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NIAID > Labs & Scientific Resources > Labs at NIAID > Info about NIAID Labs > Malaria and Vector Research > Vector Biology

Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research

José M.C. Ribeiro, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief, Vector Biology Section

Dr. Ribeiro received his M.D. from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, and a Ph.D. degree from the Biophysics Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He was an Assistant and Associate Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and Professor at the Department of Entomology in the University of Arizona before joining the NIAID in 1996. His work focuses on the role of vector saliva in blood feeding by arthropods, where a great diversity of pharmacologically active compounds and new targets for vaccination against vector borne diseases have been uncovered. Dr. Ribeiro has served for many years in the Tropical Diseases Research Program of the World Health Organization (TDR/WHO) and as editor and reviewer for several journals.

Description of Research Program

Research in the Vector Biology Section explores the biochemical and pharmacological diversity found in the salivary glands of blood feeding insects and ticks. Molecular, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches are used in our research. Recently, we have used vector salivary gland transcriptome analysis to discover new and interesting compounds and for that reason have developed tools for bioinformatic analysis.

Major areas of investigation include:

  • Discovery of novel anti-clotting, anti-platelet, immunomodulatory, and vasodilatory agents
  • Determination of the mode of action of such compounds
  • Expression of novel proteins and peptides with known and unknown function
  • Development of tools for transcriptome annotation

In each of these areas, we seek discoveries that improve our basic knowledge of the evolution of the blood feeding behavior, at the same time generating novel compounds that can be of pharmacological use or developed as vaccine targets. Inquiries about predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships as well as Ph.D. studentships in the NIH Graduate Partnership Program are welcome.

Illustration of ixolaris, a novel TFPI molecule.

Selected Recent Publications

To view a complete listing, visit PubMed.

Ribeiro JM, Mans BJ, Arcà B. An insight into the sialome of blood-feeding Nematocera. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2010 Nov;40(11):767-84.

Alvarenga PH, Francischetti IM, Calvo E, Sá-Nunes A, Ribeiro JM, Andersen JF. The function and three-dimensional structure of a thromboxane A2/cysteinyl leukotriene-binding protein from the saliva of a mosquito vector of the malaria parasite. PLoS Biol. 2010 Nov 30;8(11):e1000547.

Ribeiro JMC, Arcà B. From sialomes to the sialoverse: An insight into the salivary potion of blood feeding insects. In: Simpson S, Casas J, editors. Advances in Insect Physiology. Vol. 37. London: Academic Press; 2009. p. 59-118.

Calvo E, Mans BJ, Ribeiro JMC, Anderson JF. Multifunctionality and mechanism of ligand binding in a mosquito antiinflammatory protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Mar 10;106(10):3728-33.

Kotsyfakis M, Anderson JM, Andersen JF, Calvo E, Francischetti IM, Mather TN, Valenzuela JG, Ribeiro JMC. Cutting edge: Immunity against a “silent” salivary antigen of the Lyme vector Ixodes scapularis impairs its ability to feed. J Immunol. 2008 Oct 15;181(8):5209-12.

Calvo E, Mans BJ, Andersen JF, Ribeiro JM. Function and evolution of a mosquito salivary protein family. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jan 27;281(4):1935-42.

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Last Updated April 18, 2011