Dissecting the Transmission Biology of Vector-Borne Diseases

Derrick Mathias, PhD, MPHDepartment of Entomology & Plant Pathology

College of AgricultureAuburn University

Faculty Cluster Hire Initiative: Environmental Health Cluster

11.12.14

Nidus of pathogen

transmission

Reisen 2010, Annu Rev Entomol 55:461-83

- Competency- Feeding behavior- Oviposition behavior- Biology of immature stages

- Virulence- Mutation rate- Incubation period- Immune avoidance

- Immune response- Exposure• behavior• vector attraction

- Nutritional status

Components of Vector-Borne Disease Systems

EcologicalFactors

- Seasonal/spatial variation in temperature, rainfall, etc.

- Land cover, vegetation- Landscape modification- Climate change

Transmission-Cycle Variables

- Host number- Reservoirs- Bridge vectors- Vertical transmission

Host Vector

Pathogen

Zieler et al., 2000 J Exp Biol 203:1599-1611

I. Vector Competence − mechanisms of pathogen invasion• ligand variation on vector tissues

II. Vector-Pathogen Coevolution– population genetics/genomics of

vector & pathogen– virus adaptation to the vector(s)

III. Vector Ecology – feeding behavior & host attraction

(olfactory cues)– oviposition behavior– larval ecology– vector habitat characterization

Bethan et al. 2009

Research Interests Transmission Biology of malaria and arboviral diseases (bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease):

Exflagellation

Fertilization

MG invasion

Transmissio

n

Sporogony

Schmidtmann, USDA-ARS

Roy et al. 2009

Potential Areas for Collaboration2007

2012

Recent HD Mortality in wild ruminants

Data compiled by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, UGA

– Modeling of disease risk– Objective:

To improve understanding of transmission cycles and conditions that lead to outbreaks.

– Variables:• vector (density, diversity)• pathogen (serotype, genetic

variation)• climate• water quantity/quality• other abiotic factors• land cover/use

– Potential Funding: NSF Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Diseases program