Christos (Kitsos) Louis
Insect Genomics and Insect–Parasite Interactions
Following more than 20 years of research on dipteran insects, primarily Drosophila and Ceratitis, our research group has expanded its scientific focus to another important dipteran species, Anopheles gambiae, a mosquito vector of malaria. Alongside the study of this insect, the group investigates Plasmodium, the parasite responsible for the disease.
This scientific development represents a continuation of the group's experience in insect research, extending its investigations toward the biological relationship between a disease-transmitting insect and the parasite associated with malaria. The transition from research primarily involving Drosophila and Ceratitis to the study of Anopheles gambiae and Plasmodium has established a broader research direction combining insect genomics and insect–parasite interactions.
Main Research Areas
Over the last 15 years, the group's research has concentrated on two principal scientific areas: genomics and insect–parasite interactions. These two research directions constitute the foundation of its investigations and provide complementary perspectives on insect biology and the relationship between mosquitoes and malaria parasites.
1. Genomics
Genomics represents one of the group's main areas of research, building on its previous experience with dipteran insects and its involvement in genome-related scientific initiatives.
The group's genomic research is associated with the study of insect genomes, particularly those of Drosophila and Anopheles gambiae. Its activities are also supported by the infrastructure and sequencing capabilities of the IMBB Genome Lab, which provides a dedicated environment for genome sequencing and RNA profiling.
The group's participation in the European Drosophila Genome Programme and the Anopheles genome project reflects its involvement in collaborative genomic research initiatives.
2. Insect–Parasite Interactions
The second major research area concerns interactions between insects and parasites, with particular emphasis on the relationship between Anopheles gambiae and Plasmodium.
Within this research direction, the group's investigations focus specifically on the interactions between An. gambiae and Plasmodium in the mosquito midgut.
This particular research focus brings together the study of the malaria vector and its associated parasite within the mosquito's digestive system. It represents a central component of the group's scientific interest in understanding insect–parasite relationships.
Further information about these research activities is available through the group's current projects and recent scientific publications.
IMBB Genome Lab and Genomic Research Infrastructure
Kitsos Louis also serves as the acting Scientific Manager of the IMBB Genome Lab (IGL), a facility dedicated to genome sequencing.
The laboratory uses ABI 377 sequencing machines as part of its genomic research infrastructure. More recently, an RNA profiling system has been added to the facility, incorporating an Arrayer and an Array Reader.
The addition of these RNA profiling technologies complements the laboratory's existing sequencing infrastructure and expands its available capabilities in genomic and RNA-related research.
The IMBB Genome Lab has also been involved in major international genomic initiatives, including the European Drosophila Genome Programme and the Anopheles genome project.
Participation in the European BioMalPar Network of Excellence
Kitsos Louis and the research group participate in BioMalPar, a European Network of Excellence bringing together more than 40 European laboratories.
This network provides an international collaborative framework connecting research laboratories working in the field of malaria-related research.
The group's participation in BioMalPar forms part of its broader involvement in collaborative scientific initiatives related to the study of malaria parasites and their biological interactions with insect vectors.
Research Focus: Anopheles gambiae–Plasmodium Interactions
A particular emphasis of the group's research is placed on the study of interactions between Anopheles gambiae and Plasmodium within the mosquito midgut.
This research direction brings together the group's two principal areas of expertise: genomics and insect–parasite interactions.
By focusing on the relationship between the malaria vector and the parasite within the mosquito midgut, the group investigates a specific biological context central to its research activities.
The study of these interactions represents the principal focus of the group's work on Anopheles gambiae and Plasmodium.
AnoBase: An Anopheles gambiae Database
The establishment and maintenance of AnoBase, a database dedicated to Anopheles gambiae, received support from the MacArthur Foundation and the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).
AnoBase was developed as an accessible genomic information resource for Anopheles gambiae, allowing users to consult its information through web browsers.
The database represents an important component of the group's involvement in insect genomics and the development of accessible genomic resources.
Its establishment and maintenance were supported through the contributions of these international organizations and research programmes.
VectorBase: Genomic Resources for Insect Disease Vectors
Kitsos Louis's group also participates in the NIAID-funded VectorBase project.
VectorBase brings together databases concerned with the genomes of insect disease vectors, providing a shared framework for organizing and accessing genomic information related to these organisms.
The group's participation in this initiative complements its involvement in insect genome research and its broader interest in Anopheles gambiae.
Through its connection with VectorBase, the group contributes to an international project focused on genomic databases dedicated to insect vectors of disease.
Research Projects and Scientific Publications
The group's scientific activities extend across genomics and insect–parasite interactions, with particular attention to Anopheles gambiae and Plasmodium.
Additional information about the team's research directions, ongoing investigations, and scientific contributions can be found in its current projects and recent publications.
These resources provide further details about the group's work and its involvement in genomic research and the study of insect–parasite interactions.