Projects

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  Evolutionary ecology of symbiosis using microbial mark-recapture

  Core Project

  Researchers use molecular barcoding to study Rhizobium leguminosarum evolution, focusing on interactions with clover hosts and soil under nitrogen addition and phage parasitism.

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  Genetics and genomics of partner quality in Rhizobium leguminosarum

  Core Project

  Researchers found genetic differences in symbiosis genes on the pSym plasmid between beneficial and less beneficial rhizobium strains. They aim to link these mutations and HGT to nitrogen fixation and

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  Molecular characterization of genome conformation in rhizobium symbionts of clover

  Core Project

  Researchers study how mutualism between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia drives evolutionary differentiation. They explore genome architecture and gene expression using Hi-C and RNA-seq.

Publications

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  Doyle et al., 2026

  Doyle, R.T., Su, X., Gallick, C., Blaszynski, M., Perry, E., Griesbaum, K., Oyetayo, L., Vereau Gorbitz, D., Lau, J.A., & Heath, K.D. (2026). Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains partner quality variation in a keystone nutritional mutualism. BioRxiv.

   

   

  https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.17.706392
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  Vereau Gorbitz et al., 2025

  Vereau Gorbitz, D., Schwarz, C., McMullen, J. G., Cerón-Romero, M., Doyle, R. T., Lau, J. A., Whitaker, R. J., Vanderpool, C. K., & Heath, K. (2025). Plasmid transmission dynamics and evolution of partner quality in a natural population of Rhizobium leguminosarum. mBio 0:e02497-25.

  https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02497-25