The Vector Molecular Biology Section (VMBS) focuses on understanding how molecules from arthropod vectors are critical for the success of pathogen transmission and translating this knowledge into disease control opportunities. The section has two main themes: dissecting the immune events following an arthropod bite, mainly the cellular interactions at the vector-host-pathogen interface, and their implication for disease pathogenesis; and elucidating the determinants of successful transmission to a mammalian host by a competent arthropod vector.
First row (left to right): Fabiano Oliveira (VMBS leadership); Tiago Donatelli Serafim. Second row (left to right): Shaden Kamhawi (VMBS leadership); Jesus Valenzuela; Eva Iniguez. Third row (left to right): Aline Da Silva Moreira; Serena Doh; Ronja Frigard; Luana Rogerio; Pedro Cecilio (VBS); Patrick HuffCutt (past member, VMBS). Fourth row (left to right): Johannes Doehl; Joshua Lacsina (TPCR, LMVR); Kristina Tang (past member, VMBS); Laura Willen. Not pictured: Daniel Sonenshine; Claudio Meneses.
Jesus G. Valenzuela, Ph.D.
Chief, Vector Molecular Biology Section
Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research
Education:
Ph.D., 1995, University of Arizona
Johannes S. P. Doehl, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Molecular Parasitology, 2014, University of York, Department of Biology/Hull York Medical School, UK
B.Sc. Honours, Biochemistry, 2009, University of Aberdeen, UK
Languages Spoken: German, Portuguese, Spanish
My current main research interest are two-fold, revolving around 1) the description of scratching as a host immune defense mechanism against ectoparasites, and 2) the understanding of skin patch formation and expansion post-dissemination of Leishmania infantum.
Serena Doh
Postbac IRTA
Education:
Bachelor's Degree, University of Maryland, College Park
Associate's Degree, Montgomery College
Languages Spoken: Korean
Eva Iniguez, Ph.D.
IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow (INRO)
Education:
Ph.D., Pathobiology, University of Texas at El Paso
Languages Spoken: Spanish
I am interested in vector-host-pathogen interactions focused on leishmaniasis, a vector-borne neglected disease transmitted to humans by the bite of a Leishmania-infected sand fly. I am currently studying the skin immune responses to infected sand fly bites. I am involved in field-oriented research to investigate Leishmania transmission dynamics implicating both clinical and entomological tools in...
Shaden Kamhawi, Ph.D.
Group Leader, Insect-Human-Pathogen and Insect-Reservoir-Pathogen Interactions, Vector Molecular Biology Section
Education:
Ph.D., Medical Entomology, Salford University, Salford, England
Languages Spoken: English, French, Arabic
Dr. Kamhawi received her Ph.D. in medical entomology from Salford University in England in 1990. She worked as an assistant professor at Yarmouk University in Jordan, where she worked for several years on leishmaniasis and hydatid disease, with a focus on disease transmission and risk factors in field settings. In 1997, she worked as a visiting scientist at NIAID’s Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases...
Claudio Meneses, B.S.
Research Associate
Education:
B.S., 1995, Universidade Gama Filho, Brazil
Languages Spoken: Portuguese
Fabiano Oliveira, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Scientist, Staff Scientist
Education:
Ph.D., Human Pathology, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil
M.D., Medical School of the Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Spanish
Dr. Fabiano Oliveira earned his M.D., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees from the Federal University of Bahia/ Fiocruz. In 2003, he joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a postdoctoral fellowship and was appointed as a staff scientist in 2008. Dr. Oliveira currently serves as an associate scientist/staff scientist at the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID. Dr. Oliveira's clinical...
Tiago Donatelli Serafim, Ph.D.
Research Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., 2012, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
Bachelor’s degree, 2008, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
Languages Spoken: Portuguese
Sameeta Siraj
IRTA student
Education:
Pre-Clinical Nursing Program, Montgomery College
Languages Spoken: Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
I am working as a student IRTA to help in the Leishmania project at the LMVR. I take care of the sand flies as they are the natural vectors of Leishmania. I also help in breeding and potting them up to provide strong colonies for research purposes.
Daniel E. Sonenshine, Ph.D.
Guest Researcher
Education:
Ph.D., 1959, University of Maryland
Bachelor’s degree, 1955, City College of New York