Albert Mulenga

Title: Assistant Professor; Vector Biology & Genomics

Education:
Ph.D. (Veterinary Medicine), 1999, Hokkaido University, Japan
Master of Veterinary Science (Parasitology), 1993, University of Liverpool, England
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, 1990, University of Zambia, Zambia

Research Interests:
To understand the biology, design and develop novel strategies for control of tick infestation and disease agent transmission.

Research Focus:
Throughout the course of human civilization, arthropod vectors and vector-borne diseases have negatively impacted our quest for good health and productivity. With a long term goal of developing sub-unit vaccines against vectors and vector-borne pathogens, the lab focuses on deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying the three-way interaction cascade involving the arthropod vector, vector-borne disease pathogen, and the mammalian host. The research program seeks to identify key molecules from arthropod vectors and the vector-borne pathogens that allow for evasion of mammalian host defenses. Identified molecules will be characterized and assessed for their suitability as candidate antigens for development of vaccines against vectors and vector-borne disease agents.

Feeding is an important part of the life of all ticks and it is the cause of damage they do to their hosts and a means by which disease organisms are transmitted. Ongoing research in the lab is aimed at understanding how the tick feeding process is initiated. Other research is also looking at the role of tick encoded serine proteinase inhibitors (serpin) and the conserved ixodid tick histamine release factor in tick feeding and physiology. Current molecular biology and immunology tools are being utilized in the lab to answer questions.

Teaching Activities:
Ento 423 Medical entomology; Fall 2005, Fall 2006

Recent Publications:
Kevin R. Macaluso, Albert Mulenga, Jason A. Simser, Abdu F. Azad (2006). Characterization of Dermacentor variabilis molecules associated with rickettsial infection. Ann New York Acad Sci 1078: 384- 388

Sheila M. Dreher-Lesnick, Mulenga, A., Simser, JA. And Abdu. (2006) Differential expression of two novel glutathione S-transferases identified from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. Insect Molecular Biology. Insect Mol Biol, 15: 445-453.

Mulenga, A. and Azad, AF. (2005) The molecular and biological analysis of ixodid ticks histamine release factors. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 37; 215 – 229.

Mulenga, A., Simser, J.A. Macaluso, K.R. and Azad, A.F. (2004) Stress and transcriptional regulation of the tick ferritin heavy chain. Insect Molecular Biology. 13, 423-433.

Simser, J.A., Macaluso K.R., Mulenga A. and Azad, A.F. (2004) Tick Immune responsive lysozyme cDNAs identified from hemocyets of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis and an embryonic cell line of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; 34: 1235 – 1246.

Simser, J.A., Mulenga A., Macaluso, K. and Azad, A.F. (2004) An immune responsive factor D-like serine protienase homolog identified from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. Insect molecular Biology. 13, 25 – 36.

Invited Presentations:
Mulenga, A., Macaluso, R.K., Simser, J.A. and Azad, A.F. November 15 2002. Current status on the molecular basis of tick-Rickettsia interactions. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland.