Last Updated: 16/07/2025
Biology, Ecology & Management of Emerging Disease Vectors
Objectives
The aims of this project seek to participate in a research network in which information and resources are freely shared to better study arthropod vectors and the diseases that they carry.
Mosquitoes are deadliest animal in the world, with mosquito-borne diseasecausing approximately one million deaths every year. In addition to the devastating impacts of malaria, newly emergent mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile, dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika have either been established in mosquito populations in the United States or currently threaten its borders. The potential introduction of one or more of these mosquito-borne pathogens into the United States is further complicated by the ease of world travel. As such, it is of great importance to understand the biology and mechanisms of disease transmission in mosquito populations. Efforts will be taken to monitor mosquito populations in the State of Iowa, with special attention to determine the abundance of invading mosquito populations (such as Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). This information, with partners at the local and state public health departments, will be used to better control and manage mosquito population to reduce threats of mosquito-borne disease. Additional efforts will be taken in the lab to define important components of mosquito physiology that can potentially be targeted in vector control control efforts or impair the ability of mosquitoes to transmit malaria or arboviruses. Training during this project will also provide great dividends by fostering the next generation of researchers in vector biology.
Sep 2016 — Sep 2019
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