Prof Yannick Wurm
Professor of Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
genome evolution, bioinformatics, ants, pollinators, pollinator health, social insects
Interests
We develop and apply novel technologies to address major questions on:- how we can better measure health and well-being of pollinators including bees, butterflies and beetles. Our ultimate aim is to better support our biodiversity & ecosystems. As part of this we apply AI/ML image and video analysis, and RNA-seq transcriptomics.
- the genetics, evolution and behaviour of ant societies. We've discovered supergenes that determine queen number and applied population-genomic approaches to understand the tradeoffs of these remarkable genetic architectures.
As part of this, we also develop generic tools. See also:
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and Behaviour2025
A neonicotinoid pesticide causes tissue-specific gene expression changes in bumble beesWitwicka A, López-Osorio F, Chaudhry-Phipps H and Wurm Y
The Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier vol. 959
01-01-2025
2023
Transcriptomic responses to location learning by honeybee dancers are partly mirrored in the brains of dance-followers.Manfredini F, Wurm Y, Sumner S and Leadbeater E
Proc Biol Sci vol. 290 (2013)
20-12-2023
How genomics can help biodiversity conservation.Theissinger K, Fernandes C, Formenti G, Bista I, Berg PR, Bleidorn C, Bombarely A, Crottini A, Gallo GR, Godoy JA, Jentoft S, Malukiewicz J, Mouton A, Oomen RA, Paez S, Palsbøll PJ, Pampoulie C, Ruiz-López MJ, Secomandi S, Svardal H, et al.
Trends Genet vol. 39 (7), 545-559.
01-07-2023
Expression of subunits of an insecticide target receptor varies across tissues, life stages, castes, and species of social beesWitwicka A, López‐Osorio F, Patterson V and Wurm Y
Molecular Ecology, Wiley vol. 32 (5), 1034-1044.
17-01-2023
2022
Convergent evolution of a labile nutritional symbiosis in antsJackson R, Monnin D, Patapiou PA, Golding G, Helanterä H, Oettler J, Heinze J, Wurm Y, Economou CK, Chapuisat M and Henry LM
The Isme Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 16 (9), 2114-2122.
14-06-2022
Individual-based Modeling of Genome Evolution in Haplodiploid OrganismsPracana R, Burns R, Hammond RL, Haller BC and Wurm Y
Genome Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press vol. 14 (5)
02-05-2022
Recurring adaptive introgression of a supergene variant that determines social organizationStolle E, Pracana R, López-Osorio F, Priebe MK, Hernández GL, Castillo-Carrillo C, Arias MC, Paris CI, Bollazzi M, Priyam A and Wurm Y
Nature Communications, Nature Research vol. 13 (1)
11-03-2022
The era of reference genomes in conservation genomics.Formenti G, Theissinger K, Fernandes C, Bista I, Bombarely A, Bleidorn C, Ciofi C, Crottini A, Godoy JA, Höglund J, Malukiewicz J, Mouton A, Oomen RA, Paez S, Palsbøll PJ, Pampoulie C, Ruiz-López MJ, Svardal H, Theofanopoulou C, de Vries J, et al.
Trends Ecol Evol vol. 37 (3), 197-202.
01-03-2022
Genomic Signatures of Recent Adaptation in a Wild BumblebeeColgan TJ, Arce AN, Gill RJ, Ramos Rodrigues A, Kanteh A, Duncan EJ, Li L, Chittka L and Wurm Y
Molecular Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press vol. 39 (2)
01-02-2022
2021
Larger, more connected societies of ants have a higher prevalence of virusesBrahma A, Leon RG, Hernandez GL and Wurm Y
Molecular Ecology, Wiley vol. 31 (3), 859-865.
20-11-2021
Functional genomics of supergene-controlled behavior in the white-throated sparrow.Holland PWH, Jiggins CD, Liedvogel M, Warren G and Wurm Y
Faculty Reviews, Faculty Opinions Ltd vol. 10, 75-75.
29-09-2021
Social isolation and group size are associated with divergent gene expression in the brain of ant queensManfredini F, Martinez-Ruiz C, Wurm Y, Shoemaker DW and Brown MJF
Genes, Brain and Behavior, Wiley Open Access vol. 21 (3)
20-06-2021
2020
Evolution: The Legacy of Endosymbiosis in AntsJackson R, Henry LM and Wurm Y
Current Biology, Elsevier (Cell Press) vol. 30 (22), R1385-R1387.
16-11-2020
Genomic architecture and evolutionary antagonism drive allelic expression bias in the social supergene of red fire antsMartinez-Ruiz C, Pracana R, Stolle E, Paris CI, Nichols RA and Wurm Y
Elife, Elife vol. 9
10-08-2020
Only a Single Taxonomically Restricted Gene Family in the Drosophila melanogaster Subgroup Can Be Identified with High ConfidenceZile K, Dessimoz C, Wurm Y and Masel J
Genome Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 12 (8), 1355-1366.
26-06-2020
Healthy Pollinators: Evaluating Pesticides with Molecular Medicine ApproachesLópez-Osorio F and Wurm Y
Trends in Ecology and Evolution vol. 35 (5), 380-383.
04-03-2020
2019
Sequenceserver: A Modern Graphical User Interface for Custom BLAST DatabasesPriyam A, Woodcroft BJ, Rai V, Moghul I, Munagala A, Ter F, Chowdhary H, Pieniak I, Maynard LJ, Gibbins MA, Moon H, Davis-Richardson A, Uludag M, Watson-Haigh NS, Challis R, Nakamura H, Favreau E, Gómez EA, Pluskal T, Leonard G, et al.
Molecular Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 36 (12), 2922-2924.
14-08-2019
The first draft genomes of the ant Formica exsecta, and its Wolbachia endosymbiont reveal extensive gene transfer from endosymbiont to hostDhaygude K, Nair A, Johansson H, Wurm Y and Sundström L
Bmc Genomics, Biomed Central vol. 20 (1)
16-04-2019
Caste- and pesticide-specific effects of neonicotinoid pesticide exposure on gene expression in bumblebeesWURM Y and CHITTKA L
Molecular Ecology, Wiley
06-03-2019
Choosing the best gene predictions with GeneValidatorMoghul I, Priyam A and Wurm Y
Gene Prediction, Springer Science+Business Media, Llc, Part of Springer Nature vol. 1962, 257-267.
01-01-2019
2018
Degenerative Expansion of a Young SupergeneStolle E, Pracana R, Howard P, Paris CI, Brown SJ, Castillo-Carrillo C, Rossiter SJ and Wurm Y
Molecular Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 36 (3), 553-561.
21-12-2018
Foraging bumblebees acquire a preference for neonicotinoid-treated food with prolonged exposureArce AN, Rodrigues AR, Yu J, Colgan TJ, Wurm Y and Gill RJ
Proceedings of The Royal Society B, The Royal Society vol. 285 (1885)
29-08-2018
2017
Genes and genomic processes underpinning the social lives of antsFAVREAU E, Martínez Ruiz C, RODRIGUES SANTIAGO L, Hammond RL and WURM Y
Current Opinion in Insect Science, Elsevier vol. 25
20-12-2017
The Global Ant Genomics Alliance (GAGA)Boomsma JJ, Brady SG, Dunn RR, Gadau J, Heinze J, Keller L, Moreau CS, Sanders NJ, Schrader L, Schultz TR, Sundström L, Ward PS, Wcislo WT, Zhang G, Abouheif E, Adams RMM, Aron S, Bacci M, Bengston SE, Bernadou A, et al.
Myrmecological News vol. 25, 61-66.
01-10-2017
Fire ant social chromosomes: Differences in number, sequence and expression of odorant binding proteinsPracana R, Levantis I, Martínez-Ruiz C, Stolle E, Priyam A and Wurm Y
Evolution Letters vol. 1 (4), 199-210.
23-08-2017
The fire ant social chromosome supergene variant Sb shows low diversity but high divergence from SBPracana R, Priyam A, Levantis I, Nichols RA and Wurm Y
Molecular Ecology, Wiley vol. 26 (11), 2864-2879.
01-04-2017
2016
Impact of controlled neonicotinoid exposure on bumblebees in a realistic field settingArce AN, David TI, Randall EL, Ramos Rodrigues A, Colgan TJ, Wurm Y and Gill RJ
Journal of Applied Ecology
12-10-2016
Transcriptomic identification of starfish neuropeptide precursors yields new insights into neuropeptide evolutionSemmens DC, Mirabeau O, Moghul I, Pancholi MR, Wurm Y and Elphick MR
Open Biology, The Royal Society vol. 6 (2)
01-02-2016
GeneValidator: identify problems with protein-coding gene predictionsDrăgan M-A, Moghul I, Priyam A, Bustos C and Wurm Y
Bioinformatics vol. 32 (10), 1559-1561.
18-01-2016
2015
Arthropod genomics beyond fruit flies: bridging the gap between proximate and ultimate causationWurm Y
Briefings in Functional Genomics, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 14 (6), 381-383.
01-11-2015
Desktop as a Service supporting Environmental ‘omicsWallom DCH, Bowery A, Collier B, Field D, Kershaw P, Booth T, Priyam A and Wurm Y
2015 IEEE 11th International Conference on e-Science., 214-214.
01-08-2015
Ant genomics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): challenges to overcome and opportunities to seizeWURM Y and Nygaard S
Myrmecological News, ÖSterreichische Gesellschaft FüR Entomofaunistik (The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics) vol. 21, 59-72.
01-01-2015
2014
Effects of ploidy and sex-locus genotype on gene expression patterns in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.Nipitwattanaphon M, Wang J, Ross KG, Riba-Grognuz O, Wurm Y, Khurewathanakul C and Keller L
Proc Biol Sci vol. 281 (1797)
22-12-2014
Transposable element islands facilitate adaptation to novel environments in an invasive speciesSchrader L, Kim JW, Ence D, Zimin A, Klein A, Wyschetzki K, Weichselgartner T, Kemena C, Stökl J, Schultner E, Wurm Y, Smith CD, Yandell M, Heinze J, Gadau J and Oettler J
Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 5 (1)
16-12-2014
Social chromosome variants differentially affect queen determination and the survival of workers in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.Buechel SD, Wurm Y and Keller L
Mol Ecol vol. 23 (20), 5117-5127.
01-10-2014
Convergent genetic architecture underlies social organization in antsPurcell J, Brelsford A, Wurm Y, Perrin N and Chapuisat M
Current Biology, Cell Press vol. 24 (22), 2728-2732.
01-01-2014
2013
Discovery and molecular characterization of an ambisense densovirus from South American populations of Solenopsis invictaValles SM, Shoemaker DW, Wurm Y, Strong CA, Varone L, Becnel JJ and Shirk PD
Biological Control vol. 67 (3), 431-439.
01-12-2013
Social insect genomes exhibit dramatic evolution in gene composition and regulation while preserving regulatory features linked to socialitySimola DF, Wissler L, Donahue G, Waterhouse RM, Helmkampf M, Roux J, Nygaard S, Glastad KM, Hagen DE, Viljakainen L, Reese JT, Hunt BG, Graur D, Elhaik E, Kriventseva EV, Wen J, Parker BJ, Cash E, Privman E, Childers CP, et al.
Genome Research vol. 23 (8), 1235-1247.
01-08-2013
Comparative genomics of chemosensory protein genes reveals rapid evolution and positive selection in ant-specific duplicatesKulmuni J, Wurm Y and Pamilo P
Heredity vol. 110 (6), 538-547.
01-06-2013
Duplication and concerted evolution in a master sex determiner under balancing selection.Privman E, Wurm Y and Keller L
Proc Biol Sci vol. 280 (1758)
07-05-2013
A Y-like social chromosome causes alternative colony organization in fire ants.Wang J, Wurm Y, Nipitwattanaphon M, Riba-Grognuz O, Huang Y-C, Shoemaker D and Keller L
Nature vol. 493 (7434), 664-668.
31-01-2013
Comparative genomics of chemosensory protein genes reveals rapid evolution and positive selection in ant-specific duplicatesKulmuni J, Wurm Y and Pamilo P
Heredity
01-01-2013
Sociogenomics of Cooperation and Conflict during Colony Founding in the Fire Ant Solenopsis invictaManfredini F, Riba-Grognuz O, Wurm Y, Keller L, Shoemaker DW and Grozinger CM
Plos Genetics vol. 9 (8)
01-01-2013
Vitellogenin underwent subfunctionalization to acquire caste and behavioral specific expression in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus.Corona M, Libbrecht R, Wurm Y, Riba-Grognuz O, Studer RA and Keller L
Plos Genet vol. 9 (8)
01-01-2013
2012
The Molecular Clockwork of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invictaIngram KK, Kutowoi A, Wurm Y, Shoemaker DW, Meier R and Bloch G
Plos One vol. 7 (11)
13-11-2012
Epigenetics: the making of ant castes.Chittka A, Wurm Y and Chittka L
Curr Biol vol. 22 (19), R835-R838.
09-10-2012
The genomic impact of 100 million years of social evolution in seven ant speciesGadau J, Helmkampf M, Nygaard S, Roux J, Simola DF, Smith CR, Suen G, Wurm Y and Smith CD
Trends in Genetics vol. 28 (1), 14-21.
01-01-2012
2011
Visualization and quality assessment of de novo genome assemblies.Riba-Grognuz O, Keller L, Falquet L, Xenarios I and Wurm Y
Bioinformatics vol. 27 (24), 3425-3426.
15-12-2011
Relaxed selection is a precursor to the evolution of phenotypic plasticityHunt BG, Ometto L, Wurm Y, Shoemaker DW, Yi SV, Keller L and Goodisman MAD
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America vol. 108 (38), 15936-15941.
20-10-2011
The genome of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior suggests key adaptations to advanced social life and fungus farmingNygaard S, Zhang G, Schiøtt M, Li C, Wurm Y, Hu H, Zhou J, Ji L, Qiu F, Rasmussen M, Pan H, Hauser F, Krogh A, Grimmelikhuijzen CJP, Wang J and Boomsma JJ
Genome Research vol. 21 (8), 1339-1348.
01-08-2011
The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.Wurm Y, Wang J, Riba-Grognuz O, Corona M, Nygaard S, Hunt BG, Ingram KK, Falquet L, Nipitwattanaphon M, Gotzek D, Dijkstra MB, Oettler J, Comtesse F, Shih C-J, Wu W-J, Yang C-C, Thomas J, Beaudoing E, Pradervand S, Flegel V, et al.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A vol. 108 (14), 5679-5684.
05-04-2011
Odorant binding proteins of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta: an example of the problems facing the analysis of widely divergent proteins.Gotzek D, Robertson HM, Wurm Y and Shoemaker D
Plos One vol. 6 (1)
31-01-2011
2010
Parasitoid wasps: from natural history to genomic studies.Wurm Y and Keller L
Curr Biol vol. 20 (5), R242-R244.
09-03-2010
Changes in reproductive roles are associated with changes in gene expression in fire ant queens.Wurm Y, Wang J and Keller L
Mol Ecol vol. 19 (6), 1200-1211.
01-03-2010
2009
Fourmidable: a database for ant genomics.Wurm Y, Uva P, Ricci F, Wang J, Jemielity S, Iseli C, Falquet L and Keller L
Bmc Genomics vol. 10
06-01-2009
2007
Behavioral genomics: A, bee, C, G, T.Wurm Y, Wang J and Keller L
Curr Biol vol. 17 (2), R51-R53.
23-01-2007
An annotated cDNA library and microarray for large-scale gene-expression studies in the ant Solenopsis invicta.Wang J, Jemielity S, Uva P, Wurm Y, Gräff J and Keller L
Genome Biol vol. 8 (1)
01-01-2007
2005
Cryostock - A software for cell culture managementZerlin M, Greiffenberg L, Wurm Y, Winkler I, Kreusel D, Toemoe S, Ballabas L and Martin J
Animal Cell Technology Meets Genomics., 397-400.
01-01-2005
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and BehaviourTransforming meiofaunal molecular systematics and community ecology through nanopore-based transcriptome skimmingYannick Wurm
£79,493 NHM Natural History Museum
01-10-2024 - 30-09-2028
‘Building a Bioinformatics Ecosystem for Agri-EcologistsYannick Wurm
£37,394 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
18-09-2023 - 17-09-2026
BBKA - Lido iCase studentshipYannick Wurm
£6,000 BBKA British Beekeepers Association
01-09-2023 - 31-08-2027
Transcriptomic diagnostics for identifying interactive effects of pesticides, food deficiency, and heat stress on bee healthYannick Wurm
£548,472 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
06-04-2021 - 05-05-2025
Characterization of high quality genome map for the Mayfly Ephemera danicaYannick Wurm and James Pretty
£35,232 Environment Agency, The
15-01-2022 - 14-01-2023
ConvergeAnt - Federico Lopez FellowshipYannick Wurm
£179,947 EU Commission - Horizon 2020
04-10-2019 - 25-02-2022
EvolvAnt - Anindita Brahma FellowshipYannick Wurm
£170,347 EU Commission - Horizon 2020
23-05-2019 - 04-08-2021
Industrial CASE StudentshipYannick Wurm
£107,303 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-10-2018 - 01-12-2022