Aileen Berasategui
Assistant Professor
My research is at the intersection of chemical ecology and the evolution of insect-microbe symbioses. I currently focus on the interaction between fungi, insects and their host plant.

Email: a.berasateguilopez@vu.nl
C.V. | Extended C.V. (Sept., 2024)
Google Scholar | ORCiD |

  • Berasategui A, Salem H, Moller J, Christopher Y, Vidaurre-Montoya Q, Conn C, Read T, Rodrigues A, Ziemert N, Gerardo N. (2024) Genomic insights into the evolution of secondary metabolism of Escovopsis and its allies, specialized fungal symbionts of fungus-farming ants. mSystems, 0:e00576-24.

    Berasategui A, Jagdale S, Salem H. Fusarium phytopathogens as insect mutualists. (2023) PLoS Pathogens, 19(7): e1011497.

    Berasategui A, Breitenbach N, García-Lozano M, Pons I, Sailer B, Lanz C, Rodríguez V, Hipp K, Ziemert N, Windsor D, Salem H. (2022) The leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans propagates a plant pathogen in exchange for pupal protection. Current Biology, 32, 4114-4127.

    Berasategui A, Moller A, Weiss B, Beck C, Bauchiero C, Read T, Gerardo N, Salem H. (2021) Symbiont genomic features and localization in the bean beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87-12, e00212-21.

    Berasategui A, Salem H, Paetz C, Santoro M, Gershenzon J, Kaltenpoth M, Schmidt A. (2017) Gut microbiota of the pine weevil degrades conifer diterpenes and increases insect fitness. Molecular Ecology 26, 15: 4099-4110.

    Berasategui A, Axelsson A, Norlander G, Borg-Karlson A, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J, Terenius O, Kaltenpoth M. (2016) The gut microbiota of the pine weevil is similar across Europe and resembles that of other conifer-feeding beetles. Molecular Ecology, 25, 16: 4014-4031.

 


Lotte de Jeu
Lab Manager

Email: l.de.jeu@vu.nl

  • Van Loon S, de Jeu L, Hurley R, Kernchen S, Fenner M, van Gestel CAM. (2024) Multigeneraional toxicity of microplastics derived from two types of agricultural mulching films to Folsomia candida, Science of the Total Environment, 949, 175097, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175097

    Zweerus NL, Caton LJ, de Jeu L, Groot A. (2023) More to legs than meets the eye: Presence and function of pheromone compounds on heliothine moth legs.
    Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 36:780–794, https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.14173

 

Marilou Fliniaux
M.Sc. Student

 


You?
We are growing!
Are you interested in the ecology and evolution of species interactions? We are always seeking highly motivated students and post-docs. More information in Opportunities.

 
 

Past lab members:
Hanna Zandstra, M.Sc. student (2024)
Alice Douglas, M.Sc. student (2024)
Ellis Kaiijn, B.Sc. student (2024)
Ole Astro, B.Sc. student (2024)

 

Collaborators

 

Hassan Salem
Max Planck Research Group Leader
Mutualisms Research Group

Email: hassan.salem@tuebingen.mpg.de

 

Donald Windsor
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute


Viterbo Rodríguez
Centro Regional Universitario de Veraguas
Universidad de Panamá