About

Aram Mikaelyan is an Associate Professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, specializing in urban entomology with a focus on wood-destroying pests. His research encompasses both basic and applied aspects, particularly the evolution of symbiotic digestion in wood-feeding insects and the development of biological control technologies for structural pests. His lab investigates insect gut microbiomes to understand how microbial communities influence insect health and development, especially in pests that damage wood and other structures. Mikaelyan's work includes studying the mechanisms that drive ecological and evolutionary patterns in insect gut microbiomes and leveraging this knowledge to control pest populations through isolation and optimization of entomopathogens and disruption of insect-microbe mutualisms. His research also involves phylogenetic, functional, and genomic approaches to understand feeding adaptations in blow flies, including the role of gut microbiomes and specific genes associated with dietary habits. He is actively involved in projects funded by agencies such as the NSF and USDA, focusing on evolutionary, ecological, and genomic studies of blow flies, as well as innovative sequencing technologies and environmental mitigation strategies related to methane emissions. Mikaelyan's contributions include advancing understanding of insect-microbe interactions, developing biocontrol methods, and addressing environmental challenges through integrated research efforts.

Research topics

• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Botany
• Zoology
• Pathology
• Medicine
• Environmental health
• Internal medicine
• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Microbiology
• Ecology

Selected publications

• Physiological stress tolerance responses of the dung decomposer fungus Mucor circinelloides

  Fungal Biology · 2025-04-10 · 3 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Phylogenomics and the evolution of larval feeding habits in the blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

  Systematic Entomology · 2025-12-12 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) occur worldwide and exhibit a wide range of larval feeding habits, including saprophagy, coprophagy, parasitism and predation. Understanding their biology is critical for medical and veterinary science and ecology. Calliphorids thrive across a range of habitats and exhibit complex life histories, with larvae developing immersed in their food substrate, while adults are free‐living and have diverse feeding strategies. Some species have evolved specialized parasitic associations with vertebrate or invertebrate hosts, which are behaviors with important implications for agriculture and for understanding evolutionary transitions between saprophagy and parasitism. This study presents a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Calliphoridae, utilizing 711 of 736 analysed nuclear genes, using anchored hybrid enrichment, from a global collection of blow flies and their relatives. Our results provide a robust and novel reconstruction of the evolutionary history of this group, pinpointing major transitions in larval feeding habits. We argue that saprophagy evolved independently multiple times from invertebrate parasitic ancestors, with vertebrate parasitism emerging from a number of different feeding strategies. These findings challenge prior hypotheses and offer new insights into the adaptive traits driving trophic specialization and diversification in this group.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Role of the Plant–Microbiome Partnership in Environmentally Harmonious 21st Century Agriculture

  Microorganisms · 2025-12-13 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  The 21st century calls for a paradigm shift in agricultural practices to address the pressing issues of regeneration of soil health, climate change, environmental degradation, sustainability under growing population pressures, and food security challenges. This article reviews the potential of the plant-microbiome approach as a key driver for eco-conscious green farming. The focus is on the diverse roles of microbial communities in close association with plants in improving plant health, crop productivity, and soil ecosystem functions, and in enhancing environmental sustainability, with focus on four key areas: (1) Soil health and fertility through microbial partnerships; (2) Ecosystem sustainability through microbial functions; (3) Plant health, productivity and food security through microbial innovations emphasising the potential of microbial applications (biofertilisers, bioprotectants, and biostimulants) in sustainable agriculture; (4) Standardisation and stewardship in microbial agriculture highlighting the need for standardisation and quality control in microbial product development and use, and the concept of microbial stewardship and its importance in long-term agricultural sustainability. By synthesising current knowledge and identifying future challenges, this review underscores the transformative potential of the plant-associated microbiome approach in creating resilient, productive, and environmentally harmonious agricultural systems. We highlight current research gaps and future directions, arguing that embracing microbial solutions is not just an option but a necessity for ensuring food security and environmentally benign sustainability in the face of global challenges.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Host-specific microbiomes of blow flies: ecological drivers and implications for pathogen carriage

  Frontiers in Immunology · 2025-11-27 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Blow flies ( Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina ) are necrophagous insects that interact with dense microbial reservoirs and are opportunistic vectors of human and animal pathogens. Despite constant exposure to diverse environmental microbes, it is unclear whether their bacterial communities are primarily acquired stochastically or shaped by host factors that could influence pathogen carriage. We conducted a systematic comparison of wild L. sericata and P. regina collected from seven cities across an urban-rural gradient to determine whether microbiome composition is structured by host species identity or environmental variables. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of individual flies, we profiled bacterial communities and applied alpha- and beta-diversity analyses, PERMANOVA, and Random Forest classification to quantify species-level microbiome differentiation. Species identity was the strongest predictor of microbiome composition (PERMANOVA, p = 0.001), while location, land cover type, sampling month, and sex had no significant effects. Random Forest modeling identified multiple bacterial taxa that consistently distinguished the two species, including Ignatzschineria and Dysgonomonas , which were enriched in P. regina , and Vagococcus and Escherichia-Shigella , which were enriched in L. sericata . These taxa are of clinical relevance, with Ignatzschineria in particular increasingly reported from human myiasis and soft-tissue infections, sometimes exhibiting antimicrobial resistance. Our findings demonstrate that wild blow flies maintain species-specific microbiomes despite shared environments, suggesting that host identity strongly filters microbial communities. The presence of opportunistic pathogens within these structured microbiomes underscores the need to understand how blow fly–microbe associations contribute to pathogen persistence and dissemination. By revealing predictable, species-dependent microbiome patterns, this study highlights potential targets for microbiome-based strategies aimed at mitigating blow fly–associated disease risks.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Fight, retreat, repeat: The male–male agonistic behavior in the wood‐feeding cockroach, <i>Panesthia angustipennis spadica</i> (Dictyoptera: Blattodea: Blaberidae)

  Ecology and Evolution · 2024-10-01

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Competition is one of the most critical factors affecting animal behaviors. Aggressive interactions are central to acquiring resources or mating partners. Agonistic behavior is more common among males than females. Although laboratory observations of these behaviors give detailed descriptions under controlled conditions, field observations without human intervention are required because those supply information that provides insights into their function. In this paper, we report on the field observation and auxiliary laboratory experiments of male–male agonistic behavior of a wood‐feeding cockroach, Panesthia angustipennis , and discuss its strategy. In the field, a male pushed the opponent with the horn on the pronotum out of a gap between two logs, under which a female was. After pushing, the male repeatedly returned to a place close to the female, even if it did not subdue the opponent entirely. It suggests that the male–male agonistic behavior in P. angustipennis has both attack and avoidance. The bout was repeated as the ejected male reapproached the male. In contrast, the inferior male often escaped in the laboratory recording after field observation. Keeping the fighting experience for several days may contribute to the males avoiding a “losing battle.” This study significantly enhances our understanding of the mating strategy of P. angustipennis through male–male agonistic behavior and provides possibilities for its cognitive aspects from the fighting experience.

  PublisherDOI

• Fight, Retreat, Repeat: Field observation of male-male agonistic behavior in the wood-feeding cockroach, <i>Panesthia angustipennis spadica</i> (Dictyoptera: Blattodea: Blaberidae)

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-05-09

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Conflict is one of the most critical factors affecting the behavior of animals related to their reproduction and survival, with aggressive interactions being central to acquiring resources or mating partners. This phenomenon is more common among males than females, impacting reproduction strategy and beginning of biparental care. Investigating such interactions in species closely related to social species can be illuminating, offering valuable insights into the factors that influence the emergence and maintenance of more complex social behaviors. In this context, we present a field study of male-male agonistic behavior in the wood-feeding cockroach, Panesthia angustipennis. Panesthia is the closest genus to the subsocial genus Salganea , which is known for its biparental care. Our field observations reveal a characteristic behavior where one male pushes a rival away from a female. The victorious male repeatedly returns to a specific site near the female, suggesting a strategy to minimize unnecessary conflict or protect the female. This behavior provides insights into the potential evolutionary strategies that may have evolved in the common ancestor shared by Salganea and Panesthia . Notably, the displaced males persistently reengage, highlighting the high resource value attributed to females and the consequential intensity of male competition. This study not only sheds light on the aggressive and pacifist tendencies in P. angustipennis but also contributes to understanding the evolutionary development of social structures in Salganea . Further experimental investigations into the aggressive behaviors of P. angustipennis will enhance our comprehension of the factors shaping the evolution of sociality in these species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Scaling the wall: overcoming barriers to STEM knowledge mobilization

  Frontiers in Communication · 2024-03-27

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Improving science literacy is crucial amidst global challenges like climate change, emerging diseases, AI, and rampant disinformation. This is vital not only for future STEM generations but for all, to make informed decisions. Informal science communication efforts such as podcasts, popular science articles, and museum events are an essential part of the infrastructure for mobilizing knowledge and nurturing science literacy. However, in this Perspective , we emphasize the need to grow our capacity for STEM outreach in the formal K-12 classroom. While the majority of informal outreach mechanisms require audience members to seek out content, classrooms include those hard-to-reach target audiences that are not already STEM-engaged. We contrast the multitude of resources that have been developed to support informal outreach in recent decades with a relative paucity of such efforts in the K-12 formal classroom realm. We advocate for a more balanced deployment of resources and efforts between these two vital components of our knowledge mobilization and STEM engagement infrastructure. In particular, we highlight the key role of K-12 teachers as conduits for knowledge dissemination and the need for greater collaboration between scientists and teachers at individual and organizational levels. We also advocate for greater collaboration across programs in both the informal and formal outreach space, and dedicated effort to construct dissemination networks to share outreach materials at scale across disparate programs. The aim of our piece is to generate discussion about how we might refocus goals, funding mechanisms, and policies to grow the science-engaged society necessary to confront future challenges.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Chewing through challenges: Exploring the evolutionary pathways to wood‐feeding in insects

  BioEssays · 2024-03-27 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Decaying wood, while an abundant and stable resource, presents considerable nutritional challenges due to its structural rigidity, chemical recalcitrance, and low nitrogen content. Despite these challenges, certain insect lineages have successfully evolved saproxylophagy (consuming and deriving sustenance from decaying wood), impacting nutrient recycling in ecosystems and carbon sequestration dynamics. This study explores the uneven phylogenetic distribution of saproxylophagy across insects and delves into the evolutionary origins of this trait in disparate insect orders. Employing a comprehensive analysis of gut microbiome data, from both saproxylophagous insects and their non-saproxylophagous relatives, including new data from unexplored wood-feeding insects, this Hypothesis paper discusses the broader phylogenetic context and potential adaptations necessary for this dietary specialization. The study proposes the "Detritivore-First Hypothesis," suggesting an evolutionary pathway to saproxylophagy through detritivory, and highlights the critical role of symbiotic gut microbiomes in the digestion of decaying wood.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Lethal Disruption of the Symbiotic Gut Community in Eastern Subterranean Termite Caused by Boric Acid

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-06-30 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract The Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), is a significant pest, causing extensive damage to structures that amount to substantial economic losses. Traditional termite control methods have utilized boric acid, known for its broad-spectrum insecticidal properties, yet its impact on termite gut microbiomes and the implications of such effects remain understudied. Our study evaluates the dose-dependent mortality of R. flavipes upon being provided boric acid treated filter papers and investigates the resulting dysbiosis within the termite gut microbiome. Consistent with reports from other insects, mortality increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest boric acid concentration (203.7 µg/cm 2 of filter paper) significantly reducing termite survival. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the gut microbiome revealed notable shifts in composition, indicating boric acid-induced dysbiosis. Aside from an overall decrease in microbial diversity, the relative abundance of some symbionts essential for termite nutrition decreased in response to higher boric acid concentrations, while several putative pathogens increased. Our findings extend the understanding of boric acid’s mode of action in termites, emphasizing its effect beyond direct toxicity to include significant microbiome modulation that can have dire effects on termite biology. Considering its potential to induce dysbiosis and potentially augment the effectiveness of entomopathogens, our study supports the continued use of boric acid and related compounds for termite-resistant treatments for wood.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Genome of Arsenophonus sp. and Its Potential Contribution in the Corn Planthopper, Peregrinus maidis

  Insects · 2024-02-05 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  The co-evolution between symbionts and their insect hosts has led to intricate functional interdependencies. Advances in DNA-sequencing technologies have not only reduced the cost of sequencing but, with the advent of highly accurate long-read methods, have also enabled facile genome assembly even using mixed genomic input, thereby allowing us to more easily assess the contribution of symbionts to their insect hosts. In this study, genomic data recently generated from Peregrinus maidis was used to assemble the genome of a bacterial symbiont, Pm Arsenophonus sp. This ~4.9-Mb assembly is one of the largest Arsenophonus genomes reported to date. The Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) result indicates that this Pm Arsenophonus assembly has a high degree of completeness, with 96% of the single-copy Enterobacterales orthologs found. The identity of the Pm Arsenophonus sp. was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicates a major contribution by Pm Arsenophonus sp. to the biosynthesis of B vitamins and essential amino acids in P. maidis, where threonine and lysine production is carried out solely by Pm Arsenophonus sp. This study not only provides deeper insights into the evolutionary relationships between symbionts and their insect hosts, but also adds to our understanding of insect biology, potentially guiding the development of novel pest control methods.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Andreas Brune

  48 shared

• David Sillam‐Dussès

  Université Sorbonne Paris Nord

  23 shared

• Claire Thompson

  University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

  13 shared

• N. P. Mikaélyan

  11 shared

• Tim Köhler

  Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology

  8 shared

• Seth R. Bordenstein

  Pennsylvania State University

  8 shared

• Katja Meuser

  Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology

  8 shared

• A. G. Maksina

  7 shared

Labs

• Structural Pest Management Training & Research FacilityPI

Education

• Ph.D., Entomology

  University of California, Davis

  2004

• M.S., Entomology

  University of California, Davis

  2000

• B.S., Agricultural Science

  California State University, Fresno

  1998