Dr David Weetman

Reader

I graduated in Zoology (BSc) from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and in Ecology (MSc) from The University of Wales, Bangor. My PhD at The University of Liverpool was followed by postdoctoral positions in the Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Group at the University of Hull. I joined LSTM in 2006 working as a senior PDRA on IVCC and then NIAID-funded projects on the genetic basis of insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae. I was appointed as Reader in 2020.

Research 

My research focuses on control of vectors of human disease, particularly Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes. Work focuses primarily on studies of (a) insecticide resistance genomics, transcriptomics and development and application of diagnostic markers (b) vector population genetics and genomics to identify adaptation and barriers to connectivity and spread; (c) trials of vector control tools, including development and application of new monitoring methods. Current major projects involve trials of insecticide treated bednets in northern and south-eastern DRC (with the University of Kinshasa School of Public, INRB/PMI-VectorLink-Evolve, and other project partners), monitoring and trialling interventions to tackle invasive Anopheles stephensi in the Horn of Africa (CEASE programme), improving monitoring for dengue preparedness in West Africa, investigations of insecticide resistance mechanisms in African Anopheles gambiae (GAARD2 project), and Aedes aegypti from Brazil (Drivers project). I lead the Vector Research Support group at LSTM, which provides support and training in molecular techniques to external partners, with current projects involving support for trials of spatial repellent emanators in displaced persons camps in Yemen and Nigeria (in partnership with the MENTOR Initiative).

Teaching

I teach on various MSc and BSc modules at LSTM and am the MSc Vector theme lead.

 

Selected publications

  • Reid E, Deb RM, Ali A, Singh RP, Mishra PK, Shepherd J, Singh AM, Bharti A, Singh C, Sharma S, Coleman M, Weetman D. (2023) Molecular surveillance of insecticide resistance in Phlebotomus argentipes targeted by indoor residual spraying for visceral leishmaniasis elimination in India. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 17:e0011734.

    Lucas ER, Nagi SC, Yawson AE, Essandoh J, Dadzie S, Chabi J, Djogbénou LS, Medjigbodo AA, Edi CV, Ketoh GK, Koudou BG, Van’t Hof AE, Rippon EJ, Pipini D, Harding NJ, Dyer NA, Cerdeira LT, Clarkson CS, Kwiatkowski DP, Miles A, Donnelly MJ, Weetman D (2023) Genome-wide association studies reveal novel loci associated with pyrethroid and organophosphate resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.l. Nature Comms 14:4946

    Badolo A, Sombié A, Yaméogo F, Wangrawa DW, Sanon A, Pignatelli PM, Sanon A, Viana M, Kanuka H, Weetman D*, McCall PJ* (2022) First comprehensive analysis of Aedes aegypti bionomics during an arbovirus outbreak in west Africa: dengue in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2016-2017. PLOS NTDs 16: e0010059.

    Grau-Bové X, Lucas E, Pipini, D, Rippon E, van ’t Hof A, Constant E, Dadzie S, Yawson AE, Essandoh J, Chabi J, Djogbénou L, Harding NJ, Miles A, Kwiatkowski D, Donnelly MJ, Weetman D, The Anopheles gambiae 1000 Genomes Consortium (2021) Resistance to pirimiphos-methyl in West African Anopheles is spreading via duplication and introgression of the Ace1 locus. PLoS Genetics 17: e1009253.

    Weetman, D, Kamgang B, Badolo A, Moyes CL, Shearer FM, Coulibaly M, Pinto J, Lambrechts L, McCall PJ (2018) Aedes mosquitoes and Aedes-borne arboviruses in Africa: current and future threats. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15: 2. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15020220