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 Biodiversity and Sustainability2025
Witwicka A, López-Osorio F, Chaudhry-Phipps H and Wurm Y (2025). A neonicotinoid pesticide causes tissue-specific gene expression changes in bumble bees. The Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier vol. 959 01-01-2025
2023
Manfredini F, Wurm Y, Sumner S and Leadbeater E (2023). Transcriptomic responses to location learning by honeybee dancers are partly mirrored in the brains of dance-followers. Proc Biol Sci vol. 290 (2013) 20-12-2023
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. (2023). How genomics can help biodiversity conservation. Trends Genet vol. 39 (7), 545-559. 01-07-2023
Witwicka A, López‐Osorio F, Patterson V and Wurm Y (2023). Expression of subunits of an insecticide target receptor varies across tissues, life stages, castes, and species of social bees. Molecular Ecology, Wiley vol. 32 (5), 1034-1044. 17-01-2023
2022
Jackson R, Monnin D, Patapiou PA, Golding G, Helanterä H, Oettler J, Heinze J, Wurm Y, Economou CK, Chapuisat M and Henry LM (2022). Convergent evolution of a labile nutritional symbiosis in ants. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology, Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 16 (9), 2114-2122. 14-06-2022
Pracana R, Burns R, Hammond RL, Haller BC and Wurm Y (2022). Individual-based Modeling of Genome Evolution in Haplodiploid Organisms. Genome Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press vol. 14 (5) 02-05-2022
Stolle E, Pracana R, López-Osorio F, Priebe MK, Hernández GL, Castillo-Carrillo C, Arias MC, Paris CI, Bollazzi M, Priyam A and Wurm Y (2022). Recurring adaptive introgression of a supergene variant that determines social organization. Nature Communications, Nature Research vol. 13 (1) 11-03-2022
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. (2022). The era of reference genomes in conservation genomics. Trends Ecol Evol vol. 37 (3), 197-202. 01-03-2022
Colgan TJ, Arce AN, Gill RJ, Ramos Rodrigues A, Kanteh A, Duncan EJ, Li L, Chittka L and Wurm Y (2022). Genomic Signatures of Recent Adaptation in a Wild Bumblebee. Molecular Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press vol. 39 (2) 01-02-2022
2021
Brahma A, Leon RG, Hernandez GL and Wurm Y (2021). Larger, more connected societies of ants have a higher prevalence of viruses. Molecular Ecology, Wiley vol. 31 (3), 859-865. 20-11-2021
Holland PWH, Jiggins CD, Liedvogel M, Warren G and Wurm Y (2021). Functional genomics of supergene-controlled behavior in the white-throated sparrow. Faculty Reviews, Faculty Opinions Ltd vol. 10, 75-75. 29-09-2021
Manfredini F, Martinez-Ruiz C, Wurm Y, Shoemaker DW and Brown MJF (2021). Social isolation and group size are associated with divergent gene expression in the brain of ant queens. Genes, Brain and Behavior, Wiley Open Access vol. 21 (3) 20-06-2021
2020
Jackson R, Henry LM and Wurm Y (2020). Evolution: The Legacy of Endosymbiosis in Ants. Current Biology, Elsevier (Cell Press) vol. 30 (22), R1385-R1387. 16-11-2020
Martinez-Ruiz C, Pracana R, Stolle E, Paris CI, Nichols RA and Wurm Y (2020). Genomic architecture and evolutionary antagonism drive allelic expression bias in the social supergene of red fire ants. eLife, eLife vol. 9 10-08-2020
Zile K, Dessimoz C, Wurm Y and Masel J (2020). Only a Single Taxonomically Restricted Gene Family in the Drosophila melanogaster Subgroup Can Be Identified with High Confidence. Genome Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 12 (8), 1355-1366. 26-06-2020
López-Osorio F and Wurm Y (2020). Healthy Pollinators: Evaluating Pesticides with Molecular Medicine Approaches. Trends in Ecology and Evolution vol. 35 (5), 380-383. 04-03-2020
2019
Priyam 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. (2019). Sequenceserver: A Modern Graphical User Interface for Custom BLAST Databases. Molecular Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 36 (12), 2922-2924. 14-08-2019
Dhaygude K, Nair A, Johansson H, Wurm Y and Sundström L (2019). The first draft genomes of the ant Formica exsecta, and its Wolbachia endosymbiont reveal extensive gene transfer from endosymbiont to host. BMC Genomics, BioMed Central vol. 20 (1) 16-04-2019
WURM Y and CHITTKA L (2019). Caste- and pesticide-specific effects of neonicotinoid pesticide exposure on gene expression in bumblebees. Molecular Ecology, Wiley 06-03-2019
Moghul I, Priyam A and Wurm Y (2019). Choosing the best gene predictions with GeneValidator. Gene Prediction, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature vol. 1962, 257-267. 01-01-2019
2018
Stolle E, Pracana R, Howard P, Paris CI, Brown SJ, Castillo-Carrillo C, Rossiter SJ and Wurm Y (2018). Degenerative Expansion of a Young Supergene. Molecular Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 36 (3), 553-561. 21-12-2018
Arce AN, Rodrigues AR, Yu J, Colgan TJ, Wurm Y and Gill RJ (2018). Foraging bumblebees acquire a preference for neonicotinoid-treated food with prolonged exposure. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, The Royal Society vol. 285 (1885) 29-08-2018
2017
FAVREAU E, Martínez Ruiz C, RODRIGUES SANTIAGO L, Hammond RL and WURM Y (2017). Genes and genomic processes underpinning the social lives of ants. Current Opinion in Insect Science, Elsevier vol. 25 20-12-2017
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. (2017). The Global Ant Genomics Alliance (GAGA). Myrmecological News vol. 25, 61-66. 01-10-2017
Pracana R, Levantis I, Martínez-Ruiz C, Stolle E, Priyam A and Wurm Y (2017). Fire ant social chromosomes: Differences in number, sequence and expression of odorant binding proteins. Evolution Letters vol. 1 (4), 199-210. 23-08-2017
Pracana R, Priyam A, Levantis I, Nichols RA and Wurm Y (2017). The fire ant social chromosome supergene variant Sb shows low diversity but high divergence from SB. Molecular Ecology, Wiley vol. 26 (11), 2864-2879. 01-04-2017
2016
Arce AN, David TI, Randall EL, Ramos Rodrigues A, Colgan TJ, Wurm Y and Gill RJ (2016). Impact of controlled neonicotinoid exposure on bumblebees in a realistic field setting. Journal of Applied Ecology 12-10-2016
Semmens DC, Mirabeau O, Moghul I, Pancholi MR, Wurm Y and Elphick MR (2016). Transcriptomic identification of starfish neuropeptide precursors yields new insights into neuropeptide evolution. Open Biology, The Royal Society vol. 6 (2) 01-02-2016
Drăgan M-A, Moghul I, Priyam A, Bustos C and Wurm Y (2016). GeneValidator: identify problems with protein-coding gene predictions. Bioinformatics vol. 32 (10), 1559-1561. 18-01-2016
2015
Wurm Y (2015). Arthropod genomics beyond fruit flies: bridging the gap between proximate and ultimate causation. Briefings in Functional Genomics, Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 14 (6), 381-383. 01-11-2015
Wallom DCH, Bowery A, Collier B, Field D, Kershaw P, Booth T, Priyam A and Wurm Y (2015). Desktop as a Service supporting Environmental ‘omics. 2015 IEEE 11th International Conference on e-Science. 01-08-2015
WURM Y and Nygaard S (2015). Ant genomics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): challenges to overcome and opportunities to seize. Myrmecological News, Österreichische Gesellschaft für Entomofaunistik (The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics) vol. 21, 59-72. 01-01-2015
2014
Nipitwattanaphon M, Wang J, Ross KG, Riba-Grognuz O, Wurm Y, Khurewathanakul C and Keller L (2014). Effects of ploidy and sex-locus genotype on gene expression patterns in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Proc Biol Sci vol. 281 (1797) 22-12-2014
Schrader 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 (2014). Transposable element islands facilitate adaptation to novel environments in an invasive species. Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 5 (1) 16-12-2014
Buechel SD, Wurm Y and Keller L (2014). Social chromosome variants differentially affect queen determination and the survival of workers in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Mol Ecol vol. 23 (20), 5117-5127. 01-10-2014
Purcell J, Brelsford A, Wurm Y, Perrin N and Chapuisat M (2014). Convergent genetic architecture underlies social organization in ants. Current Biology, Cell Press vol. 24 (22), 2728-2732. 01-01-2014
2013
Valles SM, Shoemaker DW, Wurm Y, Strong CA, Varone L, Becnel JJ and Shirk PD (2013). Discovery and molecular characterization of an ambisense densovirus from South American populations of Solenopsis invicta. Biological Control vol. 67 (3), 431-439. 01-12-2013
Simola 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. (2013). Social insect genomes exhibit dramatic evolution in gene composition and regulation while preserving regulatory features linked to sociality. Genome Research vol. 23 (8), 1235-1247. 01-08-2013
Kulmuni J, Wurm Y and Pamilo P (2013). Comparative genomics of chemosensory protein genes reveals rapid evolution and positive selection in ant-specific duplicates. Heredity vol. 110 (6), 538-547. 01-06-2013
Privman E, Wurm Y and Keller L (2013). Duplication and concerted evolution in a master sex determiner under balancing selection. Proc Biol Sci vol. 280 (1758) 07-05-2013
Wang J, Wurm Y, Nipitwattanaphon M, Riba-Grognuz O, Huang Y-C, Shoemaker D and Keller L (2013). A Y-like social chromosome causes alternative colony organization in fire ants. Nature vol. 493 (7434), 664-668. 31-01-2013
Kulmuni J, Wurm Y and Pamilo P (2013). Comparative genomics of chemosensory protein genes reveals rapid evolution and positive selection in ant-specific duplicates. Heredity 01-01-2013
Manfredini F, Riba-Grognuz O, Wurm Y, Keller L, Shoemaker DW and Grozinger CM (2013). Sociogenomics of Cooperation and Conflict during Colony Founding in the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta. PLoS Genetics vol. 9 (8) 01-01-2013
Corona M, Libbrecht R, Wurm Y, Riba-Grognuz O, Studer RA and Keller L (2013). Vitellogenin underwent subfunctionalization to acquire caste and behavioral specific expression in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus. PLoS Genet vol. 9 (8) 01-01-2013
2012
Ingram KK, Kutowoi A, Wurm Y, Shoemaker DW, Meier R and Bloch G (2012). The Molecular Clockwork of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta. PLoS ONE vol. 7 (11) 13-11-2012
Chittka A, Wurm Y and Chittka L (2012). Epigenetics: the making of ant castes. Curr Biol vol. 22 (19), R835-R838. 09-10-2012
Gadau J, Helmkampf M, Nygaard S, Roux J, Simola DF, Smith CR, Suen G, Wurm Y and Smith CD (2012). The genomic impact of 100 million years of social evolution in seven ant species. Trends in Genetics vol. 28 (1), 14-21. 01-01-2012
2011
Riba-Grognuz O, Keller L, Falquet L, Xenarios I and Wurm Y (2011). Visualization and quality assessment of de novo genome assemblies. Bioinformatics vol. 27 (24), 3425-3426. 15-12-2011
Hunt BG, Ometto L, Wurm Y, Shoemaker DW, Yi SV, Keller L and Goodisman MAD (2011). Relaxed selection is a precursor to the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America vol. 108 (38), 15936-15941. 20-10-2011
Nygaard 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 (2011). The genome of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior suggests key adaptations to advanced social life and fungus farming. Genome Research vol. 21 (8), 1339-1348. 01-08-2011
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. (2011). The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A vol. 108 (14), 5679-5684. 05-04-2011
Gotzek D, Robertson HM, Wurm Y and Shoemaker D (2011). Odorant binding proteins of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta: an example of the problems facing the analysis of widely divergent proteins. PLoS One vol. 6 (1) 31-01-2011
2010
Wurm Y and Keller L (2010). Parasitoid wasps: from natural history to genomic studies. Curr Biol vol. 20 (5), R242-R244. 09-03-2010
Wurm Y, Wang J and Keller L (2010). Changes in reproductive roles are associated with changes in gene expression in fire ant queens. Mol Ecol vol. 19 (6), 1200-1211. 01-03-2010
2009
Wurm Y, Uva P, Ricci F, Wang J, Jemielity S, Iseli C, Falquet L and Keller L (2009). Fourmidable: a database for ant genomics. BMC Genomics vol. 10 06-01-2009
2007
Wurm Y, Wang J and Keller L (2007). Behavioral genomics: A, bee, C, G, T. Curr Biol vol. 17 (2), R51-R53. 23-01-2007
Wang J, Jemielity S, Uva P, Wurm Y, Gräff J and Keller L (2007). An annotated cDNA library and microarray for large-scale gene-expression studies in the ant Solenopsis invicta. Genome Biol vol. 8 (1) 01-01-2007
2005
Zerlin M, Greiffenberg L, Wurm Y, Winkler I, Kreusel D, Toemoe S, Ballabas L and Martin J (2005). Cryostock - A software for cell culture management. 01-01-2005
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Biodiversity and SustainabilityTransforming 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 - 05-03-2025)
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)
Collab ImperialYannick Wurm
£3,330 NERC Natural Environment Research Council (22-06-2017 - 21-04-2020)