Tran Research Lab on Symbiosis

The Tran Lab is located in the Department of Biology at University of San Diego. Our lab is interested in the molecular & cellular mechanisms mediating symbiosis between cnidarians, dinoflagellates, and bacteria. We use an integrative approach that includes aspects of ecophysiology, microbial ecology, and cell biology to investigate host-microbe interactions in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana (commonly referred to as 'Aiptasia'), a laboratory model for understanding coral symbiosis and bleaching.