Assembly of a nearly chromosomal genome for Danaus chrysippus (known as the African Monarch, African Queen, and Plain Tiger) using long read sequencing data and comparative genomics (2016 - 2021).
In this research (2014 - 2017) theme we aimed to understand the molecular basis of the intrinsic tolerance of bee pollinators to certain insecticides and the genes/proteins that determine sensitivity. An understanding of why certain insecticides are highly toxic to pest insects but not bees can be harnessed in the development of bee-safe insecticides.
This project (Nov 2014 - Mar 2021) was mainly driven by key questions in resistance evolution of insect-pests to natural and synthetic insecticides. I used genome-wide investigations and computational approaches to answer such questions, ensuring these are relevant to a broad scientific community.
Usiing integrative omics to disentangle plant gene regulatory networks involved in plant-endophyte interactions.