Maria Sharakhova

About

Maria Sharakhova is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on mosquito genomics, cytogenetics, and population genomics, particularly in relation to disease vectors such as Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens complex, and Cx. tarsalis. She has been involved in sequencing, physical mapping, and genome assembly projects for various mosquito species, utilizing advanced genomic technologies like PacBio sequencing, Hi-C scaffolding, and optical mapping to improve genome annotations and understand structural variations. Her work aims to develop genome-based approaches for vector control by studying chromosomal rearrangements, evolution of sex-determining chromosomes, and the genetic basis of traits related to pathogen transmission and insecticide resistance. With a background in cytogenetics and genetics, her contributions include significant advancements in the genetics of disease vectors, providing foundational knowledge for epidemiological and vector control strategies.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Sociology
• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Computational biology
• Medicine
• Demography
• Internal medicine
• Zoology

Selected publications

• Improved reference genome of the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus

  Genome biology · 2020 · 138 citations

  BACKGROUND: The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is globally expanding and has become the main vector for human arboviruses in Europe. With limited antiviral drugs and vaccines available, vector control is the primary approach to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. A reliable and accurate DNA sequence of the Ae. albopictus genome is essential to develop new approaches that involve genetic manipulation of mosquitoes. RESULTS: We use long-read sequencing methods and modern scaffolding techniques…

  DOI

• <i>Nix</i> alone is sufficient to convert female <i>Aedes aegypti</i> into fertile males and <i>myo-sex</i> is needed for male flight

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2020 · 86 citations

  has great potential for developing mosquito control strategies to reduce vector populations by female-to-male sex conversion, or to aid in a sterile insect technique that requires releasing only non-biting males.

  DOI

• The chromosome-scale genome assembly for the West Nile vector Culex quinquefasciatus uncovers patterns of genome evolution in mosquitoes

  BMC Biology · 2024 · 29 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding

  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…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Adaptive genomic signatures of globally invasive populations of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

  Nature Ecology & Evolution · 2025-03-28 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access

  In the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti, adaptation to anthropogenic environments has led to a major evolutionary shift separating the domestic Aedes aegypti aegypti (Aaa) ecotype from the wild Aedes aegypti formosus (Aaf) ecotype. Aaa mosquitoes are distributed globally and have higher vectorial capacity than Aaf, which remained in Africa. Despite the evolutionary and epidemiological relevance of this separation, inconsistent morphological data and a complex population structure have hindered the…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Patterns of genetic differentiation imply distinct phylogeographic history of the mosquito species <i>Anopheles messeae</i> and <i>Anopheles daciae</i> in Eurasia

  Molecular Ecology · 2023-09-13 · 16 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Detailed knowledge of phylogeography is important for control of mosquito species involved in the transmission of human infectious diseases. Anopheles messeae is a geographically widespread and genetically diverse dominant vector of malaria in Eurasia. A closely related species, An. daciae, was originally distinguished from An. messeae based on five nucleotide substitutions in its ribosomal DNA (rDNA). However, the patterns of phylogeographic history of these species in Eurasia remain poorly und…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R21AI088035

  NIH · $433k · 2013

• Improving the reference genome assembly for the dengue fever vector Aedes aegypti

  NIH · $423k · 2016–2018

• A reference genome assembly for Zika vector Aedes albopictus

  NIH · $428k · 2017–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Igor V. Sharakhov

  150 shared

• Sergey Koren

  National Human Genome Research Institute

  46 shared

• Adam M. Phillippy

  National Human Genome Research Institute

  42 shared

• Zhijian Tu

  Wenzhou Medical University

  40 shared

• Andrey A. Yurchenko

  38 shared

• Atashi Sharma

  Virginia Tech

  31 shared

• Gleb N. Artemov

  National Research Tomsk State University

  26 shared

• Reem A. Masri

  Virginia Tech

  25 shared

Labs

• Maria Sharakhova LabPI

Education

• PhD, Genetics

  Institute of Cytology and Genetics

• Ms, Genetics

  Tomsk State University

  1987

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