Research

Malaria Transmission Biology

Our research has led to the discovery of a mosquito-based malaria transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) candidate (the AnAPN1 TBV), which has recently completed process development studies and is under consideration for First-In-Human trials in the near future.  
[Pictured:  Plasmodium falciparum male gamete “exflagellating”]

AnAPN1 Vaccine

It has been estimated that more than 1-2 million individuals succumb to Malaria every year, a majority of whom are children under the age of five. Plasmodium parasites, the causative agent of malaria, are transmitted to a vertebrate host by the infective bite of an Anopheles mosquito.
[Pictured: AnAPN1 antigen’s N-terminal region depicting key antibody epitopes in purple, green, blue and red]

Saliva-based Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Despite widespread malaria control efforts, residual malaria transmission continues to be observed, calling in to question whether the global malaria elimination goals can actually be achieved. A large proportion of this residual malaria parasite transmission is due to low numbers of parasites that cannot be detected by available blood-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) or microscopy.
[Pictured: schematic of the saliva collection process]

Arbovirus Transmission Biology

We conduct both basic and applied research studies in the context of understanding mosquito-transmitted arbovirus transmission biology. This research includes viral pathogen surveillance in mosquitoes and ticks, Florida-relevant vector competence studies, insect-specific virus acquisition modes, as well as mosquito immunology and viral infection dynamics.
[Pictured: Aedes aegypti biting a finger. Image by Sean McCann]

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First in human clinical trials of the AnAPN1 malaria transmission-blocking vaccine

First in human clinical trials of the AnAPN1 malaria transmission-blocking vaccine

Former director of the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Christian Loucq, M.D., says it is exciting to see Dinglasan’s concept moving toward a clinical trial. “There

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Clustered rapid induction of apoptosis limits ZIKV and DENV-2 proliferation in the midguts of Aedes aegypti

Clustered rapid induction of apoptosis limits ZIKV and DENV-2 proliferation in the midguts of Aedes aegypti

Jasmine’s 1st first-author paper (Yay Jasmine!) that dissects very early innate immune defense mechanisms of mosquito vectors following infection with flaviviruses. Inter-host transmission of pathogenic

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