News

Congratulations to Joseph Spina, who successfully defended his master’s thesis in Entomology titled “The Vector Competence and Vectorial Capacity of Aedes albopictus for Ross River Virus as a Function of Temperature” on June 13, 2025.

In his work, Joe investigated how temperature influences the ability of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to transmit Ross River virus—a critical step toward understanding how climate change may affect the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The research involved both laboratory experiments and modeling to assess how temperature affects the mosquito’s biology and transmission potential.

Joe will be continuing in the lab as a PhD student. We look forward to seeing the next phase of his work and the continued contributions to the field of vector-borne disease ecology.

Well done, Joe!

Dr. Jiayue (Gabriel) Yan and graduate student Joseph Spina are heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to present at the American Mosquito Control Association’s (AMCA) 91st Annual Meeting. Dr. Yan will deliver a talk titled “Effects of Seasonality and Developed Land Cover on Culex Mosquito Abundance and Microbiome Diversity” on Thursday, March 6, from 4:15 PM to 4:25 PM EST. Joseph Spina’s presentation is also scheduled for March 6, titled “Determining the Epidemic Potential of Ross River Virus in the Continental United States Through the Anthropophilic Disease Vector, Aedes albopictus,” and will take place from 9:00 AM to 9:10 AM EST.

Dr. Arif Ciloglu from Erciyes University, (Kayseri, Turkey), will be joining our lab as a Visiting Research Scholar for the coming year. His research interests are vectors and vector-borne parasitic diseases of domestic and wild animals. He uses molecular techniques and bioinformatics to research epidemiology, genetics, and evolution of both vectors and vector transmitted parasites. Welcome Dr. Ciloglu!

Graduate student Kylee Noel from INHS-MEL successfully defended her dissertation titled “Culex Mosquitoes & Insecticides: Resistance and Sublethal Exposure” on November 6, 2024. She and her advisor, Director Chris Stone, attended the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on December 14, 2024. Kylee has accepted a position as a postdoctoral research associate and will continue her work with INHS-MEL.

Photo of Kylee Noel (left) and Chris Stone (right) from the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

A new review article from the INHS-MEL was recently published in Frontiers in Tropical Diseases titled “Dynamics of invasive mosquitoes: introduction pathways, limiting factors, and their potential role in vector-borne pathogen transmission”. The article discusses the impact of global trade and travel on the spread of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) and highlights concerns about the introduction of invasive mosquito species via modern transportation and the subsequent escalation of VBP outbreaks.

Featured image from the article: Drivers for the introduction and expansion of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) at local and regional scales.

Entomology graduate student Kylee Noel recently won the “Rising Stars in Entomology Symposium Award” from the Entomological Society of America. As part of her award, Kylee will present at the Entomological Society of America’s annual conference on Tuesday, November 12th from 4:50-5:25 p.m. Her presentation “Buzz kill: Insecticide resistance in Culex mosquito populations” was this year’s MUVE selection.

Photo credit: School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois on LinkedIn.

An informational video was produced by the Illinois Lyme Association (ILA) in collaboration with the INHS-MEL to show how ticks are tested in the lab for diseases and pathogens. The video features Dr. Raymond Kim performing RNA extractions from tick samples followed by PCR detection for pathogens.

Watch the video here.

Featured image: Dr. Kim performing RNA extractions.