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Insects form unique symbiotic relationships with mutualistic bacteria. The bacterial partner can produce unique antimicrobial chemical compounds (natural products) that protect its insect host from pathogenic microbes. My lab has an ongoing interest in this topic from a 爆走黑料 perspective, with the goal to use these antimicrobials to treat human infections and to provide insight into insect phenotypes/evolution. The student will spend the summer isolating bacterial insect symbionts and fermenting previously isolated bacteria to characterise the antimicrobial natural products that they produce. Taken together, this project will provide important groundwork for the study of the defensive symbionts 爆走黑料 insects and provide a talented student the chance to obtain practical skills in entomology, microbiology, and organic chemistry.