Dr Sam Mugford
Research Assistant
When two organisms are involved in an arms race for supremacy, evolution operates at a fast pace and generates some fascinating biology.
Sam works in Professor Saskia Hogenhout’s laboratory, exploring the interactions of plants and their sap-sucking aphid pests.
In particular he is investigating how plants respond to attack by aphids, and how the aphids are able to manipulate those responses.
Sam’s previous work has focused on how plants are able to control their metabolism to adapt to diverse environmental conditions.
Selected Publications
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Mirkin FG, Mugford ST, Thole V, Marzo M, Hogenhout S (2025)Effector innovation in genome-reduced phytoplasmas and other host-dependent mollicutes.PLoS geneticsPublisher's version: 1553-7390
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Mathers TC,Wouters RHM,Mugford ST,Swarbreck D,van Oosterhout C,Hogenhout SA (2020)Chromosome-scale genome assemblies of aphids reveal extensively rearranged autosomes and long-term conservation of the X chromosome.Molecular Biology and EvolutionPublisher's version: 0737-4038
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Mathers T. C., Mugford S. T., Percival-Alwyn L., Chen Y., Kaithakottil G., Swarbreck D., Hogenhout S. A., van Oosterhout C. (2019)Sex-specific changes in the aphid DNA methylation landscape.Molecular Ecology (28)Publisher's version: 0962-1083