A5053206207- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods
- Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Analysis
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Oil and Gas Production Techniques
- Drilling and Well Engineering
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Oral and gingival health research
American Mosquito Control Association
2025
Vector (United States)
2025
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
2017-2024
Harris Health System
2023-2024
Baylor College of Medicine
2020-2023
Utrecht University
2023
University of Liverpool
2023
Chulalongkorn University
2023
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
2023
Keele University
2023
Microbial interactions are an underappreciated force in shaping insect microbiome communities. Although pairwise patterns of symbiont have been identified, we a poor understanding regarding the scale and nature co-occurrence co-exclusion within microbiome. To characterize these mosquitoes, sequenced bacterial Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus caught field or reared laboratory used data to generate interaction networks. For collections, traps that attracted host-seeking...
The genetically diverse viridans group streptococci (VGS) are increasingly recognized as the cause of a variety human diseases. We used recently developed multilocus sequence analysis scheme to define species 118 unique VGS strains causing bacteremia in patients with cancer; Streptococcus mitis (68 patients) and S. oralis (22 were most frequently identified strains. Compared infected non-S. strains, more likely have moderate or severe clinical disease (e.g., shock syndrome). Combined data,...
Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti, has recently spread globally in an unprecedented fashion, yet we have poor understanding of host-microbe interactions this system. To gain insights into the interplay between ZIKV and mosquito, sequenced small RNA profiles ZIKV-infected non-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes at 2, 7 14 days post-infection. ZIKA induced RNAi response mosquito with virus-derived short interfering RNAs PIWI-interacting dramatically increased...
Abstract Background The mosquito microbiome is an important modulator of vector competence and vectoral capacity. Unlike the extensively studied bacterial microbiome, fungal communities in (the mycobiome) remain largely unexplored. To work towards getting improved understanding fungi associated with mosquitoes, we sequenced mycobiome three field-collected laboratory-reared species ( Aedes albopictus, aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus ). Results Our analysis showed both environment host were...
Significance Serotype V group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection rates in humans have steadily increased during the past several decades. We determined that 92% of bloodstream infections caused by serotype GBS Houston and Toronto are genetically related strains called sequence type (ST) 1. Whole-genome analysis 202 ST-1 revealed molecular relationship among these they closely to a bovine strain. Moreover, we found subset genes is under selective evolutionary pressure, indicating proteins...
Zika virus (ZIKV) of the Flaviviridae family is a recently emerged mosquito-borne that has been implicated in surge number microcephaly instances South America. The recent rapid spread led to its declaration as global health emergency by World Health Organization. transmitted mainly mosquito Aedes aegypti, which also vector dengue virus; however, little known about interactions with vector. In this study, we investigated transcriptome profiles whole A. aegypti mosquitoes response ZIKV...
Abstract How microbe–microbe interactions dictate microbial complexity in the mosquito gut is unclear. Previously we found that, Serratia, a symbiont that alters vector competence and being considered for control, poorly colonized Aedes aegypti yet was abundant Culex quinquefasciatus reared under identical conditions. To investigate incompatibility between Serratia Ae. aegypti, characterized two distinct strains of marcescens from Cx. examined their ability to infect aegypti. Both infected...
Phosphorylation relays are a major mechanism by which bacteria alter transcription in response to environmental signals, but understanding of the functional consequences bacterial regulator phosphorylation is limited. We sought characterize how control virulence (CovR) protein from human pathogen group A Streptococcus (GAS) influences GAS global gene expression and pathogenesis. CovR mainly serves repress factor-encoding genes has been shown homodimerize following on aspartate-53 (D53)...
Two-component gene regulatory systems (TCSs) are a major mechanism by which bacteria respond to environmental stimuli and thus critical infectivity. For example, the control of virulence regulator/sensor kinase (CovRS) TCS is central human pathogen group A Streptococcus (GAS). Here, we used combination quantitative in vivo phosphorylation assays, isoallelic strains that varied only single amino acid CovS, transcriptome analyses characterize impact CovS on CovR GAS global expression. We...
Abstract The mosquito microbiome is critical for host development and plays a major role in many aspects of biology. While the commonly dominated by small number genera, there considerable variation composition among species, life stages, geography. How controls affected this unclear. Using transplant experiments, we asked whether were differences transcriptional responses when mosquitoes different species used as donors. We microbiomes from four donor spanning phylogenetic breadth...
Manipulation of natural mosquito populations using the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia is being investigated as a novel strategy to reduce burden mosquito-borne viruses. To evaluate efficacy these interventions, it will be critical determine infection frequencies in Aedes aegypti populations. However, current diagnostic tools are not well-suited fit this need. Morphological methods cannot identify Wolbachia, immunoassays often suffer from low sensitivity and poor throughput, while PCR...
Abstract The mosquito microbiota represents an intricate assemblage of microorganisms, comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. Factors modulating microbiome abundance composition include host genetic background, environmental parameters, pathogen exposure. Conversely, the profoundly influences infection thus harbours considerable potential to impact transmission vector-borne diseases. As such, there is a growing interest in using novel vector-control strategies, including...
Abstract As observed in many locations worldwide, resistance to pyrethroids is common Aedes aegypti (L.) the southern United States and northern Mexico. Strong albopictus (Skuse) less not as well characterized. These 2 species have been undergoing range expansion are sympatric including Houston, Texas. They often collected from same lay eggs larval habitats. In this study, we colonized both Ae. 4 Houston characterized insecticide using permethrin a model pyrethroid. We found differences...
Invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) strains often have genetic differences compared to GAS from nonsterile sites. Invasive, "hypervirulent" can arise a noninvasive progenitor following subcutaneous inoculation in mice, but such emergence has been rarely characterized humans. We used whole genome analyses of multiple isolates the same patient document molecular basis for strain with an invasive phenotype during human infection. In contrast previous theories, we found that elimination...
Catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is a highly conserved, master regulator of carbon source utilization in gram-positive bacteria, but the CcpA regulon remains ill-defined. In this study we aimed to clarify by determining impact CcpA-inactivation on virulence and transcriptome three distinct serotypes major human pathogen Group Streptococcus (GAS). significantly decreased GAS broad array animal challenge models consistent with idea that critical bacterial pathogenesis. Via comparative...
We have developed a generalizable “smart molecular diagnostic” capable of accurate point-of-care (POC) detection variable nucleic acid targets. Our isothermal assay relies on multiplex execution four loop-mediated amplification reactions, with primers that are degenerate and redundant, thereby increasing the breadth targets while reducing probability failure. An easy-to-read visual answer is computed directly by multi-input Boolean OR logic gate (gate output true if either one or more inputs...
Abstract Microbiota within mosquitoes influence nutrition, immunity, fecundity, and the capacity to transmit pathogens. Despite their importance, we have a limited understanding of host-microbiota interactions, especially at cellular level. It is evident bacterial symbionts that are localized midgut also infect other organs mosquito; however, route these take colonize tissues unknown. Here, utilizing gentamicin protection assay, showed Cedecea Serratia invade reside intracellularly mosquito...
ABSTRACT. In January 2020, we instituted acute febrile illness surveillance in 11 hospitals and clinics across Belize. Within 3 months, diagnosed an case of Chagas disease by polymerase chain reaction a 7-year-old child the northern part country. Phylogenetic analyses parasite from blood specimen revealed multiclonal Trypanosoma cruzi infection, including parasites TcII (25.0% haplotypes), TcIV (2.5% TcV (72.5% haplotypes) discrete typing units. The family reported no history travel, three...
Pyrethroids are among the most applied adulticides worldwide to control mosquito vectors for prevention of arboviral diseases transmission. However, pesticide resistance development in a population could lead decreased efficacy. While studies investigate resistant genotype (i.e. kdr, CYP450, etc.) as explanatory variables, few field efficacy have measured quantities deposited at different distances from sprayer association with observed mortality. The current study determined delivered...
Myiasis is the infestation by dipterous fly larvae in humans and animals. The can infect living or necrotic tissue involving skin, nasopharynx, genitourinary, gastrointestinal tracts. accidental ingestion of eggs causes infection intestinal tract. We report a case myiasis caused Sarcophaga spp. two-year-old child from Limatambo province Cusco region Peru. Live were identified incidentally this child's stool sample during study screening for Strongyloides stercoralis. did not have any...
Abstract The Kapok Field is located some 37 miles southeast of the island Trinidad, and consists three separate offshore gas discoveries: namely Sparrow, Renegade Parang (Fig. 1). Following discovery, four appraisal wells were drilled into structures in late 90s to test areas where seismic images masked by shallow gas. confirmed presence condensate minor oil a total 18 sands. development field presents unique challenges for Trinidad with comparatively multiple stacked pay, aerially extensive...
Abstract Background The mosquito microbiome is an important modulator of vector competence and vectoral capacity. Unlike the extensively studied bacterial microbiome, fungal communities in (mycobiome) remain largely unexplored. To work towards getting improved understanding fungi associated with mosquitoes, we sequenced mycobiome three field-collected laboratory-reared species ( Aedes albopictus, aegypti , Culex quinquefasciatus ). Results Our analysis showed both environment host were...
Abstract Accurate simulation of well productivity losses due to condensate buildup generally requires a finely gridded radial model and either fully implicit or adaptive solution method. Computer costs for including the grid refinement necessary capture near liquid dropout effects in full field, compositional simulations can be extreme even models with local capabilities. We propose an alternative method which accurately computes blockage multiwell, field without refinement. The is based on...