Project Mentor: Professor Dylan Shropshire, Biological Sciences
Project Description:
Why is Wolbachia the most common bacterium to live within animal cells?
Imagine tiny, invisible organisms living inside the cells of animals, navigating a delicate balance between cooperation and conflict. These are endosymbionts—organisms that can disappear without a trace, take control of their host's evolutionary trajectory, or switch to new hosts entirely. Our goal is to uncover the secrets behind their success, and understand what makes endosymbionts like Wolbachia not only survive, but thrive across countless animal species.