Matt Thomas Ph.D.

The Thomas Lab Website
Detailed information on research and publications can be found at this website.

Department Focus Areas

• Ecological Applications
• Disease Ecology & Biology

Senior Research Associates

• Simon Blanford 
• Nina Jenkins

Postdoctoral Scholars

• Krijn Paaijmans
  
• Courtney Murdock (Biology)

Ph.D. Students

• Rob Anderson
• Katey Glunt (Biology)
• Becky Heinig 

Research Technicians

• Dany Kroczynski
  

Research

Our research explores many aspects of the ecology and evolution of ‘enemy-victim’ interactions with the aim of better understanding the consequences of global change (climate change, invasive species, biodiversity loss) and improving the effectiveness and sustainability of pest and disease management. We combine empirical and theoretical approaches to address issues of fundamental and applied significance.

Historically the research has centered around three main themes:

(i)  Ecology and evolution of host-pathogen interactions.

(ii)  Predicting and understanding the impact of invasive species (including non-target effects of biocontrol agents).

(iii)  Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; especially the role of natural enemy diversity in provision of pest control services.

Since moving to Penn State in January 2008, most of our research has focused on the first theme with a particular emphasis on mosquito-pathogen and mosquito-parasite interactions. As our lab becomes more established, we hope to broaden activities to consider other systems and the other themes.

Key questions include:

• How does environmental temperature affect host resistance and parasite/pathogen virulence?
• Can we exploit pathogens or parasites to alter the ability of vectors to transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue, and to develop biological pesticides that will not be undermined by evolution of resistance by the vector?
• Can biological pesticides be used to slow development of resistance of mosquito vectors to conventional chemical insecticides?
• How will subtle changes in environmental conditions (e.g. through climate change) affect ability of mosquitoes to transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile?
• What is the impact of invasive species and how can we combine ecological and economic insights to develop improved biosecurity practice?
• What factors determine the adoption (or often non-adoption) of novel pest control strategies?

Recent Publications

Lambrechts, L., Paaijmans, K.P., Fansiri, T., Carrington, L.B., Kramer, L.D., Thomas, M.B. & Scott, T.W. (2011). Impact of daily temperature fluctuations on dengue virus transmission by Aedes aegypti. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108: 7460-7465.

Rohr, J.R., Dobson, A.P., Johnson, P.T.J., Kilpatrick, A.M., Paull, S.H., Raffel, T.R., Ruiz-Moreno, D. & Thomas, M.B. (2011). Frontiers in climate change-disease research. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 26: 270-277.

Cook, D.C., Fraser, R.W., Waage, J.K. & Thomas, M.B. (2011). Prioritising biosecurity investment between agricultural and environmental systems. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 6: S3–S13.

Farenhorst, M., Hilhorst, A., Thomas, M.B. & Knols, B.G.J. (2011). Development of fungal applications on netting substrates for malaria vector control. Journal of Medical Entomology 48: 305-313.

Paini, D.R., Worner, S.P., Cook, D.C., De Barro, P.J. & Thomas, M.B. (2010). Threat of invasive pests from within national borders. Nature Communications 1:115.

Howard, A.F.V., N’Guessan, R. Koenraadt, C.J.M, Asidi, A., Farenhorst, M., Akogbéto, M., Thomas, MB, Knols, B.G.J. & Takken, W. (2010). The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana reduces instantaneous blood feeding in wild multi-insecticide-resistant Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in Benin, West Africa. Parasites & Vectors 3:87.

Paaijmans, K.P., Blanford, S., Bell, A.S., Blanford, J.I., Read, A.F. & Thomas, M.B. (2010). Influence of climate on malaria transmission depends on daily temperature variation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107: 15135–15139.

Farenhorst, M., Knols, B.G.J., Thomas, M.B., Howard, A.F.V., Takken, W., Rowland, M. & N’Guessan R. (2010). Synergy in efficacy of fungal entomopathogens and permethrin against West African insecticide-resistant Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. PLoS ONE 5(8): e12081.

Paaijmans, K.P., Imbahale, S.S., Thomas, M.B. & Takken, W. (2010). Relevant microclimate for determining the development rate of malaria mosquitoes and possible implications of climate change. Malaria Journal 9:196.

Kikankie, C.K., Brooke, B.D., Knols, B.G.J., Koekemoer, L.L., Farenhorst, M., Hunt, R.H., Thomas, M.B. & Coetzee, M. (2010). The infectivity of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana to insecticide-resistant and susceptible Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes at two different temperatures. Malaria Journal 9:71.

Paini, D.R., Worner, S.P., Cook, D.C., De Barro, P.J. & Thomas, M.B. (2010). Using a self organising map to predict invasive species: sensitivity to data errors and a comparison with expert opinion. Journal of Applied Ecology 47: 290-298.

Koella, J.C., Lynch, P.A., Thomas, M.B. & Read, A.F. (2009). Towards evolution-proof malaria control with insecticides. Evolutionary Applications 2: 469-480.

Farenhorst, M., Mouatcho, J.C., Kikankie, C.K., Brooke, B.D., Hunt, R.H., Thomas, M.B., Koekemoer, L.L., Knols, B.G.J. & Coetzee, M. (2009). Fungal infection counters insecticide resistance in African malaria mosquitoes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106: 17443–17447.

Paaijmans, K.P., Read, A.F. & Thomas, M.B. (2009). Understanding the link between malaria risk and climate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106: 13844–13849.

Darbro, J., & Thomas, M.B. (2009). Spore persistence and likely aeroallergenicity of entomopathogenic fungi used for mosquito control. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 80, 992-997.

Blanford, S., Read, A.F. & Thomas, M.B. (2009). Thermal behaviour of Anopheles stephensi in response to infection with malaria and fungal entomopathogens. Malaria Journal 8:71.

Read, A.F., Lynch, P.A. & Thomas, M.B. (2009). How to make evolution-proof insecticides for malaria control. PLoS Biology 7(4).

Bell, A.S., Blanford, S., Jenkins, N.E., Thomas, M.B. & Read, A.F. (2009). Real-time quantitative PCR for analysis of candidate fungal biopesticides against malaria: technique validation and first applications. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 100, 160-169.

Yokomizo, H., Possingham, H.P., Thomas, M.B. & Buckley, Y.M. (2009). Managing the impact of invasive species: the value of knowing the density–impact curve. Ecological Applications 19, 376-386.

Read, A.F. & Thomas, M.B. (2009). Mosquitoes cut short. Science 323, 51-52.

Hancock, P.A., Thomas, M.B., Godfray, H.C.J. (2009). An age-structured model to evaluate the potential of novel malaria-control interventions: a case study of fungal biopesticide sprays. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 276, 71-80.