Research
1) Malaria mosquitoes of our region
We have been studying the evolution, distribution and movement of Anopheles mosquito species across our region (Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands) for over two decades. We developed and use DNA-based tools to distinguish the few malaria transmitting Anopheles species from the many non-vector species in order to study their biology, ecology and potential for adaptation to traditional mosquito control strategies. Evolutionary and population genetic studies are then used to assess historical and contemporary movement. We work closely with the Australian Defence Force's Malaria and Infectious Diseases Institute (ADF-MIDI). Our aim is to deliver better knowledge on our regional malaria vectors, in part by developing an extensive malaria vector spatial-genetic database to assist in the design, execution and monitoring of future mosquito control strategies.
Malaria vector control: can we develop a malaria resistant "gene-drive Anopheles farauti"?
Recent funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will help us try to develop a Plasmodium falciparum refractory gene-drive Anopheles farauti - a malaria mosquito that is difficult to control (An. farauti distribution below). Here is an exciting opportunity to investigate this novel approach in collaboration with the Anthony James team at UC Irvine and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
We have been studying the evolution, distribution and movement of Anopheles mosquito species across our region (Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands) for over two decades. We developed and use DNA-based tools to distinguish the few malaria transmitting Anopheles species from the many non-vector species in order to study their biology, ecology and potential for adaptation to traditional mosquito control strategies. Evolutionary and population genetic studies are then used to assess historical and contemporary movement. We work closely with the Australian Defence Force's Malaria and Infectious Diseases Institute (ADF-MIDI). Our aim is to deliver better knowledge on our regional malaria vectors, in part by developing an extensive malaria vector spatial-genetic database to assist in the design, execution and monitoring of future mosquito control strategies.
Malaria vector control: can we develop a malaria resistant "gene-drive Anopheles farauti"?
Recent funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will help us try to develop a Plasmodium falciparum refractory gene-drive Anopheles farauti - a malaria mosquito that is difficult to control (An. farauti distribution below). Here is an exciting opportunity to investigate this novel approach in collaboration with the Anthony James team at UC Irvine and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Anopheles farauti collections through the Southwest Pacific. This particular malaria vector presents strong behavioural resistance to indoor residue spraying and insecticide treated bednets, making traditional malaria vector control for this species tricky and new approaches to control this mosquito will likely be required.
2) Endemic and exotic mosquitoes (arbovirus threats)
Exotic arbovirus vectors
The dengue vector Aedes aegypti utilised humans to invade Australia and is currently endemic to Queensland, but could potentially re-emerge throughout Australia urban regions as a result of a changing climate and the dramatic expansion of domestic rainwater tanks that are being installed to drought-proof our urban landscapes. Also of concern, the particularly pesky Asian tiger Aedes albopictus that has expanded its distribution into southern Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait Islands, now threatening invade mainland Australia. We are looking at the evolution, distribution, movement and biosecurity threats of both these mosquitoes in our region. We don't want the Asian tiger mosquito establishing on mainland Australia, so we are working on developing new population suppression tools to boot it back out when it arrives - see below.
Population reduction and removal of exotic Aedes vectors using reproductively incompatible males
We are working in a highly collaborative group on a couple of neat projects that are using sterile /incomparable males to reduce and remove exotic invasive Aedes mosquito species that transmit human pathogen. With an initial focus on the dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti), we have been working with NHMRC, CSIRO and Verily Life Science (an Alphabet/Google affiliate) to use the useful bacterium Wolbachia to develop reproductively incompatible male mosquito release technology to reduce and remove this mosquito from human landscapes. Our first field trial in the northern Cassowary Coast "Debug Innisfail" in Queensland showed the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) to be robust and viable -- thank you the the Cassowary Coast Community for being part of the science.
3) Australasian arbovirus vectors
Mosquitoes in the Culex sitiens subgroup are the major endemic arbovirus vectors of our region and comprise several unsubscribed cryptic species. We are using evolutionary and population genetics approaches to tease out the cryptic species status of this group, develop molecular diagnostics and study the biology and ecology of these mosquitoes in our region of the world.