About Nicolas Rascovan
The research interest of my lab is centered in the study of infectious diseases and human microbiomes from an evolutionary, ecological and historical perspective. Using ancient DNA techniques, we reconstruct whole genomes from ancient strains of human microbes (including pathogens and commensals) and use phylogenetic driven approaches to understand how, where and when these microbes emerged in human populations and how they spread and evolved over time and geographies. We apply this approach to search for new DNA mutations associated to virulence, host-microbe interactions and antibiotic resistance and to better understand the epidemiology of infectious diseases.