Sally Paulson

• BIOL 4664 Virology
• ENT/BIOL 3254 Medical & Veterinary Entomology
• ENT/BIOL 3264 Medical & Veterinary Entomology Lab
• ENT/PPWS 5624 Animal and Plant Biosafety and Biosecurity 
• ENT 6004 Urban and Public Health Entomology 

My area is medical and veterinary entomology and my 9-month appointment is 100% teaching. I teach Medical and Veterinary Entomology (lecture and lab) and Virology for upper level undergraduates. I also supervise 2 to 3 undergraduates in research projects each year. My graduate teaching responsibilities include teaching Urban and Public Health Entomology (50%), Field and Laboratory Methods in Vector-borne Disease Research (20%) directing M.S. and Ph.D. student research, and serving on graduate student committees. In addition, I teach Animal and Plant Biosafety and Biosecurity (50%) as part of the on-line Master's of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The most significant role played by mosquitoes in public health is as vectors of various pathogenic organisms. Understanding the biology of the vector is crucial to understanding the epidemiology of the diseases transmitted by these insects. A major focus of my lab research is La Crosse (LAC) encephalitis virus, the most common and important endemic mosquito-borne disease of children in the USA. LAC encephalitis virus has been on the move, expanding its range from the traditional upper Midwest distribution into the Southeast. To investigate the apparent emergence of LAC virus into areas of southwestern Virginia we are looking at various factors such as the role of newly introduced mosquito species in the transmission of disease and developing better methods to measure the rate of virus transmission in a location. Another research area is the development of novel insecticides. Insecticides are a major tool for controlling vector populations and reducing the transmission of pathogens. However, the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases is increasing globally in part due to the development of resistance in the vector to the insecticides being used. I am part of a research group that is using a state-of-the-art experimental approach called "in situ click chemistry" to develop a selective insecticide with low toxicity to humans. The resulting product(s) would then be tools in the antimosquito arsenal, providing viable alternatives to existing insecticides as part of a resistance management scheme.

Projects

• Emerging Foci of La Crosse Encephalitis Virus Activity
• Molecular Design of Selective Anticholinesterases for Mosquito Control
• West Nile Virus Surveillance

Personnel

Staff

• Gabbert, Sandra

Wage or Other Employees

• Jackson, Bryan T
• Troyano, Nancy M
• Wysinski, Anna

• Click Lambert, R., Resler, L. M., Kolivras, K., Brewster, C. C., Paulson, S. L. 2008. The potential for emergence of Chagas disease in the United States. Geospatial Health 2: 227-239
• Grim, D. C., Jackson, B. T., Paulson, S. L. 2007. Abundance and bionomics of Ochlerotatus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in southwestern Virginia. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. (in press).
• Jackson, B. T., Paulson, S. L. 2006. Seasonal abundance of Culex mosquitoes in southwestern Virginia. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 22 (2): 206-212.
• Youngman, R. R., Bloomquist, J. R., Hall, J. B., Paulson, S. L., Whittier, W. D. 2006. Agricultural Animal Pest Control: A Guide for Livestock Managers in Virginia (134 pp.). Va. Coop. Ext. pub. 456-215
• Jackson, B. T., Paulson, S. L., Youngman, R. R., Scheffel, S., Hawkins, B. 2005. Oviposition preferences of Culex restuans and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae for selected infusions in oviposition traps and gravid traps. J. American Mosquito Control Association. Vol. 21: 360-365
• Barker, C. M., Brewster, C. C., Paulson, S. L. 2003. Spatiotemporal oviposition and habitat preferences of Ochlerotatus triseriatus and Aedes albopictus in an emerging focus of La Crosse virus. J. American Mosquito Control Association 40: 403-410
• Barker, C. M., Paulson, S. L., Cantrell, S., Davis, B. S. 2003. Habitat preferences and phenology of Ochlerotatus triseriatus and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in southwestern Virginia. J Med. Entomol 40: 403-410.
• Barker, C. M., Brewster, C. C., Paulson, S. L. 2002. Geospatial and statistical modeling of mosquito distribution in an emerging focus of La Crosse virus. Proc Mosq Vector Control Assoc Calif 70:103—107.