Dr Francesco Baldini

  • Senior Lecturer (Host-Parasite Interactions & Pathogenesis)

telephone: 0141 330 2430
email: Francesco.Baldini@glasgow.ac.uk

Ri: Bahcm, Graham Kerr Building, room 303

Import to contacts

ORCID iDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5904-4070

Biography

Dr Francesco Baldini is a Lecturer 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 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. He has also been leading the developmet of a novel surveillance tool for mosquito populations. He is interested in endosymbiont-pathogen interactions in vectors, with a focus on malaria parasites and Wolbachia, both in humans and wildlife. The primary aim of his research is to implement and sustain vector control strategies to fight malaria and other vector-borne disease.

Research interests

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

  1. Determine mosquito life-history shifts in response to vector control.
  2. Understand Plasmodium falciparum-Anopheles interactions.
  3. Elucidate vector modulation by endosymbionts in human and avian malaria.
  4. Develop new surveillance tools for natural vector populations.
  5. Sustain and optimize vector control strategies.

 

Personal research website: https://francescobaldini.wordpress.com/

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

Twitter: @Baldini_Fra

ORCID:0000-0002-5904-4070

Google Scholar

ResearchGate 

Mendeley

Publons

 

 


Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2009 | 2008
Number of items: 25.

2023

Odero, J. O., Nambunga, I. H., Wangrawa, D. W., Badolo, A., Weetman, D., Koekemoer, L. L., Ferguson, H. M. , Okumu, F. O. and Baldini, F. (2023) Advances in the genetic characterization of the malaria vector, Anopheles funestus, and implications for improved surveillance and control. Malaria Journal, 22(1), 230. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-023-04662-8) (PMID:37553665) (PMCID:PMC10410966)

Mwanga, E. P., Siria, D. J., Mitton, J., Mshani, I. H., González-Jiménez, M. , Selvarajah, P., Wynne, K. , Baldini, F. , Okumu, F. O. and Babayan, S. A. (2023) Using transfer learning and dimensionality reduction techniques to improve generalisability of machine-learning predictions of mosquito ages from mid-infrared spectra. BMC Bioinformatics, 24, 11. (doi: 10.1186/s12859-022-05128-5) (PMID:36624386) (PMCID:PMC9830685)

Baldini, F. and Viana, M. (2023) Dried out but alive: how mosquitoes survive 8 months. Trends in Parasitology, 39(1), pp. 1-3. (doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.006) (PMID:36470782)

2022

Kahamba, N. F., Finda, M., Ngowo, H. , Msugupakulya, B. J., Baldini, F. , Koekemoer, L. L., Ferguson, H. M. and Okumu, F. O. (2022) Using ecological observations to improve malaria control in areas where Anopheles funestus is the dominant vector. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 158. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-022-04198-3) (PMID:35655190) (PMCID:PMC9161514)

Siria, D. J. et al. (2022) Rapid age-grading and species identification of natural mosquitoes for malaria surveillance. Nature Communications, 13, 1501. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28980-8) (PMID:35314683) (PMCID:PMC8938457)

2019

Mwanga, E. P. et al. (2019) Detection of malaria parasites in dried human blood spots using mid-infrared spectroscopy and logistic regression analysis. Malaria Journal, 18, 341. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2982-9) (PMID:31590669) (PMCID:PMC6781347)

González Jiménez, M. et al. (2019) Prediction of mosquito species and population age structure using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine learning. Wellcome Open Research, 4, 76. (doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15201.3) (PMID:31544155) (PMCID:PMC6753605)

Mwanga, E. P. et al. (2019) Using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine-learning to identify vertebrate blood meals in the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis. Malaria Journal, 18, 187. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2822-y) (PMID:31146762) (PMCID:PMC6543689)

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, 18, 85. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2719-9) (PMID:30890179) (PMCID:PMC6423776)

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) (PMCID:PMC5843599)

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)

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 Sun Sep 24 11:03:39 2023 BST.
Jump to: Articles
Number of items: 25.

Articles

Odero, J. O., Nambunga, I. H., Wangrawa, D. W., Badolo, A., Weetman, D., Koekemoer, L. L., Ferguson, H. M. , Okumu, F. O. and Baldini, F. (2023) Advances in the genetic characterization of the malaria vector, Anopheles funestus, and implications for improved surveillance and control. Malaria Journal, 22(1), 230. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-023-04662-8) (PMID:37553665) (PMCID:PMC10410966)

Mwanga, E. P., Siria, D. J., Mitton, J., Mshani, I. H., González-Jiménez, M. , Selvarajah, P., Wynne, K. , Baldini, F. , Okumu, F. O. and Babayan, S. A. (2023) Using transfer learning and dimensionality reduction techniques to improve generalisability of machine-learning predictions of mosquito ages from mid-infrared spectra. BMC Bioinformatics, 24, 11. (doi: 10.1186/s12859-022-05128-5) (PMID:36624386) (PMCID:PMC9830685)

Baldini, F. and Viana, M. (2023) Dried out but alive: how mosquitoes survive 8 months. Trends in Parasitology, 39(1), pp. 1-3. (doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.006) (PMID:36470782)

Kahamba, N. F., Finda, M., Ngowo, H. , Msugupakulya, B. J., Baldini, F. , Koekemoer, L. L., Ferguson, H. M. and Okumu, F. O. (2022) Using ecological observations to improve malaria control in areas where Anopheles funestus is the dominant vector. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 158. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-022-04198-3) (PMID:35655190) (PMCID:PMC9161514)

Siria, D. J. et al. (2022) Rapid age-grading and species identification of natural mosquitoes for malaria surveillance. Nature Communications, 13, 1501. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28980-8) (PMID:35314683) (PMCID:PMC8938457)

Mwanga, E. P. et al. (2019) Detection of malaria parasites in dried human blood spots using mid-infrared spectroscopy and logistic regression analysis. Malaria Journal, 18, 341. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2982-9) (PMID:31590669) (PMCID:PMC6781347)

González Jiménez, M. et al. (2019) Prediction of mosquito species and population age structure using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine learning. Wellcome Open Research, 4, 76. (doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15201.3) (PMID:31544155) (PMCID:PMC6753605)

Mwanga, E. P. et al. (2019) Using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine-learning to identify vertebrate blood meals in the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis. Malaria Journal, 18, 187. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2822-y) (PMID:31146762) (PMCID:PMC6543689)

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, 18, 85. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2719-9) (PMID:30890179) (PMCID:PMC6423776)

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) (PMCID:PMC5843599)

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)

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 Sun Sep 24 11:03:39 2023 BST.

Grants

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

  • Assessing the risk of insect vector-borne diseases in Scotland and their response to environmental change.
    UK Research and Innovation
    2023 - 2026
     
  • Expanding One Health research collaborations with USYD
    Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
    2022 - 2023
     
  • A novel approach to assess malaria mosquito biological age to accelerate the implementation of vector control in endemic settings
    Academy of Medical Sciences
    2022 - 2024
     
  • Infrared & AI to Diagnose and Quantify Onchocerca volvulus in Blackflies
    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    2021 - 2023
     
  • Advancing infrared and AI-based techniques for real time mosquito age-grading and evaluation of malaria vector control interventions in Africa
    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    2021 - 2025
     
  • Population biology and genomic studies of Anopheles funestus in Tanzania
    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    2020 - 2023
     
  • AI and InfraRed Spectroscopy to Accelerate Malaria Control
    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    2020 - 2021
     
  • AI-MIRS: An Online Platform for Malaria Vector Surveillance in Africa using Artificial Intelligence and Mosquito InfraRed Spectroscopy
    The Royal Society
    2019 - 2021
     
  • 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
     

Supervision

  • Casas Gomez-Uribarri, Ivan
    Investigating the interactions between ambient temperature, mosquito ageing and Plasmodium EIP
  • Cox, Mimi
    Identification of genomic components that predict the transmission of the malaria parasite
  • Johnston, Erin
    N/A
  • KAHAMBA, NAJAT FERUZI
    Dry season ecology of Anopheles funestus in Tanzania
  • Mshani, Issa Hassani
    Deep diagnostics: using IR spectroscopy and machine-learning to improve malaria diagnosis in LMIC
  • Mwanga, Emmanuel
    Using machine learning & infrared spectroscopy for rapid assessment of key indicators of malaria transmission
  • Odero, Joel Ouma
    Population biology and genetic structure of An. funestus

Teaching

Level 3 Animal Physiology, Behavioural Ecology

Research datasets

Jump to: 2022 | 2018
Number of items: 2.

2022

Siria, D., Sanou, R., Mitton, J., Mwanga, E., Niang, A., Saré, I., Johnson, P. , Wynne, K. , Murray-Smith, R. , Ferguson, H. , Gonzalez Jimenez, M. , Babayan, S. , Diabaté, A., Okumu, F. and Baldini, F. (2022) Rapid age-grading and species identification of natural mosquitoes for malaria surveillance. [Data Collection]

2018

Gonzalez Jimenez, M. , Babayan, S. , Khazaeli, P., Doyle, M., Walton, F., Reedy, E., Glew, T., Viana, M. , Ranford-Cartwright, L. , Niang, A., Siria, D. J., Okumu, F., Diabaté, A., Ferguson, H. , Baldini, F. and Wynne, K. (2018) Prediction of malaria mosquito species and population age structure using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine learning. [Data Collection]

This list was generated on Sun Sep 24 10:51:09 2023 BST.

Picture of Francesco Baldini