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Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory

Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory

Dr. Richard Baker

Richard Baker

Professor

Genetics and Cytogenetics
rhba@ufl.edu

Richard Baker

Professor

Genetics and Cytogenetics
rhba@ufl.edu

  • Ph.D. Illinois
152x180

Barry Alto

Associate Professor

Mosquito Ecology - Disdease Transmission
bwalto@ufl.edu

 

Representative Publications (since 2008)

  • Bellamy, S.K.g, Alto, B.W. 2018. Mosquito responses to trait and density mediated interactions of predation. Oecologia 187: 233-243.
  • Alto, B.W., Wiggins, K.u, Eastmond, B., Ortiz, S.u, Zirbel, K.g, Lounibos, L.P. 2018. Diurnal temperature range and chikungunya virus infection in invasive mosquito vectors. J. Med. Entomol. 55:217-224.
  • Zhao, L., Alto, B.W., Smartt, C.T., Shin, D. 2018. Transcription profiling for defensins of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) during development and in response to infection with chikungunya and Zika viruses.  J. Med. Entomol. 55: 78-89.
  • Burkhalter, K.L. Wiggins, K.u, Burkett-Cadena, N., Alto, B.W. 2018. Laboratory evaluation of commercially available platforms to detect West Nile and Zika viruses from honey cards. J. Med. Entomol. 55: 717-722.
  • Yaren, O., Alto, B.W., Bradley, K., Moussatche, P., Glushakova, L., Benner S. 2018. Multiplexed isothermal amplification based diagnostics platform to detect Zika, chikungunya and dengue-1. J. Vis. Exp. Mar 13; (133) doi: 10.3791/57051.
  • Zirbel, K.g, Alto, B.W., Eastmond, B.u 2018. Parental larval diet influences life history traits and dengue virus infection of offspring in Aedes aegypti. R. Soc. Open Sci. 5: 180859. HTTP://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180539.
  • Honório, N.A.p, Wiggins, K.u, Câmara, D.C.P.g, Eastmond, Alto, B.W. 2018. Chikunguny virus competency of Brazilian and Florida mosquito vectors. PloS Negl. Trop. Dis. 12(6):e0006521. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006521.
  • Cook, C.L., Huang, Y-J.S., Lyons, A., Alto, B.W., Unlu, I., Higgs, S., Vanlandingham, D.L. 2018. North American Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus are competent vectors for Usutu virus. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 12(8): e0006732.
  • Zhao, L., Alto, B.W., Shin, D., Yu, F. 2018. The effect of permethrin resistance on Aedes aegypti transcriptome following ingestion of Zika virus infected blood. Viruses (in press).
  • Zirbel, K.g, Alto, B.W. 2018. Maternal and paternal nutrition in a mosquito influences offspring life histories but not infection with an arbovirus. Ecosphere (in press).
  • Wiggins, K.u, Eastmond, B., Alto, B.W. 2018. Transmission potential of Mayaro virus in Florida Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Med. Vet. Entomol. doi:10.1111/mve.12322 (in press).
  • Glushakova, L.G., Alto, B.W., Bradley, A., S.A. Benner. 2018. Detection of mosquito-borne arboviruses by twenty-two multiplexed xMAP Luminex assays panel. J. Microbiol. Biotech. (in press).
  • Glushakova, L.G., Alto, B.W., Kim, S.M., Hutter, D., Bradley, A., Bradley, K.M., Benner, S.A. 2018. Comprehensive xMAP Luminex array panel based on PCR amplification and SAMRS-AEGIS technology discriminates chikungunya, Zika and four serotypes of dengue in mosquitoes. J. Virol. Methods (in revision).
  • Glushakova, L.G., Alto, B.W., Kim, M.S., Burkett-Cadena N.D., Wiggins, K., Eastmond, B., Benner, S.A. 2018. Optimization of cationic (Q)-paper for detection of arboviruses in infected mosquitoes. J. Virol. Methods (in revision).
  • Smartt, C.T., Shin, D., Alto, B.W. 2017. Dengue serotype-specific immune response in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 112: 829-837.
  • Alto, B.W., Wiggins, K.u, Eastmond, B.u, Velez, D.u, Lounibos, L.P., Lord, C.C. 2017. Transmission risk of two chikungunya lineages by invasive mosquito vectors from Florida and the Dominican Republic. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 11(7): e0005724.
  • Zhao, L., Alto, B.W., Duguma, D. 2017. Transcriptional profile for detoxification enzymes AeaGGT1 and AaeGGT2 from Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in response to larvicides. J. Med. Entomol. 54: 878-887.
  • Glushakova, L.G., Alto, B.W., Kim, M.S., Bradley, A., Yaren, O., Benner, S.A. 2017. Detection of chikungunya viral RNA in mosquito bodies on cationic (Q) paper based on innovations in synthetic biology. J. Virol. Methods 246: 104-111.
  • Yaren, O., Alto, B.W., Bradley, K.M., Yang, Z., & Benner, S.A. 2017. Point of sampling detection of Zika virus within a multiplexed kit capable of detecting dengue and chikungunya. BMC Infect. Dis. 17: 293 doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2382-0.
  • Huang, Y-J., Ayers V.B., Lyons, A.C., Unlu I., Alto B.W., Cohnstaedt L.W., Higgs S., & Vanlandingham, D.L. 2016. Culex species mosquitoes and Zika virus. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Dis. 16: 673-676.
  • Kartzinel, M.A., Alto, B.W., Deblasio M.W., & Burkett-Cadena, N.D. 2016. Development and field evaluation of an autodissemination station for the suppression of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Florida. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 32: 194-202.
  • Connelly, R.C., Alto, B.W., & O’Meara, G.F. 2016. The spread of Culex coronator (Diptera: Culicidae) throughout Florida. J. Vector Ecol. 41:195-199.
  • Alto, B.W., & Lord, CC. 2016. Transstadial effects of Bti on traits of Aedes aegypti and infection with dengue virus. PLOS Negl. Trop. Dis. 10(2): e0004370. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004370.
  • Buckner, E.A., Alto B.W., & Lounibos, L.P. 2016. Larval temperature-food effects on adult mosquito infection and vertical transmission of dengue-1 virus. J. Med. Entomol. 53:91-98.
  • Alto, B.W., Bettinardi, D.J., & Ortiz, S. 2015. Interspecific larval competition differentially impacts adult survival in dengue vectors. J. Med. Entomol. 52:163-170. http://jme.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/02/09/jme.tju062
  • Glushakova, L.G., Bradley, A., Bradley, K., Alto, B.W., Sharma, N., Hoshika, S., Hutter, D., Yang, Z., Benner, & S.A. 2015. High-throughput multiplexed xMAP Luminex array panel for detection of twenty two medically important mosquito-borne arboviruses based on innovations in synthetic biology. J. Virol. Methods 214:60-74. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016609341500018X
  • Alto, B.W., Smartt, C.T., Shin, D., Bettinardi, D., Malicoate, J., Anderson, S.L., & Richards, S.L. 2014. Susceptibility of Florida Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus to dengue viruses from Puerto Rico. J. Vector Ecol. 39: 406-413.
  • Alto, B.W., Connelly, R.C., O'Meara, G.F., Hickman, D., & Karr, N. 2014. Reproductive biology and susceptibility of Florida Culex coronator to infection with West Nile virus. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Dis. 14: 606-614.
  • Alto, B.W., Richards, S.L., Anderson, S.L., & Lord, C.C. 2014. Survival in West Nile virus challenged Southern house mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus in relation to environmental temperature. J. Vector Ecol. 39: 123-133.
  • Lord, C.C., Alto, B.W., Anderson, S.A., Connelly, C.R., Day, J.F., Richards, S.L., Smartt, C.T. & Tabachnick W.J. 2014. Can Horton hear the whos? Scale in vector-borne disease. J. Med. Entomol. 51: 297-313.
  • Costanzo K.S., Muturi, E.J., Montgomery, A.V. & Alto, B.W. 2014. Effect of LaCrosse encephalitis virus infection on life history traits of native Ochlerotatus triseriatus and invasive Stegomyia albopicta. Med. Vet. Entomol. 28: 77-84.
  • Alto, B.W., Wasik, B.R., Morales, N.M., & P.E. Turner. 2013. Stochastic temperatures impede RNA virus adaptation. Evolution 67: 969-979.
  • Ogbunugafor, C.B., Alto, B.W., Overton, T.M., Bhushan, A., Morales, N.M. & P.E. Turner. 2013. Evolution of increased survival in RNA viruses specialized on cancer-derived cells. Am. Nat. 181: 585-595.
  • Alto, B.W., & Bettinardi, D. 2013. Temperature and dengue virus infection in mosquitoes: Independent effects on the immature and adult stages. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 88:497-505.
  • Alto, B.W., Lampman, R.L, Kesavaraju, B., & Muturi, E.J. 2013. Pesticide-induced release from competition among competing Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 50:1240-1249.
  • Buckner, E.A., Lounibos, L.P., & B.W. Alto. 2013. Infection, dissemination, and vertical transmission of Key West dengue-1 virus by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes from Florida. J. Med. Entomol. 50:1291-1297.
  • Shin, D., Richards, S.L., Alto, B.W., Bettinardi, D.J., & Smartt, C.T. 2013. Genome sequence analysis of dengue virus 1 isolated in Key West, Florida. PLoS One 8(9): e74582. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074582.
  • Lampman, R.L., Krasavin, N.M., Ward, M.P., Beveroth, T.A., Lankau, E.W., Alto, B.W., Muturi, E., & Novak, R.J. 2013. West Nile virus infection rates and avian serology in East central Illinois. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 29:108-122.
  • Alto B.W, & Lounibos L.P. 2013. Vector competence for arboviruses in relation to the larval environment of mosquitoes. In: Takken W, Koenraadt CJM (eds) Ecology of parasite-vector interactions. Ecology and control of vector-borne diseases, Volume 3. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp. 81-101.
  • Alto, B.W., Malicoate, J., Elliott, S.M., & J. Taylor. 2012. Demographic consequences of predators on prey: Trait and density mediated effects on mosquito larvae in containers. PLoS One 7(11): e45785. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045785.
  • Richards, S.L., Anderson, S.L, & B.W. Alto. 2012. Vector competence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) for dengue virus in the Florida Keys. J. Med. Entomol. 49: 942-946.
  • Alto, B.W., Muturi, E.J. & Lampman, R.L. 2012. Effects of nutrition and density-dependence in Culex pipiens. Med. Vet. Entomol. 26:396-406.
  • Westcott, N.E., Hilberg, S.D., Lampman, R.L, Alto, B.W., Bedel, A., Muturi, E.J., Glahn, H., Baker, M., Kunkel, K.E. & Novak, R.J. 2011. Predicting the seasonal shift in mosquito populations preceding the onset of the West Nile virus in Central Illinois. B. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 92:1173-1180.
  • Costanzo, K.S., Muturi, E.J. & B.W. Alto. 2011. Trait-mediated effects of predation across life-history stages in container mosquitoes. Ecol. Entomol. 36: 605-615.
  • Muturi, E.J., Kim, C-H., Alto, B.W., Berenbaum, M. & M. Schuler. 2011. Larval environmental stress alters Aedes aegypti competence for Sindbis virus. Trop. Med. Int. Health 16: 955-964.
  • Muturi, E.J., Costanzo, K.S., Kesavaraju, B. & B.W. Alto. 2011. Can pesticides and larval competition alter susceptibility of Aedes mosquitoes to arbovirus infection? J. Med. Entomol. 48: 429-436.
  • Alto, B.W. 2011. Interspecific larval competition between invasive Aedes japonicus and native A. triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and adult longevity. J. Med. Entomol. 48:232-242.
  • Muturi, E.J., Costanzo, K.S., Kesavaraju, B., Lampman, R. & B.W. Alto. 2011. Effect of temperature and insecticide stress on life-history traits of Culex restuans and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 48: 243-250.
  • Muturi, E.J. & Alto, B.W. 2011. Larval environmental temperature and insecticide exposure alters Aedes aegypti competence for arboviruses. Vector-borne Zoonotic Dis. 11: 1157-1163.
  • Costanzo, K.S., Muturi, E.J., Lampman, R. & Alto, B.W. 2011. The effects of resource type and ratio on competition with Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 48: 29-38.
  • Alto, B.W. & Turner, P.E. 2010. Consequences of host adaptation for performance of vesicular stomatitis virus in novel thermal environments. Evol. Ecol. 24: 299-315.
  • Kesavaraju, B., Alto, B.W., Afify, A. & Gaugler, R. 2010. Malathion influences competition between Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus. J. Med. Entomol. 47:1011-1018.
  • Muturi, E.J., Costanzo, K.S., Kesavaraju, B., Lampman, R. & Alto, B.W. 2010. Interactions of a pesticide and larval competition on life history traits of Culex pipiens. Acta Tropica 116:141-146.
  • Turner, P.E., Morales, N., Alto, B.W. & Remold, S.K. 2010. Role of evolved host breadth in the initial emergence of an RNA virus. Evolution 64: 3273-3286.
  • Alto, B.W., Kesavaraju, B., Juliano, S.A. & Lounibos, L.P. 2009. Stage-dependent predation on competitors: consequences for the outcome of a mosquito invasion. J. Anim. Ecol. 78: 928-936.
  • Alto, B.W., Reiskind, M.H. & Lounibos, L.P. 2008. Size alters susceptibility of vectors to dengue virus infection and dissemination. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 79: 688-695.
  • Alto, B.W., Lounibos, L.P., Mores, C.N. & Reiskind, M.H. 2008. Larval competition alters susceptibility of adult Aedes mosquitoes to dengue infection. Proc. Roy. Soc. B 275: 463-471.
152x180

Barry Alto

Associate Professor

Mosquito Ecology - Disdease Transmission
bwalto@ufl.edu
Appointments, Awards, and Professional Service:
  • 2016-present, Editorial Board, Entomological Society of America (Environmental Entomology).
  • 2015-present, Board of Directors (Member-at-Large), Florida Mosquito Control Association.
  • 2014, Richard Jones Outstanding New Faculty Research Award, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
  • 2011-2014, Editorial Board (served as chair in 2014), Entomological Society of America (Journal of Medical Entomology).
  • 2011-2014, Faculty Assembly representative, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
  • 2014-present, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Faculty Research Advisory Group, University of Florida.