Untitled Document

Welcome!

Welcome to Molecular Vector Physiology Laboratory at New Mexico State University.

P.I.: Dr. rer. Nat.

Immo Alex Hansen

The Hansen lab does basic research in mosquito molecular biology, molecular physiology, and insect endocrinology. We use the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and the West-Nile-Virus mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus as model invertebrates. We are primarily interested in the molecular mechanisms by which cells and tissues sense nutrients and in response activate signal transduction pathways which regulate expression and/or deactivation of mosquito genes. A second focus of the Hansen lab is on the regulation of water homeostasis in mosquitoes. We also have multiple collaborations with other groups on and off-campus on related topics.

Why we study mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are vectors for some of the most devastating diseases known to humanity since its early history. During the 1950s and 1960s mosquito-borne diseases were thought to have been brought under control through reduction of mosquito populations by large-scale vector control programs and anti malarial drugs. However, a resurgence of the diseases began during the late 1970s and continues to this day due to a complex array of factors such as mosquito pesticide resistance, lack of effective vaccines, parasite resistance to drugs, and political mismanagement.
Today, malaria alone affects 200 to 300 Million people, every year and claims the lives of one to three million humans, especially young children in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that there are worldwide more than 100 million cases of Dengue Fever every year along with several hundreds of thousand cases of the more severe form Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. Dengue viruses are transmitted by the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. Today, Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease affecting humans with a global distribution comparable with malaria. Another example that demonstrates the deadly potential of newly-emerging mosquito-transmitted diseases is the rapid spread of West Nile Virus across the continental US.

The reproductive biology of mosquitoes is tightly linked to their ability to transmit disease pathogens due to the fact that mosquitoes need blood for egg production. Therefore, a detailed understanding of reproductive processes on a molecular level is indispensable in order to identify new ways to disrupt the process of disease transmission. Illumination of the molecular biology underlying mosquito reproduction will pave the way for the development of novel vector control strategies with the ultimate goal of eradicating mosquito-transmitted diseases.

Plasmodium

Plasmodium gallinaceum

Lab members:

Immo A. Hansen

email: immoh[at]nmsu.edu

phone: 575-646-7719

Lisa Drake

Lisa Drake

email: drlisa[at]nmsu.edu

phone: 575-646-2140

Stacy Rodriguez

Stacy

email: stacyr[at]nmsu.edu

phone: 575-646-2140

David Price

David Price

email: dpprice[at]nmsu.edu

phone: 575-646-2140

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah

email: sea890[at]nmsu.edu

phone: 575-646-2140

Hannah Drumm

email: hdrumm[at]nmsu.edu

phone: 575-646-2140

The Hansen lab is currently (Fall 2012) accepting applications from graduate students as well as motivated undergraduates that want to work with us.

A message for prospective students

For Graduate Students:

I am looking for potential Graduate students who understand my research interests, have read my publications, and have their own ideas as to where my research efforts should be directed. Individuals applying to my laboratory do not have to be experts at the molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics techniques that we utilize day to day, but they must understand the theory behind them and their application. These individuals must also work well with a diverse group of young scientists and work extremely hard to finish their NMSU research education.

All graduate students are required to complete and submit an internationally recognized Journal article before graduation from my laboratory!

A Masters thesis should generate at least one first author publication.

A Ph.D. thesis should generate at least two first author publications.

Applications:

Graduate students can apply to work in my laboratory through the Biology Department, or through the NMSU Graduate Program in Molecular Biology.

I insist that you contact me directly (phone or via e-mail) while applying!

All students: When you contact me please add a statement (approximately one page) on your scientific interests and why you want to work in my lab. This is your chance to show me the level of your interest in my research and demonstrate some creative thinking (copying and pasting from this homepage won't help you).

For Undergraduate Students:

I encourage all NMSU undergraduates (with GPA 3.5 or higher) to get "hands on" training in the sciences.

An undergraduate project tends to be part of a larger whole, but I make sure to include credit for their work in presentations and publications.

How far you go in my laboratory depends solely on your individual work ethic and leadership.

Recent publications

- Drake LL, Price DP, Aguirre SE, Hansen IA. 2012. RNAi-mediated Gene Knockdown and In Vivo Diuresis Assay in Adult Female Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. JoVE. Jul 14;(65):e3479.	click here
- Carpenter, VK.; Drake, LL.; Aguirre, SE; Price, DP; Rodriguez, SD; Hansen, IA, 2012. SLC7 amino acid transporters of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and their role in fat body TOR signaling and reproduction. J Insect Physiol. 2012 Apr; 58 (4): 513-22.	click here
- Price DP, Nagarajan V, Churbanov A, Houde P, Milligan B, Drake LL, Gustafson JE, Hansen IA. The fat body transcriptomes of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, pre- and post- blood meal. PLoS One. 2011;6 (7):e22573.	click here
- Drake LL, Boudko DY, Marinotti O, Carpenter VK, Dawe AL, Hansen IA. 2010 The Aquaporin gene family of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. PLoS One. 5(12):e15578.	click here
- Hansen IA, Boudko DY, Shiao SH, Voronov DA, Meleshkevitch EA, Drake LL, Aguirre SE, Fox J, Attardo GM, Raikhel AS. 2011. AaCAT1 of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti: A novel histidine-specific Amino Acid Transporter from the SLC7 family. J Biol Chem. 286, 10803-13.	click here