Comparative fly venom evolution

This project attempts to investigate dipteran venom evolution. One major focus is the toxin evolution and venom composition of robber flies, Asilidae (asilids). Species are collected from Central Europe and Mediterranean areas. A complementary approach of modern, evolutionary venomics (sensu von Reumont 2018, Toxins 2018, 10(7), 292; doi:10.3390/toxins10070292) is applied to address several questions regarding the venom evolution, toxin composition and bioactivity of investigated species. The full plethora of evolutionary venomics is applied utilizing transcriptomics, proteomics, genomics, functional morphology and bioactivity tests. Work is collaboratively conducted with Eivind Undheim (University of Queensland, Australia) and Sebastien Dutertre (University of Montpellier, France). Main project base is the PhD project of Stephan Drukewitz, University of Leipzig (Doktorandenförderplatz) attracted by Martin Schlegel and Björn M von Reumont. Additionally funding for material expenses were obtained from the Natural History Museum (Dif bid fund 2015, von Reumont), the iDiv Leipzig (Schlegel, von Reumont) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to Bjoern M von Reumont (DFG, RE-3454/2-1, RE-3454/4-1).