{"id":1140,"date":"2019-07-17T18:19:16","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/yale-researcher-to-discuss-mosquito-transmitted-diseases\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:19:16","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:19:16","slug":"yale-researcher-to-discuss-mosquito-transmitted-diseases","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/yale-researcher-to-discuss-mosquito-transmitted-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"WCSU 2017 – Yale researcher to discuss mosquito-transmitted diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n


\n <\/p>\n

DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 The Western Connecticut State University<\/a> Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences<\/a> will host Dr. Yiota Kotsakiozi, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, for a discussion about \u201cFrom Yellow Fever to Zika: Tracking the Vector, Aedes Mosquitos.\u201d Kotsakiozi will speak about her research into mosquitos and the diseases they can transmit at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2017<\/strong>, in room 125 of the Science Building on the university\u2019s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. This talk is free and open to the public.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Vector-borne diseases<\/a> like dengue fever<\/a> and Zika<\/a> affect a large proportion of the world\u2019s population. Kotsakiozi will discuss the \u201cyellow fever\u201d and \u201ctiger\u201d mosquitos that are the major carriers of some of these diseases. These mosquitos have been able to colonize every continent, except Antarctica, during the past 30-40 years and have the capacity to adapt to colder climates, which has enabled their populations to survive. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kotsakiozi, who studies these different mosquitos, explained, \u201cTo gain knowledge about these highly invasive species, we studied the population genetics, genetic structure and biogeographic patterns for both vectors to infer their invasion history in regions of the world. Since the populations differ in their ability to transmit the viruses, knowing the genetics of newly introduced mosquitoes and their origin will enable us to infer the relative threat for each area and to contribute to the design of mosquito control efforts.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kotsakiozi received her doctorate from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, where she studied land snails. After completing her degree, she joined the laboratory of Dr. Nikos Poulakakis at the University of Crete, Greece, where, as a postdoctoral fellow, she studied reptiles and amphibians in the Aegean archipelagos region.\u00a0Kotsakiozi currently is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Powell at Yale University, where she studies Aedesmosquitoes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For more information, email Assistant Professor of Physiology Dr. Michele Monette at monettem@wcsu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n