DIETRICH MURIEL

Research interests

My research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions, applied to insular biogeographical context.  I examine the ecological factors that influence the diversity and structure of parasite populations, and infection dynamics within wild animal populations.

My current research projects aim at understanding how bat population heterogeneity and structure may influence infection dynamics. I study the dispersal and aggregation of these flying mammals, together with the transmission and diversity of their infectious agents, with a particular focus on Leptospira bacteria and paramyxovirus. My research is based on field ecology methods and tools such as population genetics, phylogeography and metagenomic analyses.

Education and training

• 2011: PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of Montpellier II, France.

• 2008: Master degree in Ecology and Ethology. University of Saint-Etienne., France.

• 2005: Bachelor degree in Biology. University of Grenoble, France.

• 2018 : Training in bat capture and handling. National Museum of Natural History of Paris, France.

• 2014 : Training on animal experimentation and welfare for scientific purposes. Charles River – VetAgroSup, France.

Research grants

• French National Research Agency : ANR JCJC SEXIBAT (2017-2022). Principal Investigator.

• Federation BioST MOLOSS-EAT (2019). Principal Investigator.

• FEDER INTERREG ECOSPIR (2017-2020). Workpackage leader. PI : Pablo Tortosa.

Research experience

• Depuis 2017 : UMR Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (PIMIT), Sainte-Clotilde, La Réunion (Chargée de Recherche IRD).

• 2015- 2017 : Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Université de Pretoria, Afrique du Sud (Post-doctorat – Bourse National Research Foundation NRF). 

• 2011-2013 : Centre de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Émergentes dans l'Océan Indien (CRVOI), Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion (Post-doctorat).

• 2008-2011 : UMR Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Montpellier, France (Doctorat - Bourse Ministère de la Recherche). 

• 2008 (6 mois) : UMR Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses (GEMI), Montpellier, France (Stage de Master 2).

• 2007 : (6 mois) : Centre Biologique de la Tour du Valat. Arles, France (Stage de Master 1).

Publications

2019

32) Dietrich M. & Markotter W. (2019) Studying the microbiota of bats: Accuracy of direct and indirect samplings. Ecology and Evolution9: 1730-1735.

31) Mortlock M., Dietrich M., Weyer J., Paweska J.P. & Markotter W. (2019) Co-circulation and excretion dynamics of diverse Rubula- and related viruses in Egyptian Rousette bats from South Africa. Viruses 11: 37.

2018

30) Joffrin L., Dietrich M., Mavingui P., Lebarbenchon C. (2018). Bat pathogens hit the road: but which one? PLos Pathogens 14(8): e1007134.

29) Dietrich M., Kearney T., Seamark E.C.J.S, Paweska J. & Markotter W. (2018). Synchronized shift of oral, fecal and urinary microbiotas in bats and natural infection dynamics during seasonal reproduction. Royal Society Open Science 5: 180041.

28) Dietrich M., Gomard Y., Lagadec E., Ramasindrazana B., Le Minter G., Guernier V., Benlali A., Rocamora G., Markotter W., Goodman SM., Dellagi K. & Tortosa P. (2018). Biogeography of Leptospira in wild animal communities inhabiting the insular ecosystem of the western Indian Ocean islands and neighboring Africa. Emerging Microbes & Infections 7: 57.

2017

27) Dietrich M., Kearney T., Seamark ECJS. & Markotter W. (2017) The excreted microbiota of bats: evidence of niche specialisation based on multiple body habitats. FEMS Microbiology Letters 364(1): fnw284.

2016

26) Lagadec E., Gomard Y., Le Minter G., Cordonin C., Cardinale E., Ramasindrazana B., Dietrich M., Goodman SM., Tortosa P. & Dellagi K. (2016) Identification of Tenrec ecaudatus, a Wild Mammal Introduced to Mayotte Island, as a Reservoir of the Newly Identified Human Pathogenic Leptospira mayottensis. Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases 10(8): e0004933.

25) Boulinier T., Kada S., Ponchon A., Dupraz M., Dietrich M., Gamble A., Bourret V., Duriez O., Bazire R., Tornos J., Tveraa T., Chambert T., Garnier R. & McCoy K.D. (2016) Migration, Prospecting, Dispersal ? What Host Movement Matters for Infectious Agent Circulation ? Integrative and Comparative Biology 56(2): 330-342.

24) Dietrich M., Tjale MA., Weyer J., Kearney T., Seamark ECJ., Nel LH., Monadjem A. & Markotter W. (2016) Diversity of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in bats and their blood-feeding ectoparasites from South Africa and Swaziland. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0152077.

23) Gomard Y., Dietrich M., Wieseke N., Ramasindrazana B., Lagadec E., Goodman SM., Dellagi K. & Tortosa P. (2016) Malagasy bats shelter a considerable genetic diversity of pathogenic Leptopsira suggesting notable host-specificity patterns. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 92: fiw037.

22) McCoy KD., Dietrich M., Jaeger A., Wilkinson DA., Bastien M., Lagadec E., Boulinier T., Pascalis H., Tortosa P., Le Corre M., Dellagi K. & Lebarbenchon C. (2016) The role of seabirds of the Iles Eparses as reservoirs and disseminators of parasites and pathogens. Acta Oecologica 72: 98-109.

2015

21) Dietrich M., Mühldorfer K., Tortosa P. & Markotter W. (2015) Leptospira and Bats: Story of an Emerging Friendship. PLoS Pathogens 11(11): e1005176.

20) Lebarbenchon C., Jaeger A., Feare C.J, Bastien M., Dietrich M., Larose C., Lagadec E., Rocamora G., Shah N., Pascalis H., Boulinier T., Le Corre M., Stallknecht D.E. & Dellagi K. (2015) Influenza A virus on oceanic islands: host and viral diversity in seabirds in the Western Indian Ocean. PLoS Pathogens 11(5): e1004925.

19) Duron O., Noël V., McCoy K.D., Bonazzi M., Sidi-Boumedine K., Morel O., Vavre F., Zenner L., Jourdain E., Durand P., Arnathau C., Renaud F. Trape J-F., Biguezoton A.S., Cremaschi J., Dietrich M., Léger E., Appelgren A., Dupraz M., Gomez-Diaz E., Diatta G., Dayo G-K., Adakal H., Zoungrana S., Vial L. & Chevillon C. (2015) The recent evolution of a maternally-inherited endosymbiont of ticks led to the emergence of the Q fever pathogen. PLoS Pathogens. 11(5): e1004892.

18) Feare C.J., Dietrich M., Larose C. & Lebarbenchon C. (2015) Probable cause of injuries sustained by beached adult Sooty terns Onychoprion fuscatus on Bird Island, Seychelles, during the breeding season. Marine Ornithology. 43: 173-177.

17) Feare C.J., Lebarbenchon C., Dietrich M. & Larose C.S. (2015) Predation of seabird eggs by Common Mynas on Bird Island, Seychelles, and its broader implications. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22.2: 162-170.

16) Dietrich M., Wilkinson D.A., Benlali A., Lagadec E., Ramasindrazana B., Dellagi K. & Tortosa P. (2015) Leptospira and Paramyxovirus infection dynamics in a bat maternity enlightens pathogen maintenance in wildlife. Environmental Microbiology. 17: 4280-4289. Special Issue "Pathogen Ecology". (Cover)

2014

15) Wilkinson D.A., Mélade J., Dietrich M., Ramasindrazana B., Soarimalala V., Lagadec E., Le Minter G., Tortosa P., Heraud J-M., de Lamballerie X., Goodman S.M., Dellagi K. & Pascalis H. (2014) Highly diverse Morbillivirus-related paramyxoviruses in the wild fauna of the southwestern Indian Ocean islands: evidence of exchange between introduced and endemic small mammals. Journal of Virology, 88: 8268-8277.

14) Dietrich M., Kempf F., Boulinier T. & McCoy K.D. (2014) Tracing the colonization and diversification of the worldwide seabird ectoparasite Ixodes uriae. Molecular Ecology, 23: 3292-3305. (Cover)

13) Dietrich M., Wilkinson D.A., Soarimalala V., Goodman S.M., Dellagi K. & Tortosa P. (2014) Diversification of an emerging pathogen in a biodiversity hotspot: Leptospira in endemic small mammals of Madagascar. Molecular Ecology, 23: 2783-2796.

12) Ramasindrazana B., Wilkinson DA., Béral M. & Dietrich M. (2014) An albino molossid bat from the southwestern Indian Ocean region. Malagasy Nature, 8: 103-104.

11) Wilkinson D.A., Dietrich M., Lebarbenchon C., Jaeger A., Le Rouzic C., Bastien M., Lagadec E., McCoy K.D., Pascalis H., Le Corre M., Dellagi K. & Tortosa P. (2014). Massive infection of seabird ticks with Coxiella burnetii related species. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80: 3327-3333.

10) Dietrich M., Lebarbenchon C., Jaeger A., Le Rouzic C., Bastien M., Lagadec E., McCoy K.D., Pascalis H., Le Corre M., Dellagi K. & Tortosa P. (2014). Rickettsia spp. in seabird ticks from western Indian Ocean Islands, 2011-2012. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 20: 834-838.

9) Dietrich M., Lobato E., Boulinier T. & McCoy K.D. (2014). An experimental test of host specialisation in a ubiquitous polar ectoparasite: a role for adaptation ? Journal of Animal Ecology, 83: 576-587.

2013

8) McCoy K.D., Léger E. & Dietrich M. (2013) Host specialisation in ticks and transmission of tick-borne diseases: a review. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 3:57.

7) Dietrich M., Beati L., Elguero E., Boulinier T. & McCoy K.D. (2012) Body size and  shape evolution in host races of the tick Ixodes uriae. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 108: 323-334.

2012

6) Lagadec E., Gomard Y., Guernier V., Dietrich M., Pascalis H., Temmam S., Ramasindrazana B., Goodman S.M., Tortosa P. & Dellagi K. (2012) Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in bats, Madagascar and Union of the Comoros. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18: 1696-1698.

5) McCoy K.D., Beis P., Barbosa A., Cuervo J.J., Fraser W.R., González-Solís J., Jourdain E., Poisbleau M., Quillfeldt P., Léger E. & Dietrich M. (2012)  Population genetic structure and colonisation of the western Antarctic Peninsula by the seabird tick Ixodes uriae. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 459: 109-120.

4) Dietrich M., Kempf F., Gómez-Díaz E., Kitaysky A.S., Hipfner J.M., Boulinier T. & McCoy K.D. (2012) Inter-oceanic variation in patterns of host-associated divergence in a seabird ectoparasite. Journal of Biogeography, 39: 545-555.

2011 and before

3) Dietrich M., Gómez-Díaz E. & McCoy K.D. (2011) Worldwide distribution and diversity of seabird ticks: Implications for the ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 11: 453-470.

2) Lebarbenchon C., Chang C-M., Grandhomme V., Dietrich M., Kayser Y., Elguero E., Renaud F., Thomas F., van der Werf S. & Gauthier-Clerc M. (2010) Avian Influenza Circulation In The Camargue (South Of France) During The 2006- 2007 Season. Avian Diseases, 54: 446-449.

1) Dietrich M., Gómez-Díaz E., Boulinier T. & McCoy K.D. (2008) Local distribution and genetic structure of tick-borne pathogens: an example involving the marine cycle of Lyme disease. Proceedings of the 6th European Association of Acarologist Congress. Montpellier, France. July 21st to July 25th.