Texas Tech University

Corey Brelsfoard, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences

Email: corey.brelsfoard@ttu.edu

Phone: 1 (806) 834-3240

Education:

  • Postdoc, Yale University (2010)
  • Ph.D., University of Kentucky (2009)
  • M.S., Eastern Illinois University (2005)
  • B.S., Eastern Illinois University (2003)

Web Links:

Corey Brelsfoard

Research Interests:

The Brelsfoard laboratory integrates ecology, genetics, and other molecular tools to address questions related to the control of arthropods that vector disease and the pathogens they transmit. 

Specifically, I am interested in understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of novel forms of vector control.  These novel forms of vector control include newly developed insecticide formulations and application techniques, microbial and geneticbased population suppression, and replacement programs.

My lab is also asking questions related to male mosquito biology and ecology including: How long do males survive in the field? How far do they disperse, where and what do they feed on?  Where do they go after adult emergence?

I am also interested in gaining a greater understanding of microbial interactions with insect hosts and how those interactions influence the microbial and host genomes.   Particularly, how microbes can alter arthropod host phenotype and impact pathogen transmission.

Selected Publications:

Mains, J.W., Brelsfoard C, Rose, R.I., Dobson S.L.  2016.  Female adult Aedes albopictus suppression by Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes. Sci. Rep. 6.

Mains, J. W., C. L. Brelsofard, S. L. Dobson.  2015.  Male mosquitoes as vehicles for insecticide.  PLoS Negl Trop. Dis. 9: e0003406.

International Glossina Genome Initiative (IGGI). 2014. Genome Sequence of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina morsitans): Vector of African Trypanosomiasis. Science  25 April: 380-386.

Brelsfoard, C. L., G. Tsiamis, M. Falchetto, L. M. Gomulski, E. Telleria, U. Alam, E. Doudoumis, F. Scolari, M. Swain, P. Takac, A. R. Malacrida, K. Bourtzis, S. Aksoy.  2014. Presence ofextensive Wolbachia symbiont insertions discovered in the genome of its host Glossina morsitans morsitans.  PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 8: e2728.

Mains, J. M., C. L. Brelsfoard, P. Crain, S. L. Dobson. 2013.  Population impacts of Wolbachia on Aedes albopictus. Ecol. Applicat.  23:493–501.

Symula, R. E., U. Alam, C. L. Brelsfoard, Y. Wu, R. Echodu, L. M. Okedi, S. Aksoy, A. Caccone. 2013.  Wolbachia association with the tsetse fly, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, reveals high levels of genetic diversity and complex evolutionary dynamics. BMC Evol Biol. Feb 5;13:31.

Wang, J., C. L. Brelsfoard, Y. Wu, S. Aksoy.  2013.  Intercommunity effects on microbiome and GpSGHV density regulation in tsetse flies.  J.  Invertebr. Pathol.  Mar;112 Suppl:S32-9.

Doudoumis, V., U. Alam, E. Aksoy, A. Abd-Alla, G. Tsiamis, C. Brelsfoard, S. Aksoy, K. Bourtzis.  2013.  Tsetse-Wolbachia symbiosis: comes of age and has great potential for pest and disease control.  J. Invertebr. Pathol. Mar;112 Suppl:S94-103.

Alam, U., C. Hyseni, R. Symula, C. L. Brelsfoard, Y. Wu, J. Wang, R. Echodu, V. Allioni, O. Kruglov, L. Okedi, A. Caccone, S. Aksoy. 2012.  Microfauna-host interactions: implications for trypanosome transmission dynamics in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Uganda.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  78(13): 4627-37.

O'connor, L., C. Plichart, A. C. Sang, C. L. Brelsfoard, S. L. Dobson.  2012.  Open release of male mosquitoes artificially infected with Wolbachia: field performance and Wolbachia containment.  PLos Negl. Trop. Dis. 6(11):e1797.

Brelsfoard, C. L. and S. L. Dobson.  2012.  Population genetic structure of Aedes polynesiensis in the Society Islands of French Polynesia: implications for control using a Wolbachia-basedautocidal strategy.  BMC Parasit. Vect. 5: 80. Apr 24;5:80.

Alam, U.*, J. Medlock*, C. Brelsfoard*,  R. Pais,C. Lohs, S. Balmand, A. Heddi, P. Takac, A. Galvani, and S. Aksoy.  2011.  Wolbachia symbiont infections induce strong cytoplasmic incompatibility in the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans.  PLos Pathogens. 7(2): e1002415.

Brelsfoard, C. L., S. L. Dobson. 2011.  An update on the utility of Wolbachia for controlling insect vectors and disease transmission.  Asia Pac. J. of Mol. Biol. Biotech. 19(3): 85-92.

Doudoumis, V., G. Tsiamis, F. Wamwiri, C. Brelsfoard, U. Alam, E. Aksoy, S. Dalaperas, A.  Abd-Alla, J. Ouma, P. Takac, S. Aksoy, and K. Bourtzis.  2012.  Detection and characterization of Wolbachia infections in laboratory and natural populations of different species of tsetse (genus Glossina).  BMC microbiology. 12: S3.

Brelsfoard, C.L., and S. L. Dobson. 2011.  Wolbachia effects on host fitness and the influence of male aging on cytoplasmic incompatibility in Aedes polynesiensis (Diptera: Culicidae).  J. Med. Ent.  48: 1008-1015.

Department of Biological Sciences

  • Address

    Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 43131 Lubbock, TX 79409
  • Phone

    806.742.2715
  • Email

    biology@ttu.edu