PreDoctoral Fellows (Graduate Students)

LJZlab Cumulative Averages (1999-2021)

4.6yrs; 4.75 publications/PhD

As of 2023, LJZlab is no longer accepting new PhD students

Luis Martinez, 2022-

Stephen T. Ferguson 2015-2021

BS: University of Colorado at Denver (2014)

Thesis Project: The Molecular Basis of Olfactory-Driven Eusocial Behaviors in Camponotus floridanus

Support: NIGMS RO1 (to LJZ); College of Arts and Sciences, teaching fellowship

Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Vanderbilt University

Publications:

Functional Characterization of Odorant Receptors in the Ponerine Ant Harpegnathos saltator. Jesse D. Slone, Gregory M. Pask, Stephen T. Ferguson, Jocelyn G. Millar, Shelley L. Berger, Danny Reinberg, Jürgen Liebig, Anandasankar Ray and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2017) 114 (32): 8586-8591. 8 August, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1704647114. Epub 2017 July 10.

Characterization of Chemosensory Responses on the Labellum of the Malaria Vector Mosquito, Anopheles coluzzii. Ahmed M. Saveer, R. Jason Pitts, Stephen T. Ferguson and Laurence J. Zwiebel., Nature Scientific Reports (2018) 8, 5656, doi:10.1038/s415-018-23987-y.

Odor Coding of Nestmate Recognition in the Eusocial Ant Camponotus floridanus. Stephen T. Ferguson, Alexandra R. Ruff, Kyu Y. Park, Isaac Bakis and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Journal of Experimental Biology (2020) doi:10.1242/jeb.215400. PMID: 31900348.

Stephen T. Ferguson, Anandasankar Ray and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Olfactory Genomics of Eusociality within the Hymenoptera in Insect Pheromone Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2^nd Edition, Richard Vogt, ed. Elsevier Press, 2020.

Mutagenesis of the Ammonium Transporter AcAmt Reveals a Reproductive Role and a Novel Ammonia-Sensing Mechanism in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. Zi Ye¹, Feng Liu¹, Stephen T. Ferguson, Adam Baker, R. Jason Pitts and Laurence J. Zwiebel. bioRxiv doi: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.29.428879v1.

Advances in the Study of Olfaction in Eusocial Ants. (Review), Stephen T. Ferguson, Isaac Bakis and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Insects (2021) 12(3), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12030252.

Discrete Roles of the Ir76b Ionotropic Co-Receptor Impact Olfaction, Blood Feeding, and Mating in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. Zi Ye*, Feng Liu*, Huahua Sun, Stephen T. Ferguson, Adam Baker, Samuel A. Ochieng and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 119 (23)e2112385119. Preprint: bioRxiv 2021.07.05.451160; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.05.451160

Zi Ye 2015-2021

MS: (Entomology) Auburn University (2015)

BS: China Agricultural University (2013)

Thesis Project: Ammonium Transporters in Anopheles coluzzii

Support: NIAID R21 (to LJZ); College of Arts and Sciences, teaching fellowship

Current Position: Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang China

Publications:

Heterogeneous Expression of the Ammonium Transporter AgAMT in Chemosensory Appendages of the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Zi Ye, Huahua Sun, Feng Liu, Mackenzie Barker, R. Jason Pitts and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2020 May;120:103360. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103360. Epub 2020 Feb 29. PMID: 32126276

Gene Editing Reveals Obligate and Modulatory Components of the CO₂ Receptor Complex in the Malaria Vector Mosquito, Anopheles coluzzii. Feng Liu^*, Zi Ye^*, Adam Baker, Huahua Sun and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2020 Sep 20;127:103470. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103470. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32966873, bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.13.094995.

Mutagenesis of the Orco Odorant Receptor Co-receptor Impairs Olfactory Function in the Malaria Vector Anopheles coluzzii. Huahua Sun, Feng Liu, Zi Ye, Adam Baker, Laurence J. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2020 Dec;127:103497. Doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103497. Epub 2020 Nov. 11. PMID: 33188923, bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.04.283424

Pleiotropic odorant-binding proteins promote Aedes aegypti reproduction and flavivirus transmission. Shengzhang Dong, Zi Ye, Chinmay Tikhe, Zhijian Tu, Laurence J. Zwiebel, and George Dimopoulos. mBio. (2021) Oct 12:e0253121. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02531-21

Adam Baker (MS student, 2019-2021)

David Rinker (2010-2015)

BA: College of William and Mary (1994)

Thesis Project: Comparative Transcriptomics of Disease Vector Mosquitoes

Support: Center for Human Genetics Research /NIDCD 1F31DC012991

Currently: Research Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University

Publications:

Functional Agonism of Insect Odorant Receptor Ion Channels. Patrick L. Jones*, Gregory M. Pask*, David Rinker and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, (2011) May 24, 108 (21): 8821-8825 published ahead of print May 9, 2011, doi:10.1073/pnas.1102425108.

Transcriptome Profiling of Chemosensory Appendages in the Malaria Vector Anopheles gambiae Reveals Tissue- and Sex-Specific Signatures of Gene Expression. R. Jason Pitts*, David C. Rinker*, Patrick L. Jones*, Antonis Rokas and Laurence J. Zwiebel. BMC Genomics (2011) 12:271.

Heteromeric Anopheline Odorant Receptors Exhibit Distinct Channel Properties. Gregory M. Pask, Patrick L. Jones, Michael Rützler, David Rinker and Laurence J. Zwiebel. PLoS ONE (2011) 6(12): e28774. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028774.

Novel high-throughput screens of Anopheles gambiae odourant receptors reveal candidate behaviour-modifying chemicals for mosquitoes. David C. Rinker*, Patrick l. Jones*, R. Jason Pitts, Michael Rützler, J. Gray Camp, Lujuan Sun, Pingxi Xu, Daniel Dorset, David Weaver and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Physiological Entomology (2012) 37, 33-41.

Blood Meal-Induced Changes to Antennal Transcriptome Profiles Reveal Shifts In Odor Sensitivities in Anopheles gambiae. David C Rinker, Ronald Jason Pitts, Xiaofan Zhou, Eunho Suh, Antonis Rokas and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2013) published ahead of print April 29, 2013, doi:10.1073/pnas.1302562110

Antennal transcriptome profiles of anopheline mosquitoes reveal human host olfactory specialization in Anopheles gambiae. David Rinker, Xiaofan Zhou, R. Jason Pitts, Antonis Rokas and Laurence J Zwiebel, BMC Genomics, 2013, 14:749. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-14-749. Epub 2013 Nov 1.

Divergent and conserved elements comprise the chemoreceptive repertoire of the non-blood feeding mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis Xiaofan Zhou*, David C. Rinker*, R. Jason Pitts, Antonis Rokas and Laurence J Zwiebel.
Genome Biology and Evolution 2014; doi: 10.1093/gbe/evu231

Highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquitoes. The Anopheles Genomes Cluster Consortium, David C. Rinker (of 125 authors), Science, 27 November 2014, doi:10.116/science 1258522.

Chao Liu 2009-2013

BS: Nanjing University, PRC (2008)

Thesis Project: Behavioral Analysis of Olfaction in Anopheles gambiae Larvae

Current Position: Vice President, Hangzhou Matridx Biotechnology, Hangzhou CHINA

Publications:

Distinct Olfactory Signaling Mechanisms in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Chao Liu*, R. Jason Pitts*, Jonathan Bohbot, Patrick L. Jones, Guirong Wang and Laurence J. Zwiebel. PLoS Biology (2010) 8(8): e1000467 doi:10.1371/ journal.pbio.1000467.

Structure-Activity Relationship of a Broad-Spectrum Insect Odorant Receptor Agonist. Robert W. Taylor, Ian M. Romaine, Chao Liu, Poornima Murthi, Patrick L. Jones, Alex G. Waterson, Gary A. Sulikowski and Laurence J. Zwiebel, ACS Chemical Biology (2012) August 27, (Letters) doi:10.1021/cb300331z.

Molecular Characterization of Larval Peripheral Thermosensory Responses of the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Chao Liu and Laurence J. Zwiebel, PLoS ONE, published 07 Aug 2013 | PLOS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.00725.

Odorant Receptor-Mediated Sperm Activation in Disease Vector Mosquitoes R. Jason Pitts*, Chao Liu*, Xiaofan Zhou* and Laurence J Zwiebel, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2014) ) 111 (7) 2566-2571, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1322923111. Epub 2014 Jan 29

Greg Pask 2009-2013

BS: Muhlenberg College (2008)

Thesis Project: Structure/Function of Anopheles gambiae Odorant Receptors

Support: NIDCD 1F31DC011989

Current Position: Assistant Professor of Biology, Middlebury College.

Publications:

Conservation of Indole Responsive Odorant Receptors in Mosquitoes Reveals an Ancient Olfactory Trait. Jonathan D. Bohbot*, Patrick L. Jones*, Guirong Wang*, R. Jason Pitts, Gregory M. Pask, and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Chemical Senses (2011) Jan; 36(2): 149-60. Epub 2010 Oct 18.

Functional Antagonism of Insect Odorant Receptor Ion Channels. Patrick L. Jones, Gregory M. Pask, Ian M. Romaine, Robert W. Taylor, Paul R. Reid, Alex G. Waterson, Gary A. Sulikowski and Laurence J. Zwiebel. PLoS ONE (2012) 7(1): e30304. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0030304.

The Molecular Receptive Range of an Enantio-selective Lactone Receptor in Anopheles gambiae. Gregory M. Pask, Ian M. Romaine and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Chemical Senses (2013) doi:10.1093/chemse/bjs074. Epub 2012 Sep 2.

Blockade of Insect Odorant Receptors with Amiloride Derivatives. Gregory M. Pask, Yuriy V. Bobkov, Elizabeth A. Corey, Barry W. Ache and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Chemical Senses (2013) first published online January 2, doi:10.1093/chemse/bjs100.

A Conserved Aspartic Acid Regulates Gating of the Insect Odorant Co-Receptor Orco. Brijesh N. Kumar, Robert W. Taylor, Gregory M. Pask, Laurence J. Zwiebel, Richard D. Newcomb and David L. Christie, PLoS ONE, published 23 Jul 2013 | PLOS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.0070218.

Patrick Jones 2007-2011

BS: College of the Holy Cross (2006)

Thesis Project: Structure/Function Relationships in the Olfactory System of Anopheles gambiae

Current Position: Research Scientist, Genzyme, Boston MA

Publications:

Novel high-throughput screens of Anopheles gambiae odourant receptors reveal candidate behaviour-modifying chemicals for mosquitoes. David C. Rinker*, Patrick L. Jones*, R. Jason Pitts, Michael Rützler, J. Gray Camp, Lujuan Sun, Pingxi Xu, Daniel Dorset, David Weaver and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Physiological Entomology (2012) 37, 33-41.

R. Jason Pitts 2007-2011

BS: Ball State University (1993)

MA: Indiana University (1998)

Thesis Project: Novel Chemoreceptors and Gene Expression Profiling in Antennae and Maxillary Palps of Anopheles gambiae

Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco TX.

Publications:

Yuanfeng Xia 2003-2008

BS: Beijing University, PRC (2003)

Thesis Project: Molecular and cellular studies of mosquito odorant receptors and olfactory-driven larval behavior

Current Position: Director of Assay Development, HD Biosciences, Shanghai, PRC

Publications:

Identification and Characterization of an Odorant Receptor from the West Nile Virus Mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Yuanfeng Xia and Laurence J. Zwiebel Insect Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (2006) 36: 169-176.

The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Olfactory Behavior in Anopheles gambiae Larvae. Yuanfeng Xia*, Guirong Wang*, Daniela Buscariollo, R. Jason Pitts, Heidi Wegner and L. J. Zwiebel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, (2008) Apr 29;105(17):6433-8. Epub 2008 Apr 21.

Tan Lu 2003-2008

BS: Nanjing University, PRC (2001)

Thesis Project: Mapping of Odor and Temperature Receptors in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Current Position: Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Houston TX

Publications:

Novel Olfactory Responses in a Gustatory Organ of the Malaria Vector Mosquito, Anopheles gambiae Hyung-Wook Kwon, Tan Lu, Michael Rützler, and L. J. Zwiebel, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2006) 103: 13526-13531.

The Ga Encoding Gene Family Of The Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae: Expression Analysis And Immunolocalization Of Gaq, Gas And Gao In Female Antennae M. Rützler, Tan Lu and L.J. Zwiebel, The Journal of Comparative Neurology (2006), 499:533-545.

Odor Coding in the Maxillary Palp of the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. T. Lu*, G. Wang*, YT. Qiu,* J.Y. Young*, M. Rutzler, H.W. Kwon, R. J. Pitts, J. J.A. van Loon, J. R. Carlson, W. Takken, and L. J. Zwiebel. Current Biology (2007) Sept. 18; 17(18): 1533-1544. Epub 2007 Aug 30.

Anopheles gambiae TRPA1 is a heat-activated channel expressed in thermosensitive sensilla of female antennae. Guirong Wang*, Yu Tong Qiu*, Tan Lu, HW Kwon, R. Jason Pitts, Joop J.A. van Loon, Willem Takken and L. J. Zwiebel. European Journal of Neuroscience (2009) 30: 967-974.

William Walker 2003-2008

BS: Michigan State University (2001)

Thesis Project: “On The Nature Of The Sensory Arrestins Of The Dipteran Insects Anopheles gambiae And Drosophila melanogaster”

Support: Department of Biological Sciences

Current Position: Assistant Professor, Swedish Agricultural University, Alnarp SWEDEN

Publications:

A Functional Role for Anopheles gambiae Arrestin 1 in Olfactory Signal Transduction. William B. Walker, Elaine M. Smith and L.J. Zwiebel. J. Insect Physiology (2008) April; 54(4): 680-690.

Catherine Elaine Merrill, 1999-2004

BS: Wake Forest University (1998)

Thesis Project: “Molecular, physiological, and behavioral characterization of sensory arrestins in insect olfaction”

Support: Program in Neuroscience/NIDCD 1F31DC05365

Publications:

Visual Arrestins in Olfactory Pathways of Drosophila and the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Merrill, C.E., Riesgo-Escovar,J., Pitts, R.J., Kafatos, F.C., Carlson, J.R. and Zwiebel, L.J. (2002) Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 99: 1633-1638.

Molecular Characterization of Arrestin Family Members in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. C. Elaine Merrill, R. Jason Pitts and L. J. Zwiebel, Insect Molecular Biology (2003) 12 (6) 641-650.

Odorant-Specific Requirements for Arrestin Function in Drosophila Olfaction. Merrill, E.C., Sherertz, T. Walker, W. B. and L.J. Zwiebel, J. Neurobiology (2005) 63(1) 15-28.

A Functional Role for Anopheles gambiae Arrestin 1 in Olfactory Signal Transduction. William B. Walker, Elaine M. Smith and L.J. Zwiebel. J. Insect Physiology (2008) April; 54(4): 680-690.

A. Nicole Fox, 1999-2002

BS: Southern Methodist University (1998)

Thesis Project: “Odorant Receptors in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae”

Support: Program in Developmental Biology/NIDCD 1F31 DC052264

Current Position: Senior Research Scientist, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts.

Publications:

Candidate Odorant Receptors from the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae and Evidence of Down-regulation in Response to Blood Feeding. Fox, A.N.*, Pitts, R.J.*, Robertson, H.M., Carlson, J. and Zwiebel, L.J. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA (2001) 98: 14693-14697.

A Cluster of Candidate Odorant Receptors from the Malaria Vector Mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Fox, A.N.*, Pitts, R.J.*, and Zwiebel, L.J. Chemical Senses (2002) Jun; 27 (5): 453-459.

G-protein Coupled Receptors in the Malaria Anopheles gambiae. Hill, C.H.*, Fox, A.N.*, Pitts, R.J.*, Hunt, L.H., Collins, F.C., Robertson, H.M. and L.J. Zwiebel, Science (2002) 298:176-178.

A Mosquito Odor Receptor for a Component of Human Sweat. Hallem, E., Fox, A. N., Zwiebel, L.J. and J. R. Carlson, Nature, (2004) 427:212-213.

A Highly Conserved Candidate Chemosensory Receptor Expressed in Both Olfactory and Gustatory Tissues in the Malaria Vector Mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. R. J. Pitts, A. N. Fox and L.J. Zwiebel, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, (2004) 101: 5058-5063.