SymSIm

Symbiosis and Immune Signaling

The SymSIm team is working on trophic symbiosis, and more particularly on cereal-crop weevils of the genus Sitophilus. These insects belong to the superfamily of the Curculinoidea, which constitutes a very cosmopolitan group with considerable biodiversity. Many of these insects ravage crops and woodland, and are some of the most invasive insects on the planet. Recent phylogenetic and molecular studies have shown that intracellular bacterial symbiosis is very common in this group, and that its history has been particularly marked by symbiotic replacement phenomena.