R. Raychoudhury

Partnership with both fungi and bacteria can protect Odontotermes obesus fungus gardens against fungal invaders.

This study identifies pathogenic fungi in termite fungus gardens and shows that interactions with bacteria and the crop fungus help maintain a Termitomyces monoculture.

Bacterial supergroup specific "Cost" of Wolbachia infections in Nasonia vitripennis

This study examines the fitness costs of Wolbachia infections in Nasonia vitripennis, finding supergroup-specific negative effects on traits like fecundity and longevity.

The males of the parasitoid wasp, Nasonia vitripennis, can identify which fly hosts contain females.

This study shows that male Nasonia vitripennis can detect female-specific cuticular hydrocarbons to identify fly hosts containing adult females, revealing a unique mate-finding strategy.

Pseudomonas can prevent the parasitic fungus, while keeping the crop fungus unaffected, in the gardens of Odontotermes obesus.

This study identifies Pseudomonas as a defensive mutualist in fungus-growing termites that suppresses parasitic fungi without affecting the crop fungus.