Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research

Robert W. Gwadz, Ph.D., Chief

Richard K. Sakai, Ph.D., Resident Scientist in Mali
Tovi Lehmann, Ph.D., Facility Chief

International Studies of Malaria and Entomology Section

Description of Research Program

Research in the section explores broad population biology questions relevant to patterns of malaria transmission and vector control. Ecological, behavioral, genetic, and molecular approaches are used in our research. Studies are conducted at National Institutes of Health facilities in Rockville, Maryland, and at the Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC) in Bamako, Mali. The MRTC is the result of NIAID’s long-term collaboration with Malian scientists and physicians at the National School of Medicine. The MRTC is now a well-equipped, highly productive program where research is led and executed by Malian staff.

Research at the MRTC is focused on malaria but also addresses other vector-borne diseases, such as leishmaniasis. This exceptional research center provides NIAID researchers with unique opportunities for field-lab studies. In our research projects, we seek discoveries that improve understanding of phenotypic diversity in vector species, its adaptive value, and epidemiological consequences.

Major research questions include:

• What are the forces underlying speciation in Anopheles gambiae, and what are the mechanisms producing reproductive isolation?
• What factors determine susceptibility of vector populations to parasites?

Inquiries about predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships are welcome.

Current Research Group Members

Abdoulaye setting up a larval transplantation cage near Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Adama (left) and Tovi (inside the bednet) during mosquito collection in a Malian village. (Adama caught most of the mosquitoes.)

Moussa (left), Nick (center), and Alpha (right) about to set up their cameras to film mosquito swarms in Doneguebougo, Mali. Simultaneous filming with two cameras facilitates tracking mosquitoes in 3D.

Jen (right) and Rodrigo (left) setting up mosquito infection with Plasmodium gallinaceum.

Selected Publications

(View publications by Dr. Gwadz, Dr. Sakai, or Dr. Lehmann in PubMed.)

Diabate A, Dabire RK, Heidenberger K, Crawford J, Lamp WO, Culler LE, Lehmann T. Evidence for divergent selection between the molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae: role of predation. BMC Evol Biol. 2008 Jan 11;8(1):5. [Epub ahead of print]

Yaro AS, Dao A, Adamou A, Crawford JE, Ribeiro JM, Gwadz R, Traoré SF, Lehmann T. The distribution of hatching time in Anopheles gambiae. Malar J. 2006 Mar 22;5:19.

Diabaté A, Dabire RK, Kengne P, Brengues C, Baldet T, Ouari A, Simard F, Lehmann T. Mixed swarms of the molecular M and S forms of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) in sympatric area from Burkina Faso. J Med Entomol. 2006 May;43(3):480-3.

Lehmann T, Marcet PL, Graham DH, Dahl ER, Dubey JP. Globalization and the population structure of Toxoplasma gondii. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006 Jul 25;103(30):11423-8.

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