DeGennaro, Matthew

Matthew DeGennaro
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
  
  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
Review
- 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

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.