A5076264720- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Genetically Modified Organisms Research
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves
2024
University of California, San Diego
2018-2021
University of California, Riverside
2014-2017
Aedes aegypti is the principal mosquito vector for many arboviruses that increasingly infect millions of people every year. With an escalating burden infections and relative failure traditional control methods, development innovative measures has become paramount importance. The use gene drives sparked significant enthusiasm genetic mosquitoes; however, no such system been developed in Ae. aegypti. To fill this void, here we develop several CRISPR-based split vector. cleavage rates up to...
Abstract The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the principal vector for arboviruses including dengue/yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus, infecting hundreds of millions people annually. Unfortunately, traditional control methodologies are insufficient, so innovative methods needed. To complement existing measures, here we develop a molecular genetic system termed precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) in . PgSIT uses simple CRISPR-based approach to generate flightless females males...
Abstract Background The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is globally expanding and has become the main vector for human arboviruses in Europe. With limited antiviral drugs vaccines available, control primary approach to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. A reliable accurate DNA sequence of Ae. genome essential develop new approaches that involve genetic manipulation mosquitoes. Results We use long-read sequencing methods modern scaffolding techniques (PacBio, 10X, Hi-C) produce AalbF2, a...
Recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have highlighted the necessity for development of novel vector control strategies to combat arboviral transmission, including genetic versions sterile insect technique, artificial infection with Wolbachia reduce population size and/or vectoring competency, and gene drive-based methods. Here, we describe mosquitoes synthetically engineered impede competence ZIKV. We demonstrate that a polycistronic cluster synthetic small RNAs targeting ZIKV is expressed...
With dengue virus (DENV) becoming endemic in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, there is a pressing global demand for effective strategies to control the mosquitoes that spread this disease. Recent advances genetic engineering technologies have made it possible create with reduced vector competence, limiting their ability acquire transmit pathogens. Here we describe development of Aedes aegypti synthetically engineered impede competence DENV. These express gene encoding an...
We conducted a multicentric national study (SEIMC-CEME-22), to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of mpox outbreak in Spain, including management disease.
The Anopheles gambiae complex contains a number of highly anthropophilic mosquito species that have acquired exceptional ability to thrive in human habitats. Thus, examining the evolutionary history this Afrotropical may yield vital information on selective processes occurred during adaptation human-dominated environments. We performed reduced representation sequencing 941 mosquitoes collected across four ecogeographic zones Cameroon. find evidence for genetic and geographic subdivision...
Although mosquitoes are major transmission vectors for pathogenic arboviruses, viral infection has little impact on mosquito health. This immunity is caused in part by RNA interference (RNAi) pathways that generate antiviral small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and Piwi-interacting (piRNAs). RNAi also maintains genome integrity potently repressing transposon activity the germline soma. However, regulatory have not been systematically examined together mosquitoes. Therefore, we developed an...
Abstract Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest that affects many fresh, soft-skinned fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. To combat this pest, growers use various methods including insecticide sprays, biological control, sanitation practices. However, these are becoming increasingly ineffective against D. due to increased resistance insecticides increasing labor costs. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been used successfully control agricultural pests, but the of irradiation, sex...
Abstract Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are important vectors for a number of human pathogens including the Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. Capable displacing aegypti populations, this mosquito adapts to cooler environments which increases its geographical range transmission potential. There limited control strategies is likely attributed lack comprehensive biological studies on emerging vector. To fill void, here using RNAseq we characterized mRNA expression profiles at 34 distinct time...
Malaria vectors are exposed to intense selective pressures due large-scale intervention programs that underway in most African countries. One of the current priorities is therefore clearly assess adaptive potential Anopheline populations, which critical understand and anticipate response mosquitoes can elicit against such challenges. The development genomic resources will empower robust examinations evolutionary changes all including currently understudied species an inevitable step toward...
CRISPR-based genetic engineering tools aimed to bias sex ratios, or drive effector genes into animal populations, often integrate the transgenes autosomal chromosomes. However, in species with heterogametic chromsomes (e.g. XY, ZW), linkage of endonucleases could be beneficial expression a sex-specific manner produce sexing systems, ratio distorters, even gene drives, for example. To explore this possibility, here we develop transgenic line Drosophila melanogaster expressing Cas9 from Y...
With dengue virus (DENV) becoming endemic in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, there is a pressing global demand for effective strategies to control the mosquitoes that spread this disease. Recent advances genetic engineering technologies have made it possible create with reduced vector competence, limiting their ability acquire transmit pathogens. Here we describe development of Aedes aegypti synthetically engineered impede competence DENV. These express gene encoding an...
Abstract Ongoing speciation in the most important African malaria vectors gives rise to cryptic populations, which differ remarkably their behavior, ecology, and capacity vector parasites. Understanding population structure drivers of genetic differentiation among mosquitoes is crucial for effective disease control because heterogeneity within species contributes variability cases allow fractions populations escape efforts. To examine potential impacts recent large‐scale interventions, we...
Abstract Aedes aegypti , the principal mosquito vector for many arboviruses that causes yellow fever, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, increasingly infects millions of people every year. With an escalating burden infections relative failure traditional control methods, development innovative measures has become paramount importance. The use gene drives recently sparked significant enthusiasm genetic populations, however no such system been developed in Ae. . To fill this void demonstrate...
ABSTRACT The Anopheles gambiae complex contains a number of highly anthropophilic mosquito species that have acquired exceptional ability to thrive in human habitats. Thus, examining the evolutionary history this Afrotropical may yield vital information on selective processes occurred during adaptation human-dominated environments. We performed reduced representation sequencing 941 mosquitoes collected across four ecogeographic zones Cameroon. find evidence for genetic and geographic...
Abstract With dengue virus (DENV) becoming endemic in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, there is a pressing global demand for effective strategies to control the mosquitoes that spread this disease. Recent advances genetic engineering technologies have made it possible create with reduced vector competence, limiting their ability acquire transmit pathogens. Here we describe development of Aedes aegypti synthetically engineered impede competence DENV. These express gene encoding an...
Abstract The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the principal vector for arboviruses including dengue/yellow fever, chikungunya, and zika, infecting hundreds of millions people annually. Unfortunately, traditional control methodologies are insufficient, so innovative methods needed. To complement existing measures, here we develop a molecular genetic system termed precision guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) in . PgSIT uses simple CRISPR-based approach to generate males that deployable at any...
Abstract The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is globally expanding and has become the main vector for human arboviruses in Europe. Here we present AalbF2, a dramatically improved assembly of Ae. genome that revealed widespread viral insertions, novel microRNAs piRNA clusters, sex determining locus, new immunity genes, enabled genome-wide studies geographically diverse populations analyses developmental stage-dependent network expression data. Additionally, built first physical map this...
Information about genetic engineering (GE) for vector control in the United States is disseminated primarily English, though non-English speakers are equally, and some geographic regions even more affected by such technologies. Non-English-speaking publics should have equal access to information, which especially critical when technology question may impact whole communities. We convened an interdisciplinary workgroup translate previously developed narrated slideshows on gene drive...