2026
Jones, A.R.C., Mikhailova, A.A., Aumont, C., Berger, J., Liu, C., He, S., Wang, Z., Winkler, S., Bornberg-Bauer, E.*, Legendre, F.*, McMahon, D. P.*, Harrison, M.C.* Cryptocercus genomes expand knowledge of adaptations to xylophagy and termite sociality. Genome Biology and Evolution. 18: evag028. *Corresponding authors
Liu, C., Hellemans, S., Kinjo, Y., Mikhailova, A. A., Aumont, C. Weng, Y.-M., Buček, A., Husnik, F., Šobotník, J., Harrison, M. C., McMahon, D. P., Bourguignon, T. Recurrent horizontal gene transfers across diverse termite genomes, Evolution, 80: 751-764.
2025
Liu, C.†, Aumont, C.†, Mikhailova, A.A.†, […], Harrison, M.C.*, McMahon, D.P.*, Bourguignon, T.*. Unravelling termite evolution with 47 high-resolution genome assemblies. Nature Communications. 16, 11154. †*Equal contribution / Corresponding authors. (biorxiv, 2025.01. 20.633303)
Liu, C., Aumont, C., Mikhailova, A.A., […], Harrison, M.C., McMahon, D.P., Bourguignon, T. Robust termite phylogenies built using transposable element composition and insertion events. Current Biology. 35: 5626-5632.e2
Franz, M., Armitage, S.A.O., McMahon D.P., Subasi, B.S. and Rafaluk, C. (2025). Trade-offs in virulence evolution: a Hierarchy-of-Hypotheses approach. Trends in Parasitology, 41: 188-195.
Bueno da Silva, L.H., Goes, A.C., Rodrigues, A., Fourcassié, V., McMahon, D.P., Haifig, I. (2025). Social immune response reflects infection progression in a soldierless termite. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 79: 11.
Shafiey, H., Gogol-Döring, A., McMahon, D. P., Doublet, V., Disayathanoowat, T., & Paxton, R. J. (2025). A new variant of slow bee paralysis virus revealed by transcriptome analysis. Journal of Apicultural Research, 64: 56–59.
2024
Hellemans, S., Rocha, M. M., Wang, M., Romero Arias, J., […], McMahon, D. P., […], Bourguignon, T. (2024). Genomic data provide insights into the classification of extant termites. Nature Commununications, 5: 6724.
Golian, M. J., Friedman, D. A., Harrison, M. C., McMahon, D. P., Buellesbach, J. (2024). Chemical and transcriptomic diversity do not correlate with ascending levels of social complexity in the insect order Blattodea. Ecology and Evolution 14: e70063
2023
Esparza-Mora, M. A., Mazumdar, T., Jiang, S., Radek, R., Thiem, J. N., Feng, L., Petrašiūnaitė, V., Banasiak, R., Golian, M., Gleske, M., Lucas, C., Springer, A., Buellesbach, J., McMahon, D.P. 2023. Defensive behavior is linked to altered surface chemistry following infection in a termite society. Scientific Reports. 13: 20606
Jiang, S. Marco, H. G., Scheich, N., He, S., Wang, Z., Gäde, G., McMahon, D. P. 2023. Comparative analysis of adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) and their receptors (AKHRs) in Blattodea reveals novel patterns of gene evolution. Insect Molecular Biology 32: 615-633
Aumont, C., Beránková, T., McMahon, D.P., Radek, R., Akama, P.D., Sillam-Dussès, D., Šobotník, J. (2023) The ultrastructure of the rostral gland in soldiers of Verrucositermes tuberosus (Blattodea: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Arthropod Structure & Development 73: 101238.
Mazumdar, T., Bartholomäus, A., McMahon, D. P. 2023. Draft genome of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii DSM 1490. Microbiology Resource Announcements 12: e0126722.
2022
Sieksmeyer, T., He, S., Kuropka, B., Weise, C., Johnston, P.R., Rodríguez-Rojas, A., McMahon, D.P. (2022) Eating in a losing cause: anorexia and macronutrient manipulation by a cockroach fails to boost immunity. BMC Ecology and Evolution 22: 67.
Xing, N., Höfler, T., Hearn, C.J., Nascimento, M., Camps Paradell, G., McMahon, D.P., Kunec, D., Osterrieder, N., Cheng, H.H., Trimpert, J. (2022) Fast forwarding evolution—accelerated adaptation in a proofreading-deficient hypermutator herpesvirus. Virus Evolution 8: veac099.
Armitage, S. A. O., Genersch, E., McMahon, D. P., Rafaluk-Mohr, C., and Rolff, J. (2022). Tripartite interactions: How immunity, microbiota and pathogens interact and affect pathogen virulence evolution. Current Opinion in Insect Science 50: 100871
Golian, M., Bien, T., Schmelzle, S., Esparza-Mora, M.A., McMahon, D.P., Dreisewerd, K., Buellesbach, J. (2022) Neglected very long-chain hydrocarbons and the incorporation of body surface area metrics reveal novel perspectives for cuticular profile analysis in insects. Insects 13: 83.
2021
He, S., Sieksmeyer, T., Che Y., Esparza-Mora, M.A., Stiblik, P., Banasiak, R., Harrison, M.C., Šobotník, J., Wang, Z., Johnston, P.R., McMahon, D.P. (2021) Evidence for reduced immune gene diversity and activity during the evolution of termites. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 288: 20203168.
Goettsch, W.; Beerenwinkel, N.; Deng, L.; Dölken, L.; Dutilh, B.E.; Erhard, F.; Kaderali, L.; von Kleist, M.; Marquet, R.; Matthijnssens, J.; et al. (2021) ITN—VIROINF: Understanding (harmful) virus-host interactions by linking virology and bioinformatics. Viruses 13:766.
Tauber, J.P., McMahon, D. P., Ryabov, E.V., Kunat, M., Ptaszynska, A.A., Evans, J.D. (2021) Honeybee intestines retain low yeast titers, but no bacterial mutualists, at emergence. Yeast 39: 95-107.
2020
Oberpaul, M., Zumkeller, C.M., Culver, T., Spohn, M., Mihajlovic, S., Leis, B., Glaeser, S.P., Plarre, R., McMahon, D.P., Hammann, P., Schäberle, T.F., Glaeser, J., Vilcinskas A. (2020) High-throughput cultivation for the selective isolation of Acidobacteria from termite nests. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11:2830.
Pull, C. D., McMahon, D. P. (2020) Superorganism immunity: a major transition in immune system evolution. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8:186.
Tauber, J.B., Einspanier, R., Evans, J.D., McMahon, D.P. (2020) Co-incubation of dsRNA reduces proportion of viable spores of Ascosphaera apis, a honey bee fungal pathogen. Journal of Apicultural Research, 59:791-799.
Esparza Mora, M.A., Davis, H.E., Meconcelli, S., Plarre, R., McMahon, D.P. (2020) Inhibition of a secreted immune molecule interferes with termite social immunity. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8:75.
He, S., Johnston, P.R., McMahon, D.P. (2020) “Analyzing immunity in non-model insects using de novo transcriptomics”. In: Immunity in Insects. Springer Handbook. Eds: Tettamanti, G., Sandrelli, F.
2019
Bramke, K., Müller, U., McMahon, D.P., Rolff, J. (2019) Exposure of larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis to the honey bee pathogen Nosema ceranae affects life history. Insects, 10:380.
Bucek, A., Šobotník, J., He, S., Shi, M., McMahon, D.P., Holmes, E.C., Roisin, Y., Lo, N., Bourguignon, T. (2019) Evolution of termite symbiosis informed by transcriptome-based phylogenies. Current Biology doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.076
He, S., Johnston, P. R., McMahon, D. P. (2019). Analyzing immunity in non-model insects using de novo transcriptomics. Springer Protocols Handbooks. In press.
Trimpert, J., Groenke, N., Kunec, D., Escke, K., He, S., McMahon, D. P., Osterrieder, N. (2019). A proofreading-impaired herpesvirus generates populations with quasispecies-like structure. Nature Microbiology. doi:10.1038/s41564-019-0547-x
Müller, U., McMahon, D. P., Rolff, J. (2019). Exposure of the wild bee Osmia bicornis to the honey bee pathogen Nosema ceranae. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. Early View. https://doi.org/10.1111/afe.12338.
2018
Davis, H.E., Meconcelli, S., Radek, R., McMahon, D. P. (2018) Termites shape their collective behavioural response based on stage of infection. Scientific Reports. 8:14433. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32721-7
He, S., Johnston, P. R., Kuropka, B., Lokatis, S., Weise, C., Plarre, R., Kunte, H.-J., McMahon, D. P. (2018) Termite soldiers contribute to social immunity by synthesizing potent oral secretions. Insect Molecular Biology https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12499
Ibrahim B. et al. (2018) Bioinformatics Meets Virology: The European Virus Bioinformatics Center’s Second Annual Meeting. Viruses 14: E256. doi: 10.3390/v10050256
Ibrahim, B., McMahon, D.P., Hufsky, F., Beer, M., Deng, L., Le Mercier, P., Palmarini, M., Thiel, V., Marz, M. (2018) A new era of virus bioinformatics. Virus Research 251: 86-90. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.05.009
McMahon, D.P., Wilfert, L., Paxton, R. J, Brown, M.J.F. (2018) Emerging viruses in bees: from molecules to ecology. Advances in Virus Research 101: 251-291. doi: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2018.02.008 [PDF]
Hufsky, F., Ibrahim, B., Beer, M., Deng, L., Mercier, P.L., McMahon DP, et al. (2018) Virologists—Heroes need weapons. PLoS Pathogens 14: e1006771. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006771
2017
Trimpert, J., Groenke, N., Jenckel, M., He, S., Kunec, D., Szpara, M.L., Spatz, S.J., Osterrieder, N., McMahon, D.P. (2017). A phylogenomic analysis of Marek’s disease virus (MDV) reveals independent paths to virulence in Eurasia and North America. Evolutionary Applications. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12515
Natsopoulou, M.E.*, McMahon, D.P. .* (* = co-1st authors), Doublet, V., Frey, E., Rosenkranz, P., Paxton, R.J. (2017). The virulent, emerging genotype B of Deformed wing virus is closely linked to overwinter honeybee worker loss. Scientific Reports 7: 5242
Doublet, V. et al. (2017). Unity in defence: honeybee workers exhibit conserved molecular responses to diverse pathogens. BMC Genomics 18: 207. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-3597-6
2016
McMahon, D.P., Natsopoulou, M.E., Doublet, V., Fürst, M.A., Weging, S., Brown, M.J.F., Gogol-Döring, A., Paxton, R.J. (2016). Elevated virulence of an emerging viral genotype as a driver of honeybee loss. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences. 283: 20160811. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0811.
McMahon, D.P. & Hayward, A. (2016). Why grow up? A perspective on insect strategies to avoid metamorphosis. Ecological Entomology 41: 505-515 doi: 10.1111/een.12313
2015
Natsopoulou, M.E., McMahon, D.P., Paxton, R.J. (2015). Parasites modulate within-colony activity and accelerate the temporal polyethism schedule of a social insect, the honey bee. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 70: 1019-1031 doi: 10.1007/s00265-015-2019-5
Mayack, C., Natsopoulou, M.E., McMahon, D.P. (2015). Nosema ceranae alters a highly conserved hormonal stress pathway in honeybees. Insect Molecular Biology. 24: 662-670.
McMahon, D.P., Fürst, M.A., Caspar, J., Theodorou, P., Brown, M.J.F., Paxton, R.J. (2015). A sting in the spit: widespread cross-infection of multiple RNA viruses across wild and managed bees. Journal of Animal Ecology. 84: 615-624.
Natsopoulou, M.E.*, McMahon, D.P.* (* = co-1st authors), Doublet, V., Bryden, J., Paxton, R.J. (2015). Interspecific competition in honey bee intracellular gut parasites is asymmetric and favours the spread of an emerging infectious disease. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 282: 20141896. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1896
2014
Wolf, S., McMahon, D.P., Lim, K.S., Pull, C.D., Clark, S.J., Paxton, R.J., Osborne, J.L. (2014). So near and yet so far: Harmonic radar reveals reduced homing ability of Nosema infected honeybees. PLoS One, 9: e103989
Fürst, M.A., McMahon, D.P., Osborne, J.L., Paxton, R.J., Brown, M.J.F. (2014). Disease associations between honeybees and bumblebees as a threat to wild pollinators. Nature, 506:364–366. doi:10.1038/nature12977
2013
Fries, I., Chauzat, M.P., Chen, Y.P., Doublet, V., Genersch, G., Gisder, S., Higes, M.,McMahon, D.P. et al. (2013). Standard methods for Nosema research. In: Dietemann V, Ellis JD, Neumann P (Eds) The COLOSS BEEBOOK: standard methods for Apis mellifera research.Journal of Apicultural Research, 52.
Williams, G.R., Alaux, C., Costa, C., Csaki, T., Doublet, V., Eisenhardt, D., Fries, I., Kuhn, R.,McMahon, D.P. et al. (2013). Standard methods for maintaining adult Apis mellifera in cages under in vitro laboratory conditions. In: Dietemann V, Ellis JD, Neumann P (Eds) The COLOSS BEEBOOK: standard methods for Apis mellifera research. Journal of Apicultural Research, 52.
Suraporn, S., Natsopoulou, M.E., Doublet, V., McMahon, D.P., Paxton, R.J. (2013). Nosema ceranae is not detected in honey bees (Apis spp.) of northeast Thailand. Journal of Apicultural Research, 52:259-261
Spencer, J.S., Schoener, M., McMahon, D.P. (2013) DNA Underreplication in the majority of nuclei in the Drosophila melanogaster thorax: evidence from Suur and flow cytometry. Journal of Molecular Biology Research, 3. [PDF]
2012
Kathirithamby, J., Lechner, G.K., McMahon, D.P. et al. (2012). A Free Ride and Lunch: Stylopization in the Solitary Hunting Wasp, Ammophila Fernaldi Murray and A. Pictipennis (Walsh) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) By Paraxenos Lugubris Pierce (Strepsiptera). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 114:464-475.
Kathirithamby, J., McMahon, D.P., Anober-Lantican, G.M., Ocampo, V.R. (2012). An unusual occurrence of multiparasitism by two genera of Strepsiptera (Insecta) in a mango leafhopper Idioscopus clypealis (Lethierry) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the Philippines. Zootaxa, 3268:16-28.
2011
McMahon D.P., Hayward, A., Kathirithamby, J. (2011). Quick Guide: Strepsiptera. Current Biology, 21:R271-R27.
McMahon, D.P., Hayward, A., Kathirithamby, J. (2011). The first molecular phylogeny of Strepsiptera (Insecta) reveals an early burst of molecular evolution correlated with the transition to endoparasitism. PLoS One, 6: e21206.
Hayward, A.*, McMahon, D.P.*, (* = co-1st authors), Kathirithamby, J. (2011). Cryptic diversity and host specificity in a parasitoid where the sexes utilize hosts from separate orders. Molecular Ecology, 20: 1508-1528.
2010
Kathirithamby, J., Hatting, J.L., McMahon D.P. (2010). First host record and description of female Halictophagus calcaratus Pasteels (Strepsiptera: Insecta) from South Africa. African Entomology, 18:322-327.
2009
McMahon, D.P., Hayward, A., Kathirithamby, J. (2009). The mitochondrial genome of the ‘twisted-wing parasite’ Mengenilla australiensis (Insecta, Strepsiptera): a comparative study. BMC Genomics, 10: 603.
Kathirithamby, J., Hayward, H., McMahon, D.P. et al. (2009). Conspecifics of a heterotrophic heteronomous species of Strepsiptera (Insecta) are matched by molecular characterization. Systematic Entomology, 35:234-242.
McMahon Lab 