Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty 

1994 B.S. (Biology) Universidad Simon Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela

2001 Ph.D. (Marine Studies) University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 

Rodriguez-Lanetty's Lab webpage

 My research focuses on molecular processes that integrate cnidarian and symbiotic dinoflagellates, and how this intracellular symbiosis is maintained and regulated. This research targets comprehensive genomic and transcriptional profiling and uses cDNA microarrays to characterize the molecular mechanisms regulating cnidarian – algae symbioses. This approach addresses previously intractable questions in genetic analyses and cell biology such as 1) Are there novel genes specific to the symbiosis or what genes have adopted this function? 2) What signaling pathways are involved in the crosstalk between host and symbionts? 3) How does the symbiont modify the cellular functions of the host? How these symbioses are maintained and regulated is critical to our understanding of how these symbioses respond to local and global environmental changes.
Another research interest of my lab focuses on elucidating the phylogeographical and micro-evolutionary patterns of populations of symbiotic dinoflagellates. These studies depend on genetic differences from distinct ribosomal DNA genes, such as small sub-unit (18S), large sub-unit (28S) and Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS).

Feel free to contact me at this address: 

Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, Department of Biology, PO Box 42451, Lafayette, LA 70504