Degennaro, Matthew

Degennaro, Matthew
Close

Positions

Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences , College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Contact Info

mdegenna@fiu.edu

CV Degennaro Lab Website

overview

DeGennaro is a neurogeneticist with 20 years of experience in biomedical research. Throughout his scientific career, he has used molecular genetics to address biological questions. His graduate training at NYU Medical Center was with Ruth Lehmann, one of the founders of developmental genetics, who has made fundamental contributions to the fields of germ cell and RNA biology. His postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University was with Leslie Vosshall, a leader in the field of olfaction who initially identified insect olfactory receptors and determined their unique mechanism of action. During his post-doc, he created the first mosquito mutant using zinc-finger nucleases to initiate the molecular genetic analysis of olfactory receptor function in Aedes aegypti. His work revealed new knowledge about the integration of host cues, mosquito host-preference, mosquito nectar-seeking and the mechanism of DEET repellency. His current goal is to identify olfactory receptors that mosquitoes use to sense their human and plant hosts. These genes will provide molecular targets that can be used to screen for new chemicals to modify mosquito behavior.

selected publications

Article
- 2020
  
  Geosmin Attracts Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes to Oviposition Sites. CURRENT BIOLOGY. 30:127-+.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.002 Web of Science: 000505692200028
- 2020
  
  Increased temperatures reduce the vectorial capacity of Aedes mosquitoes for Zika virus. EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS. 9:67-77.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1707125 Web of Science: 000505224900001
- 2019
  
  Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Detect Acidic Volatiles Found in Human Odor Using the IR8a Pathway. CURRENT BIOLOGY. 29:1253-+.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.045 Web of Science: 000465246300014
- 2019
  
  Aedes aegypti Ir8a mutant female mosquitoes show increased attraction to standing water
- 2019
  
  Communication and Dissemination of Forecasts and Engaging User Communities. SUB-SEASONAL TO SEASONAL PREDICTION: THE GAP BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE FORECASTING. 399-419.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-811714-9.00019-X Web of Science: 000472711000020
- 2018
  
  Transient transcriptional silencing alters the cell cycle to promote germline stem cell differentiation in Drosophila. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. 434:84-95.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.11.014 PMID: 29198563 Web of Science: 000426025300011
- 2017
  
  Genetic analysis of mosquito detection of humans. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE. 20:34-38.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.03.003 PMID: 28428935 Web of Science: 000403060200008
- 2013
  
  orco mutant mosquitoes lose strong preference for humans and are not repelled by volatile DEET
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1038/nature12206 Web of Science: 000320929400053
- Molecular mechanism of cAMP modulation of HCN pacemaker channels
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1038/35081088 Web of Science: 000169246400051
- Peroxiredoxin Stabilization of DE-Cadherin Promotes Primordial Germ Cell Adhesion
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.12.007
- Temporal and Spatial Control of Germ-Plasm RNAs
Publication
- 2020
  
  Mapping differences in circadian rhythm in field collected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
- 2008
  
  Regulating Gene Expression in the Drosophila Germ Line. 1-+.
  Web of Science: 000267135700001
Review
- 2021
  
  Skin bacterial volatiles: propelling the future of vector control
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.08.010
- 2020
  
  Not Just from Blood: Mosquito Nutrient Acquisition from Nectar Sources. TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY. 473-484.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.02.003 Web of Science: 000527328300009
- 2015
  
  The mysterious multi-modal repellency of DEET. FLY. 45-51.
  Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2015.1079360 PMID: 26252744 Web of Science: 000360618700007

editor of

Thesis Or Dissertation
- Mapping Circadian Rhythm: An Analysis of Locomotor Activity in Field-Collected Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes 2020

advised honors theses

Castillo, John S., Dissecting the Relationship Between Allatotropin Signaling and Juvenile Hormone Synthesis in Aedes Aegypti 2016

research interests

Understanding how mosquitoes sense their human and plant hosts is required for the development of new tools to control harmful mosquito behaviors.
Using a molecular genetic approach, we seek to identify the odors and olfactory receptors that are necessary for mosquito host detection.
His results have appeared in a number of peer-review publications including Nature, Developmental Cell, Current Biology, PLOS Genetics, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

principal investigator on

Southeastern Regional CoE in Vector-Borne Diseases: The Gateway Program awarded by Disease Control and Prevention 2016 - 2021
Identifying Molecular Targets for Spatial Mosquito Repellent Design awarded by Florida Department of Health 2017 - 2018
Identifying Mosquito Receptors that Detect Human Odor awarded by National Institutes of Health 2015 - 2018
A highly attractive biological insecticide trap (HABIT) to reduce Aedes mosquito populations awarded by Florida Department of Agriculture and Co 2016 - 2017

co-principal investigator on

EDGE: Functional-Genomics Tools for Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis awarded by National Science Foundation 2017 - 2020

investigator on

Regulation of juvenile hormone titers in mosquitoes awarded by National Institutes of Health 2016 - 2017

teaching activities

BSC3941-U12: Biological Sciences Research Internship Spring Term 2019
BSC3941-U18: Biological Sciences Research Internship Fall Term 2019
BSC4915-U02: Honors Research Fall Term 2019
BSC6913-U10: Student Research Lab Fall Term 2019
BSC6913-U10: Student Research Lab Spring Term 2019
BSC6936-U01: Topics In Biology Fall Term 2019
BSC6936-U01: Topics In Biology Fall Term 2019
PCB3063-U01: Genetics Spring Term 2019

videos

full name

Matthew Degennaro

ORCID iD

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3837-4430 (confirmed)

visualizations

Recent publications and grants in Scholars@FIU

Co-author Network

Co-investigator Network

publication subject areas

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Entomology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
Parasitology

Citation index-derived subject areas the researcher has published in