The Dimopoulos Group was established in 2001 at Imperial College
London
 and
is since 2003 part of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research
Institute and the Department of Molecular Microbiology and
Immunology at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
The group’s ongoing and future research program broadly focuses
on the innate immune systems of mosquito disease vectors, and
comprises several independent but synergistically interacting
projects. We are interested in understanding the role and
mechanisms of the mosquito’s innate immune system in the defense
against human pathogens such as Plasmodium and the Dengue virus.
A major focus is concentrated on Anopheles gambiae
anti-Plasmodium defense systems that. Towards this, we have
contributed with several pioneering discoveries. Our mission is
to characterize the defense mechanisms employed by mosquito
vectors against human pathogens. Our competitive advantage
derives from a unique blend of core competencies in molecular
entomology, innate immunity and functional genomics, as well as
the access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure at the
Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. The long-term goal of
our research program is to broaden the basic knowledge of this
field and provide new tools for the development of vector borne
disease control strategies.
MALARIA
Malaria is transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes and caused by
protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The four species of
Plasmodium that can infect humans are Plasmodium falciparum and
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae. The
two former are the most serious. Symptoms of malaria are fever,
chills, and flu-like illness. Severe complications can develop
if left untreated. Approximately 515 million cases of malaria
occur worldwide each year, and over one million people deaths,
mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Bednets,
insecticides, and antimalarial drugs are currently employed to
fight malaria. However, malaria is a disease of poverty, and is
also the cause of poverty; the socioeconomic impact of malaria
is vast. Eradication of this disease is therefore expected to
lead to major improvements in the endemic areas.
DENGUE
Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by dengue
viruses that belong to the Flavivirus genus. Four antigenically
distinct serotypes exist (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4) and
infection with one serotypes results in immunity to only that
serotype. Dengue viruses are spread by Aedes mosquitoes. The
Aedes aegypti is the most common dengue vector. The geographic
distribution of dengue is similar to malaria but more frequently
associated to urban areas.
Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute
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