E-mail: ewchambers@valdosta.edu

Education & Experience

  • B.A. Zoology/Spanish, Brigham Young University
  • M.S. Zoology, Brigham Young University
  • Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame
  • Emerging Infectious Diseases Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of Kentucky

Teaching

  • BIOL 1107, BIOL 1108, BIOL 3860, BIOL 5860

Research Interests

Molecular genetics and genomics can provide a variety of tools for understanding the biology of mosquito disease transmission. Work in my laboratory has been focused principally on mosquitoes within the Stegomyia subgenus Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, and Aedes polynesiensis as well as mosquitoes within the Anopheles crucians s.l. species complex. We have ongoing projects exploring mosquito genotypes associated with insecticide resistance in these mosquitoes as well as the development of genetic markers for accurate species identification.

An enhanced understanding of the genetics of these disease vectors could play a role in the identification of appropriate methods of vector control that would lead to decreased disease transmission and the alleviation of human suffering.

We also have an ongoing interest in my lab in pathogens of veterinary interest. Past projects in my lab have focused on using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay in order to identify the infective stage of the filarial parasite, Dirofilaria immitis, in the mosquito vector. Current studies are employing traditional PCR in order to determine the prevalence of D. immitis infection in a variety of mosquito species found throughout South Georgia and North Florida.

Finally, we are initiating a study to investigate the epidemiology of the apicomplexan protozoal parasite, Cytauxzoon felis, in South Georgia and North Florida. Through the use of genetic markers and DNA sequencing we seek to determine if genotypic differences within this parasite exist among their hosts; hard ticks, Bobcats, and domestic cats. Such differences may be informative as we seek to understand why some domestic cats are now able to serve as infected carriers when this pathogen was once thought to be universally fatal in them.

Mosquito on skin

Professional Society

  • American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Publications

Chambers EW, Bossin HC, Ritchie SA, Russell RC, Dobson SL. 2016. The impact of insecticide-treated cloth targets on the survival of Stegomyia polynesiensis (= Aedes polynesiensis) under laboratory and semi-field conditions in French Polynesia.  Medical and Veterinary Entomology 30: 247-252.

Chambers EW, Bossin HC, Ritchie SA, Russell RC, Dobson SL. 2013. Landing response of Aedes (Stegomyia) polynesiensis mosquitoes to coloured targets. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 27:332-338.

Chambers EW, Hapairai L, Peel BA, Bossin H, Dobson SL. 2011. Male Mating Competitiveness of a Wolbachia–Introgressed Aedes polynesiensis strain under Semi-Field Conditions. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 5(8): e1271.

Licitra B, Chambers EW Kelly R, Burkot TR. 2010. Detection of Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda: Filarioidea) by Polymerase Chain Reactionin Aedes albopictus, Anopheles punctipennis and Anopheles crucians (Diptera: Culicidae) from Georgia, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 47:634-638.

Mladonicky J, King JD, Liang JL, Chambers EW, Schmaedick MA, Burkot TR, Bradley M, Lammie PJ. 2009. Assessing transmission of lymphatic filariasis using parasitologic, serologic and entomologic tools following mass drug administration in American Samoa.  The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 80:769-773.

Chambers EW, McClintock SK, Avery MF, Schmaedick MA, Lammie PJ, Burkot TR. 2009. An analysis of xenomonitoring of Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilaria immitis infections in mosquitoes from American Samoa: trapping considerations and a comparison of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays with dissection. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 80:774-781.

Chambers EW, Meece JK, McGowan JA, Lovin DD, Chadee DD, Hemme RR, McAbee K, Brown SE, Knudson DL, Severson DW. 2007. Microsatellite isolation and linkage group identification in the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. Journal of Heredity 98:202-210.

Chambers EW, Lovin DD, and Severson DW. 2003. Utility of comparative anchor-tagged sequences as physical anchors for comparative genome analysis among the Culicidae. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 69:98-104.