Members directory

Vector control and biology

Vector/host interactions

I have interest in wildlife animal diseases. I want to know details about biting midges, their life cycle, effect on animals and remedy from them. I did work on antimicrobial resistance of Rhesus monkey. I am interest in work on controlling vector borne disease of livestock as well as wild animals. That I can take steps to conservation of last member of extinct species of wildlife.  I want to build my carrier as a wildlife biologist and conservationist in future.

Biology of bloodfeeding insects, vector-borne diseases, ecology of sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae), molecular taxonomy and phylogeny, epidemiology of Old World leishmaniases

Parasitic infections including Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Sand flies 

Climate impact assessment on the global burden of vector-borne diseases. Mathematical modelling of population dynamics and disease epidemiology for various vectors and pathogens.

Biology, ecology, surveillance, and management of arthropods of medical and veterinary importance.

Mosquito ecology

Insecticide resistance

I am interested in Culicoides and particularly in the Afrotropical region to improve our knowledge on species of veterinary (ie specify the main species vectors and pathogens that they are likely to transmit); their distribution and abundance according to different ecosystem and livestock level. Indeed, I did my thesis work on culicoides in relation to African horse sickness in equestrian centers in the Niayes area. However, it would be interesting to reproduce this work in cattle and small ruminants farming (modern and traditional). The aim is to contribute to the fight against these insects vector-borne diseases. Several insecticide products are used against nuisance insects but little is known about their effectiveness on culicoides. Thus it will be interesting to test culicoides susceptibility on active ingredients and evaluate the effectiveness of some insecticide products against field culicoides populations.

In biting midges (Culicoides) studies conducted in the Brazilian Central Amazon, high diversity indices were found, with 46 species, five species new to the reticulatus group and 39 morphotypes in seven subgenera that could not be identified by classical morphology due to variations. morphological for valid species. This situation should be repeated in several areas in the Amazon, making it necessary to add other combined methods of morphological diagnosis, such as morphometric and genetic analyzes, to more accurately elucidate the diversity of Culicoides.

Correct identification of an insect of economic / epidemiological interest is a basic premise for solving any entomological problem. The taxonomy of these biting midges based on their morphological characteristics is difficult due to their small size and occurrence of cryptic and complex species and those with phenotypic plasticity, which lead to misidentifications. Accurate identification is of great importance in the surveillance of arthropod-borne diseases, as large differences in vectorial capacity are found even among nearby species. My interest is to estimate the diversity of biting midges (Culicoides and Leptoconops, Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in different regions of the Amazon, to understand biodiversity and elucidate taxonomic limits through integrated taxonomy methods.

Mark Fife leads the Genetics and Genomics group at The Pirbright Institute. He is a complex-disease geneticist with extensive experience in complex trait analysis (QTL and association studies), candidate gene mapping and molecular biology techniques. He has produced over 45 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in this area before becoming a group leader at the Institute.  His work has been the focus of extensive genome-wide and haplotype analysis using web-based SNP selector software that he has implemented at Pirbright. This work has culminated in the identification and characterisation of several causal genes for important immune traits in chickens and potential vector competence genes in Culicoides Midges. 

Dr. Fife has extensive expertise in coordinating multidisciplinary and multi-site projects.  He is an active STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador which creates opportunities to inspire young people and develop their creativity, problem-solving and employability skills for the UK's future competitiveness.

Taxonomy

Biogeography

Vector-borne disease ecology

Culicoides and it's relationship with Bluetong

Sandflies ecology, vector capacity, transmission Dynamics

Mosquito ecology and arboviruses

ECOLOGY OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES

culicoides taxonomy, biology, ecology and control

- Vector-borne diseases

- Sand fly biology

- Pathogen-vector interaction

- Molecular taxonomy

1.Laboratory rearing techniques for insects and insect vectors.

2.Molecular characterisation of insects and insect vectors

3. Ecological and predisposing insect-vector interractions.

Culicoides ecology.  Use of animal-baited and odor baited traps for capture of blood-feeding insects.

Leishmaniasis

Malaria

Dengue and other Vector born disease

Vectors ecology, Vector_Pathogens interactions

Post-Doc researcher

I am an early career researcher with 4 years expertise in Culicoides biting midges (Ph. D. Dissertation entitled: “The genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the Basque Country, Northern Spain”), 2 years experience in sand flies (1st Post-Doc, project named “Field trials of synthetic sex pheromone to reduce visceral leishmaniasis transmission by Lutzomyia longipalpis in Brazil”) and 3 years with mosquitoes (2nd Post-Doc in a project named “An integrated program for surveillance, disease prevention and control of the Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus in Northern Spain”).

I have been working in Spain, England and Brazil on the ecology and biology of these important blood-sucking Diptera groups. My mother tongue is Spanish but I also speak and write in Portuguese and English. I consider myself a genuine field entomologist (passionate about trapping, surveillance and classical taxonomy) with high enthusiasm for nature but with some experience also in laboratory/molecular tasks. 

Veterinary parasites and vectors, diagnostics and surveillance

- Ecology and evolution of arboviruses

- Community ecology of viruses associated to arthropod vectors

- Ultrastructure of Biting Midges and Sandflies

- Behavior of Biting Midges and Sandflies

- Ecology of saltmarsh breeding Biting Midges

- Insect attractants for Biting Midges

Biology and behaviour, metamorphosis and immature development, visualising host-parasite interface

My research interests focus on combining field entomology and ecology with genetic and genomic characterisation of Culicoides to investigate vector-virus-host interactions for economically important arboviruses including bluetongue virus, African horse sickness virus, Schmallenberg virus and Oropouche orthobunyavirus. I specialise in high containment arbovirology studies and the establishment of vector surveillance networks and research projects in logistically difficult areas.

Vector behaviour, ecology, surveillance, and control.

Working with ACDP3/SAPO4 pathogens within Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) facilities in order to carry out vector competence studies in arthropods (mosquitoes). This also includes the preparation of SOPs and Biological Risk Assessments as well as training junior staff.

Characterization of arboviruses of medical and veterinary importance (e.g., Zika virus, West Nile virus, Rift Valley Fever virus, Usutu virus, Batai virus, Japanese Encephalitis virus) for which I have experience in tissue cell culture for virus propagation and titration, RT qPCR, DNA/RNA extraction methods and sequencing as well as serological tests.

Management of arbovirus laboratory and insectary facilities within BSL3 as well as non-containment, and line management of junior staff.

Molecular approaches and application of non-destructive techniques for vector species delineation using genetic markers such as COI DNA barcoding, ITS2, as well as for the identification of host DNA within arthropod’s blood meals (Xenosurveillance).

Application of molecular techniques for pathogens detection in arthropods such as ticks, sand flies, and mosquitoes, e.g. Piroplasms, bacteria, tick borne encephalitis.

Preparation of scientific publications, grant applications, attending national and international meetings, establishment of international collaboration, and provision of consultancy in animal health as well as communication with DEFRA stakeholders and senior management.

Curatorial experience, and collection and field-based research towards the systematics of arthropods of medical/ veterinary importance (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks, black flies, sand flies) as well as of agricultural relevance (e.g., plant bugs, termites).

Phylogenetics

Population genetics

Evolutionary Biology

Ecology

Conservation Genetics

Genomics

metabarcoding/metagenomics

Kala-azar or Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease which has been recorded in South-East Asia during early 1800’s. It seems to have blowout along the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers, the major transport routs of Bengal and Bangladesh. In this area, Kala-azar was first described in 1824 in the Jessore district where about 75,000 people died. An intensive control program aimed at the eradication of malaria was mounted in the late 1950s and early 1960s throughout the South Asian sub-continent with the main effort based on indoor residual spraying (IRS) of DDT. Kala-azar is mainly caused by Leishmania donovani, L. infantum, or L. chagasi, but occasionally these species may cause other forms of disease. The cutaneous form of the disease is caused by more than 15 species of Leishmania.Leishmaniasis is mainly transferred by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies which can transmit the protozoa Leishmania. This sandflies act as the vector.

VL is now endemic in many Bangladeshi areas, with the Mymensingh district representing over 50% of the cases. There is substantial underreporting. In 2007, the estimated number of active cases was 136,500. However, less than 5,000 cases were reported that same year. The estimated incidence of VL, according to recent studies, is 15.6/1,000 person-years in Fulbaria and 27/10,000 population in Godagari and Rajshahi.

A survey, conducted in 2006-2007, showed that when seeking care outside the community, 52% of patients made use of the public sector, 13% used poorly trained private practitioners and 28% used local chemists in order to obtain treatment. The awareness of VL is very low. Generally, in communities, VL is seen as ‘any fever that cannot be cured by the local drug sellers’.

As sandflies play a significant role in spreading the dangerous VL disease in different parts of Bangladesh, so this alarming rate of occurring VL in Bangladesh lead me to fix the mind setup to work with sand flies.

Kala-azar or Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease which has been recorded in South-East Asia during early 1800’s. It seems to have blowout along the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers, the major transport routs of Bengal and Bangladesh. In this area, Kala-azar was first described in 1824 in the Jessore district where about 75,000 people died. An intensive control program aimed at the eradication of malaria was mounted in the late 1950s and early 1960s throughout the South Asian sub-continent with the main effort based on indoor residual spraying (IRS) of DDT. Kala-azar is mainly caused by Leishmania donovani, L. infantum, or L. chagasi, but occasionally these species may cause other forms of disease. The cutaneous form of the disease is caused by more than 15 species of Leishmania.Leishmaniasis is mainly transferred by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies which can transmit the protozoa Leishmania. This sandflies act as the vector.

VL is now endemic in many Bangladeshi areas, with the Mymensingh district representing over 50% of the cases. There is substantial underreporting. In 2007, the estimated number of active cases was 136,500. However, less than 5,000 cases were reported that same year. The estimated incidence of VL, according to recent studies, is 15.6/1,000 person-years in Fulbaria and 27/10,000 population in Godagari and Rajshahi.

A survey, conducted in 2006-2007, showed that when seeking care outside the community, 52% of patients made use of the public sector, 13% used poorly trained private practitioners and 28% used local chemists in order to obtain treatment. The awareness of VL is very low. Generally, in communities, VL is seen as ‘any fever that cannot be cured by the local drug sellers’.

As sandflies play a significant role in spreading the dangerous VL disease in different parts of Bangladesh, so this alarming rate of occurring VL in Bangladesh lead me to fix the mind setup to work with sand flies.

Interested to work with vectors and vector borne diseases

Control, life history, geographic distribution, morphology

Geographical Distribution

Vector Competence

Arthropod-borne diseases of veterinary importance

Kala-azar or Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease which has been recorded in South-East Asia during early 1800’s. It seems to have blowout along the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers, the major transport routs of Bengal and Bangladesh. In this area, Kala-azar was first described in 1824 in the Jessore district where about 75,000 people died. An intensive control program aimed at the eradication of malaria was mounted in the late 1950s and early 1960s throughout the South Asian sub-continent with the main effort based on indoor residual spraying (IRS) of DDT. Kala-azar is mainly caused by Leishmania donovani, L. infantum, or L. chagasi, but occasionally these species may cause other forms of disease. The cutaneous form of the disease is caused by more than 15 species of Leishmania. Leishmaniasis is mainly transferred by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies which can transmit the protozoa Leishmania. This sandflies act as the vector.

VL is now endemic in many Bangladeshi areas, with the Mymensingh district representing over 50% of the cases. There is substantial underreporting. In 2007, the estimated number of active cases was 136,500. However, less than 5,000 cases were reported that same year. The estimated incidence of VL, according to recent studies, is 15.6/1,000 person-years in Fulbaria and 27/10,000 population in Godagari and Rajshahi.

A survey, conducted in 2006-2007, showed that when seeking care outside the community, 52% of patients made use of the public sector, 13% used poorly trained private practitioners and 28% used local chemists in order to obtain treatment. The awareness of VL is very low. Generally, in communities, VL is seen as ‘any fever that cannot be cured by the local drug sellers’.

As sandflies play a significant role in spreading the dangerous VL disease in different parts of Bangladesh, so this alarming rate of occurring VL in Bangladesh lead me to fix the mind setup to work with sand flies.

One Health, Wildlife Health, Vector Born Zoonotic Disease

I am working with ecology of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

I want to focus on the fact that gut harboring microbiota of sandflies have positive or negative effect on Leishmania development.

My research interest is on virology especially which are vector transmitted.Although my thesis topic was in Bluetongue virus which is culicoides transmitted disease in sheep.

Simulium and Culicoides ecology, avian malaria transmission and interactions with Wolbachia.

A veterinary epidemiologist and entomologist specialising in the biology and control of insect vectors of livestock diseases.

I have a strong veterinary science background with a PhD in veterinary epidemiology and entomology, more specifically in relation to the livestock disease bluetongue, and its midge vectors. Experienced in designing and undertaking field-studies on disease vectors, including their ecology, flight dynamics and feeding behaviour as well as both morphological and molecular identification of these insects and their blood meals.

Previously worked as a postdoctoral research associate on a BBSRC-funded project which aimed to improve projections for the future of bluetongue and its vectors under scenarios of climate and environmental change.

Currently a BBSRC Future Leader Fellow determining the effect of a parasitic worm on the life history characteristics, vector competence and survival of insects that transmit economically important viruses to livestock - thereby assessing their potential as biological control agents.

- Vector ecology and control (malaria, FL and dengue vectors)

-Vectors of NTD: sandflies, black flies (vector dynamics, disease transmission, support of national control programmes of Onchocerciasis, Leishmaniasis)

- Traps development