This study examines how successive blood feeding affects DENV-2 dissemination and survival in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes with and without Wolbachia, finding that Wolbachia strongly inhibits virus transmission despite frequent feeding.

Nature Communications · Jul 29, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Mosquito immune cells enhance dengue and Zika virus dissemination in Aedes aegypti

David R. Hall, Rebecca M. Johnson, Hyeogsun Kwon, Zannatul Ferdous, Stephanie Viridiana Laredo-Tiscareño, Bradley J. Blitvich, Doug E. Brackney, Ryan C. Smith

This study shows mosquito immune cells help spread dengue and Zika viruses in Aedes aegypti, supporting a 'trojan horse' model of virus dissemination.

Nature Communications · Jul 1, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Investigating the dose-dependency of the midgut escape barrier using a mechanistic model of within-mosquito dengue virus population dynamics

Rebecca M. Johnson, Isaac J. Stopard, Helen Mary Byrne, Philip M. Armstrong, Doug E. Brackney, Ben C. Lambert

The paper develops a mathematical model of flavivirus dynamics within mosquitoes, showing that higher viral doses and multiple blood feeds shorten the extrinsic incubation period.

PLoS Pathogens · Apr 1, 2024Peer-reviewedSystems Biology

An integrated mosquito small RNA genomics resource reveals dynamic evolution and host responses to viruses and transposons.

Qicheng Ma, Satyam P. Srivastav, Stephanie Gamez, Gargi Dayama, Fabiana Feitosa-Suntheimer, Edward I. Patterson, Rebecca M. Johnson, Erik M. Matson, Alexander S. Gold, Doug E. Brackney, John H. Connor, Tonya M. Colpitts, Grant L. Hughes, Jason L. Rasgon, Tony Nolan, , Nelson C. Lau

The paper develops an integrated resource to analyze small RNA profiles in mosquitoes, revealing evolutionary dynamics and host responses to viruses and transposons.

Genome Research · Mar 1, 2021Peer-reviewedGenomics