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About us

The Vector Biology Research Group at Texas A&M University is made up of a cadre of diverse faculty in the Department of Entomology who are united by their interest in insects that transmit human, animal or plant diseases. The focus of our work ranges from mosquitoes, flies and ticks to aphids, and includes the fields of ecology and behavior, molecular biology, toxicology, evolutionary genetics, transgenesis and genomics. Currently, we consist of 8 faculty, 16 graduate students, 2 post-docs, and 4 visiting students from China, Canada, Mexico and the UK.

News (Updated 10/28/09)

We have welcomed several new graduate students this fall. Luciano Cosme and Kevin Deitz have joined the Slotman lab. Cymon Kersch has joined the Pietrantonio lab and Eric Denmark has started his PhD studies under the supervision of Jeff Tomberlin and Aaron Tarone.The Tomberlin lab has also welcomed Ben Alexander this fall.

Michelle Sanford (Tomberlin lab) has received the Comstock Outstanding PhD Student Award from the Soutwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America for her work on Associative learning in mosquitoes.

Katelyn Chalaire (Mulenga lab) won first prize in the department's graduate student forum.

A MS or PhD position is available in the Mulenga lab to work towards the development of new technologies to vaccinate cattle and other animals against tick borne diseases. Check the position announcement here.

A MS or PhD position is available in the Tamborindeguy lab to study the transmission of Liberibacter sp. by psyllids. Check the position announcement here.

Faculty Research Interests

Our laboratory is focussed on providing tools and improving existing genetic transformation systems for vector mosquitoes. One of our approaches is the identification and incorporation of boundary elements, or insulators, into transposable element constructs to protect transgenes from position effects and positive effect variegation upon integration into the mosquito genome. An alternative approach is the development of site-specific integration systems through the use of chimeric transposases fused with highly specific DNA binding domains such that the site of integration in the mosquito genome can be controlled.

Craig Coates

Associate Professor ccoates@tamu.edu

With a long term goal of developing sub-unit vaccines against vectors and vector-borne pathogens, the lab focuses on deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying the three-way interaction cascade involving the arthropod vector, vector-borne disease pathogen, and the mammalian host. The research program seeks to identify key molecules from arthropod vectors and the vector-borne pathogens that allow for evasion of mammalian host defenses. Identified molecules will be characterized and assessed for their suitability as candidate antigens for development of vaccines against vectors and vector-borne disease agents.

Albert Mulenga

Assistant Professor amulenga@ag.tamu.edu

Identification and molecular characterization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and channels from important arthropod pests: mosquito, tick and fire ants. Molecular understanding of the effector proteins that function to regulate diuresis or water movement in insects. The identification/ functional characterization of these proteins could be exploited for pesticide discovery. For production agriculture, we focused on insecticide resistance monitoring for cotton pests; for boll weevil we monitored for resistance to malathion in support of the multi-million dollar Boll Weevil Eradication Program

Patricia Pietrantonio

Professor ppietran@ag.tamu.edu

The Slotman Laboratory focusses on the evolutionary and population genetics of malaria transmitting mosquitoes. Current projects are investigating the genetic basis of host preference of Anopheles gambiae; the population structure of Anopheles melas; the impact of malaria control on the effective population size of mosquitoes; and the evolution of behavioral resistance against insecticides.

Michel Slotman

Assistant Professor maslotman@ag.tamu.edu

My research program focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying plant virus transmission by insects. I am particularly interested in identifying aphid proteins responsible for luteovirus transmission using genomic approaches. Currently, I am working in collaboration with Fred Gildow (Penn State University) and Stewart Gray (Cornell University) with a population of Schizaphis graminum differing in their ability to transmit Cereal yellow dwarf virus strain RPV (CYDV-RPV).

Cecilia Tamborindeguy

Assistant Professor ctamborindeguy@ag.tamu.edu

Blow flies develop on decomposing materials and transmit over 100 human pathogens.  The Tarone Laboratory collaborates with the Tomberlin Laboratory to understand the molecular biology, evolutionary ecology, population genetics, and genomics of interactions between microbes and blow flies

Aaron Tarone

Assistant Professor amtarone@ag.tamu.edu

Biology, ecology and management of ticks effecting humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. My PhD students include a member of the department of defense and a member of the army.

Pete Teel

Professor pteel@tamu.edu

Blow flies develop on decomposing materials and transmit over 100 human pathogens. The Tomberlin Laboratory collaborates with the Tarone Lab examining the interactions between microbes and blow flies competing for these resources and the role these flies play in transporting these microbes into surrounding communities.

Jeff Tomberlin

Assistant Professor jktomberlin@ag.tamu.edu