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Clément Vinauger

Assistant Professor
  • Department of Biochemistry
  • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Research Interest:

Vector-Host Interactions        

Synopsis:

Dr. Vinauger’s research focuses on investigating circadian and pathogen-induced modulations of vector-host interactions, while leveraging interdisciplinary tools to move from gene, to neuron, to insect behavior, and combining methods that include biochemistry, neuroscience, engineering and chemical ecology.    

Description:

For disease vector insects, the host plays a double role of both prey and predator. Thus, there is a strong selective pressure for vectors to respond to host-related cues only in the appropriate physiological and temporal contexts. Dr. Vinauger seeks to identify the factors that modulate vectors' behavior and to characterize the genetic, molecular and neural mechanisms that allow this behavioral plasticity. He has discovered that the interaction between the olfactory and visual processing centers of mosquitoes’ brains is what helps these insects target their victims so accurately, and that mosquitoes can learn and remember the scent of defensive hosts.