Molecular Genetics of Insect/Host Interactions

Organizer(s)

• 

  William Walker, III

  Research Geneticist
  United States Department of Agriculture
  Wapato, Washington
• 

  Jason Pitts

  Baylor University
  Waco, Texas

The symposium is focused on the molecular genetics of insect chemosensory research, ranging from neurobiology, physiology and behavior to ecology and evolution. Genes that underlie chemosensory mechanisms are also examined as related to development of novel strategies to manipulate agricultural pest and disease vector behaviors to mitigate economic impacts.

Presentations:

• 1:30 PM - 1:35 PM Pacific

  Introductory remarks
  

  Presenting Author: William Benjamin Walker, III – United States Department of Agriculture
• 1:35 PM - 1:55 PM Pacific

  Genetic tools to investigate the olfactory basis of mosquito attraction to flower and nectar sources
  

  Presenting Author: Angela Rouyar – University of Washington

  Co-Author: Rickard Ignell – Swedish University of Agricultural sciences

  Co-Author: Tilliejane Leroy – University of Washington

  Co-Author: Sophia Dominguez – University of Washington

  Co-Author: Jeff Riffell – University of Washington
• 1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Pacific

  Aedes aegypti oviposition behavior mediated through odorant receptors
  

  Presenting Author: Jason Pitts – Baylor University

  Co-Author: Lucía Ibarra Bouzada – Baylor University
• 2:15 PM - 2:35 PM Pacific

  Neurogenetic basis of mosquito humidity-guided reproductive behaviors
  

  Presenting Author: Willem Laursen – University of Washington

  Co-Author: Ruocong Tang – Brandeis University

  Co-Author: Gonzalo Budelli – Universidad de la República

  Co-Author: Rachel Busby – Brandeis University

  Co-Author: Elaine C. Chang – Brandeis University

  Co-Author: Paul Garrity – Brandeis University
• 2:35 PM - 2:55 PM Pacific

  Influencing Western corn rootworm behavior through interference with odorant receptor function
  

  Presenting Author: Jacob Corcoran – USDA-ARS

  Co-Author: Terrell Stamps – USDA-ARS

  Co-Author: Kyle Paddock – University of Missouri
• 2:55 PM - 3:15 PM Pacific

  Break
• 3:15 PM - 3:35 PM Pacific

  Multifunctional roles of odorant binding proteins in the Colorado potato beetle-insights into insect-host dynamics
  

  Presenting Author: James A. Abendroth – Pennsylvania State University

  Co-Author: Timothy Moural – Pennsylvania State University

  Co-Author: Fang Zhu – Pennsylvania State University
• 3:35 PM - 3:55 PM Pacific

  An odor and bacterial code for individual humans that are preferred by different mosquito species
  

  Presenting Author: Matthew DeGennaro – Florida International University
• 3:55 PM - 4:15 PM Pacific

  Bitter taste perception in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
  

  Presenting Author: Benjamin Matthews – University of British Columbia

  Co-Author: Leisl I. Brewster – The University of British Columbia

  Co-Author: Nicholas Tochor – University of British Columbia

  Co-Author: Joshua Abel-Nwachukwu – University of British Columbia

  Co-Author: Cassidy Mark – University of British Columbia

  Co-Author: Pei-Hsuan Wu – University of British Columbia
• 4:15 PM - 4:35 PM Pacific

  Olfactory reception of acids in the malaria mosquito
  

  Presenting Author: Josh I. Raji – Johns Hopkins University

  Co-Author: Christopher Potter (he/him/his) – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• 4:35 PM - 5:00 PM Pacific

  Discussion