John Beier

University of Miami | UM · Department of Public Health Sciences

Background Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have the potential to significantly reduce infective female Anopheles mosquitoes in arid areas, such as in Northern Mali. Malaria is epidemic in the north due to the limited viability of Anopheles species in the desert climate. The goal of this study was to determine of the effect of ATSB on the nu...

Background Malaria outbreaks have sporadically occurred in the United States, with Anopheles quadrimaculatus serving as the primary vector in the eastern region. Anopheles crucians, while considered a competent vector, has not been directly implicated in human transmission. Considering the locally acquired Plasmodium vivax cases in Sarasota County,...

Background Estimates of the spatiotemporal distribution of different mosquito vector species and the associated risk of transmission of arboviruses are key to design adequate policies for preventing local outbreaks and reducing the number of human infections in endemic areas. In this study, we quantified the abundance of Aedes albopictus and Aedes...

Los Angeles County, California, is one of the areas most affected by arboviruses in the continental United States, reporting the second highest number of West Nile human cases in the nation and one of the highest numbers of imported dengue cases. Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti are primary vectors of West Nile and dengue viruses, respectiv...

Malaria outbreaks have sporadically occurred in the United States, with Anopheles quadrimaculatus serving as the primary vector in the eastern region. Anopheles crucians , while considered a competent vector, have not been directly implicated in human transmission. Considering the locally acquired Plasmodium vivax cases in Sarasota County, Florida...

In Mali, malaria vector control relies mostly on long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying (IRS). From 2008 to 2016, an IRS program was implemented in the district of Koulikoro. After a significant reduction in malaria indicators, IRS was stopped in 2016. This study evaluated the effect of IRS withdrawal on entomological parameter...

Purpose of Review Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious concern in Europe since the proliferation of invasive mosquito species increases the risk of epidemics. Aedes spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) are among the most dangerous mosquito vectors in Europe. Among Aedes spp., less attention has been paid to the North American invasive species, Aedes atropalp...

Aedes aegypti is one of the most dominant mosquito species in the urban areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and is responsible for the local arbovirus transmissions. Since August 2016, mosquito traps have been placed throughout the county to improve surveillance and guide mosquito control and arbovirus outbreak response. In this paper, we develop...

There are limited data on why the 2016 Zika outbreak in Miami-Dade County, Florida was confined to certain neighborhoods. In this research, Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of Zika virus, are studied to examine neighborhood-level differences in their population dynamics and underlying processes. Weekly mosquito data were acquired from the Miami-Da...

The Mali National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) recently established a phased set of goals for eliminating malaria in Mali by 2030. Over the past decade, the scale-up of NMCP-led malaria control interventions has led to considerable progress, as evidenced by multiple malariometric indicators. The West Africa International Center of Excellence in M...

This article highlights over a decade of signature achievements by the West Africa International Centers for Excellence in Malaria Research (WA-ICEMR) and its partners toward guiding malaria prevention and control strategies. Since 2010, the WA-ICEMR has performed longitudinal studies to monitor and assess malaria control interventions with respect...

Background Simultaneous dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in Florida, USA, in 2020 resulted in 71 dengue virus serotype 1 and 86 WNV human cases. We hypothesized that we would find a number of DENV-1 positive mosquito pools, and that the distribution of these arbovirus-positive mosquito pools would be associated with those nei...

Invasive mosquito vector species have been inadvertently transported to new areas by humans for decades. Strong evidence supports that monitoring maritime, terrestrial, and aerial points of entry is an essential part of the effort to curb the invasion and establishment of invasive vector mosquito species. Miami-Dade County, Florida is an important...

The diel biting activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti, and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks. Ho...

There are limited data on why the 2016 Zika outbreak in Miami-Dade County, Florida was confined to certain neighborhoods. In this research, Aedes aegypti , the primary vector of Zika virus, are studied to examine neighborhood-level differences in their population dynamics and underlying processes. Weekly mosquito data were acquired from the Miami-D...

Background Vector-borne diseases are a major burden to public health. Controlling mosquitoes is considered the most effective way to prevent vector-borne disease transmission. Mosquito surveillance is a core component of integrated vector management, as surveillance programs are often the cornerstone for the development of mosquito control operatio...

Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies is an important vector-borne disease. In Chad, information on sandflies is outdated, and so this study was designed to update the sandfly fauna. Sandflies were collected in five health districts representing two geoclimatic zones using sticky traps and pyrethrum sprays in indoor and peridomestic habitats betwe...

Urbanization processes are increasing globally. Anthropogenic alterations in the environment have profound effects on biodiversity. Decreased biodiversity due to biotic homogenization processes as a consequence of urbanization often result in increased levels of mosquito vector species and vector-borne pathogen transmission. Understanding how anthr...

Urbanization impacts the commu- nity composition, abundance, and richness of mosquitoes. As urbani- zation processes increase globally, it is important to better understand the biodiversity loss caused by anthropogenic changes and asso- ciated impacts on vector-borne diseases. Mosquito surveillance and control are key for reducing the risk of mosqu...

The diel biting activity of Aedes ( Stegomyia ) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti , and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks....

Simultaneous dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in Florida, USA, in 2020 resulted in 71 dengue virus serotype 1 and 86 WNV human cases. Our outbreak response leveraged a molecular diagnostic screen of mosquito populations for DENV and WNV in Miami-Dade County to quickly employ targeted mosquito abatement efforts. We detected DE...

Introduction: Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies is an important vector-borne disease. In Chad, information on sandflies is outdated, and so this study was designed to update the sandfly fauna. Methods: Sandflies were collected in five health districts representing two geoclimatic zones using sticky traps and pyrethrum sprays in indoor and peri...

Apiaceae is a family encompassing medicinal and aromatic plants. They produce essential oils (EOs) inside oil canals, known as ducts and vittae, which occur in their vegetative and reproductive organs. Given the high EO yields and the availability of raw material from cultivations widespread all over the world, Apiaceae are exploitable for differen...

Species from the Culex coronator complex are Neotropical species and potential vectors of Saint Louis and West Nile viruses. Culex coronator was first described in Trinidad and Tobago in the early twentieth century and since then it has invaded and has been reported established in most countries of the Americas. Species from the Culex coronator com...

The transformation of natural environments into urban areas has been on the rise since the industrial revolution in the late 1800s. Currently, urbanization is a global phenomenon intended to accommodate the natural growth of the human population as well as to the increasing levels of migration from rural to urban areas. Urbanization processes are r...

In underdeveloped countries, infectious diseases remain one of the most important public health challenges. Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as Kala-azar, is a lethal vector-borne parasitic disease with an increasing number of cases. However, it remains one of the most neglected diseases in the world. It is the most severe form of leishmaniasis a...

Mosquito monitoring traps (i.e., CDC light traps) are crucial tools for basic vector ecology research, risk assessment, and vector control programs. Unfortunately, they are expensive which is often an issue in projects conducted in developing countries. Therefore, it would be desirable to have reliable but inexpensive alternatives based on existing...

Geographic profiling, a mathematical model originally developed in criminology, is increasingly being used in ecology and epidemiology. Geographic profiling boasts a wide range of applications, such as finding source populations of invasive species or breeding sites of vectors of infectious disease. The model provides a cost‐effective approach for...

A significant increase in dengue transmission has been reported in the United States even though cases are much fewer than in endemic areas in the Americas. In this context, Florida has been disproportionally afflicted by locally trans- mitted cases of dengue virus. In our opinion, there is a need to understand why Florida is at a higher risk of de...

Arthropoda is the animal phylum that includes the largest number of animal species on Earth. Several arthropods are of medical and veterinary significance in terrestrial ecosystems, some of them playing a crucial role in the transmission of pathogens, which may infect and eventually cause diseases in a wide range of vertebrates, including humans, p...

Background Application methods of |Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) need to be improved for wide-scale use, and effects on non-target organisms (NTOs) must be assessed. The goals of this study were to determine, at the village level, the effect of different configurations of bait stations to (1) achieve < 25% Anopheles mosquito vector daily feed...

Background Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) are a promising new tool for malaria control as they can target outdoor-feeding mosquito populations, in contrast to current vector control tools which predominantly target indoor-feeding mosquitoes. Methods It was sought to estimate the potential impact of these new tools on Plasmodium falciparum...

Hurricanes are devastating natural disasters which dramatically modify the physical landscape and alter the socio-physical and biochemical characteristics of the environment, thus exposing the affected communities to new environmental stressors, which persist for weeks to months after the hurricane. This paper has three aims. First, it conceptualiz...

Current management and control of Aedes aegypti populations in urban areas are based on the spraying of insecticides. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of spraying larvicide (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) using a truck-mounted Buffalo Turbine and adulticide (Deltamethrin) using a Grizzly ULV Sprayer in an urban area with high densities of...

This book is a collection of 77 expert opinions arranged in three sections. Section 1 on "Climate" sets the scene, including predictions of future climate change, how climate change affects ecosystems, and how to model projections of the spatial distribution of ticks and tick-borne infections under different climate change scenarios. Section 2 on "...

The combined effect of global warming and insecticide exposure on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases is poorly studied. In our opinion, more resources should be diverted to this topic to further research efforts and deal with this increasing threat. It is particularly important to determine how Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex vector species cope wit...

Background: Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) are a promising new tool for malaria control as they can target outdoor-feeding mosquito populations, in contrast to current vector control tools which predominantly target indoor-feeding mosquitoes. Methods: We sought to estimate the potential impact of these new tools on Plasmodium falciparum ma...

Aedes aegypti is the main vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses. Controlling populations of vector mosquito species in urban environments is a major challenge and being able to determine what aquatic habitats should be prioritized for controlling Ae. aegypti populations is key to the development of more effective mosquito co...

Background Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSBs) successfully reduced Anopheles mosquito vector populations and malaria parasite transmission in Mali but application methods need to be improved for wide-scale use, and minimization of effects on non-target organisms (NTOs) must be assessed. The goals of this study were to determine on a village level...

Background Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSBs) successfully reduced Anopheles mosquito vector populations and malaria parasite transmission in Mali, but application methods need to be improved for wide-scale use, and effects on non-target organisms (NTOs) must be assessed. The goals of this study were to determine on a village level the effect of...

Effective and efficient surveillance systems are key for preventing arthropod-borne diseases. We examined the capacity of Florida mosquito control districts (both state-approved and open programs, n = 90; 48.9% response rate). Questions centered on budgets, staffing levels, equipment, vector control measures, and staff perceptions of own agency's c...

The creation of urban farms in complex urban built environments may create suitable local conditions for vector mosquitoes. Urban farms have been implicated in the proliferation of mosquitoes in Africa, but there is a dearth in the knowledge of their role in the proliferation of mosquitoes elsewhere. In this study, we surveyed two urban farms in Mi...

Definable habitats at the neighborhood level provide a wide range of favorable habitats with optimal conditions and environmental resources for mosquito survival. Problematic habitats for controlling mosquitoes in urban environments such as tire shops, bromeliad patches, and construction sites must be taken into consideration in the development of...

Background: The aim of this field trial was to evaluate the efficacy of attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB) in Mali, where sustained malaria transmission occurs despite the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). ATSB bait stations were deployed in seven of 14 similar study villages, where LLINs were already in widespread use. The combined...

Mosquito vector species (Diptera: Culicidae) are responsible for the transmission ofmany pathogens and parasites to humans and animals. Current predictions indicate that more than halfofthe human population on the planet is at risk ofvector-borne infections. Most ofthe mosquito vectors responsible for transmitting diseases are invasive species. Inv...

Global increases in temperatures and urbanization are impacting the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Urbanization processes create suitable habitats for vector mosquitoes in which there are a reduced number of predators, and human hosts are widely available. We hypothesize that mosquito vector species, especially Aedes aegypti, are locally...

The Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, August 2019

Vector-borne diseases are a heavy burden to human-kind. Global warming and urbanization have a significant impact on vector-borne disease transmission, resulting in more severe outbreaks, and outbreaks in formerly non-endemic areas. Miami-Dade County, Florida was the most affected area in the continental United States during the 2016 Zika virus out...

Background Current tools and strategies are not sufficient to reliably address threats and outbreaks of arboviruses including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Hence there is a growing public health challenge to identify the best new control tools to use against the vector Aedes aegypti. In this study, we investigated Ae. aegypti sugar f...

Arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of many infectious diseases. Currently, more than three billion people living in endemic areas are exposed to vector-borne pathogens. Substantial differences in the biology of arthropod vectors make it extremely challenging to predict the incidence of vector-borne diseases in the future. Howeve...

Population displacement and other forced movement patterns following natural disasters, armed conflicts or due to socioeconomic reasons contribute to the global emergence of Aedes-borne viral disease epidemics. In parti- cular, dengue epidemiology is critically affected by situations of displacement and forced movement patterns, particularly within...

The construction industry employs millions of workers in the USA. However, little is known about how environmental disturbances caused by the construction industry impacts vector mosquito ecology and behavior, and whether it is responsible for increasing the abundance of mosquitoes. There is a major scientific gap on how to assess the occupational...

Human mobility in urban environments is a central part of urbanization and has determined the layout of how cities are projected, built and renovated. One of the most problematic issues of urbanization is how to properly dispose of used tires, considering the worldwide annual production of approximately 1.4 billion units every year. Despite the eff...

Extra-Amazonian malaria has been reported to be endemic in Brazil since the end of the 19th century. Currently, only a few cases are reported annually. However, recent findings of unexpected Plasmodium infections with uncertain transmission cycles in the Extra-Amazonian region could pose a threat to the malaria elimination agenda in Brazil.

Despite the major impact of mosquitoes on human health, knowledge gaps exist regarding their natural population dynamics. Even the most basic information—such as spatiotemporal abundance—is mostly unavailable. In the USA, municipalities have created agencies for mosquito control and monitoring, yet no national open-access repository for mosquito su...

Background Current tools and strategies are not sufficient to reliably address threats and outbreaks of arboviruses including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Hence there is a growing public health challenge to identify the best new control tools to use against the vector Aedes aegypti. In this study, we investigated Ae. aegypti sugar f...

Despite the major impact of mosquitoes on human health, knowledge gaps exist regarding their natural population dynamics. Even the most basic information-such as spatiotemporal abundance-is mostly unavailable. In the USA, municipalities have created agencies for mosquito control and monitoring, yet no national open-access repository for mosquito su...

Vector-borne diseases are an increasing issue to public health, endangering billions of people worldwide. Controlling vector mosquitoes is widely accepted as the most effective way to prevent vector-borne disease outbreaks. Mosquito surveillance is critical for the development of control strategies under the integrated vector management framework....

Map of Miami-Dade County, Florida displaying the BG-Sentinel trap locations in relation to neighborhoods. (TIF)

Climate variation in Miami-Dade County from September to October 2018. (DOCX)

Estimated marginal means and standard errors from the Analysis of variance for mosquitoes collected by BG-Sentinel traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure. (DOCX)

Analysis of variance for mosquitoes collected by BG-Sentinel traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure. (DOCX)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the most important neglected infectious diseases worldwide, with more than 1.4 billion people living in endemic areas. World Health Organization launched a two-step Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) in 2000, consisting of two main pillars, interrupting the transmission and controlling mor...