Inherited symbionts
for insects control
Welcome to our lab!
Fighting the world’s deadliest animal
Mosquito-borne diseases, including arboviruses, cause enormous suffering and mortality across the globe and are notoriously difficult to control.
Attempts to reduce the global incidence of dengue fever and the spread of recent chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever virus outbreaks have focused on targeting the vector.
Inherited bacteria
We investigate inherited symbionts of mosquitoes and their interactions with the hosts. The ultimate aim is to use them to control mosquito populations and to block the transmission of pathogens within the insect vector, and therefore provide novel disease control approaches.
We investigate the biology and ecology of mosquitoes and other insect species to uncover the molecular and ecological mechanisms driving their interactions with pathogens, symbionts, and the environment.
Our work integrates experimental approaches to develop sustainable, biologically informed strategies for vector and pest control, contributing to public health and food security.