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Prof. Petros Ligoxygakis studies the interactions between the insect immune system and the microbial world using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model to investigate innate immunity. His research highlights the diversity of animals on Earth and the critical role that insects play in ecosystems, including their function as pollinators that can transmit infectious diseases to humans. The lab's work aims to uncover how insects respond to microbial challenges and the similarities in the innate immune responses to infections. This exploration delves into how beneficial gut bacteria interact with pathogenic organisms within insects and seeks to identify common threads in innate immune recognition across different animal species. Additionally, the lab investigates the unexpected implications of immunity in flies, which can lead to conditions mirroring inflammation and neurodegeneration in humans, thereby informing potential drug development against such ailments.
Department of Politics and International Relations - Higher Level English requirement.