Animals are thriving with microbial life, often establishing intimate symbiotic relationships with their tiny companions. When these persist over evolutionary time, they bring about deep changes to both the hosts and their symbionts. Since his early studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and subsequent PhD at the University of Valencia (Spain), Alejandro has been exploring the impact of symbiotic interactions on the biology and evolution of hosts and symbionts at the genomic, metabolic, and morphological levels. His research deals with animal-microbe symbioses, with a focus on two animal systems with nutrient-restricted diets: aphids and blood-feeding leeches. He approaches the study of these organisms using genomic, microscopic, and evolutionary methods.
Development of an artificial symbiont’s birth (SymBirth)
Strict blood-feeding leeches (you heard that right, there are several that do not feed on blood!) are confronted with a strong B-vitamin deficiency…
Vittecoq M, Brazier L, Elguero E, G. Bravo I, Renaud N, Manzano-Marín A et al. Multi-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in yellow-legged gull chicks in their first weeks of life. Ecology and Evolution. 2022 Jun;12(6):1-10. e8974. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8974
Szabó G, Schulz F, Manzano-Marín A, Toenshoff ER, Horn M. Evolutionarily recent dual obligatory symbiosis among adelgids indicates a transition between fungus- and insect-associated lifestyles. ISME Journal. 2022 Jan 1;16(1):247-256. Epub 2021 Jul 22. doi: 10.1038/s41396-021-01056-z
Ün Ç, Schultner E, Manzano-Marín A, Flórez LV, Seifert B, Heinze J et al. Cytoplasmic incompatibility between Old and New World populations of a tramp ant. Evolution. 2021 Jul;75(7):1775-1791. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.13.988675, 10.1111/evo.14261
Kvist S, Manzano-Marín A, Carle DD, Trontelj P, Siddall ME. Draft genome of the European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudiniformes) with emphasis on anticoagulants. Scientific Reports. 2020 Jun 18;10(1):9885. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66749-5
Rouïl J, Jousselin E, Coeur d’acier A, Cruaud C, Manzano-Marín A. The Protector within: Comparative Genomics of APSE Phages across Aphids Reveals Rampant Recombination and Diverse Toxin Arsenals. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2020 Jun 1;12(6):878-889. Epub 2020 May 9. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evaa089
