Dr Sally Adams

Assistant Professor

Email:

Phone: 024 765 50436

Office: D131

Sally Adams @sallybest.bsky.social

ORCiD

Research Groups

Pires da Silva lab

Research Clusters

Cells & Development

Plant & Agricultural Biosciences

Warwick Centres

Warwick Crop Centre

Research Focus

My research aims to translate lab discoveries into practical solutions, enhancing sustainable pest control by uncovering the fascinating ways nematodes communicate, adapt, and grow.

The Problem

The widespread use of chemical insecticides has had far-reaching consequences, impacting ecosystems, harming non-target species, and posing risks to human health. In response, the UK and EU have banned many compounds, including several neonicotinoids that were once essential for controlling major crop pests. At the same time, insecticide resistance has emerged in over 600 insect species, underscoring the urgent need for alternative pest management solutions to safeguard future food security.

The Solution

My current research focuses on the nematode genus, Heterorhabditis, natural insect predators that serve as eco-friendly biocontrol alternatives to chemical insecticides. In the lab, I study their biology, investigating how they perceive their surroundings and integrate these signals with unique genetic mechanisms to regulate various aspects of their growth and development. I then use this knowledge to develop new strategies to improve their effectiveness as biocontrol agents in the field.

As part of Andre Pires da Silva’s research group, I also study the free-living nematode genus Auanema. My work explores their fascinating biology, from the specialised adaptations of different sexual morphs to the unconventional chromosomal segregation that maintains low male numbers in a population. I have also played a key role in establishing Auanema as a model system, contributing to genome assembly, annotation, and the development of molecular tools. Since Auanema shares key traits with Heterorhabditis, my research on this genus has directly informed my biocontrol work—demonstrating how fundamental, curiosity-driven research is for providing solutions to real-world problems.

Broader interests and activities

I believe it is important to support early career researchers in both their career development and overall well-being. To contribute to this, I actively participate in both the LAMS Postdoc Society and the People and Organisational Culture Committee (POCC).

Biography

1998 – 2002 PhD Plant development and epigenetics University of Bath, U.K.

1994 - 1997 BSc (Hons) Genetics University of Leicester, U.K

Publications

Adams, Sally, Tandonnet, Sophie and Pires-da Silva, André Francisco (2025) Balancing selfing and outcrossing : the genetics and cell biology of nematodes with three sexual morphs. Genetics, 229 (2). pp. 1-12. iyae173. doi:10.1093/genetics/iyae173 ISSN 0016-6731.

Adams, Sally and Pires da Silva, André (2024) Non-Mendelian transmission of X chromosomes : mechanisms and impact on sex ratios and population dynamics in different breeding systems. Biochemical Society Transactions, 52 (4). pp. 1777-1784. doi:10.1042/BST20231411 ISSN 0300-5127.

Al-Yazeedi, Talal, Adams, Sally, Tandonnet, Sophie, Turner, Anisa, Kim, Jun, Lee, Junho and Pires-daSilva, Andre (2024) The contribution of an X chromosome QTL to non-Mendelian inheritance and unequal chromosomal segregation in A. freiburgense. Genetics, 227 (1). iyae032. doi:10.1093/genetics/iyae032 ISSN 0016-6731.

Adams, Sally, Pathak, Prachi, Kittelman, Maike, Jones, Alun R. C., Mallon, Eamonn B. and Pires-daSilva, Andre (2022) Sexual morph specialisation in a trioecious nematode balances opposing selective forces. Scientific Reports, 12 . 6402. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-09900-8 ISSN 2045-2322.

Tandonnet, Sophie, Haq, Maairah, Turner, Anisa, Grana, Theresa, Paganopoulou, Panagiota, Adams, Sally, Dhawan, Sandhya, Kanzaki, Natsumi, Nuez, Isabelle, Félix, Marie-Anne and Pires da Silva, André (2022) De novo genome assembly of Auanema melissensis, a trioecious free-living nematode. Journal of Nematology, 54 (1). e2022. doi:10.2478/jofnem-2022-0059 ISSN 0022-300X.

Kranse, Olaf, Beasley, Helen, Adams, Sally, da Silva, Andre Pires, Bell, Chris, Lilley, Catherine, Urwin, Peter, Bird, David, Miska, Eric, Smant, Geert et al.

(2021) Towards genetic modification of plant-parasitic nematodes : delivery of macromolecules to adults and expression of exogenous mRNA in second stage juveniles. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 11 (2). jkaa058. ISSN 2160-1836 doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkaa058

Tandonnet, Sophie, Koutsovoulos, Georgios D., Adams, Sally, Cloarec, Delphine, Parihar, Manish, Blaxter, Mark L. and Pires-da Silva, André Francisco (2019) Chromosome-wide evolution and sex determination in the three-sexed nematode auanema rhodensis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 9 (3). pp. 1211-1230. doi:10.1534/g3.119.0011 ISSN 2160-1836.

Adams, Sally, Pathak, Prachi, Shao, Hongguang, Lok, James B. and Pires-da Silva, André Francisco (2019) Liposome-based transfection enhances RNAi and CRISPR-1 mediated mutagenesis in non-model nematode systems. Scientific Reports, 9 . 483. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37036-1 ISSN 2045-2322.

Adams, Sally, Grundy, Jack, Veflingstad, Siren R., Dyer, Nigel, Hannah, Matthew, Ott, Sascha and Carré, Isabelle A. (2018) Circadian control of abscisic acid biosynthesis and signalling pathways revealed by genome-wide analysis of LHY binding targets. New Phytologist, 220 (3). pp. 893-907. doi:10.1111/nph.15415 ISSN 0028-646X.

Chaudhuri, Jyotiska, Bose, Neelanjan, Tandonnet, Sophie, Adams, Sally, Zuco, Giusy, Kache, Vikas, Parihar, Manish, Reuss, Stephan H. von, Schroeder, Frank C. and Pires-da Silva, André Francisco (2015) Mating dynamics in a nematode with three sexes and its evolutionary implications. Scientific Reports, 5 . pp. 1-10. 17676. doi:10.1038/srep17676 ISSN 2045-2322.

Adams, Sally, Manfield, Ian, Stockley, Peter and Carré, Isabelle A. (2015) Revised morning loops of the Arabidopsis circadian clock based on analyses of direct regulatory interactions. PLoS One, 10 (12). e0143943. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0143943 ISSN 1932-6203.

Riddell, Carolyn E., Lobaton Garces, Juan D., Adams, Sally, Barribeau, Seth M., Twell, David and Mallon, Eamonn B. (2014) Differential gene expression and alternative splicing in insect immune specificity. BMC Genomics, Volume 15 (Number 1). Article number 1031. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1031 ISSN 1471-2164.

Smith, C., Ondračková, M., Spence, R., Adams, Sally, Betts, D. S. and Mallon, E. (2011) Pathogen-mediated selection for MHC variability in wild zebrafish. Evolutionary Ecology Research, Vol.67 (No.4). pp. 217-218. ISSN 1522-0613.

Riddell, C. E., Sumner, S., Adams, S. (Sally) and Mallon, E. B. (2011) Pathways to immunity : temporal dynamics of the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) immune response against a trypanosomal gut parasite. Insect Molecular Biology, Vol.20 (No.4). pp. 529-540. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2583.2011.01084.x ISSN 0962-1075.

Adams, Sally and Carré, Isabelle A. (2011) Downstream of the plant circadian clock : output pathways for the control of physiology and development. Essays in Biochemistry, Vol.49 . pp. 53-69. doi:10.1042/BSE0490053 ISSN 0071-1365.

Riddell, Carolyn, Adams, Sally, Schmid-Hempel, Paul and Mallon, Eamonn B. (2009) Differential expression of immune defences is associated with specific host-parasite interactions in insects. PL o S One, Vol.4 (No.10). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007621 ISSN 1932-6203.

Adams, Sally, Allen, Trudie and Whitelam, Garry C. (2009) Interaction between the light quality and flowering time pathways in Arabidopsis. Plant Journal, Vol.60 (No.2). pp. 257-267. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313X.2009.03962.x ISSN 0960-7412.

Grant, Murray, Brown, Ian, Adams, Sally, Knight, Marc, Ainslie, Alastair and Mansfield, John (2000) The RPM1 plant disease resistance gene facilitates a rapid and sustained increase in cytosolic calcium that is necessary for the oxidative burst and hypersensitive cell death. The Plant Journal, 23 (4). pp. 441-450. doi:10.1046/j.1365-313X.2000.00804.x ISSN 0960-7412.