Dr. Kevin
Wanner
Postdoctoral
Research Associate
Department of
Entomology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
505 S. Goodwin
Ave.
Urbana, IL
61801 USA
Ph: 217-333-0489
Fax: 217-244-3499
Email:
kwanner"at"life.uiuc.edu
September 04, 2007
In the Robertson
lab my research focuses on the genomics and functional genomics of the
insect chemical senses. The last decade has witnessed tremendous
progress in our understanding of the molecular and neurological
mechanisms of olfaction, including the chemoreceptor superfamily, a
large multigene family of G-protein coupled receptors expressed in
sensory neurons that detect chemical stimuli in the environment.
Technological advances (advent of whole genome sequencing,
high-throughput cDNA sequencing and in vitro functional assays for
chemoreceptors) have positioned this field for tremendous and exciting
progress broadly outside of traditional model organisms. I employ gene
annotation, gene phylogeny, high throughput sequencing and gene
expression analysis (microarrays, quantitative real-time PCR, northern
blotting and in situ
hybridization) to guide functional studies. We are currently expressing
odorant and gustatory receptor (Ors and Grs) genes in Xenopus oocytes and insect cells to
characterize their activation by chemical stimuli. Other methods have
included protein expression and purification, western blotting and in
vitro ligand binding assays using fluorescent reporters.
My goal is to use functional genomics to study behaviors mediated by
the chemical senses, across several levels of biological organization
in a multidisciplinary approach, from genes and genomics to behavior
and ecology. Towards this goal I have begun to employ traditional
chemical ecology methods such as volatile collection, analysis by
GC-MS, and behavioral assays using a custom-built olfactometer. We are
using chemoreceptors expressed in the Xenopus
oocyte system as a novel screening assay to identify semiochemicals
from the solvent extracts of insects and plants. Having previous
experience in applied entomology I am interested in developing a
combined basic and applied research program that is complementary, the
emerging field of molecular chemical ecology provides excellent
opportunities for this. Along with collaborators I have established
four projects areas:
Moths, bees and parasitic wasps represent diverse and contrasting
insect groups that have economic, scientific and social significance.
Moth larvae are significant pests of food and fiber crops world-wide
while bees and parasitic wasps are beneficial as pollinators and
natural enemies of insect pests, respectively. Furthermore, these three
species occupy very different ecological niches (herbivores, plant
symbionts and insect parasitoids); functional genomics provides
insights into the evolution of their chemosensory systems in response
to the very different olfactory and gustatory needs associated with
each niche.
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