Diversity, distribution and evolution of flatworm parasites and their bacterial symbionts: Dr. Stephen Greiman’s research group focuses on regional parasitic flatworm (cestode and trematode) diversity, evolution, geographic distribution, response to environmental change and association with symbiotic bacteria. Dr. Greiman’s group is especially interested in examining seasonal variation in intestinal helminth and microbiome community structure in small insectivorous mammals in Southeastern Georgia. Many vertebrate species harbor diverse assemblages of helminth species and insectivorous small mammals (shrews) in the genus Sorex are a prime example. Shrews in North America, occupy diverse habitats and host a speciose and abundant parasite fauna (97 helminth species currently known: 9 trematodes, 39 cestodes, 50 nematodes, 4 acanthocephalans). Understanding changes in helminth community structure over time and space can provide increased resolution in ecological modeling and other capacities to anticipate and identify accelerating changes in distribution for assemblages of hosts and pathogens.

Research Plan for REU Participant: Students in the program will be able to develop projects and test hypotheses addressing (1) the helminth community structure within populations of small mammals, especially Sorex longirostrus, in Southeastern Georgia (2) environmental and seasonal factors influencing the intestinal helminth and gut microbiomes of shrews (3) evolution and regional phylogeography of shrew tapeworms. Students will have the opportunity to utilize a broad range of field techniques, classical parasitological techniques (specimen staining and slide mounting, light and electron microscopy), molecular techniques (PCR, Sanger Sequencing, and Next Generation Sequencing), and bioinformatics approaches.

Visit Dr. Greiman's website for more information