Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} Dr Peter H. Thrall , a research scientist studying evolutionary ecology of host-microbe interactions at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia, presented a special seminar titled “Coevolutionary interactions in the Linus - Melampsora host-pathogen system” at FABI on June 7th. Dr Thrall visited South Africa for the first time as external examiner for the PhD of FABI student, Sarai Olivier-Espejel ’s. Using the interaction between Linum marginale (Australian flax) and Melampsora lini (the causal agent of rust disease on flax and linseed) as a model, Dr. Thrall discussed among others, the environmental factors that drive host-pathogen interactions in natural systems.