Dr Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty

Postdoctoral Fellow

Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty

 

 

Research Interests
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Research Interests

One of my research program focuses on understanding from a molecular biology perspective how the integration between cnidarian and symbiotic dinoflagellates is established, and how this intracellular symbiosis is maintained and regulated. For this, I use a comprehensive genomic approach based on transcriptional profiling (cDNA microarray) to unveil the molecular mechanisms regulating cnidarian – algae symbioses. This approach has allowed me to address previously intractable questions concerning the cnidarian-algae symbiosis, including both genetic analysis and cell biology. Significant questions about the nature of these associations include: 1) Are there newly evolved genes specific to the symbiosis, and/or what genes are co-opted from pre-existing programs? 2) What signaling pathways are involved in the crosstalk between host and symbionts? and 3) what role does the symbiont play in modifying the cellular functioning of the host?

Moreover, understanding at the cellular level how these symbioses are maintained and regulated is critical to gain insights of how these symbioses respond to the new global environmental changes we are currently experiencing in the planet.

Another research interest focuses in elucidating the phylogeographical and micro-evolutionary patterns of populations of symbiotic dinoflagellates. For this I have been examining genetic differences from distinct ribosomal DNA genes, such as small sub-unit (18S), large sub-unit (28S) and Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS).

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