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Michael A. Riehle

Professor
mriehle@ag.arizona.edu
520-626-8500
520-621-1731 (Lab)
Riehle Lab website

Education

B.S. University of Wisconsin (1993) in Entomology/Biology
M.S. University of Wisconsin (1996) in Entomology
Ph.D. University of Georgia (2003) in Entomology

Research Program

My lab is interested in developing new strategies for controlling mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. Specifically, we are attempting to understand the basic molecular mechanisms regulating important physiological processes, including reproduction, innate immunity, and lifespan, in mosquitoes that transmit malaria parasites and arboviruses such as Zika, dengue and West Nile encephalitis. We are exploring these processes through the genetic manipulation of key signaling cascades, such as the insulin/insulin-growth factor 1 (IIS) and jnk signaling pathways. These manipulations have been performed using both transposable elements and more recently the CRISPR/Cas9 system to activate or inhibit these signaling pathways.

We are also interested in exploring the population age structure of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, a potentially important vector of human disease in Southern Arizona. Using a variety of techniques to age-grade individual field-collected mosquitoes we are attempting to assess the risk that older mosquitoes, which are responsible for a disproportionate amount of arbovirus transmission, pose in areas throughout the Southwest.

Courses Taught

ENTO457/EIS557: Medical & Veterinary Entomology

EIS520: Insect Systems

Selected Publications:

Hun, L., Luckhart, S. and Riehle, M.A. Increased Akt signaling in the fat body of Anopheles stephensi extends lifespan and increases lifetime fecundity through modulation of insulin-like peptides. Journal of insect physiology, p.103932 (2019).

Souvannaseng, L., Hun, L.V., Baker, H., Klyver, J.M., Wang, B., Pakpour, N., Bridgewater, J.M., Napoli, E., Giulivi, C., Riehle, M.A. and Luckhart, S. Inhibition of JNK signaling in the Asian malaria vector Anopheles stephensi extends mosquito longevity and improves resistance to Plasmodium falciparum infection. PLoS pathogens, 14(11), p.e1007418 (2018).

Ernst, K.C., Walker, K.R., Reyes-Castro, P., Joy, T.K., Castro-Luque, A.L., Diaz-Caravantes, R.E., Gameros, M., Haenchen, S., Hayden, M.H., Monaghan, A., Jeffrey-Guttierez, E., Carrière Y., and Riehle, M.A. Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Longevity and Differential Emergence of Dengue Fever in Two Cities in Sonora, Mexico. Journal of Medical Entomology, 54(1), pp.204-211. (2017)

Pietri J.E., Pietri E.J., Potts R., Riehle M.A. & Luckhart S. Plasmodium falciparum suppresses the host immune response by inducing the synthesis of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in the mosquito Anopheles stephensi. Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 53(1), 134-144. (2015).

Arik A.J., Hun L.V., Quicke K., Piatt M., Ziegler R., Scaraffia P.Y., Badgandi H., Riehle M.A. Increased Akt signaling in the mosquito fat body increases adult survivorship. FASEB J. 29(4): 1404-1413. (2015)

Pakpour N., Riehle M.A., Luckhart S., Effects of ingested vertebrate-derived factors on insect immune responses. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 3:1-5 (2014)

Drexler AL., Pietri JE., Pakpour N., Hauck E., Wand B., Glennon EKK., Georgis M., Riehle MA., Luckhart S. Human IGF1 regulates midgut oxidative stress and epithelial homeostasis to balance lifespan and Plasmodium falciparum resistance in Anopheles stephensi. PLoS Pathog 10(6): e1004231. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004231. (2014)

Hauck ES., Antonova-Koch Y., Drexler A., Pietri J., Pakpour N., Liu D., Blacutt J., Riehle MA., Luckhart S. Overexpression of phosphatase and tensin homolog improves fitness and decreases Plasmodium falciparum development in Anopheles stephensi. Microbes and Infection. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.05.006. (2013)

Luckhart S., Giulivi C., Drexler A.L., Antonova-Koch Y., Sakaguchi D., Napoli E., Wong S., Price M.S., Eigenheer R., Phinney B.S., Pakpour N., Pietri J.E., Cheung K., Georgis M., and Riehle M.A. Sustained activation of Akt elicits mitochondrial dysfunction to block Plasmodium falciparum infection in the mosquito most. PLoS Pathog 9(2): e1003180. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003180. (2013)

Joy T.K., Jeffrey Gutierrez E.H., Ernst K., Walker K.R., Carriere Y., Torabi M., Riehle M.A. Aging field collected Aedes aegypti to determine their capacity for dengue transmission in the Southwestern United States. PLoS One 10.1371/journal.pone.0046946 (2012)

Pakpour N., Corby-Harris V. †, Green G., Smithers H., Cheung K., Riehle M.A., and Luckhart S. Ingested human insulin inhibits the mosquito NF-κB-dependent immune response to Plasmodium falciparum. Infection and Immunity. 80(6):2141-9. (2012)

Antonova Y., Arik A.J., Moore W, Riehle M.A., and Brown M.R. Insulin-like peptides: Structure, signaling, and function. In Gilbert L.I. (Ed) Insect Endocrinology (pp. 63-92). Academic Press. (2012)

Marquez A.G., Pietri J.E., Smithers H.M., Nuss A., Antonova Y., Drexler A.L., Riehle M.A., Brown M.R., and Luckhart S.L. Insulin-like peptides in the mosquito Anopheles stephensi: identification and expression in response to diet and infection with Plasmodium falciparum. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 173(2). 303-12. (2011)

Corby-Harris V., Drexler A., Watkins de Jong L., Antonova Y., Pakpour N., Ziegler R., Ramberg F., Lewis E.E., Brown J.M, Luckhart S., and Riehle M.A. Activation of Akt signaling reduces the prevalence and intensity of malaria parasite infection and lifespan in Anopeheles stephensi mosquitoes. PLoS Pathogens. 6(7). e1001003 (2010)

Department of Entomology at the University of Arizona
Forbes 410, PO Box 210036, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
racheldoty@arizona.edu
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