SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London SCHOOL SEMINARS

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London Autumn Date Speaker Institution Host 16-Nov-12 Kevin Foster Oxford Dr Brown 28-Nov-12 Sylvain GandonMontpellier Prof Jansen 12-Dec-12 Alex Webb CambridgeProf Bogre School Seminar Series Munro Fox Lecture Theatre Wednesdays 4:00- 5:00

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London Spring DateSpeaker Institution Host 09-Jan-12Amanda HarveyBrunel Dr Devoto 23-Jan-12Claire RussellRoyal Veterinary Prof Williams 06-Feb-12Francis RatnieksSussex Dr Raine 20-Feb-12Julian HibberdCambridge Dr Lopez 06-Mar-12Virpi LummaSheffield Dr Ubeda 20-Mar-12Lee SweetloveOxford Prof Bramley School Seminar Series Munro Fox Lecture Theatre Wednesdays 4:00-5:00

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London FRIDAY 16 TH NOVEMBER 4 – 5PM, BOURNE LECTURE THEATRE 2 Professor Kevin Foster Professor of Evolutionary Biology, University of Oxford “Social evolution in microbes” Host: Dr Mark Brown, School Seminar Series

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London Social Evolution in Microbes Kevin Foster Professor of Evolutionary Biology University of Oxford Since Darwin, evolutionary biologists have been fascinated by cooperative behaviour. For example, honeybee workers labour their whole life without reproducing, birds make alarm calls, and humans often help one another. But how cooperative are cells in microbial groups? We study this question using a diversity of systems, including simulation models, pseudomonad bacteria and budding yeast. We find that genetic similarity is an emergent property of microbial groups that grow through simple cell division, which creates favourable conditions for cooperation among cells of a single species. Moreover, we find that microbes can actively adjust both their genetic mixing and investment into social traits in a way that promotes cooperation within a species. However, our models and experiments on the interactions between different microbial species suggest that – between species – the evolution of competitive phenotypes is more important than cooperation. This all suggests a model where microbes are nice to clonemates but not much else.

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London WEDNESDAY 28 th NOVEMBER 4 – 5PM, MUNRO FOX LECTURE THEATRE Sylvain Gandon Head of the Evolutionary Ecology and Epidemiolog team CEFE, Montpellier “Evolution of host defenses against pathogens: space, mothers and drugs” Host: Prof Vincent Jansen, School Seminar Series Munro Fox Lecture Theatre Wednesdays 4:00-5:00

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Royal Holloway University of London Evolution of host defenses against pathogens: space, mothers and drugs Sylvain Gandon Head of the Evolutionary, Ecology and Epidemiolog team CEFE, Montpellier Very different defense strategies may evolve against natural enemies. Here we explore the effects of various factors on this evolution. First, we will show how spatial structure can alter the evolutionary epidemiology of host resistance and even favor altruistic host defense strategies. Second, we will study conditions favoring the evolution of maternal transfer of immunity. Finally, we will explore the dilemma facing some bacterial hosts exposed to infections by either pathogens or foreign genetic elements carrying drug resistance School Seminar Series Munro Fox Lecture Theatre Wednesdays 4:00-5:00