معرفی
Shirley Luckhart is a Professor of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences at the College of Science, University of Idaho. She serves as Co-Director of the Institute for Health in the Human Ecosystem. Her research focuses on arthropod-borne infectious diseases, particularly malaria, with an emphasis on innate immunity in mosquito and mammalian hosts, transmission blocking interventions, and the impact of HIV/malaria co-infection. Luckhart’s lab has studied murine and non-human primate models of malaria for over 25 years.
Education: Ph.D., Rutgers University (1995); M.S., Auburn University (1990); B.S., University of Florida (1986). She holds dual appointments in Entomology and Biological Sciences, reflecting her interdisciplinary research on vector-borne diseases.
Research interests include regulation of malaria parasite development in mosquitoes, host immune responses to infection, and how host factors like histamine and serotonin influence vector behavior and transmission. Recent work explores metabolic pathways (e.g., coenzyme A biosynthesis) as targets for interventions. Her team also investigates HIV/malaria co-infection dynamics in Kenya, revealing how HIV alters malaria transmission potential.
Publications highlight breakthroughs in understanding host-parasite interactions, including cytokine roles in intestinal barrier integrity and the impact of environmental factors like histamine on mosquito feeding behavior. Awards include the Founders’ Memorial Award (Entomological Society of America) and recognition for mentoring.
Luckhart leads the Luckhart Lab, fostering global health research and training. Her work bridges basic science and community-driven solutions to combat vector-borne diseases, emphasizing equity in healthcare access and public health policy.
