi which have been selected in vitro under competition with other strains. She is investigating how this experimental evolution under competition has influenced the strains’ infective and competitive ability in bumblebees.
Raphael Sieber Raphael is just starting a semester project looking at the influence of variation in food environment on expression of host genes on infection with distinct parasite strains.
Collaborative students
Aline Fauser-Misslin Aline is a PhD student based at the University of Bern. She is investigating how both pesticides and parasites influence crucial colony level and individual traits in bumblebees.
Past students
Sina Wild Sina studied how immune system components can interact with each other to increase the effectiveness of immune defence. To test immune components she used in vitro assays and both test bacteria and natural parasites.
Susie Landis In her Diploma thesis (Masters) Susie investigated the influence of infection by the gut parasite Crithidia bombi on the immune system of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris, with a particular focus on differences between parasite strains and host colonies. Susie is currently a PhD student in Kiel.