Julian Hillyer
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Research Interests: Julian Hillyer’s long-term interests lie in the biology of pathogens in the mosquito hemocoel, focusing on aspects of physiology and immunology that limit systemic infections. In this quest, the Hillyer lab employs molecular and imaging techniques in efforts to expand our understanding of the biology of mosquito hemocytes (immune blood cells), pericardial cells (nephrocytes), and hemolymph (insect blood) propulsion in the mosquito hemocoel (body cavity). This research is expected to contribute to the development of novel pest and disease control strategies, and is of interest to vector biologists, insect physiologists, comparative immunologists, and evolutionary biologists.
Keywords: Mosquito immunology and physiology, host-parasite interactions