Dr Francesco Baldini

  • Research Fellow (Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative Medicine)

Biography

Dr Francesco Baldini is a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. During his PhD in Medical Entomology in three international institutions (Harvard University, Perugia University, Imperial College London) he has determined key molecular factors that contribute to malaria mosquito reproductive success. He has also led the first identification of Wolbachia bacteria in Anopheles mosquitoes, a promising novel biological tool to control malaria transmission.

In October 2013 he has joined the University of Glasgow where he is investigating the ecology and evolution of life-history trade-offs in Anopheles mosquitoes and their impact on Plasmodium parasite interactions and disease transmission. The primary aim is to implement and sustain vector control strategies to fight malaria.


Research interests

Google Scholar

ORCID:0000-0002-5904-4070 

ResearchGate 

Mendeley

Twitter: @Baldini_Fra

Vector Biology and Disease Group: http://www.gla.ac.uk/vectors/

My research focuses on the ecological and evolutionary bases of Anopheles mosquito survival and other life-history traits in order to:

  1. determine their response to vector control;
  2. understand their impact on Plasmodium falciparum development;
  3. elucidate their modulation by endosymbionts;
  4. develop novel methods for a fast and accurate measurement of these traits in natural populations;
  5. sustain and implement vector control strategies.

 

Funding

  • AXA Fellowship (2015-17) Mosquito life-history responses to vector control measures and their implications for malaria transmission risk.
  • Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (2014-15) Analysis of the ecological and genetic bases of mosquito fitness in two major malaria vectors.
  • EMBO Fellowship (2014-2015): The role of insulin cascades in regulating the host-species dependent fitness and parasite transmission ability of malaria mosquitoes.

 

Recent publication

‌Evidence of natural Wolbachia infections in field populations of Anopheles gambiae. Nature Communications, 5: 3985 [open access]
Summary for non-specialists: Press release | Social Media Altmetrics‌‌


Grants

Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.

  • Mosquito life-history responses to vector control measures and their implications for malaria transmission
    AXA Research Fund
    2015 - 2017
     
  • Analysis of the ecological and genetic bases of mosquito fitness in two major malaria vectors (ISSF Fellowship)
    Wellcome Trust
    2014 - 2015
     

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2009 | 2008
Number of items: 18.

2019

Maia, M. F., Kapulu, M., Muthui, M., Wagah, M. G., Ferguson, H. M. , Dowell, F. E., Baldini, F. and Ranford-Cartwright, L. (2019) Detection of Plasmodium falciparum infected Anopheles gambiae using near-infrared spectroscopy. Malaria Journal, (Accepted for Publication)

2018

Baldini, F. , Rougé, J., Kreppel, K., Mkandawile, G., Mapua, S. A., Sikulu-Lord, M., Ferguson, H. , Govella, N. and Okumu, F. O. (2018) First report of natural Wolbachia infection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis in Tanzania. Parasites and Vectors, 11, 635. (doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3249-y) (PMID:30545384) (PMCID:PMC6293665)

Ohm, J. R., Baldini, F. , Barreaux, P., Lefevre, T., Lynch, P. A., Suh, E., Whitehead, S. A. and Thomas, M. B. (2018) Rethinking the extrinsic incubation period of malaria parasites. Parasites and Vectors, 11, 178. (doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2761-4) (PMID:29530073) (PMCID:PMC5848458)

Woodford, L., Bianco, G., Ivanova, Y., Dale, M., Elmer, K. , Rae, F., Larcombe, S. D., Helm, B., Ferguson, H. M. and Baldini, F. (2018) Vector species-specific association between natural Wolbachia infections and avian malaria in black fly populations. Scientific Reports, 8, 4188. (doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22550-z) (PMID:29520067)

2017

Capilla-Lasheras, P., Dominoni, D. M., Babayan, S. A. , O'Shaughnessy, P. J. , Mladenova, M., Woodford, L., Pollock, C. J., Barr, T., Baldini, F. and Helm, B. (2017) Elevated immune gene expression is associated with poor reproductive success of urban blue tits. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5, 64. (doi:10.3389/fevo.2017.00064)

2016

Shaw, W. R., Marcenac, P., Childs, L. M., Buckee, C. O., Baldini, F. , Sawadogo, S. P., Dabire, R. K., Diabaté, A. and Catteruccia, F. (2016) Wolbachia infections in natural Anopheles populations affect egg laying and negatively correlate with Plasmodium development. Nature Communications, 7, 11772. (doi:10.1038/ncomms11772) (PMID:27243367) (PMCID:PMC4895022)

Segata, N., Baldini, F. , Pompon, J., Garrett, W. S., TinTruong, D., Dabiré, R. K., Diabaté, A., Levashina, E. and Catteruccia, F. (2016) The reproductive tracts of two malaria vectors are populated by a core microbiome and by gender- and swarm-enriched microbial biomarkers. Scientific Reports, 6, 24207. (doi:10.1038/srep24207) (PMID:27086581) (PMCID:PMC4834568)

2014

Gabrieli, P., Kakani, E. G., Mitchell, S. N., Mameli, E., Want, E. J., Mariezcurrena Anton, A., Serrao, A., Baldini, F. and Catteruccia, F. (2014) Sexual transfer of the steroid hormone 20E induces the postmating switch inAnopheles gambiae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(46), pp. 16353-16358. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1410488111) (PMID:25368171) (PMCID:PMC4246312)

Baldini, F. , Segata, N., Pompon, J., Marcenac, P., Shaw, W. R., Dabiré, R. K., Diabaté, A., Levashina, E. A. and Catteruccia, F. (2014) Evidence of natural Wolbachia infections in field populations of Anopheles gambiae. Nature Communications, 5, 3985. (doi:10.1038/ncomms4985) (PMID:24905191) (PMCID:PMC4059924)

Shaw, W. R., Teodori, E., Mitchell, S. N., Baldini, F. , Gabrieli, P., Rogers, D. W. and Catteruccia, F. (2014) Mating activates the heme peroxidase HPX15 in the sperm storage organ to ensure fertility in Anopheles gambiae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(16), pp. 5854-5859. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1401715111) (PMID:24711401) (PMCID:PMC4000814)

Languino, L. R. et al. (2014) Theranostic properties of a survivin-directed molecular beacon in human melanoma cells. PLoS ONE, 9(12), e114588. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114588) (PMID:25501971) (PMCID:PMC4263748)

2013

Baldini, F. , Gabrieli, P., South, A., Valim, C., Mancini, F. and Catteruccia, F. (2013) The interaction between a sexually transferred steroid hormone and a female protein regulates oogenesis in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae. PLoS Biology, 11(10), e1001695. (doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001695)

2012

Baldini, F. , Gabrieli, P., Rogers, D. W. and Catteruccia, F. (2012) Function and composition of male accessory gland secretions in Anopheles gambiae: a comparison with other insect vectors of infectious diseases. Pathogens and Global Health, 106(2), pp. 82-93. (doi:10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000016) (PMID:22943543)

2011

Mancini, E. et al. (2011) Molecular characterization and evolution of a gene family encoding male-specific reproductive proteins in the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11(292), (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-292)

Mancini, E. et al. (2011) Molecular evolution of a gene cluster of serine proteases expressed in the Anopheles gambiae female reproductive tract. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11(72), (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-72)

2009

Biocca, S., Falconi, M., Filesi, I., Baldini, F. , Vecchione, L., Mango, R., Romeo, F., Federici, G., Desideri, A. and Novelli, G. (2009) Functional analysis and molecular dynamics simulation of LOX-1 K167N polymorphism reveal alteration of receptor activity. PLoS ONE, 4(2), e4648. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004648) (PMID:19247493) (PMCID:PMC2645694)

Rogers, D.W., Baldini, F. , Battaglia, F., Panico, M., Dell, A., Morris, H.R. and Catteruccia, F. (2009) Transglutaminase-mediated semen coagulation controls sperm storage in the malaria mosquito. PLoS Biology, 7(12), e1000272. (doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000272)

2008

Biocca, S. et al. (2008) The splice variant LOXIN inhibits LOX-1 receptor function through hetero-oligomerization. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 44(3), pp. 561-570. (doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2007.11.017)

This list was generated on Fri Mar 22 15:22:28 2019 GMT.
Jump to: Articles
Number of items: 18.

Articles

Maia, M. F., Kapulu, M., Muthui, M., Wagah, M. G., Ferguson, H. M. , Dowell, F. E., Baldini, F. and Ranford-Cartwright, L. (2019) Detection of Plasmodium falciparum infected Anopheles gambiae using near-infrared spectroscopy. Malaria Journal, (Accepted for Publication)

Baldini, F. , Rougé, J., Kreppel, K., Mkandawile, G., Mapua, S. A., Sikulu-Lord, M., Ferguson, H. , Govella, N. and Okumu, F. O. (2018) First report of natural Wolbachia infection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis in Tanzania. Parasites and Vectors, 11, 635. (doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3249-y) (PMID:30545384) (PMCID:PMC6293665)

Ohm, J. R., Baldini, F. , Barreaux, P., Lefevre, T., Lynch, P. A., Suh, E., Whitehead, S. A. and Thomas, M. B. (2018) Rethinking the extrinsic incubation period of malaria parasites. Parasites and Vectors, 11, 178. (doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2761-4) (PMID:29530073) (PMCID:PMC5848458)

Woodford, L., Bianco, G., Ivanova, Y., Dale, M., Elmer, K. , Rae, F., Larcombe, S. D., Helm, B., Ferguson, H. M. and Baldini, F. (2018) Vector species-specific association between natural Wolbachia infections and avian malaria in black fly populations. Scientific Reports, 8, 4188. (doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22550-z) (PMID:29520067)

Capilla-Lasheras, P., Dominoni, D. M., Babayan, S. A. , O'Shaughnessy, P. J. , Mladenova, M., Woodford, L., Pollock, C. J., Barr, T., Baldini, F. and Helm, B. (2017) Elevated immune gene expression is associated with poor reproductive success of urban blue tits. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5, 64. (doi:10.3389/fevo.2017.00064)

Shaw, W. R., Marcenac, P., Childs, L. M., Buckee, C. O., Baldini, F. , Sawadogo, S. P., Dabire, R. K., Diabaté, A. and Catteruccia, F. (2016) Wolbachia infections in natural Anopheles populations affect egg laying and negatively correlate with Plasmodium development. Nature Communications, 7, 11772. (doi:10.1038/ncomms11772) (PMID:27243367) (PMCID:PMC4895022)

Segata, N., Baldini, F. , Pompon, J., Garrett, W. S., TinTruong, D., Dabiré, R. K., Diabaté, A., Levashina, E. and Catteruccia, F. (2016) The reproductive tracts of two malaria vectors are populated by a core microbiome and by gender- and swarm-enriched microbial biomarkers. Scientific Reports, 6, 24207. (doi:10.1038/srep24207) (PMID:27086581) (PMCID:PMC4834568)

Gabrieli, P., Kakani, E. G., Mitchell, S. N., Mameli, E., Want, E. J., Mariezcurrena Anton, A., Serrao, A., Baldini, F. and Catteruccia, F. (2014) Sexual transfer of the steroid hormone 20E induces the postmating switch inAnopheles gambiae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(46), pp. 16353-16358. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1410488111) (PMID:25368171) (PMCID:PMC4246312)

Baldini, F. , Segata, N., Pompon, J., Marcenac, P., Shaw, W. R., Dabiré, R. K., Diabaté, A., Levashina, E. A. and Catteruccia, F. (2014) Evidence of natural Wolbachia infections in field populations of Anopheles gambiae. Nature Communications, 5, 3985. (doi:10.1038/ncomms4985) (PMID:24905191) (PMCID:PMC4059924)

Shaw, W. R., Teodori, E., Mitchell, S. N., Baldini, F. , Gabrieli, P., Rogers, D. W. and Catteruccia, F. (2014) Mating activates the heme peroxidase HPX15 in the sperm storage organ to ensure fertility in Anopheles gambiae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(16), pp. 5854-5859. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1401715111) (PMID:24711401) (PMCID:PMC4000814)

Languino, L. R. et al. (2014) Theranostic properties of a survivin-directed molecular beacon in human melanoma cells. PLoS ONE, 9(12), e114588. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114588) (PMID:25501971) (PMCID:PMC4263748)

Baldini, F. , Gabrieli, P., South, A., Valim, C., Mancini, F. and Catteruccia, F. (2013) The interaction between a sexually transferred steroid hormone and a female protein regulates oogenesis in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae. PLoS Biology, 11(10), e1001695. (doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001695)

Baldini, F. , Gabrieli, P., Rogers, D. W. and Catteruccia, F. (2012) Function and composition of male accessory gland secretions in Anopheles gambiae: a comparison with other insect vectors of infectious diseases. Pathogens and Global Health, 106(2), pp. 82-93. (doi:10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000016) (PMID:22943543)

Mancini, E. et al. (2011) Molecular characterization and evolution of a gene family encoding male-specific reproductive proteins in the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11(292), (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-292)

Mancini, E. et al. (2011) Molecular evolution of a gene cluster of serine proteases expressed in the Anopheles gambiae female reproductive tract. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 11(72), (doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-72)

Biocca, S., Falconi, M., Filesi, I., Baldini, F. , Vecchione, L., Mango, R., Romeo, F., Federici, G., Desideri, A. and Novelli, G. (2009) Functional analysis and molecular dynamics simulation of LOX-1 K167N polymorphism reveal alteration of receptor activity. PLoS ONE, 4(2), e4648. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004648) (PMID:19247493) (PMCID:PMC2645694)

Rogers, D.W., Baldini, F. , Battaglia, F., Panico, M., Dell, A., Morris, H.R. and Catteruccia, F. (2009) Transglutaminase-mediated semen coagulation controls sperm storage in the malaria mosquito. PLoS Biology, 7(12), e1000272. (doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000272)

Biocca, S. et al. (2008) The splice variant LOXIN inhibits LOX-1 receptor function through hetero-oligomerization. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 44(3), pp. 561-570. (doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2007.11.017)

This list was generated on Fri Mar 22 15:22:28 2019 GMT.


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