Assist. Prof. Dr. Marzieh kashkouli | Insect Symbionts | Best Researcher Award
Isfahan University of Technology | United Arab Emirates
Dr. Marzieh Kashkouli is a distinguished researcher in biotechnology and pest control, specializing in microbial symbionts in insects, biological pest management, and insect genomics. Her work has advanced understanding of host–microbe interactions and sustainable agriculture, including the discovery of the bacterial symbiont Candidatus Pantoea persica. She focuses on manipulating insect symbionts for eco-friendly pest control and studying molecular mechanisms of pest resistance, integrating molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. Dr. Kashkouli has authored numerous international publications and a book chapter, and collaborated on projects investigating genome reduction in symbionts and pesticide resistance in whiteflies. Her research explores symbiont effects on insect physiology and plant defense, bridging molecular insights with applied pest management. With extensive laboratory and analytical expertise, she contributes to biological control strategies, uncovers novel microbial interactions, and reveals evolutionary patterns among insect symbionts. She has led international collaborations and mentored numerous students, fostering the next generation of researchers in biotechnology and entomology. As a reviewer and invited speaker, she actively shapes scientific discourse and promotes innovation in sustainable agriculture. Her leadership and multidisciplinary research continue to advance biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, and the integration of molecular biology with applied pest science, providing practical solutions for global agricultural challenges. Dr. Kashkouli remains dedicated to expanding knowledge of insect–microbe interactions, driving forward translational research with significant ecological and economic impact.
Profile: Orcid
Publications
Kashkouli, M., Castelli, M., Floriano, A. M., Bandi, C., Epis, S., Fathipour, Y., Mehrabadi, M., & Sassera, D. (2021). Characterization of a novel Pantoea symbiont allows inference of a pattern of convergent genome reduction in bacteria associated with Pentatomidae. Environmental Microbiology.
Kashkouli, M., Fathipour, Y., & Mehrabadi, M. (2021). The crucial role of the endosymbiont Pantoea sp. in morphology and mating of the pistachio green stink bug, Brachynema germari (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology.
Kashkouli, M., Fathipour, Y., & Mehrabadi, M. (2020). Habitat visualization, acquisition features and necessity of the gammaproteobacterial symbiont of pistachio stink bug, Acrosternum heegeri (Hem.: Pentatomidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research.
Kashkouli, M., Fathipour, Y., Mehrabadi, M., & Hulcr, J. (2019). Heritable gammaproteobacterial symbiont improves the fitness of Brachynema germari Kolenati (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Environmental Entomology.
Kashkouli, M., Fathipour, Y., & Mehrabadi, M. (2019). Potential management tactics for pistachio stink bugs, Brachynema germari, Acrosternum heegeri and Acrosternum arabicum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): High temperature and chemical surface sterilants leading to symbiont suppression. Journal of Economic Entomology.
Kashkouli, M., Khajehali, J., & Poorjavad, N. (2014). Impact of entomopathogenic nematodes on Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) life stages in the laboratory and under semi-field conditions. Journal of Biopesticides.