International symposium to feature latest findings on vector-borne diseases in humans and plants

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.

Dr. Haile Debas, the executive director of the UC San Francisco Global Health Sciences and the director of the University of California Global Health Institute, will give the keynote address titled "Interdisciplinary Approach to Global Health Challenges in the 21st Century."

The symposium is being hosted by the Center for Disease Vector Research (CDVR) and the Institute for Integrative Genome Biology (IIGB) at UC Riverside.

"The CDVR is unique in that it consists of faculty and students who study insect vectors of pathogens of humans and plants as well as the pathogens themselves," said Peter Atkinson, the CDVR's director. "The IIGB through its core genomics and bioinformatics facilities and trained staff has the state of the art DNA sequencing and bioinformatics capacity to participate at the cutting edge of this important research field."

The symposium is open to the public. A registration fee of $60-100 includes refreshments, lunches, poster session and an evening reception on March 27. Reporters may attend the entire symposium at no charge.

As part of the symposium, a poster session will be held in the Genomics Building to highlight vector biology research of graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty.