Molecular evolution of host-microbe interactions

Animals and microbes encode a variety of molecules to sense, manipulate, and defend against each other. The outcome of these exchanges often mean the difference between peaceful symbiosis and deadly infection. Proteins that mediate these interactions can in turn be subject to strong natural selection, as well as contribute to antagonistic evolution of host and microbial genomes. The Barber lab uses a combination of genetics and molecular experimentation to study the evolution of host-microbe associations relevant to infectious and inflammatory disease. Click here to learn more.

We are affiliated with the Institute of Ecology & Evolution and the Department of Biology at the University of Oregon.

banner art by Janet Iwasa