Research Program Overview

Research in Dr Okech’s lab examines the midgut of mosquitoes and the proteins that serve the function of transporting essential nutrients such as sugars, proteins and ions that are essential for mosquito survival. Using sophisticated techniques, Dr Okech can visualize these proteins in the midgut of larva and adult mosquitoes and use that information to develop cellular models that give physiological insights to the functions of the midgut and how these functions are related to survival of the mosquito and transmission of pathogens. Detailed understanding of these processes may aid rapid development of new techniques and tools offering the potential to reduce disease vector populations to prevent pathogen transmission. A key area of Dr. Okech’s research looks at how changing micro-environments affect nutrient uptake and pathogen development in the mosquito midgut. Dr Okech studies species of mosquitoes that transmit malaria, filariasis and arboviruses in developing countries of Africa and the Caribbean.  Other areas of research by Dr Okech include malaria drug resistance studies and dengue eco-epidemiology in Haiti.  .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project 2: Environmental Effects on Mosquito Fitness, Survival and Vector Competence

 

Pathogen development in the mosquito may be influenced by the aquatic habitat conditions where the mosquito emerges, the ambient temperature of the adult mosquito resting site and the nutrition resources of the mosquito. Working with the Plasmodium-Anopheles model, Dr Okech’s research looks at these three factors (aquatic habitat, temperature and nutrition) independently and how they affect mosquito survival and malaria parasite transmission.  A particular focus of Dr. Okech’s research looks at the effect of chemical and nutritional components of aquatic habitats on nutrient uptake, mosquito fitness and pathogen transmission by mosquitoes.

 

Project 1: Nutrient Transport Proteins in Midgut of Mosquitoes

 

The goal is better understand the physiology of the mosquito midgut as a basis to understand mosquito-pathogen interaction and to aid in the development of new methods for mosquito control.  Our results have shown that the uptake of amino acid is highly partitioned within the midgut of mosquito larvae (see left panel figure below) and that amino acid and ion transporters interact for optimal nutrient transport (see right panel figure below)..

 

Project 3: Anti-malarial Drug Resistance in Haiti

 

Many countries face serious problems with anti-malarial drug resistance. Haiti has continued to use chloroquine for malaria treatment with apparently no evidence of drug resistance. Dr Okech is developing a new research project to look at malaria parasite infections and drug resistance genes in six clinics in Haiti. Information obtained may guide and help improve malaria management in Haiti.