Molecular and Chemical Ecology
The Experimental Biology Research Group is devoted to understanding the genes and metabolites that regulate ecological interactions. Our experimental system includes plants, herbivore insects, and herbivore natural enemies such as predators and entomopathogenic nematodes. Our research has lately focused on Photorhabdus bacteria, the symbionts of Heterorhabditis entomopathogenic nematodes. In particular, we have investigated their phylogenetic relationships, implemented methods to identify them rapidly, and improved their biological control potential.
More recently, we have started to unravel the adaptive value of one of its most prominent traits: Bioluminescence. Photorhabdus bacteria produce light when they multiply inside their host insects. Therefore, the organisms that are infected by Photorhabdus bacteria are bioluminescent. What are the benefits that could explain the occurrence and prevalence of this trait? This is one of the questions that we are currently tackling by studying the regulatory potential of Photorhabdus bioluminescence in belowground multi-trophic interactions.
Entomopathogenic potential of bacteria associated with soil-borne nematodes and insect immune responses to their infection
A Loulou, M Mastore, S Caramella, AH Bhat, MF Brivio, RAR Machado, Sadreddine Kallel
PloS one 18 (1), e0280675, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280675
Comparative morphological and molecular analyses of Acrobeloides bodenheimeri and A. tricornis Cobb, 1924 (Rhabditida, Cephalobidae) from Tunisia
AH Bhat, A Loulou, J Abolafia, RAR Machado, S Kallel
Nematology 1 (aop), 1-20, 2022
Virulence and reproductive potential of Indian entomopathogenic nematodes against the larvae of the rice meal moth
TH Askary, AH Bhat, RAR Machado, MJ Ahmad, MMM Abd-Elgawad, ...
Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 1-13, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2022.2161293
Early land plants: Plentiful but neglected nutritional resources for herbivores?
A Duhin, RAR Machado, TCJ Turlings, G Röder
Ecology and Evolution 12 (12), e9617, 2022
Morphological and molecular identification of Trichoderma asperellum isolated from a dragon fruit farm in the southern Philippines and its pathogenicity against the larvae of …
R Sebumpan, KR Guiritan, M Suan, CJ Abapo, AH Bhat, RAR Machado, ...
Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 32 (1), 1-7, 2022
Chemical Ecology of Nematodes
RAR Machado, SH von Reuss
CHIMIA 76 (11), 945-945, 2022
Redescription and molecular characterisation of Panagrolaimus labiatus (Kreis, 1929) Andrássy, 1960 (Rhabditida, Panagrolaimidae) from India and proposal of P. burdwanensis …
K Yadav, AH Bhat, J Abolafia, RAR Machado, SM Wani, AK Chaubey
Nematology 25 (2), 151-168, 2022
Photorhabdus antumapuensis sp. nov., a novel symbiotic bacterial species associated with Heterorhabditis atacamensis entomopathogenic nematodes
C Castaneda-Alvarez, RAR Machado, P Morales-Montero, A Boss, A Muller, S Prodan, A Zamorano, E San-Blas, V Půža, E Aballay
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 72 (10) 2022, https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.005525
Dr. Ricardo A. R. Machado
University of Neuchâtel
Institute of Biology
2000 Neuchâtel
phone: +41 32 718 3046