Research Interests: We conduct research in the laboratory and in the fields trying to figure out how ivermectin reduce malaria transmission by curtailing the life of the Anopheles mosquito vectors before they transmit their incubated sporozoites. We have been successful conducting several projects in vector biology and Virology. Then, I spend about half a year in West Africa leading the field studies and half a year at CSU conducting experiments, processing Anopheles mosquitoes for complex ID and for sporozoite rate with the malaria vector projects.

On another part, I work with Pr. William Black IV on projects that focuse on understanding the genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Senegal and West Africa. I’ am also doing vector competence work in the BSL-3 lab, which will entail growing viruses (yellow fever and dengue 2) in cell culture, infecting different strains of Ae. aegypti from various ecological areas of Senegal and West Africa, and finally monitoring the outcome of these infections using immunological techniques and microscopy. This data will allow us to establish a risk map of these diseases in West Africa. I have a broad experience doing ecological studies in entomology and doing lab works too. Kedougou in southeastern Senegal is ideal for our goals because malaria prevalence is about 90 to 100% and ivermectin prophylaxis is ongoing to control river blindness, transmitted by the black fly, Similium damnosum. We have already achieved good findings in this area, our organizational capabilities to carry out this project are strong after 6 years experience and investment.