Keira J Lucas

• Ph.D. Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Deputy Executive Director at Collier Mosquito Control District

Recent outbreaks of locally transmitted dengue and Zika viruses in Florida have placed more emphasis on integrated vector management plans for Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus Skuse. Adulticiding, primarily with pyrethroids, is often employed for the immediate control of potentially arbovirus-infected mosquitoes during outbreak situations. W...

Florida faces the challenge of repeated introduction and autochthonous transmission of arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus . Empirically-based predictive models of the spatial distribution of these species would aid surveillance and vector control efforts. To predict the occurrence and abundance of these species, we fit mi...

In several insect species, resistance to pyrethroids and DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is linked to point mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene. Pyrethroid-based insecticides prolong the opening of sodium channels, causing paralysis known as a “knockdown” effect before mortality occurs. Point mutations in the VGSC gene r...

Application of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)-based liquid larvicide for the control of container inhabiting mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti, is typically performed through the use of portable sprayers, truck-mounted mist systems, or manned fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have provided a ne...

The Naples Botanical Garden, located in Collier County, Florida, attracts over 220,000 visitors each year. The gardens house a collection of plants from around the world, including a featured area for over 100 species of exotic and native bromeliads. Ornamental bromeliads have previously been investigated to define their “tank” structure as a haven...

It is a volume of the Journal of the Florida Mosquito Control Association. The JFMCA Vol. 71, 2024 included 4 reviews and opinions, 5 articles, 2 scientific notes, and annual meeting abstracts.

Journal of the Florida Mosquito Control Association Vol. 69, 2022 published 2Opinio & Forum, 6 articles, and 6 Scientific and Operation Notes. The journal has been published at the FMCA website at www.yourFMCA.org and online at https//journals.flvc.org/jfmca Each article will has their DOI.

Journal of the Florida Mosquito Control Association, Vol. 68, 2021 published one forum, 10 research articles, and 4 operation and scientific notes. This volume does not include the FMCA annual meeting abstracts due to COVID-19 pandemic and the FMCA only held annual business meeting in middle of November without scientific paper submission in 2020.

Florida faces the challenge of repeated introduction and autochthonous transmission of arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Empirically-based predictive models of the spatial distribution of these species would aid surveillance and vector control efforts. To predict the occurrence and abundance of these species, we fit a m...

As the threat of arboviral diseases continues to escalate worldwide, the question of, “What types of human communities are at the greatest risk of infection?” persists as a key gap in the existing knowledge of arboviral diseases transmission dynamics. Here, we comprehensively review the existing literature on the socioeconomic drivers of the most c...

The Collier Mosquito Control District, located in southwest Florida, is uniquely positioned in a subtropical environment between the Gulf of Mexico and Everglades National Park. The District's mission is focused on the control of disease vector and nuisance mosquitoes in Collier County, which is accomplished through integrated mosquito management....

In 2017, the southeastern USA and Caribbean endured an extremely active year for tropical storm and hurricane activity. On September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma made a 2nd landfall in Florida, striking Collier County-including Naples and Marco Island, FL. Areas affected by Hurricane Irma are abundant in salt-marsh and mangrove swamps, prime habitats f...

Comparison of 1016 and 1534 kdr allele frequencies in adult and egg life stages of several strains of Ae. aegypti. (DOCX)

Collection information and kdr data for strains used in this study. This excel file contains detailed location information on collection sites, life stages tested, numbers of organisms tested and raw kdr allele data. (XLS)

Recent outbreaks of locally transmitted dengue and Zika viruses in Florida have placed more emphasis on the importance of integrated vector management plans for Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus Skuse. Adulticiding, primarily with pyrethroids, can be the best option available for the immediate control of potentially arbovirus-infected mosquit...

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is the major vector of arboviruses, causing numerous devastating human diseases, such as dengue and yellow fevers, Chikungunya and Zika. Female mosquitoes need vertebrate blood for egg development, and repeated cycles of blood feeding are tightly linked to pathogen transmission. The mosquito’s posterior midgu...

Details of the constructs for transgenesis. (A) Schematic representation of the driver CP-Gal4 cassette. (B) Schematic representation of the responder UAS-miR-275-TuD cassette. (C) Schematic representation of the miR-275-TuD RNA. (TIF)

Effect of gut-specific depletion of miR-275 in blood-fed A. aegypti female mosquitoes. (A) Female mosquito ovaries at 24 h PBM, and eggs (B) produced by multiple mosquito lines. These lines include wt, 16–1 Driver, F1 Responder, and CP-Gal4>UAS–miR-275-TuD lines (16-1/F1). Images of ovaries and eggs were captured from under the Leica M165FC stereom...

Schematic representation of the construct psiCHECK-2-SERCA and psiCHECK-2-ΔSERCA. (A) psiCHECK-2-SERCA contains 3’UTR from SERCA which includes a predicted miR-275 binding site. (B) In the psiCHECK-2-ΔSERCA construct, the predicted miR-275 binding site was mutated. (TIF)

Actin cytoskeleton was partially rescued in CP-Gal4>UAS-miR-275-TuD (16-1/F17) female mosquitoes after miR-275 mimic application. (Scale bar for gut actin staining: 0.2 mm (partial gut); scale bar for whole gut actin staining: 1 mm (whole gut). (TIF)

Application of SERCA-specific inhibitor TG and Notch signaling specific inhibitor DAPT resulted in phenotypes similar to CP-Gal4>UAS-miR-275-TuD (16-1/F1, 16-1/F17) female mosquitoes. (A) Phenotypes of mosquito guts, ovaries and eggs after TG or DAPT treatment. Photos of guts and ovaries were captured at 24 h PBM. Actin staining was performed at 24...

miR-275 target prediction in Ae. aegypti 3′ UTRs. (DOCX)

Confirmation of the CP-Gal4>UAS-miR-275-TuD hybrid transgenic mosquito lines. (A-D) Transgenic CP-Gal4/UAS–miR-275-TuD hybrids present both selectable markers. Pupae of mosquitoes were screened for the presence of EGFP and dsRed-selectable markers in the eye. Pupae were visualized under the Leica M165FC stereomicroscope, and images were obtained us...

miR-275 mimic rescues the phenotypes in blood-fed CP-Gal4>UAS–miR-275-TuD female mosquitoes. Female mosquito ovaries were sampled at 24 h PBM; eggs produced by multiple mosquito lines (Scale bar for eggs: 1 mm; scale bar for ovaries: 100 μm). (A) miR-275 mimic rescued the phenotype of reduced follicle size. (B) miR-275 mimic rescued the phenotype o...

miR-275 mimic rescues the phenotypes in blood-fed CP-Gal4>UAS–miR-275-TuD female mosquitoes (16-1/F17). Female mosquito guts and ovaries were sampled at 24 h PBM (Scale bar for guts and eggs: 1 mm; scale bar for ovaries: 100 μm). (TIF)

Partial sequence of the UAS-miR-275-TuD construct. (TIF)

Females of the hematophagous mosquito species require a vertebrate blood meal to supply amino acids and other nutrients necessary for egg development, serving as the driving force for the spread of many vector-borne diseases in humans. Blood digestion utilizes both early and late phase serine proteases (SPs) that are differentially regulated at the...

Female mosquitoes require a blood meal for reproduction, and their cyclic blood feeding habits result in the spread of devastating vector-borne diseases in humans. Developing a clear understanding of the mechanisms that govern the major functions linked to the female mosquito's ability to utilize blood and develop eggs is of paramount importance. R...

Significance Mosquitoes transmit some of the most devastating human diseases. Acquisition of blood initiates a cascade of events in various tissues in the female mosquito. Here we describe our study using newly established genetic tools in mosquito biology and a comprehensive microRNA target identification analysis to characterize microRNA-8 (miR-8...

Abstract Lineage-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to functions specific to hematophagous mosquitoes and, as such, have potential for contributing to the development of future mosquito control approaches. Here we report that the mosquito- and gut-specific miRNA, miR-1174, is required for proper sugar absorption, fluid excretion, blood inta...

The discovery of small non-coding RNAs has revolutionized our understanding of regulatory networks governing multiple functions in animals and plants. However, our knowledge of mosquito small RNAs is limited. We discuss here the state of current knowledge regarding the roles of small RNAs and their targets in mosquitoes, and describe the ongoing ef...