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Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory

Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory

Dr. Bianca Burini

Bianca final

Bianca Burini

Assistant Professor

Mosquito transgenesis and gene editing
bianca.kojin@ufl.edu

I am deeply passionate about my work in mosquito genetic engineering, dedicating the past 2 decades of my professional life to this field. Remarkably, this journey began as my very first job, and it is a path I hope to continue pursuing until the end of my career. Being a professor isn’t just a job; it is a passion I enjoy sharing with everyone. I firmly believe that genetic control of mosquitoes holds the key to mitigating the high impact of vector-borne diseases, which afflict millions worldwide each year. This conviction shapes my commitment to advancing scientific innovation and safeguarding global health.

Burini Lab is dedicated to conducting basic research aimed at developing cutting-edge technologies to combat vector-borne diseases. Utilizing genetic engineering as our primary tool, we seek to understand the dynamics of host-pathogen interactions and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying disease transmission. Through this understanding, we want to engineer novel transgenes and refine existing tools, with the goal of designing more effective strategies for mosquito population suppression and population replacement. Our research encompasses a diverse array of pathogens, including those responsible for diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, along with their vectors, the mosquitoes from the genus Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex. We want to push the boundaries of scientific research to find solutions to control diseases and ultimately offer hope and resilience to affected communities.

Bianca final

Bianca Burini

Assistant Professor

Mosquito transgenesis and gene editing
bianca.kojin@ufl.edu

 

  • Ph.D.  Sciences.  University of São Paulo (USP) - SP - Brazil.  2009
  • B.S.  Sciences.  Mackenzie University - SP - Brazil.  2004
  • Licensed in Sciences.  Mackenzie University - SP - Brazil.  2003

 

Bianca final

Bianca Burini

Assistant Professor

Mosquito transgenesis and gene editing
bianca.kojin@ufl.edu

 

Publications

  • Adelman, Z. N., Kojin, B. B. (2021) Malaria-resistant mosquitoes; the principle is
    proven, but will the effectors be effective? J. Med. Entomol. Doi:10.1093/jme/tjab090.
  • Kojin, B. B., Martin-Martin, I., Araujo, H. R. C., Bonilla, B., Molina-Cruz, A., Calvo,
    E., Capurro, M. L., Adelman, Z. N. (2021) Aedes aegypti SGS1 is critical for
    Plasmodium gallinaceum infection of both the mosquito midgut and salivary glands.
    Malar J. 20, 11.
  • Kojin, B. B., Biedler, J. K., Tu, Z., Adelman, Z. N. (2020) Characterization of a female
    germline and early zygote promoter from the transcription factor bZip1 in the dengue
    mosquito Aedes aegypti. Parasites & Vectors. 13, 353.
  • Kojin, B. B., Adelman, Z. N. (2019) The sporozoite’s journey through the mosquito: a
    critical examination of host and parasite factors required for salivary gland invasion.
    Front. Ecol. Evol. 7, 284.
  • Araujo H. R. C., Kojin B. B., Capurro, M. L. (2018) Sex Determination and Aedes
    population control. Parasites & Vectors. 11 (2), 644.
  • Carvalho, D. O., Chuffi, S., Ioshino, R. S., Marques, I. C. S., Fini, R., Costa, M. K.,
    Araujo, H. R. C., Costa-da-Silva, A. L. Kojin, B. B., Capurro, M. L. (2018) Mosquito
    pornoscopy: Observation and interruption of Aedes aegypti copulation to determine
    female polyandric event and mixed progeny. PLos One. 13(3): e0193164.
  • Macias, V. M., Jimenez, A. J., Burini-Kojin, B., Pledger, D., Jasinskiene, N., Phong, C.
    H., Chu, K., Fazekas, A., Martin, K., Marinotti, O., James A. A. (2017) nanos-Driven
    expression piggyback transposase induces mobilization of a synthetic autonomous
    transposon in the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles stephensi. Insect Biochem Mol
    Biol. 87:81-89.
  • Costa-da-Silva, A. L., Ioshino, R. S., Araujo, H. R., Kojin, B. B., Zanotto, P. M.,
    Oliveira, D. B., Melo, S. R., Durigon, E. L., Capurro, M. L. (2017) Laboratory Strains
    of Aedes aegypti are competent to Brazilian Zika virus. PLos One. 12(3):e0171951.
  • Kojin, B. B., Costa-da-Silva, A. L., Maciel, C., Henriques, D. A., Carvalho, D. O.,
    Martin, K., Marinotti, O., James, A. A., Bonaldo, M. C., Capurro, M. L. (2016)
    Endogenously expressed Circumsporozoite Protein NH2-terminus interfere with
    sporozoite invasion of mosquito salivary gland. Malar J. 15, 153.
  • Costa-da-Silva, A. L.; Marinotti, O.; Ribeiro, J. M. C.; Silva, M. C.; Lopes, A. R.; Barros,
    M. S.; Sá-Nunes, A.; Kojin, B. B.; Carvalho, E.; Suesdek, L.; Silva-Neto, M. A. C.;
    Capurro, M. L. (2014) Transcriptome sequencing and developmental regulation of gene
    expression in Anopheles aquasalis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8(7).
  • Marinotti, O., Ngo, T., Chou, S. P., Kojin, B. B., Nguyen, B., Carballar-Lejarazú, R.,
    Marinotti, P., Walter, M., Gershon, P. D., James, A. A. (2014) Integrated proteomic and
    transcriptomic analysis of the Aedes aegypti eggshell. BMC Dev Biol. 14:15.
  • Costa-da-Silva, A. L., Carvalho, D. O., Kojin, B. B., Capurro, M. L. (2014)
    Implementation of the Artificial Feeders in Hematophagous Arthropod Research
    Cooperates to the Vertebrate Animal Use Replacement, Reduction and Refinement
    (3Rs) Principle. J Clin Res Bioeth 5.167: 2.
  • Costa-da-Silva, A. L., Kojin, B. B., Marinotti, O., James, A. A., Capurro, M. L. (2013)
    Expression and accumulation of the two-domain odorant-binding protein AaegOBP45
    in the ovaries of blood-fed Aedes aegypti. Parasites & Vectors 6: 364.
  • Wilke, A.B. B.; Nimmo, D. D.; John, O. S., Kojin, B. B., Capurro, M. L., Marelli, M. T.
    (2009) Mini-review: genetic enhancements to the sterile insect technique to control
    mosquito populations. AsPac J Mol Biol Biotechnol 17.3: 65-74.
  • Capurro, M de L.; Ribolla, P. E. M.; Bianchi, A. G.; Marelli, T. M; Caroci, A. S.;
    Magalhães, M.; Feitosa, F. M.; Chinoca, J. P.; Kojin, B. B. (2001) Mosquitos
    Transgênicos - Controle da transmissão de malária e dengue. Biotecnologia ciência &
    desenvolvimento, Brasil, p. 26 – 31.