Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

We held an in-person annual meeting at the Entomological Society of America annual meeting (11/7/23) and a virtual annual meeting to enable additional participation by those unable to travel (11/27/23).  Dr. Gardner organized and facilitated both meetings.

The in-person meeting was a symposium featuring 10 speakers associated with the Multistate project.  The symposium was open to faculty, government employees, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to promote awareness of the Multistate project and engage potential future members.  Forty-seven participants attended the meeting, 60 percent of whom were trainees (postdoctoral researchers or graduate students) and 55 percent of whom were not current members of the Multistate project.  Among this latter group, 75 percent expressed interest in being contacted with more information about the project.  Thus, we achieved our goal of recruiting new members to the project through holding the symposium at the ESA meeting.  Our speakers were selected to represent diverse research themes that are aligned with the project and diverse career stages (faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students).  The presenters were as follows:

Aubrey Tingler, PhD Student, University of Maryland

Dr. Dana Price, Associate Research Professor, Rutgers University

Dr. Jannelle Couret, Assistant Professor, University of Rhode Island

Dr. Dina Fonseca, Professor, Rutgers University

Dr. Francisco Ferreira, Assistant Research Scientist, Texas A&M University

Dr. Adela Oliva Chavez, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University

Cameron Osborne, PhD Student, Kansas State University

Dr. Tae-Young Lee, Postdoctoral Researcher, The Ohio State University

Dr. Nora Cespedes, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Idaho

Dr. Gabriel Hamer, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

During the virtual meeting, we focused largely on the process of developing our Multistate project renewal proposal.  We used interactive word cloud exercises to understand the scientific themes and goals that we currently associate with the Multistate project, the expertise we feel we offer to the project, the expertise we would like to be able to access through the project in the future, and priorities for the renewal proposal.  We held two 45-minute breakout room sessions to discuss objectives and sub-objectives for the renewal and to plan the writing process.  We also held a full group discussion of the objectives and our goals moving forward.  Finally, we agreed that the annual meeting in 2024 will be held alongside the Society for Vector Ecology annual meeting and discussed leadership plans for the Multistate project in the future.

Philip Armstrong participated in two related research projects which compared the genomics of EEE virus and Powassan virus to study the evolution and transmission of these emerging arboviruses.  We used techniques in phylogeography to determine the viral population structure, dispersal rates, and sources of recent disease outbreaks.  In another study, we utilized long-term surveillance data from Connecticut to determine the relatedness (population synchrony) of mosquito and arbovirus collections among sites.  We found that mosquito collections were highly correlated at distances 5-40 km whereas arbovirus collections displayed no synchrony or at very short distances.  These results suggest that mosquito control operations for nuisance and disease vectors must expand treatment zones to regional scales for operations to have population-level impacts. Finally, we evaluated the impact of the biological larvicide Lysinibacillus sphaericus on mosquito community composition. We demonstrated the elimination of Culex pipiens larvae while container breeding Aedes sps proliferated across all treatment groups.

Doug Brackney has been working on two projects directly related to the multistate project. First, I have been performing surveillance on the distribution, abundance, and species composition of CT tick populations and have been testing the B. burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, B. microti, and DENV prevalence rates in Ix. scapularis ticks. Second, I have been working to better understand POWV transmission dynamics through experimental studies in the lab. Namely, we have been trying to understand the rates of vertical transmission of POWV in both Ix. scapularis and De. variabilis.

Adela Oliva Chavez studies Ixodes scapularis ticks, which are distributed throughout the eastern US, from Maine to Florida. Nevertheless, 80% of the cases of Lyme disease and Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis are reported in the Northeastern US and upper Midwestern US. Differences in behavior are thought to play a role in the disparities of pathogen transmission. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism behind this distinct behavior is not known. With bioinformatic approaches, we identified DNA methylating and de-methylating enzymes. The levels of expression of these enzymes were measured, indicating that levels of expression of the enzyme involved in maintenance of methylation levels was significantly different between ticks from Minnesota and tick collected in Texas. Whereas other methylating and de-methylating enzymes showed no differences (Obj. 2). We have worked towards defining molecular responses to tick feeding and pathogen transmission at the skin level, identifying differences in expression of genes involved in wound healing and inflammation (Obj. 2). Finally, we have tested the use of extracellular vesicles for the identification of protective antigens against tick feeding. Our results showed that deer develop strong IgG levels when vaccinated with vesicles and that vaccinations can lead to on-host mortalities (Obj. 3).

Stephen Dobson’s lab at the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology worked in collaboration with agents of the Kentucky Department of Health to establish a networked system for field data collection, lab identification, molecular testing of pools, analysis, and data reporting. This system was successfully used for both tick and mosquito collections throughout the state. The software allows for linkage of samples to picture, audio and text notes, which are available to all participants, including field workers, lab personnel and data managers. The resulting data is automatically formatted for national databases, including VectorSurv, ArboNet, etc.

Vincenzo Ellis has worked on a number of vector-transmitted pathogen detection techniques including sequencing pathogen genomes with sequence capture. We continue to work on the ecology and evolution of the dipteran-vectored avian malaria pathogens. We have also worked on surveying ticks and small mammals in Delaware and elsewhere for the Borrelia burgdorferi, a pathogen that causes Lyme disease in humans. We also conducted genetic diversity studies of B. burgdorferi as part of those studies. Finally, we have been working on mosquito genomics and recently sequenced the genome of Aedes grossbecki and are in the process of conducting a population genomic analysis of Culex salinarius.

Dina Fonseca is committed to training better medical and veterinary entomologists as well as to developing and field-testing enhanced approaches to reduce insect and mite damage including strategies to prevent and manage the spread of insecticide resistance. I am an ecological and evolutionary geneticist, and my research focuses on invasive species, particularly mosquitoes and ticks, along with the parasites and pathogens they carry. I pioneered the use of environmental DNA for detecting infestations of agricultural pests. As the Director of the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, I lead a program that offers accreditation and continuing education for the broader Mosquito Control community. Since 2016, our extension activities have expanded to collaborate with residential communities, developing proactive strategies for urban vector surveillance and control, now encompassing both mosquitoes and ticks.

Allison Gardner has progressed toward the aims of this project through two research avenues over the past year.  First, we completed an ecological study using lab and field experiments to study overwinter survival of the blacklegged tick, a major emerging disease vector species, in its northern range.  We also continued an ongoing study of blacklegged tick host-seeking behavior under different weather and climate conditions.  Second, we continued an ongoing study of the spread of Zika virus in the western hemisphere via domestic and international tourism.  We extended concepts and tools developed under this project to analyze impacts of human movements on the spread of COVID-19. This project has provided training opportunities for six graduate students, five undergraduate students, and one postdoctoral researcher.  We disseminated research findings to scientific audiences via multiple conference presentations (e.g., Ecological Society of America annual meeting, Entomological Society of America annual meeting, Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, International Association for Society and Natural Resources annual meeting), six publications in peer-reviewed journals, and an additional six manuscripts under review.

Andrea Gloria-Soria’s lab is expanding a reference global database of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes based on 25,000K genome-wide SNPs that is successfully used by our laboratory to track the origin of new introductions of this invasive species worldwide. The current database represents over 330 populations and more than 11,000 individuals throughout the species distribution. This year we started a project to characterize the invasion dynamics of Ae. aegypti at the Southwest US front, using the SNP chip described above. Understanding population connectivity and identifying sources and sinks will lead to more successful vector control strategies. The Gloria-Soria lab is also investigating the genetic basis of insecticide resistance of the Culex pipiens complex in the northeast and the population structure in the region using whole-genome sequencing strategies combined with bioassays to establish associations between the population resistance phenotype and genotype. 

Gabriel Hamer continued to study the ecology and control of multiple arthropod vectors of human and animal disease. We published a US-wide species distribution model of Culex tarsalis, one of the primary vectors of West Nile virus. We continue to work with Harris County evaluating their adulticide treatment for the the control of Culex mosquitoes which is a manuscript close to submission to a journal. We have two manuscripts in preparation for submission associated with the autodissemination station intervention targeting the control of Aedes aegypti in South Texas.

Yoosook Lee obtained mosquito samples from multiple locations within Florida, Hawaii, other Pacific and Caribbean Islands. Whole genome sequencing data was collected from the natural populations to estimate population connectivity between locations and to inform various models aimed at modeling mosquito distribution and dispersal. This will be critical in assessing impacts of various mosquito control measures on the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases including novel genetic control strategies. Lee is also serving as the Program Director of the Mosquito BEACONS working group improving the invasive mosquito surveillance and control capacity in the Southern states including FL, GA, MS, LA, NC, SC, TX, VA, and PR. This provides invasive mosquito identification workshops to strengthen the invasive mosquito surveillance capacity in the southern region. EDDMaps database is constructed to curate mosquito collection data and some data curation has started.

Paul Leisnham and his student, Oswaldo Villena, published work showing a condition-specific advantage for the competitively inferior resident mosquito, Culex pipiens, in degraded tires by relaxing the effects of competition with the invasive Aedes albopictus. Dr. Leisnham is continuing work with his student Sarah Rothman testing the effects of urban container detritus on the outcome of competition between Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens across socioeconomic gradients in southwest Baltimore, MD. Dr. Leisnham also contributed to two publications led by other labs in as a part of this multistate project.

Shirley Luckhart’s research is focused on malaria parasite development and transmission in mouse models and transmission of human malaria parasites in the lab with a focus on the invasive mosquito Anopheles stephensi. We study the blood feeding interface – that is, how factors in mammalian host blood (drugs, cytokines, parasite factors) influence parasite development and transmission to the mosquito host. Over the past year, we have continued to examine the effects of histamine and serotonin, two neuromodulators whose blood levels are substantially modified during malaria, on mosquitoes following bloodfeeding. These neuromodulators have profound effects on mosquito response to host cues, flight activity, velocity, lifespan, reproduction, and circadian activity. We have also continued our work on pantothenate, a vitamin that is essential for the human host, the parasite and the mosquito. Briefly, we discovered that manipulation of pantothenate levels in the mosquito host can increase mosquito resistance to parasite infection. Current studies are focused on the effects of modulation of pantothenate, which is available through nectar and larval food sources, on reproduction, male:female sex ratios and behavior of A. stephensi.

Erika Machtinger’s research has examined variations in blacklegged tick burdens on rodent hosts, employing innovative trapping techniques. This approach improves surveillance by generating reliable and comparable data across diverse geographical areas. We have introduced a comprehensive framework for tick management, highlighting the integration of wildlife science, the one health concept, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Doing so enhances our comprehension of disease vector ecology and distribution, especially in changing environmental conditions. We also explore disease transmission dynamics, emphasizing the limited detection of shared zoonotic pathogens in deer keds and blacklegged ticks and explore the use of tissue-damaging marking methods on tick burdens, providing nuanced insights that inform the development of novel control interventions.

Megan Meuti’s lab studies the molecular regulation and ecology of seasonal responses in mosquitoes. During the past year we have characterized seasonal differences in mosquito activity and how this is impacted by light pollution and higher temperatures in cities due to the urban heat island effect. We also studied how the circadian clock in mosquitoes is connected to the hormonal regulators of seasonal differences in mosquito biting behavior and reproduction We have also uncovered when Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes initiate and terminate their overwintering dormancy. We have also characterized differences in transcript and microRNA abundance between biting and non-biting mosquitoes. We also published protocols on how to collect Culex mosquitoes from the field and rear and maintain them in the laboratory.

Goudarz Molaei’s research activities and interests are in the areas of vector-host-pathogen interactions as an essential element in disease transmission. My group makes use of molecular biology and population genetics techniques to better understand the epidemiology and ecology of mosquito-borne arboviruses, including West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis viruses, with the goal of reducing the risk of infection in humans and domesticated animals. Over the years, research in my group has revealed that while some mosquito vectors exhibit opportunistic blood feeding behavior, others show a great deal of specialization for feeding on only one group of vertebrate hosts. For some species, information is limited to a few locations that may be a reflection of host abundance rather than innate preference. We are also investigating biology, ecology, phenology, infection status, and the dynamics of interactions among native and invasive tick species.

Bruce Noden has conducted research under multiple Multistate project objectives. Under Objective 2.1: My lab explored the ecology and geographic distribution of native disease vectors under changing environmental conditions by: 1) mapping tick ‘hot spots’ and infection status of native tick vectors in culturally important sites for the Chickasaw nation in south-central Oklahoma, 2) monitoring native tick vectors under varying levels of encroachment by a native woody plant that is invading central and western Oklahoma, and 3) describing a novel Rickettsia from Ixodes scapularis in Oklahoma.  We have also focused on Objective 2.2 by making novel discoveries of the ecology of Aedes albopictus and Culex species involved with WNV transmission within areas of invasive woody plant encroachment in central Oklahoma.  We identified that within an encroached landscape, A. albopictus are significantly more likely to be collected inside the labyrinth of trees while Culex sp. are more likely to be collected on the outer portions of the encroached area.  This has implications for urban areas currently experiencing woody plant encroachment in the southern Great Plains.

Subba Palli studies spotted fever rickettsioses, which encompass a group of illnesses with similar clinical symptoms caused by Rickettsia spp. bacteria. Rickettsia rickettsii is responsible for causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever in humans and is transmitted via the bite of an infected tick. Curiously, while cases of this disease are reported each year, there is a historically low prevalence of this bacterium in its tick vector, Dermacentor variabilis. For this reason, it is theorized that other R. spp., namely R. parkeri, which is vectored by Amblyomma maculatum ticks, may be responsible for causing illness incorrectly diagnosed as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Here, we report the county-level distribution of D. variabilis infected with R. rickettsii and A. maculatum infected with R. parkeri in Kentucky between January 2019 to December 2022. We collected ticks in the environment by dragging and receiving them through our Kentucky Tick Submission Program. We collected 1,162 D. variabilis and 26 A. maculatum ticks from 99 counties. We detected R. rickettsii (<1%) in three engorged, host-collected D. variabilis samples but failed to detect this bacterium in any host-seeking ticks. We did not detect R. parkeri in any A. maculatum samples tested. Additional surveillance targeted in counties where Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases are reported would provide more insight into the prevalence of pathogenic R. spp in the tick populations.

Susan Paskewitz conducted research focused on evaluation of methods to prevent tick or mosquito bites around homes. Project 1 measured the impact of commercial tick and mosquito control on private properties on the abundance of ticks and mosquitoes on those properties.  Project 2 examined methods to improve uptake of permethrin treated cotton by white-footed mice around homes and used radio-collaring to track rodent movement and nest sites at these sites.  Project 3 assessed degradation of the permethrin upon exposure to UV, moisture or following winter burial underground. Project 4 assessed the impact of larval and adult mosquito control by tax-funded abatement districts in the Chicago area.

Peter Piermarini’s lab has been conducting research investigating the insecticidal and repellent activities of natural products derived from plants and microbes against mosquitoes. In addition, they have been elucidating the mechanism of action of how a plant-derived natural product binds to a biochemical receptor in mosquitoes that elicits repellent behaviors to facilitate the development of highly mosquito-specific repellents with minimal effects on humans. Lastly, the Piermarini lab is investigating basic physiological mechanisms in mosquitoes to identify potential novel biochemical targets for insecticides that would kill mosquitoes via novel modes of action.

Dana Price’s lab focuses on functional genomic analyses of vector arthropods and their holobiont - that is, the host and assemblage of commensal organisms (viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes) that live within and around them. This often involves identifying, characterizing and surveilling emerging zoonotic infectious diseases within arthropod hosts as well as the environment. Supporting initiatives include the development of protocols that employ shotgun metagenome sequencing of non-standard sample template e.g., saliva and excreta collected from custom fabricated excreta-collecting devices that deliver a wealth of information about vector populations that traditional assays such as qPCR pathogen screens do not. Additionally, we have initiated studies that assesses the risk to humans and animals of both known and potentially novel tick-borne diseases in New Jersey forest ecosystems with special emphasis on contrasting urban and rural forested habitat.

Michael Reiskind continued to conduct research in several areas covered by NE-1943.  These include tick surveillance and field experiments, mosquito ecology and vector biology, and mosquito surveillance.  For tick-related projects, we have completed a two year study looking at the relationship between trails and tick presence and abundance across 16 sites in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, finding that ticks are both more abundance and more likely to be encountered further from walking trails than on the trails.  We also documented the phenology of the dominant tick in the Piedmont, Amblyomma americanum, which transmit Ehrlichia pathogens and causes an allergy to the mammal sugar molecule, alpha-gal.  Our mosquito research has examined the phenology of Aedes albopictus, as part of an on-going study with year-round, weekly captures.  We have also completed experiments examining the influence of larval environment on the transmission of the filarial pathogen Dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm. 

Sarah Short engaged in research and extension activities that contributed to the progress of Objectives 2 and 3. For Objective 2, we conducted a second year of sampling for a 2-year study to investigate the ecology of mosquito breeding in stormwater control measures in Franklin County, OH. We sampled for larvae in 10 retention ponds, 10 detention ponds, and 10 artificial wetlands every other week from May through October. All larvae were identified to species and at each site we recorded water quality measures (temperature, pH, salinity), as well as shade and vegetation. We are actively analyzing the data and expect to publish a manuscript detailing the findings in early 2024. For Objective 3, we completed a study investigating the effect of a potential novel biocontrol agent (the microsporidian parasite Edhazardia aedis) on the immune defense of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. We found that mosquitoes infected by the parasite were significantly more susceptible to oral and systemic infection by the bacterial pathogen Serratia marcescens, suggesting the parasite modifies the mosquito’s ability to defend itself against infection. A manuscript detailing this study is currently under review at mSphere. Additionally, we investigated the potential synergistic effects of another microsporidian parasite (Vavraia culicis) on Bacillus thuringiensis treatment for Culex pipiens mosquitoes. We have just completed data collection for this project and expect to also publish those findings in 2024.

Kristopher Silver’s lab studies biting midges (Culicoides sonorensis), which transmit the most economically significant viruses to livestock in the United States. These small blood-feeding insects can transmit strains of endemic and exotic viruses that not only cause mortality and morbidity, but also result in movement restrictions of infected livestock. The costs of outbreaks as a result of the activities of Culicoides or mosquitoes can cost billions of dollars due to health and economic losses. Though prophylactic measures have been developed for preventing infection with some arthropod-borne diseases, control measures for most of these diseases rely solely on controlling vector populations. Most of these control strategies involve the use of traditional chemical insecticides, but resistance to these control measures is becoming more prevalent. As a result, new methods that can control insect pest populations and/or limit their ability to vector disease are desperately needed. This year we have explored the use of RNAi and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp israelensis to control Culicoides larvae, examining the mechanisms that limit their efficacy and ways to enhance activity. In addition, we have also used electropenetrography (EPG) to characterize electrical waveforms representing probing behaviors that occur during blood feeding in Culex mosquito and Culicoides midges. We have also correlated some of these waveforms with specific behaviors like blood ingestion. These data will inform our efforts to develop new strategies for vector control by identifying new targets or adapting currently used products in new ways (Objective 3). Four manuscripts have been accepted and will be published in the next year.

Ryan Smith’s lab performed mosquito and tick surveillance in the state of Iowa to better understand West Nile virus transmission dynamics, the spread of invasive mosquito species, the current range of tick species in the state, and the presence of tick-borne pathogens. When paired with the long-term data sets obtained from surveillance efforts in previous years, these data provide valuable insights into vector ecology and vector-borne disease transmission in the state of Iowa and the greater Midwest.

Alvaro Toledo’s lab focuses on the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was first discovered on a sheep farm in New Jersey in November 2017. Since then, it has been detected in 19 states and over 200 counties. The Asian longhorned tick is parthenogenetic and transmits several human and animal pathogens, including Theileria orientalis, associated with cattle fatalities in Virginia. We have extensively studied the phenology of this tick species and evaluated different approaches to control it. Our long-term objective is to provide sustainable IPM control practices for the Asian longhorned tick.

Shi-Hua Xiang is developing countermeasures for the control of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infectious diseases. In the past year, my lab has been focusing on the drug discovery for flavivirus infections. By using in-silico screening approach, we screened compound libraries targeting the active site of viral RNA polymerase. We have identified three small molecules which showed potent activities against Zika virus (ZIKV) and West Nile virus (WNV) from the in vitro cell-based test. In particular, one compound (OFB3) exhibited an IC50 value of 290nM against WNV infection. More screenings and tests are underway, we hope more lead compounds will be identified for further preclinical evaluations in vivo in the coming year soon.

Abernathy, H.A., Boyce, R.M. and Reiskind, M.H., 2023. Exploring the effects of caffeine on Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) survival and fecundity. Journal of Medical Entomology, p.tjad047.

Ballman ES, JE Leahy, CC Sponarski, MG Galli, and AM Gardner. 2023. A citizen science approach to investigate the distribution, abundance, and pathogen infection of vector ticks through active surveillance. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 14: e102144.

Barnes M, Price DC. 2023. Endogenous Viral Elements in Ixodid Tick Genomes. Viruses. 31;15(11):2201.

Bickerton, M., I. Rochlin, J. Gonzalez, K. McSorley, and A. Toledo. 2022. Field applications of granular and liquid pyrethroids, carbaryl, and IGRs to control the asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) and impacts on nontarget invertebrates. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 13: 102054.

Bickerton, M., J. Gonzalez, A. Egizi, and A. Toledo. 2023. Baseline susceptibility of Haemaphysalis longicornis to organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid acaricides. Pest Manag Sci 79: 4328-4334.

Brennan JR, Boychuck S, Washkwich AJ, John-Alder H, Fonseca DM 2023 Tick abundance and diversity are substantially lower in thinned vs. unthinned forests in the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, USA. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases https://www.sciencedirect.com/ science/article/pii/S1877959X22002084

Brisco KK, Jacobsen CM, Seok S, Wang X, Lee Y*, Akbari OS, Cornel AJ. Field Evaluation of In2Care Mosquito Traps to Control Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Hawai'i Island. J Med Entomol. 2023. 60(2): 364-372. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjad005. [*Lee Y – Corresponding author]

Brisco KK, Jacobsen CM, Seok S, Wang X, Lee Y*, Akbari OS, Cornel AJ. Field Evaluation of In2Care Mosquito Traps to Control Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Hawai'i Island. J Med Entomol. 2023. 60(2): 364-372. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjad005.

Brown, J.E., H. S. Tiffin, A. Pagac, K. C. Poh, J. R. Evans, T. M. Miller, B. H. Herrin, C. Sutherland, and E. T. Machtinger. Differential burdens of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) on sympatric rodent hosts. Journal of Vector Ecology. Accepted

Dhungana, P., Wei, X., Meuti, M. and Sim, C., 2023. Identification of CYCLE targets that contribute diverse features of circadian rhythms in the mosquito Culex pipiens. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and Proteomics, 48, p.101140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101140

Egizi A, Wagner NE, Jordan RA, Price DC. 2023. Lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infected with Bourbon virus in New Jersey, USA. J Med Entomol. 60(4):842-846.

Ferreira FC, González G, Milholland M, Tung G, Fonseca DM 2023 Surveys of ticks (Acari: Ixodida) on small and medium-sized mammals in suburban northeastern US reveal expected and unexpected patterns of association International Journal of Parasitology S0020-7519(23)00153-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.003. Online ahead of print.

Field, E.N., Shepard, J. J., Clifton, M. E., Price, K. J., Witmier, B. J., Johnson, K., Boze, B., Abadam, C., Ebel, G. D., Armstrong, P.M., Barker, C. M., Smith, R. C. (2022) Semi-field and surveillance data define the natural diapause timeline for Culex pipiens across the United States. Communications Biology 5: 1300.

Field, E.N., Smith, R.C. (2023) Seasonality influences key physiological components contributing to Culex pipiens vector competence. Frontiers in Insect Science 3:1144072.

Fikrig, K., N. Rose, N. Burkett-Cadena, B. Kamgang, P.T. Leisnham, J. Mangan, A. Ponlawat, S. Rothman, T. Stenn, C.S. McBride, L.C. Harrington. 2023. Aedes albopictus host odor preference does not drive observed variation in feeding patterns across field populations. Scientific Reports, 13:130.

Frederick, J.C., Sharma, P., Thompson, A., Dharmarajan, G., Ronai, I., Pesapane, R., Smith, R.C., Sundstrom, K., Tsao, J.I., Tuten, H., Yabsley, M.J., Glenn, T.C. (2023) Phylogeography of the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis identifies candidate loci for differences in vectorial capacity. Molecular Ecology 32(12):3133-3149.

Fyie, L.R., Tronetti, H.R., Gardiner, M.M. and Meuti, M.E., 2023. Potential for urban warming to postpone overwintering dormancy of temperate mosquitoes. Journal of Thermal Biology, 115, p.103594.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103594

Gloria-Soria, A., T. Shragai, A.T. Ciota, T.B. Duval, B.W. Alto, A.J.  Martins, K.M. Westby, K.A. Medley, I. Unlu, S.R. Campbell, M.  Kawalkowski, Y. Tsuda, Y. Higa, N. Indelicato, P.T. Leisnham, A. Caccone, P.M. Armstrong. 2022. Population genetics of an invasive mosquito vector; Aedes albopictus in the Northeastern US. Neobiota, 8, 99-127.

González J, Fonseca DM, Toledo A 2023 Seasonal dynamics of tick species in the ecotone of parks and recreational areas in Middlesex County (New Jersey, USA) Insects 4(3)  https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/258

Gonzalez J., Fonseca DM, Toledo A. 2024 Effect of short-photoperiod on the development of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Journal of Medical Entomology accepted

Gonzalez, J., A. Lockhart, Q. Wu, J. E. Simon, and A. Toledo. 2022. Repellency of novel catnip (Nepeta cataria) cultivar extracts against Ixodes scapularis and Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 13: 102046.

Gonzalez, J., D. M. Fonseca, and A. Toledo. 2023. Seasonal Dynamics of Tick Species in the Ecotone of Parks and Recreational Areas in Middlesex County (New Jersey, USA). Insects 14.

Herb H, Ferreira FC, Gonzalez J, Fonseca DM 2023 Multiple piroplasm parasites (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida) in northeastern populations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the United Sates Parasitology 1-7. doi: 10.1017/S0031182023000914. Online ahead of print.

Hill V, ...Armstrong PM, Ciota AT, Grubaugh ND. Dynamics of eastern equine encephalitis virus during the 2019 outbreak in the Northeast United States. Curr Biol. 2023 33(12):2515-2527.

Holcomb, K. M., Khalil, N., Cozens, D. W., Cantoni, J. L., Brackney, D. E., Linske, M. A., Williams, S. C., Molaei, G., and Eisen, R. J. (2023). Comparison of acarological risk metrics derived from active and passive surveillance and their concordance with tick-borne disease incidence. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 14, 102243.

Holcomb, K.M., Khalil, N., Cozens, D.W., Cantoni, J.L., Brackney, D.E., Linske, M.A., Williams, S.C., Molaei, G., and Eisen, R.J. (2023). Comparison of acarological risk metrics derived from active and passive surveillance and their concordance with tick-borne disease incidence. Ticks Tick-borne Dis. 14(6): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102243

Holguin-Rocha AF, Calle-Tobon A, Vásquez GM, Astete H, Fisher ML, Tobon-Castano A, Velez-Tobon G, Maldonado-Ruiz LP, Silver K, Park Y, Londono-Renteria B. (2023) Diversity of the bacterial and viral communities in the tropical horse tick, Dermacentor nitens in Colombia. Pathogens. 2023 12(7): PMID: 37205465.

Johnson, H. E., Clifton, M., Harbison, J. E., Erkapic, A., Barrett-Wilt, G. A., Paskewitz, S., & Bartholomay, L. (2023). Assessment of Truck-Mounted Area-Wide S-methoprene Applications to Manage West Nile Virus Vector Species in the Suburbs of Chicago, IL, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology, 60(2), 384-391.

Kache, Pallavi A., Bron G.M., Zapata-Ramirez S., Tsao J.I., Bartholomay L.C., Paskewitz S.M., Diuk-Wasser M.A., and del Pilar Fernandez, M.. (2023). Evaluating spatial and temporal patterns of tick encounters using community science data submitted through a smartphone application. 2023. Ticks and Tick-borne Disease. 14(4), 102163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102163

Khalil, N., Shepard, J. J., Foss, K., and Molaei, G.* (2023). Evidence of Uranotaenia sapphirina (Diptera: Culicidae) feeding on annelid worms in the Northeastern United States. Journal of Medical Entomology, 60(3), 425–431. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad034

Lee, X., Maxson, G. A., & Paskewitz, S. (2023). Single Mowing Event Does Not Reduce Abundance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) on Recreational Hiking Trails. Journal of Medical Entomology, 60(1), 228-234.

Li Y, Piermarini PM (2023) Dietary calcium (Ca2+) impacts Ca+) content and molecular expression of Ca2+transporters in Malpighian tubules of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. J Insect Physiol 149: 104551. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104551.

Lieberthal BA, A Soliman, S Wang, SM De Urioste-Stone, and AM Gardner. 2023. Epidemic spread on patch networks with community structure. Mathematical Biosciences 359: e108996.

Lopez, K., Irwin P., Bron Gebbiena, Paskewitz S. and Bartholomay L. (2023) Ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide treatment impacts age structure of Culex species (Diptera: Culicidae) in a West Nile virus hotspot. Journal of Medical Entomology. Tjad088.

Machtinger, E. T., K. C. Poh, R. Pesapane, and D. M. Tufts. An Integrative framework for tick management: The need to connect wildlife science, one health, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Current Opinion in Insect Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2023.101131

Mandli, J., Paskewitz S.M. Osorio J. (2023).  Safety and immunogenicity of orally administered poxvirus vectored constructs in the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). 2023. Vaccines: X. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100259

Marzec, S., Siperstein, A., Zhou, A., Holzapfel, C.M., Bradshaw, W.E., Meuti, M.E. and Armbruster, P.A., 2023. MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity. Insects, 14(8), p.700. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14080700

McBride SE, BA Lieberthal, DE Buttke, BD Cronk, SM De Urioste-Stone, LB Goodman, LD Guarnieri, TF Rounsville, Jr., and AM Gardner. 2023. Patterns and ecological mechanisms of tick-borne disease exposure risk in Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 60: 62-72.

McMillan JR, Chaves LF, Armstrong PM. Ecological predictors of mosquito population and arbovirus transmission synchrony estimates. J Med Entomol. 2023 May 12;60(3):564-574.

McMillan JR, Hamer GL, Levine RS, Mead DG, Waller LA, Goldberg TL, Walker ED, Brawn JD, Ruiz MO, Kitron U, Vazquez-Prokopec G. Multi-year comparison of community- and species-level West Nile virus antibody prevalence in birds from Atlanta, Georgia and Chicago, Illinois, 2005-2016. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Dec 26:tpmd211086. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1086.

McMillan JR, Olson MM, Petruff T, Shepard JJ, Armstrong PM. Impacts of Lysinibacillus sphaericus on mosquito larval community composition and larval competition between Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus. Sci Rep. 2022 12(1):18013.

Meuti, M.E., Siperstein, A. and Wolkoff, M., 2023. Establishing a Culex Colony from Field-Collected Eggs. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot108079

Meuti, M.E., Siperstein, A. and Wolkoff, M., 2023. Points to Consider When Establishing and Rearing Culex Mosquitoes in the Laboratory. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.top107823

Meuti, M.E., Siperstein, A. and Wolkoff, M., 2023. Rearing and Maintaining a Culex Colony in the Laboratory. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot108080

Michaud, K., Iverson, G., Reiskind, M.H., Kearney, G. and Richards, S.L., 2022. Brief review of Japanese encephalitis virus: recommendations related to North Carolina swine farms and wider implications for swine farming. Parasitologia, 2(4), pp.302-312.

Narvaez ZE, Rainey T, Puelle R, Khan A, Jordan RA, Egizi AM, Price DC. 2023. Detection of multiple tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes scapularis from Hunterdon County, NJ, USA. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 21;4:100140.

Nguyen VT, Romero-Weaver AL, Wang X, Tavares Y, Bauer A, McDowell RC, Dorsainvil C, Eason MD, Malcolm AN, Raz CD, Byrd BD, Riegel C, Clark M, Ber J, Harrison R, Evans C, Zohdy S, Allen B, Campbell LP, Killingsworth D, Grey EW, Riles M, Lee Y*, Giordano BV. [*Lee Y – Corresponding author] Survey of invasive mosquito surveillance and control capacity in southeastern USA reveals training and resource needs. J Am Mosquito Cntrl Assoc. 2023. 39 (2): 108–121. doi: 10.2987/22-7107.

Nguyen VT, Romero-Weaver AL, Wang X, Tavares Y, Bauer A, McDowell RC, Dorsainvil C, Eason MD, Malcolm AN, Raz CD, Byrd BD, Riegel C, Clark M, Ber J, Harrison R, Evans C, Zohdy S, Allen B, Campbell LP, Killingsworth D, Grey EW, Riles M, Lee Y*, Giordano BV. [*Lee Y – Corresponding author] Survey of invasive mosquito surveillance and control capacity in southeastern USA reveals training and resource needs. J Am Mosquito Cntrl Assoc. 2023. 39 (2): 108–121. doi: 10.2987/22-7107.

Noden BH, Gilliland M, Propst J, Slater K, Karpathy SE, Paddock CD. 2023. Rickettsia tillamookensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Oklahoma. J Med Entomol. tjad133. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjad133.

Occi JL, Hall M, Campbell V, Stronsick S, Sullivan CF, Pesapane R, Gonzalez J; Toledo A, Fonseca DM 2023 Rickettsia and relapsing fever Borrelia in the bat tick, Alectorobius kelleyi (Ixodida: Argasidae) from peri domestic bats in the northeastern United States. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 14(3):102157. 8 pages. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102157

Olafson, P. U., K. C. Poh, J. R. Evans, M. J. Skvarla, and E. T. Machtinger. 2022. Limited detection of shared zoonotic pathogens in deer keds and blacklegged ticks co-parasitizing white-tailed deer in the eastern United States. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. http://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12620

Olechnowicz C, JE Leahy, AM Gardner, and CC Sponarski. 2023. Perceived vulnerability for Lyme disease questionnaire: A social science tool for understanding tick-borne disease attitudes. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 14: e102120.

Ortega-Jimenez VM, AM Gardner, and JC Burton. 2023. Static electricity passively attracts ticks onto hosts. Trends in Parasitology. Online ahead of print.

Price, K. J., Khalil, N., Witmier, B. J., Coder, B. L., Boyer, C. N., Foster, E., Eisen, R. J., and Molaei, G.* (2023). Evidence of Protozoan and Bacterial Infection and Co-Infection and Partial Blood Feeding in The Invasive Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in Pennsylvania. Journal of Parasitology, 109(4), 265–273.

Reed, E.M., Reiskind, M.H. and Burford Reiskind, M.O., 2023. Life‐history stage and the population genetics of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus at a fine spatial scale. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 37(1), pp.132-142.

Rhodes, C. G., L. F. Chaves, L. R. Bergmann, G. L. Hamer. 2023. Ensemble species distribution modeling of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the continental United States. Journal of Medical Entomology. 60:664-679.

Roberts, C. E., E. Burgess, IV, T. M. Miller, A. Wise, C. J. Dickerson, M. Skvarla, A. Y. Li, and E. T. Machtinger. 2022. Tissue-damaging marking methods do not affect tick burdens on field captured Peromyscus spp. Wildlife Society Bulletin. http://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1385

Rochlin I, Egizi A, Narvaez Z, Bonilla DL, Gallagher M, Williams GM, Rainey T, Price DC, Fonseca DM. 2023. Microhabitat modeling of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in New Jersey, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 14(2):102126.

Rochlin I, Egizi A, Narvaez Z, Bonilla DL, Williams GM, Rainey T, Price DC, Fonseca DM 2023 Microhabitat modeling of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in New Jersey, USA. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 4(2): 102126 13 pages https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102126

Seok S, Jacobsen CM, Romero-Weaver AL, Wang X, Nguyen VT, Collier TC, Riles MT, Akbari OS, Lee Y. Complete mitogenome sequence of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus japonicus from Hawai’i Island. Mitochondrial DNA Part B Resourc. 2023. 8(1): 64-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2022.2161328

Seok S, Jacobsen CM, Romero-Weaver AL, Wang X, Nguyen VT, Collier TC, Riles MT, Akbari OS, Lee Y. Complete mitogenome sequence of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus japonicus from Hawai’i Island. Mitochondrial DNA Part B Resourc. 2023. 8(1): 64-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2022.2161328

Seok S, Kim Z, Nguyen VT, Lee Y. The potential invasion into North America and Europe by non-native mosquito Aedes koreicus (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol. tjad116, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjad116

Seok S, Kim Z, Nguyen VT, Lee Y. The potential invasion into North America and Europe by non-native mosquito, Aedes koreicus (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol. 2023. 60(6):1305-1313. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjad116.

Seok S, Raz CD, Miller JH, Malcolm AN, Eason MD, Romero-Weaver AL, Giordano BV, Jacobsen CM, Wang X, Akbari OS, Raban R, Mathias DK, Caragata EP, Vorsino AE, Chiu JC, Lee Y. Arboviral disease outbreaks, Aedes mosquitoes, and vector control efforts in the Pacific islands. Frontiers Trop Dis. 4:1035273. https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1035273

Seok S, Raz CD, Miller JH, Malcolm AN, Eason MD, Romero-Weaver AL, Giordano BV, Jacobsen CM, Wang X, Akbari OS, Raban R, Mathias DK, Caragata EP, Vorsino AE, Chiu JC, Lee Y. Arboviral disease outbreaks, Aedes mosquitoes, and vector control efforts in the Pacific islands. Frontiers Trop Dis. 4:1035273. https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1035273

Shifflett SA, Ferreira FC, González J, Toledo A, Fonseca DM, Ellis VA 2023 Diversity and host specificity of Borrelia burgdorferi’s outer surface protein C (ospC) alleles in synanthropic mammals, with a notable ospC allele U absence from mixed infections Infection and Immunity accepted

Shifflett Scarlet A, Tyler Wiedmeyer, Ashley Kennedy, Lauren Maestas, Michael Buoni, Arif Ciloglu, Vincenzo A Ellis. 2023. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and diversity of its outer surface protein C (ospC) alleles in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in Delaware. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 14: 102139.

Stafford, K. C. III., Molaei, G., Williams, S. C., and Mertins, J. W. (2023). Introduction of the ectoparasite Rhipicephalus pulchellus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) into Connecticut with a human traveler from Tanzania, and a review of its importation records into the United States. Journal of Medical Entomology. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad109

Uelmen JA Jr, Lamcyzk B, Irwin P, Bartlett D, Stone C, Mackay A, Arsenault-Benoit A, Ryan SJ, Mutebi JP, Hamer GL, Fritz M, Smith RL. Human biting mosquitoes and implications for West Nile virus transmission. Parasit Vectors. 2023 Jan 2;16(1):2.

Underwood, J.; Harvey, C.; Lohstroh, E.; Pierce, B.; Chambers, C.; Guzman Valencia, S.; Oliva Chávez, A.S. Anaplasma phagocytophilum Transmission Activates Immune Pathways While Repressing Wound Healing in the Skin. Life 2022, 12, 1965. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12121965

Urcuqui-Bustamante AM, JE Leahy, CC Sponarski, and AM Gardner. 2024. Collaborative modeling of the tick-borne disease socio-ecological system: a conceptual framework. EcoHealth. In press.

Villena, O.C., J.H. Sullivan, E.R. Landa, S.A. Yarwood, A. Torrens, A. Zhang, P.T. Leisnham. 2022. The role of tire leachate in condition-specific competition and the persistence of a resident mosquito from a superior invader. Insects, 13(11), 969.

Vincenzo A Ellis, Arif Ciloglu, Alparslan Yildirim, Staffan Bensch. 2023. Host shift and natural long-distance dispersal to an oceanic island of a host-specific parasite. Biology Letters 19: 20220459.

Vincenzo A Ellis, Victor Kalbskopf, Arif Ciloglu, Mélanie Duc, Xi Huang, Abdullah Inci, Staffan Bensch, Olof Hellgren, Vaidas Palinauskas. 2022. Genomic sequence capture of Plasmodium relictum in experimentally infected birds. Parasites & vectors 15: 1-12.

Vogels CBF, .... Armstrong PM, Ciota AT, Dellicour S, Grubaugh ND. Phylogeographic reconstruction of the emergence and spread of Powassan virus in the northeastern United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 120(16):e2218012120.

Vogels, C.B.F., Brackney D.E., Dupuis,  A.P. II, Robich, R.M., Fauver, J.R., Brito, A.F., Williams, S.C., Anderson, J.F., Lubelczyk, C.B., Lange R.E., Prusinski, M.A., Kramer, L.D., Gangloff-Kaufmann, J.L., Goodman, L.B., Baele, G., Smith, R.P., Armstrong P.M., Ciota A.T., Dellicour, S., and Grubaugh, N.D. (2023). Phylogeographic reconstruction of the emergence and spread of Powassan virus in the northeastern United States. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 120(16):e2218012120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218012120

Wilke ABB, Mhlanga A, Kummer AG, Vasquez C, Moreno M, Petrie WD, Rodriguez A., Vitek C., Hamer GL, Mutebi JP, Ajelli M. 2023. Diel activity patterns of vector mosquito species in the urban environment: Implications for vector control strategies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 17(1): e0011074.

Wolkoff, M., Fyie, L. and Meuti, M., 2023. Light pollution disrupts seasonal differences in the daily activity and metabolic profiles of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens. Insects, 14(1), p.64. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14010064

Yen I, AM Gardner, and A Mortelliti. 2023. In the Lyme light: individual trait determinants of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in Peromyscus mice. Journal of Mammalogy. Online ahead of print.