Vector Ecology and Environment
Our research interests include any thing from ecology to molecular biology of medically important arthropods, particularly mosquitoes that transmit pathogens such as Malaria parasites and dengue virus in Africa and Southeast Asia. We are also interested in their relationships with environmental variables and development of environmentally friendly vector control tools.
Members
- Professor
- Noboru Minakawa
- Assistant Professor
- Toshihiko Sunahara
- Assistant Professor
- Kyoko Futami
- Assistant
- Chiaki Tsurukawa
- Assistant
- Naomi Sano
- Assistant
- Junko Sakemoto
- Graduate Student
- Huynh Thi Thuy Trang
- Graduate Student
- Yang Chao
- Graduate Student
- Nayu Sukehiro
- Graduate Student
- Yasue Morimoto
Activities
Currently, we are analyzing the population genetic structures of Aedes aegypti in Africa. This study has already revealed that the genetic structures of mosquito populations in dengue fever endemic areas are distinct. We are also working on the genetic structure of the Ae.aegypti populations population that was introduced in Republic of Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the recent years. This study will reveal their origins and introduction pathways.
For reducing malaria risk, we are evaluating the effectiveness of new insecticides and tools in Kenya and Malawi. We are also developing malaria prediction models and dengue prediction models using deep learning methods.
Recent main research achievement
- Kasai et al. Sci Adv 2022;8(51):eabq7345.
- Mao et al. Plants (Basel) 2022;11(19):2589.
- Martineau et al. Front Public Health 2022;10:962377.
- Minakawa et al. Palasitology 2022;149(7):1-39.
- Kawada et al. Jpn J Infect Dis 2022;75(3)288-295.