This study investigates the interdependent role of four pseudoknots in the 3'-terminus of the West Nile virus genome and their impact on viral growth and sfRNA formation.

Nucleic Acids Research · Sep 7, 2026Peer-reviewedBiochemistry

Anopheles mosquitoes exposed to long-acting antimalarials via drug-spiked bloodmeal absorb drug but do not suffer fitness costs

Morgan M. Goheen, Alessandra Silva Orfano, Sié Rodrigue Dah, Brian D. Foy, Doug E. Brackney, Fangyong Li, Jean‐Bosco Ouédraogo, Dari Frédéric Da, Roch K. Dabiré, Anyirékun Fabrice Somé, Amy Kristine Bei, Sunil Parikh

This study shows Anopheles mosquitoes absorb long-acting antimalarials from bloodmeals but do not experience fitness costs, with drug detected in hemolymph and midguts.

bioRxiv · Nov 13, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology

Implications of successive blood feeding on Wolbachia-mediated dengue virus inhibition in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Rebecca M. Johnson, Mallery I. Breban, Braiya L. Nolan, Afeez K. Sodeinde, Isabel M. Ott, Perran A. Ross, Xinyue Gu, Nathan D. Grubaugh, T. Alex Perkins, Doug E. Brackney, Chantal B. F. Vogels

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

Global genomics of Aedes aegypti unveils widespread and novel persistent infectious viruses capable of triggering a small RNA response

Shruti Gupta, Rohit Sharma, Adeline E. Williams, Irma Sánchez-Vargas, Noah H. Rose, Chao Zhang, Alexander Crosbie-Villaseca, Zheng Zhu, Gargi Dayama, Andrea Gloria‐Soria, Doug E. Brackney, Jessica E. Manning, Sarah S. Wheeler, Angela Caranci, Trinidad Reyes, , Nelson C. Lau

The paper identifies novel persistent viruses in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes using small RNA sequencing and confirms their replication and transmissibility in cell lines.

bioRxiv · Jun 6, 2024 · PreprintGenomics

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

Phylogeographic reconstruction of the emergence and spread of Powassan virus in the northeastern United States

Chantal B. F. Vogels, Doug E. Brackney, Alan P. Dupuis, Rebecca M. Robich, Joseph R. Fauver, Anderson Fernandes Brito, Scott C. Williams, John F. Anderson, Charles B. Lubelczyk, Rachel E. Lange, Melissa A. Prusinski, Laura D. Kramer, Jody Gangloff‐Kaufmann, Laura B. Goodman, Guy Baele, , Nathan D. Grubaugh

This study reconstructs the emergence and spread of Powassan virus lineage II in the northeastern U.S. using genomic data, finding a south-to-north dispersal pattern and population growth.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Apr 11, 2023Peer-reviewedGenomics

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