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An Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge
 

Biography

 

2012-present Reader of Evolutionary Genetics

2009-2014 Royal Society University Research Fellowship, Department of Genetics.

2006-2008 Royal Society University Research Fellowship, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh

2003-2006 Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh

 

2000-2003 Emmanuel College Research Fellowship, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge

 

1997-1999 PhD, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge

 

1993-1996 MA Zoology, University of Cambridge.

 

 

 

Research

Our lab studies the evolution of hosts and parasites using insects as a model system. How do hosts evolve resistance to infectious disease? Which genes cause variation in susceptibility to infection and why is this variation maintained in populations?  How do natural selection and demographic processes shape immune systems and affect the genetic diversity of parasite populations? Our research is addressing these questions using the tools of population, quantitative and molecular genetics.

 

Details are given on our lab website.

 

 

Publications

Other publications: 

2014

Longdon, B, Brockhurst, MA, Russell, CA, Welch, JJ and Jiggins, FM 2014 The Evolution and Genetics of Virus Host Shifts. PLoS Pathogens. In Press.

Martinez, J, Longdon, B, Bauer, S, Chan, Y-S, Miller, WJ, Bourtzis, K, Teixeira, L and Jiggins, FM 2014 Symbionts commonly provide broad spectrum resistance to viruses in insects: a comparative analysis of Wolbachia strains. PLoS Pathogens. In Press.

Quinn, A, Juneja, P and Jiggins, FM 2014 Estimates of allele-specific expression in Drosophila with a single genome sequence and RNA-seq data. Bioinformatics. In Press.

Wilfert, L and Jiggins, FM 2014 Flies on the move: an inherited virus mirrors Drosophila melanogaster's elusive ecology and demography. Molecular Ecology. 23, 2093–2104

Juneja, P, Osei-Poku, J, Ho, YS, Ariani, CV, Palmer, WJ, Pain, A and Jiggins, FM 2014 Assembly of the Genome of the Disease Vector Aedes aegypti onto a Genetic Linkage Map Allows Mapping of Genes Affecting Disease Transmission. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 8: e2652

2013

Wilfert, L and Jiggins, FM 2013 The dynamics of reciprocal selective sweeps of host resistance and a parasite counter-adaptation in Drosophila. Evolution. 67: 761-773.

Chrostek, E, Marialva, MSP, Esteves, SS, Weinert, LA, Martinez, J, Jiggins, FM and Teixeira, L 2013 Wolbachia Variants Induce Differential Protection to Viruses in Drosophila melanogaster: A Phenotypic and Phylogenomic Analysis. PLoS Genetics. 9:e1003896

Longdon B, Cao, C, Martinez, J and Jiggins FM 2013 Previous exposure to an RNA virus does not protect against subsequent infection in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One. 8: e73833

2012

Magwire, MM, Fabian, DK, Schweyen, H, Cao, C, Longdon B, Bayer, F and Jiggins, FM 2012 Genome-wide association studies reveal a simple genetic basis of resistance to naturally coevolving viruses in Drosophila. PLoS Genetics. 8: e1003057.

Osei-Poku, J, Mbogo, CM, Palmer, WJ and Jiggins, FM 2012 Deep sequencing reveals extensive variation in the gut microbiota of wild mosquitoes from Kenya. Molecular Ecology. 21, 5138-5150.

Osei-Poku J, Han C, Mbogo CM and Jiggins FM 2012 Identification of Wolbachia Strains in Mosquito Disease Vectors. PLoS One. 7: e49922.

Longdon B and Jiggins FM 2012 Vertically transmitted viral endosymbionts of insects: do sigma viruses walk alone? Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 279: 3889-3898.

Obbard, DJ, Maclennan, J, Kim, KW, Rambaut, A, O'Grady, PM and Jiggins, FM 2012 Estimating divergence dates and substitution rates in the Drosophila phylogeny. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 29: 3459-3473.

Carpenter, JA, Hadfield, JD, Bangham, J and Jiggins, FM 2012 Specific interactions between host and parasite genotypes do not act as a constraint on the evolution of antiviral resistance in Drosophila. Evolution. 66: 1114-1125.

Longdon B, Fabian DK, Hurst GDD and Jiggins FM 2012 Male-killing Wolbachia do not protect Drosophila bifasciata against viral infection. BMC Microbiology. 12(Suppl 1):S8

Longdon B, Wilfert L and Jiggins FM 2012 The Sigma viruses of Drosophila. In: Rhabdoviruses: Molecular Taxonomy, Evolution, Genomics, Ecology, Cytopathology and Control, edited by Ralf Dietzgen and Ivan Kuzmin. Caister Academic Press.

Richardson, MF, Weinert, LA, Welch, JJ, Linheiro, RS, Magwire, MM, Jiggins, FM and Bergman, CM 2012 Population genomics of the Wolbachia endosymbiont in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Genetics. 8: e1003129.

The Heliconius Genome Consortium 2012 Butterfly genome reveals promiscuous exchange of mimicry adaptations among species. Nature. 487:94-98

2011

Longdon, B, Hadfield, JD, Webster, CL, Obbard, DJ and Jiggins, FM 2011 Host phylogeny determines viral persistence and replication in novel hosts. PLoS Pathogens. e1002260.

Magwire, MM, Bayer, F, Webster, CL, Cao, C and Jiggins, FM 2011 Successive Increases in the Resistance of Drosophila to Viral Infection through a Transposon Insertion Followed by a Duplication. PLoS Genetics. 7: e1002337.

Longdon, B, Wilfert, L, Osei-Poku, J, Cagney, H, Obbard, DJ and Jiggins, FM 2011 Host-switching by a vertically-transmitted rhabdovirus in Drosophila. Biology Letters. 7: 747-750

Wilfert, L, Longdon, B, Ferreira, AGA, Bayer, F and Jiggins, FM 2011 Trypanosomatids are common and diverse parasites of Drosophila. Parasitology. 138, 858-865.

Longdon, B, Wilfert, L, Obbard, DJ and Jiggins, FM 2011 Rhabdoviruses in Two Species of Drosophila: Vertical Transmission and a Recent Sweep. Genetics. 188: 141-150.

Michie, LJ, Masson, A, Ware, R and Jiggins, FM 2011 Seasonal phenotypic plasticity: wild ladybirds are darker at cold temperatures. Evolutionary Ecology. 25: 1259-1268.

Jiggins, FM and Hurst, GDD 2011 Rapid insect evolution by symbiont transfer. Science. 332: 185-186

The evolution and genetics of insects and their pathogens
Dr Francis  Jiggins

Contact Details

Department of Genetics
Downing Street
Cambridge
CB2 3EH
01223 333175
Takes PhD students
Available for consultancy

Affiliations

Classifications: 
Departments and institutes: 
Person keywords: 
Genomics
Ecology
Genetics
Host-Pathogen Interaction
Innate Immunity
Virus
Immune Evasion