Areas of specialty:
- Insect biochemistry and molecular biology
- Structure and function of hemolymph serine proteinases, proteinase inhibitors, and antimicrobial response proteins from insects
- Biochemistry of the insect cuticle
- Function of insect multicopper oxidases
- Manduca sexta genome sequence
My laboratory is investigating proteins present in the hemolymph (blood) of insects, with special interest in the proteins' functions in the insect immune system. We are studying plasma proteins, including prophenoloxidase, serine proteases, protease inhibitors from the serpin superfamily, and proteins that bind to microbial polysaccharides.
Area(s) of Specialization:
- Insect biochemistry and molecular biology. Structure and function of hemolymph serine proteinases, proteinase inhibitors, and antibacterial response proteins from insects. Biochemistry of insect cuticle sclerotization
Our laboratory studies innate immunity in insect model systems, with an emphasis on proteases (enzymes that digest other proteins) and their inhibitors that play an important role in protecting a cell from its own proteases.
We also investigate the biochemistry of cuticle proteins and their roles in determining mechanical properties of insect exoskeletons.
Research: Fundamental Insect Science
Research: Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics – Studies immunological mechanisms relevant to human cancers
Expertise: Studies biochemistry of innate immune responses in insects
Expertise:
- Insect hemolymph proteins: biochemistry and molecular biology
- Structure and function of serine proteinases, proteinase inhibitors, and antimicrobial response proteins from insect hemolymph
