Welcome to the Michel Laboratory
Our laboratory studies host-pathogen interactions important for mosquito-borne disease transmission.
Specifically, we study the immune system of mosquitoes and how it relates to the pathogens these insects transmit. Our efforts are focused in two major research areas.
The first is understanding the protease network that regulates innate immune responses. This network allows the mosquito's immune system to fend off potentially harmful microorganisms without becoming overzealous.
The second is to understand the interactions of mosquitoes and fungi ranging from food source to mortal enemy. We study how these encounters shape the mosquito's immune system and physiology.
To do our work, we use techniques from fields such as bioinformatics, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and ecology. Our long term goal is to apply our findings to the improvement of vector control strategies.
