Igor Sharakhov
· ProfessorVirginia Tech · Entomology
Active 1993–2026
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About
Igor Sharakhov is a professor in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech. His main research focus is on genomics and evolutionary cytogenetics of mosquitoes, which are vectors of human infectious diseases. He is interested in understanding the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying mosquito evolution, adaptation, and reproduction. His laboratory develops and applies cytogenetic and genomic tools to study these mechanisms and infer historical relationships among species. His work addresses issues related to the rapid spread of infectious diseases and aims to lay the foundation for novel genome-based vector control strategies. Sharakhov's research includes studying the three-dimensional organization of chromosomes in cell nuclei of fruit flies and mosquitoes, employing interdisciplinary approaches combining experimental and computational methods. He investigates genome rearrangements, chromosomal evolution, and the functional effects of chromosome-nuclear envelope interactions, with implications for gene regulation and genome stability. His contributions include developing new genome assemblies and physical maps for malaria vectors, analyzing chromosomal rearrangements, and exploring the evolutionary relationships within the Anopheles gambiae complex. His work has provided insights into the role of sex chromosomes in mosquito evolution, the dynamics of chromosomal rearrangements, and the epigenetic factors influencing mosquito development and reproduction.
Research topics
- Biology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary biology
- Demography
- Ecology
Selected publications
Genome Research · 2020 · 167 citations
We analyzed whole genomes of 1142 individual mosquitoes sampled from the wild in 13 African countries, as well as a further 234 individuals comprising parents and progeny of 11 laboratory crosses. The data resource includes high-confidence single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calls at 57 million variable sites, genome-wide copy number variation (CNV) calls, and haplotypes phased at biallelic SNPs. We use these data to analyze genetic population structure and characterize genetic diversity within…
Molecular Biology and Evolution · 2020 · 116 citations
Bumblebees are a diverse group of globally important pollinators in natural ecosystems and for agricultural food production. With both eusocial and solitary life-cycle phases, and some social parasite species, they are especially interesting models to understand social evolution, behavior, and ecology. Reports of many species in decline point to pathogen transmission, habitat loss, pesticide usage, and global climate change, as interconnected causes. These threats to bumblebee diversity make our…
BMC Biology · 2024 · 29 citations
BACKGROUND: Understanding genome organization and evolution is important for species involved in transmission of human diseases, such as mosquitoes. Anophelinae and Culicinae subfamilies of mosquitoes show striking differences in genome sizes, sex chromosome arrangements, behavior, and ability to transmit pathogens. However, the genomic basis of these differences is not fully understood. METHODS: In this study, we used a combination of advanced genome technologies such as Oxford Nanopore Technol…
Epigenetics & Chromatin · 2023-05-30 · 23 citations
articleOpen accessBACKGROUND: Interactions among topologically associating domains (TADs), and between the nuclear envelope (NE) and lamina-associated domains (LADs) are expected to shape various aspects of three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structure and dynamics; however, relevant genome-wide experiments that may provide statistically significant conclusions remain difficult. RESULTS: We have developed a coarse-grained dynamical model of D. melanogaster nuclei at TAD resolution that explicitly accounts for four d…
Mosquito midgut stem cell cellular defense response limits Plasmodium parasite infection
Nature Communications · 2024-02-16 · 17 citations
articleOpen accessA novel cellular response of midgut progenitors (stem cells and enteroblasts) to Plasmodium berghei infection was investigated in Anopheles stephensi. The presence of developing oocysts triggers proliferation of midgut progenitors that is modulated by the Jak/STAT pathway and is proportional to the number of oocysts on individual midguts. The percentage of parasites in direct contact with enteroblasts increases over time, as progenitors proliferate. Silencing components of key signaling pathways…
Recent grants
Functional Effects of Chromosome-Nuclear Envelope Interactions
NSF · $907k · 2017–2021
NIH · $425k · 2011
Improving genome assemblies for species of the Anopheles gambiae complex
NIH · $440k · 2018–2022
Frequent coauthors
- 150 shared
Maria V. Sharakhova
Virginia Tech
- 44 shared
Robert M. Waterhouse
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
- 40 shared
Phillip George
- 37 shared
Jiangtao Liang
- 33 shared
Zhijian Tu
Wenzhou Medical University
- 32 shared
Gleb N. Artemov
National Research Tomsk State University
- 32 shared
Livio Ruzzante
University Hospital of Bern
- 32 shared
Silke Jensen
Inserm
Labs
Awards & honors
- American Committee of Medical Entomology
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Entomological Society of America
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