Behavioral, microbial, and chemical cues guiding sand fly egg-laying
Official title: Behavioral, microbial, and chemical ecology of sand fly oviposition site selection
Funded at University of North Carolina Greensboro · NIH-11413461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how sand flies sense their environment and choose where to lay eggs, with the aim of turning those cues into a trap to reduce disease transmission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Greensboro NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greensboro, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $719,578 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180067-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include people living in or traveling to arid regions where Phlebotomus papatasi is present and at risk for leishmaniasis, though this grant is primarily vector-focused.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy volunteers or patients not in regions affected by sand fly-borne diseases are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi uses chemical signals, microbes, and bite-size behaviors to find host burrows and suitable egg-laying sites. It combines lab experiments and field studies to uncover how cues from the host rodent burrow environment attract gravid females and male flies. The work aims to translate these findings into an attractive lure and a potential lethal oviposition trap to control this disease vector. If successful, the approach could reduce transmission of Leishmania major in affected regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to a new, environmentally friendly trap that reduces sand fly populations and leishmaniasis risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work on vector-host chemical cues has informed new control strategies in other disease vectors, suggesting potential for success here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Greensboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wasserberg, Gideon — University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Study coordinator: Wasserberg, Gideon
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.