J. P. Day

Hunting Drosophila viruses from wild populations: a novel isolation approach and characterisation of viruses

The paper isolates and characterizes two Drosophila viruses, showing their varying effects on host fitness and potential as biocontrol agents.

Recognition of non-self is necessary to activate Drosophila's immune response against an insect parasite

The paper shows that Drosophila's immune response to parasitoid wasps requires both danger signals from wounding and a PAMP from the wasp to trigger melanization and Tep1 expression.

Recurrent loss of an immunity gene that protects Drosophila against a major natural parasite

The paper identifies recurrent loss-of-function mutations in the Drosophila immunity gene Lectin-24A, showing natural selection favors these mutations in some populations due to a pleiotropic cost of expression.

DrosoPhyla: genomic resources for drosophilid phylogeny and systematics

The paper develops genomic markers and constructs phylogenetic trees for 704 Drosophilidae species to clarify evolutionary relationships and resolve taxonomic uncertainties.

Constitutive activation of cellular immunity underlies the evolution of resistance to infection

The paper shows that Drosophila populations evolved resistance to parasitism by making immune-inducible genes constitutively active through the pre-differentiation of immune cells.

Host-pathogen coevolution increases genetic variation in susceptibility to infection

The paper shows that coevolved pathogens increase genetic variation in host susceptibility to infection compared to novel pathogens.

Host shifts result in parallel genetic changes when viruses evolve in closely related species

This study shows that viruses evolving in closely related host species undergo parallel genetic changes, suggesting that adaptation to one host may enhance fitness in related hosts.