Insect Vector Research
Deciphering the molecular evolution of the ecdysone receptor pathway in different insect vectors:
Hematophagous female insects need a blood meal to activate vitellogenesis, the production, and secretion of vitellogenin (Vg) and other yolk protein precursors (YPPs) by the fat body (FB), followed by internalization of YPPs by maturing oocytes through receptor-mediated endocytosis. 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), an ecdysteroid, plays the role of the leading hormonal regulator of vitellogenesis in dipterans, including mosquitoes. During the reproductive period, 20E differentially regulates the expression of several genes through its receptor (EcR). We are working on identifying and characterizing the genes targeted by EcR, directly or indirectly, in different insect vectors to trace the evolution of the ecdysone mediated gene regulatory pathways.
Population ecology of medically relevant mosquitoes in urban Southwest communities:
Aedes aegypti, Culex tarsalis, and Culex quinquefasciatus are three medically relevant mosquito species that are vectors for many arboviruses that can infect humans. Our research is aimed towards understanding different climatic and geographical variables that could contribute to the spatial and temporal population distributions of these three mosquito species in the desert Southwest. Site-specific data from field-caught samples caught since 2014, as well as different population genetics methods, are being used to further understand the population structure of these three species, in efforts to better model populations in arid urban communities with similar climates.
Analysis of novel core promoter elements in Aedes aegypti and their influence on expression through genome-wide analysis:
The core promoter is the region flanking the transcription start site (TSS) that directs the formation of the pre-initiation complex. Core promoters have been studied intensively in mammals and yeast, but not in more diverse eukaryotes. Here we investigate the core promoter elements in Aedes aegypti. Aedes aegypti is a vector of diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, and Zika virus. Through this research, we aim to better understand and control vector disease transmission. We will address the structure of core promoters in Aedes aegypti and related species, by using whole-genome analyses and motif finding tools to characterize known and novel core promoter elements and assess their association with gene expression patterns.