Leading insect vector biologists from around the world will gather at the University of California, Riverside for two days this month to discuss their latest research on vector-borne diseases in humans and plants.
The international symposium, titled "Facing the Challenge of Vector-Borne Disease in the 21st Century," will take place March 27-28, 2010, in Room 1102A, Genomics Building. The entire program of the symposium is included below.
The symposium will bring together scientists and students who study insects that "vector" - carry or transmit - pathogens of humans and plants, as well as researchers who examine the underlying genetic and biochemical mechanisms.
Experts in the field will present their work on genomics, molecular genetics, population genetics and vaccine discovery for a wide range of vector-borne diseases in humans and plants.
"To my knowledge, this is the first symposium to cover vector-borne diseases in both humans and plants," said Alexander Raikhel, a professor of entomology and chair of the symposium organizing committee. "It will provide an excellent forum for discussing what makes insects such good vectors for diseases in plants and humans. With the many advances entomologists have made in the genomics and molecular biology of vectors, this is an excellent time for such a symposium on vector-borne diseases to take place."
Topics covered at the symposium include the social and economic impact of vector-borne diseases in the developing world and elsewhere; mosquito and malaria control; the molecular genetics of malaria parasites; vector-pathogen interactions; engineering mosquito resistance to pathogens; vaccine development; insecticide resistance in mosquitoes; the evolution of blood feeding in assassin bugs; the kissing bug problem in Southern California; an anti-Dengue Fever vaccine; odor responses in mosquitoes; plant immune responses; and plant-disease vector interactions.