Ron P. Dirks

This paper presents a near chromosome-scale genome assembly of Sphaerospora molnari, revealing lineage-specific gene groups and genomic traits like MULE expansion and domestication that drive rapid evolution in myxozoan parasites.

This study sequenced Rickettsiella genomes from ticks and used comparative genomics to identify variable metabolic pathways and potential mechanisms for symbiotic interactions with arthropods.

The paper identifies an enzyme, ICYC, that catalyzes the cyclization of an enol intermediate in the iridoid biosynthesis pathway in asterids, completing the pathway and enabling metabolic engineering of iridoid compounds.

This study uses deep sequencing on 16 Ixodes ricinus ticks to analyze symbionts, revealing genome sequences, transmission modes, and genetic variability in Rickettsia helvetica.

This paper identifies and characterizes pachysiphine synthase genes in Tabernaemontana elegans using genome sequencing and computational analysis, enabling engineered yeast production of MIAs.

This study shows that M. tuberculosis and M. marinum induce similar late innate immune gene responses in zebrafish larvae, supporting M. marinum as a surrogate model for tuberculosis research.

This study engineering yeast to produce kratom monoterpene indole alkaloids through synthetic pathway reconstruction and optimization, achieving a titer of ~290 µg/L.

The paper presents the genome and developmental transcriptome of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua, identifying potential pest control targets through comparative genomic analysis.

This paper presents a novel algorithm for assembling the European eel genome from nanopore sequencing reads, achieving improved contiguity and structural quality compared to previous short-read assemblies.