Líneas de Investigación
Mi interés se centra en las interacciones insecto-planta desde una perspectiva que aborda causas proximales (ecológicas) y distales (evolutivas). Esta aproximación pretende contribuir al conocimiento de los patrones de herbivoría observados en sistemas naturales y productivos. Desde el punto de vista de las causas proximales, me interesan particularmente los mecanismos conductuales y morfológicos de los insectos respecto de sus patrones alimentarios, así como los mecanismos de defensas químicas y morfológicas de las plantas en respuesta al ataque de insectos fitófagos. En relación a las causas distales, me interesa la asociación correlacional o experimental entre los mecanismos proximales y parámetros reproductivos de los pares interactuantes. Estos aspectos los he estudiado en insectos hemípteros de la Aphididae, los cuales constituyen en Chile importantes plagas de cultivos. Los patrones de herbivoría de especies nativas de este grupo de insectos son también parte de mi interés
Mahieu,L.,González-González, A., Rubio-Meléndez, M.E., Francis, F., Ramirez, C.C. (2024). An aphid pest superclone benefits from a facultative bacterial endosymbiont in a host dependent-manner, Leading to Reproductive and Proteomic Changes.Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 117: e22154. https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.22154
Moya-Hernández, M.,Rubio-Meléndez, M.E., Zepeda-paulo, F.A.,Ramirez, C.C. (2024) Are competitive interactions between aphid clones mediated by facultative endosymbionts?.https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4021194/v1
Gonzalez-Gonzalez, A., Cabrera, N., Rubio-Meléndez, M.E., Sepúlveda, D.A. Ceballos, R., Fernández, N., Francis, R., Figueroa, C.C., Ramirez, C.C. (2023) Facultative endosymbionts modulate the aphid reproductive performance on wheat cultivars differing in contents of benzoxazinoids. Pest Management Science. Pest Manag Sci, 80: 1949-1956. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7932
Negin, B., Shachar, L., Meir, S. Ramirez, C.C., Rami Horowitz, A. Jander, G., Aharoni, A. (2023). Fatty alcohols, a minor component of the tree tobacco surface wax, reduce insect herbivory. Plant, Cell & Environment. 47, 664–681. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14752
Veloz, T., Ramírez, C.C. (2022) The complex and systemic establishment of interactions in the ecological communities. Revista Modelamiento Matemático de Sistemas Biológicos. 2: 27-33. https://revistammsb.utem.cl/?p=586
Ramírez, C. C., Gundel, P. E., Karley, A. J., & Leybourne, D. J. (2023). To tolerate drought or resist aphids? A new challenge to plant science is on the horizon. Journal of Experimental Botany, 74(6), 1745–1750. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erad012
Yanez-Segovia, S., Ramirez, C. C., Lindroth, R. L., & Fuentes-Contreras, E. (2023). Resistance against Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) among hybrid clones of Populus spp. in central Chile. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad129
Villarroel, C. A., González-González, A., Alvarez-Baca, J. K., Villarreal, P., Ballesteros, G. I., Figueroa, C. C., Cubillos, F. A., & Ramírez, C. C. (2022). Genome sequencing of a predominant clonal lineage of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103742
González-González, A., Yañez, O., Ballesteros, G. I., Palma-Millanao, R., Figueroa, C. C., Niemeyer, H. M., & Ramírez, C. C. (2022). A mutation increases the specificity to plant compounds in an insect chemosensory protein. Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling, 114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108191
Serteyn, L., Bosquee, E., Delatour, A., Rubio-Melendez, M. E., Vega-Muñoz, K. V, Ramirez, C. C., & Francis, F. (2021). Multi-approach comparative study of the two most prevalent genotypes of pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Chile. Entomological Science, 24(1), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/ens.12436
Alvarez-Lagazzi, AP; Cabrera, N; Francis, F; Ramirez, CC. 2021. Bacillus subtilis (Bacillales, Bacillaceae) Spores Affect Survival and Population Growth in the Grain Aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in Relation to the Presence of the Facultative Bacterial Endosymbiont Regiella insecticola (Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae). Journal Of Economic Entomology. DOI: 10.1093/jee/toab164
Serteyn, L., Bosquée, E., Delatour, A., Rubio-Meléndez, M.E., Vega-Muñoz, .K., Ramírez, C.C. Francis, F. (2020) Multi-approach comparative study of the two most prevalent genotypes of pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Chile. DOI:10.1111/ens.12436.
Basoalto, A., Ram;irez, C.C., Lavandero, B., Devotto, L., Curkovic, T., Franck, P., Fuentes-Contreras, E. (2020) Population genetic structure of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in different localities and host plants in Chile. Insects, 11(5): 285.
Serteyn, L., Quaghebeur, C., Ongena. M., Cabrera, N., Barrera, A. Molina-Montenegro, M.A., Francis, F., Ramirez, C.C. 2020. Induced systemic resistance by a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium impacts development and feeding behavior of aphids. Insects 11(4):234
Rubio-Meléndez, M.E., Barrios-SanMartin, J., Pina-Castro, F.E., Figueroa, C.C., Ramirez, C.C. 2019. Asexual reproduction of a few genotypes favored the invasion of the cereal aphid Rhopalosiphum padi in Chile. PeerJ 7:e7366
González-González, A. Rubio-Meléndez, M.E, Ballesteros, G.I., Ramírez, C.C., Palma-Millanao, R. 2019. Sex- and tissue-specific expression of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins in adults of the scarab beetle Hylamorpha elegans (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). PeerJ 7:e7054
Ramírez-Cáceres, G.E., Moya-Hernández, M.G., Quilodrán, M., Nespolo, R.F., Ceballos, R., Villagra, C.A., Ramírez, C.C. 2019. Harbouring the secondary endosymbiont Regiella insecticola increases predation risk and reproduction in the cereal aphid Sitobion avenae. J. Pest Sci. 92:1039-1047
Regular Fondecyt Nº 1230406 (2023-2026): Unraveling the relationship between aphid resistance and drought tolerance in a crop: an integrative approach in potatoes. Investigador principal.
AGCID-Chile (2023-2025). Aggressive interactions between biocultures: study of adaptation mechanisms for the development of sustainable control strategies in the context of climate change. Investigator in charge of the Chilean part. Valonia-Bruselas Internacional (WBI)
IVAC III- DAAD. (2023) Isolation in fragmented landscapes -concepts, exchange & practical skills. International Virtual Academic Collaboration. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Núcleo Milenio en Ecología Molecular y AplicacionesEvolutivas en Agroecosistemas (2013-2016), NC120027. Iniciativa Científica Milenio. Sub-Director.
Fondecyt Regular Nº 1131008 (2013-2017): Genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity of “superclones” of main aphid pest species in Chile: searching for causes of their success. Main researcher.
Fondecyt Regular N° 1130483 (2013-2017) Molecular mechanisms underpinning host-adaptation in a parasitoid wasp: a novel approach to increase the efficacy of biological control. Co-investigador.
Fondecyt Regular N° 1110341 (2011-2014): Putative host refuges for Aphidiuservi: colonization of early season crop fields from adjacent natural habitats. Co-investigador.
Fondecyt Regular N° 1100746 (2010-2013): Outbreaks and resurgences of the green peach aphid Myzuspersicae (Sulzer) in peaches and nectarines orchards: where do the aphids come from?Main researcher.
MEC 80112012 (2010) Ecología y microevolución de lasplagasinstroducidas a Chile: El caso del pulgónmásdañinoque ha llegado a Chile. Main researcher.
Ecos-Conicyt C08B02 (2009-2011): Influence of sexualreproduction on the genetic architecture of life history traits using aphids as model systems. Co-researcher.
Fondecyt Grant Nº 1071029 (2007-2010): Gene flow assessment and the relation with insecticide resistance to the codling moth (Cydiapomonella). Co-researcher.