CONTACT

Phone: (309) 681-6195

Fax: 309-681-6693

Room: 2101A

 

USDA ARS NCAUR

1815 N University

Peoria, IL 61604

EDUCATION

PhD, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, 2011

MS, Entomology, University of California Riverside, 2006

BS, Zoology, Idaho State University, 2002

AREA OF EXPERTISE
Microbial control of mosquitoes and other vector arthropods, host-pathogen interactions, insect immunity and pathology,  and  arthropod-borne pathogen systems.  

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Ramirez’s research program is highly interdisciplinary and focuses on understanding insect vector-pathogen-microbiome interactions to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly biopesticides to control mosquitoes, ticks and other arthropods of agricultural importance. Our main areas of research involve: (1) molecular multipartite interactions (vector-pathogen-microbial symbionts),(2) insect immunity / insect pathology, (3) discovery of new entomopathogenic microbes for control of mosquitoes/ticks and arthropods of agricultural importance,  (4) metagenomics of arthropod vector systems, and (5) identification of microbial-derived 2ry metabolites for use against insect vectors. 

LAB MEMBERS / SUPPORT STAFF / VISITING SCIENTISTS

Current:

            Haley M. Gore (Biological Science Laboratory Technician)

            Kristin R. Duffield (Postdoctoral Fellow)

            Lina Flor-Weiler (Entomologist)

            Salorrane Miranda do Nascimento Pinto (Visiting PhD student)

            Swaksha Kallepalli (Biological Sciences Undergraduate Researcher)

            Emily Everett (Biological Sciences Undergraduate Researcher)

            Eli Porojan (Biological Sciences Undergraduate Researcher)

Alumni:

            Danielle Ashton (Biological Sciences Undergraduate Researcher)

            Kylie J. Hampton (Biological Science Laboratory Technician)

            Molly K. Schumacher (Director of Donor Engagement, United Way of Dane County)

            Edward Andrews (Biological Sciences Undergraduate Researcher)

            Alayna M. Rosales (Master of Science graduate student, Bradley University)

            Thomas Rashid (Summer Intern at St Jude)

            Joshua Ginzel (PhD. Student at Duke University)

            Yashoda Narayanan (NICU Clinical Researcher, University of Illinois College of Medicine)

            Mathew Rashid (Summer Student Researcher Intern)

            Sindhu Yegappan (Northwestern University)

COLLABORATION / COOPERATION:

National:

            Steve Juliano PhD., Illinois State University

            John Marino PhD., Bradley University

            Andrea Joyce PhD., University of California Merced

            Kim Wesley PhD.  /  Katie Westby PhD., Tyson Research Center

            

 International:

            Gissella Vasquez PhD., DOD, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) No.6, Lima, Peru

            Everton Kort Kamp Fernandes PhD., Federal University of Goiás, Brazil

            Lorenzo Caceres PhD. /  Rolando Torres,  Gorgas Institute of Health, Panama

            Ana Bahia PhD., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

       

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

American Society for Microbiology          

Entomological Society of America

Society for Invertebrate Pathology

 Publications Indexed by Google Scholar

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INVITED CONFERENCE LECTURES AND SEMINARS

2024 Invited Speaker: "Mosquito Holobiont perspectives: Multi-organismal interactions in microbial control", II International Workshop of Technologies for Ectoparasites Control, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goias, Brazil.

2024 Invited Speaker: "A vector biologist toolbox to study vector-pathogen interactions", Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goias, Brazil.

2024 Invited Speaker: "Unraveling mosquito Immune responses to entomopathogenic fungi: from pathogen recognition to antimicrobial peptide production”, II International Workshop of Technologies for Ectoparasites Control, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goias, Brazil.

2024 Invited Speaker: "Exploring mosquito-pathogen interactions within the framework of microbial control and the implications of a changing climate", Public Health Department, University of California Merced, USA.

2024 Invited Lecture: "Controlling mosquitoes with insect-killing microbes" Public Health Department, University of California Merced, USA.

2023 Invited Speaker: "Unraveling vector-microbe interactions to enhance the microbial control of mosquitoes    "Asia Pacific Conference on Mosquito and Vector Control, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2023 Invited Speaker: “Utilizing microbe-insect and microbe-microbe interactions to control vectors and plant pathogens” MicroBioPest, Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA) (Virtual).

2023 Invited Speaker: “Prospects for Biocontrol of Tar Spot of Corn: Candidate Biocontrol Organisms Isolated from Tar Spot of Corn” Corn Miller’s Conference 2023, Peoria, IL

2022 Invited Speaker: “Mosquito-microbe multipartite interactions shape pathogen infection and mosquito survival” Invited Symposium Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

2021 Invited Speaker: “Utilizing Microbe – Mosquito Interactions in the Control of Mosquito Populations” Graduate Student Colloquium Series (Virtual Colloquium), Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, IL.

2021 Speaker: “Entomopathogen susceptibility and host responses of two important mosquito vectors in Illinois” Illinois Mosquito and Vector Control Association 2021 Virtual meeting, Chicago, IL.

2021 Invited Speaker: “Unraveling multipartite interactions to control mosquitoes and the pathogens they transmit” Departmental Seminar, Entomology Department, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA.

2021 Speaker: “Comparative infection responses to fungal entomopathogens by Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes”, Virtual talk. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, USA.

2020 Invited Speaker: “From Malaria to Dengue virus: Intricate Multipartite Interactions Shape Pathogen Infection in Mosquitoes,” Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities, Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Services, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2020 Invited Speaker: “Mosquitoes and Microbes: Friends and Foes,” Prairieland Koi and Pond Society, Peoria, IL, USA.

2020 Invited Lecturer: “A vector biologist toolbox: Metagenomics and other methods to study vector-pathogen interactions,” Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2019 Invited Speaker: “Mosquitoes and microbes: from vectored human diseases to the control of mosquito populations,” OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, USA.

2019 Speaker: “The role of Aedes aegypti PGRPs in the early recognition of fungal infection” Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

2019 Speaker: “Fungal infection recognition in the Aedes aegypti mosquito.” Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting. Valencia, Spain.

2019 Speaker: “Dynamics of entomopathogenic fungal recognition in the yellow fever mosquito Ae. aegypti” Illinois Mosquito Vector Control Association, Bloomington, Illinois, USA.

2018 Speaker: “Mosquito - entomopathogenic fungi molecular interactions that define the outcome of infection” The 2018 International Congress of Invertebrate Pathology and Microbial Control and the 51st Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology. Gold Coast, Australia

2018 Invited Speaker: “Multipartite Interactions Defining Pathogen Infection Dynamics in Mosquitoes,” Entomology Department Seminar, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 2018

2018     Speaker: “Effects of fungal entomopathogen infection on mosquito survival and pathogen defense mechanisms” American Mosquito Control Association, Kansas City, MO

2017     Speaker: “Fungal entomopathogens in the fight against mosquitoes: molecular interactions shaping infection dynamics.” Illinois Mosquito & Vector Control Association, Springfield, IL

2017     Invited Speaker: “New and re-emerging vector-borne diseases and the efforts to stop them through mosquito control” 8th Annual Illinois Statewide Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections, Bloomington, IL

2017     Speaker: “Fungal entomopathogens in the fight against mosquitoes: Molecular Interactions Shaping Infection Dynamics”, 63rd Annual Meeting Illinois Mosquito and Vector Control Association, Springfield, Illinois

2017     Speaker: “Temporospatial immune modulation of a lethal interaction between the mosquito Aedes aegypti and entomopathogenic fungi”, Annual Meeting Entomological Society of America, Denver, Colorado

2017     Invited Speaker: “Mosquitoes and fungal entomopathogens: Temporo-spatial interactions defining the outcome of infection”, Biology Department Seminar, Bradley University, Peoria, IL

2017     Invited Speaker: “The interplay between mosquitoes, entomopathogens and symbiotic microbes: A niche for the development of novel microbial-derived vector control strategies”, Congress Bioprocess, The Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Camagüey, Cuba

2016       Invited Oral presentation: “Mosquito, Pathogens, and Symbiotic microbes: Multipartite Molecular Interactions Shaping Vector Competence,” Illinois State University, Bloomington IL

2016       Invited Lecture: “The interplay between mosquitoes, viruses and humans: the case of Zika and other arboviral diseases, ” Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Bradley University, Peoria, IL

2016       Invited Oral presentation: “The Mosquito Battlefield: Understanding the Mosquito’s Molecular Weaponry against Pathogens,” Tyson Summer Seminar Series. Tyson Research Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

2016       Invited Oral presentation: “Vector-Borne Diseases: New and Re-emerging infectious diseases affecting Public Health,” “International Health at a local level,” Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Chapter #48 - Bloomington, IL

2015       Oral presentation: “Molecular Mechanisms Mediating Innate Immune Priming in An. gambiae mosquitoes.” Keystone Symposia: The Arthropod Vector: the Controller of Transmission. Taos, New Mexico. 

2015       Oral presentation: “Lipocalin / lipoxin complex mediates immune priming in An. gambiae mosquitoes,” Gordon Research Symposium: Tropical Infectious Diseases. Galveston, Texas

2015       Invited Oral presentation: “The parasite-vector war: molecules mediating immune priming in mosquitoes,” American Society for Microbiology and George Mason University. Fairfax, Virginia

2015       Poster presentation: “Molecular interactions modulating immune priming in An. gambiae mosquitoes,” Gordon Research Conference: Tropical Infectious Diseases. Galveston, Texas 

2015       Oral presentation: “Molecular mechanisms of Immune Priming in An. gambiae mosquitoes: Lipocalin/lipoxin driving innate immune priming in mosquitoes, “ Malaria and Vector Biology Interest Group Seminar. NIAID, NIH.

2014       Invited Oral presentation: “Primed for war: innate immune priming defines the outcome of the mosquito-malaria parasite fight,” Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities Program, INRO 2014. NIAID, NIH. Bethesda, Maryland. 

2014   Oral presentation: “Molecular mechanisms of Immune Priming in An. gambiae mosquitoes,” Malaria and Vector Biology Interest Group Seminar. NIAID, NIH. 

2014   Poster Presentation: "Insights into the molecular mechanisms of immune priming in An. Gambiae mosquitoes." 2014 NIH Research Festival . NIH Bethesda, Maryland. 

2013       Poster presentation: “Molecular Mechanism of Innate Immune Memory in An. gambiae mosquitoes,” American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 62^nd Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. 

2013       Oral presentation: “Molecular mechanisms of Innate Immune Memory in An. gambiae mosquitoes,” Malaria and Vector Biology Interest Group Seminar. NIAID, NIH.

 2013       Oral presentation: “Immune pathways and hemocyte differentiation in mosquito-Plasmodium interactions,” Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities Program. INRO 2013. NIAID, NIH. Bethesda, Maryland

2012       Poster presentation: “Hemocyte differentiation in Innate Immune Memory under the regulation of Immune signaling pathways,” US-Brazil Vector Symposium. Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana

 2011       Young Investigator/Student Oral Presentation: “Mosquito-Microbiome Molecular Interactions Define Dengue Virus Infection Dynamics,” ASM 111^th General Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana

 2010       Poster presentation: “Mosquito-microbiome interactions influencing dengue virus infection,” Jose Luis Ramirez, Jayme A. Souza-Neto and George Dimopoulos. ASM 110^th General Meeting, San Diego, California

 2010       Poster presentation: “The Toll pathway is a conserved immune defense active against different dengue serotypes and present in multiple Aedes aegypti strains.” Delta Omega Scientific Poster Competition. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 2010       Poster presentation: “Mosquito, dengue virus, bacteria: tripartite interactions determining dengue virus transmission,” Jose Luis Ramirez and George Dimopoulos. Global Health Day, Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health.

 2009       Poster presentation: “The Toll pathway is a conserved immune defense active against different dengue serotypes and present in multiple Aedes aegypti strains.” Jose Luis Ramirez and George Dimopoulos. 58^th Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

 2009       Poster presentation: “Implication of the Innate Immune Defense in the anti-dengue defense at the early stages of infection,” Jose Luis Ramirez and George Dimopoulos. ASM 109^th General Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2009       Invited Oral presentation: “Mosquito, dengue virus, bacteria: tripartite interactions determining dengue virus transmission,” Jose Luis Ramirez and George Dimopoulos. Gorgas Memorial Institute, Panama City, Panama

2007        Oral presentation: “Dissecting the Aedes aegypti anti-Dengue immune response,” Jose Luis Ramirez, Zhiyong Xi and George Dimopoulos. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 56^th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2005A    Poster presentation: “The Effect of Post-Acquisition Hosts on the Presence of Xylella fastidiosa in GWSS Saliva,” Jose L. Ramirez, P.T. Lacava, T.M. Perring and T. A. Miller. 2005 Pierce’s Disease Research Symposium, CDFA, San Diego, California

 2005B    Poster presentation: “Fate of Xylella fastidiosa and a genetically modified bacterium in the foregut of Homalodisca coagulata fed on citrus and grape host plants,” Jose L. Ramirez and T. A. Miller. 12^th Annual Student Seminar Day. Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside

2005C    Oral Presentation: “The Big Sagebrush(Artemisia tridentata): Home of a Rich Arthropod Fauna.”  José L. Ramirez & Nancy Huntly. Great Rift Science Symposium. Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho.

2005D    Oral Presentation: “The Diversity,Abundance, and Trophic Structure of Arthropods on Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) of Craters of the Moon NM and a Nearby Agricultural Region.” José L. Ramirez et al. Great Rift Science Symposium. Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho.

2004A    Poster presentation: “Fitness of a Genetically Modified Symbiont upon Reintroduction to its Host, the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca coagulata).” Jose L. Ramirez, B. Bextine, and T. A. Miller. 2004 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah.

2004B    Oral Presentationn: “Pathogen and Symbiont Interactions in the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca coagulata).” J.L Ramirez and T. A. Miller. 11^th Annual Student Seminar Day. Department of Entomology. University of California, Riverside

2002       Poster presentation: “Paternity Analysis of Burying Beetles to Determine Alternative Mating Behaviors.” Jose L. Ramirez, J. McKay, R. Williams, and R. Smith. Undergraduate Research Symposium, ISU. 

HONORS AND AWARDS

2015       NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence 2015, National Institutes of Health.

2015       Keystone Symposia Future of Science Fund Scholarship

               Scholarship to attend and present at the meeting on The Arthropod Vector: The Controller of Transmission.

2015       Gordon Research Conference Fellowship.

               Fellowship to attend and present at the Tropical Infectious Diseases Conference Gordon Research Conferences

2012       Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities (INRO) Fellowship

              NIAID/ National Institutes of Health

2011       The Richard and Mary Finkelstein Student Travel Grant

              111th General Meeting, American Society for Microbiology.

2010       Young Researcher participant in the 60th Interdisciplinary Meeting of Nobel Laureates at Lindau.

              Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Lindau, Germany.

2010       Robert Bosch- ESOF Fellowship to attend the Euroscience Open Forum 2010. Torino, Italy.

              Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF).

2010       Best Poster Presentation. 1st Place. Delta Omega Scientific Poster Competition.

              Delta Omega Society. Bloomberg School of Public Health. Johns Hopkins University.

2009       Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards For Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31).

               National Institute of Health / National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

2008       Global Health Field Research Award

               The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Support to conduct dengue virus-related field research in Panama.

2008      ASM - Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

              American Society for Microbiology

 2007       The A. Ralph and Sylvia E. Barr Fellowship in Vector Biology

               Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

2006       Diversity and Health Disparities Predoctoral Fellow.

              The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

2005       Best M.S. Poster Presentation. 12^th Annual Student Seminar Day

              Department of Entomology. University of California Riverside

2003-05 University of California Riverside College Fellowship Award. Department of Entomology, UC Riverside.

2002      Outstanding Undergraduate Biology Research Presentation. Undergraduate Research Symposium

              Department of Biological Sciences. Idaho State University.