Vector Genetics Laboratory

Melina Campos and Anton Cornel collecting larvae by the side of the road in Príncipe

Anton Cornel is bit by the UCMI genetically modified mosquitoes for a filmed demonstration in 2021

João and Danspaid moving marked mosquitoes to the release point for the July MRR in the Água Grande district of São Tomé

2023 - Collecting jumping spiders in the UC Davis Arboretum for non-target experiments

The Vector Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis is dedicated to research and training in the areas of population & molecular genetics, genomics and bioinformatics of insect vectors of human and animal disease. We have developed a program aimed at expanding knowledge that may be applied to improving control of disease vectors and that also addresses problems of interest in the field of evolutionary genetics.

We are currently engaged in a range of projects, but our major research focus is on vectors of malaria in Africa.

The research programs within the Vector Genetics Laboratory are directed by Gregory Lanzaro, a professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology (PMI) of the School of Veterinary Medicine (VM) and Anton Cornel, a professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Undergraduate Research Program

The Vector Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at UC Davis carries out research and training in the areas of population and molecular genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics of insect vectors of human and animal disease. We have developed a program aimed at expanding knowledge that may be applied to improving control of vectorborne diseases, and that addresses problems of interest in the field of evolutionary genetics. The laboratory is directed by Dr. Gregory C. Lanzaro in the Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr.

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VGL Events & Activities

Recent News

Johns Hopkins – World Malaria Day Symposium flier

VGL at Johns Hopkins World Malaria Day Symposium

by Christine Handy Coleman
April 22, 2025

Dr. Lanzaro and Ana Kormos will be presenting this week at the Johns Hopkins World Malaria Day Symposium: Building better mosquitoes.

A man bends over a scale on the floor and uses a camera to take a photograph from above it.

Mosquito Photography

by Christine Handy Coleman
April 17, 2025

Photographer Mark Scott Unger is at the Vector Genetics Lab this week taking more photos and videos of our mosquitoes, spiders, and fish.

New VGL Publication

by Christine Handy Coleman
April 16, 2025

Publications

Congratulations to Dr. Melina Campos, Marc Crepeau and Dr. Greg Lanzao on the publication of their long awaited G3 paper! You can read the paper here: Defining the genetics of the widely used G3 strain of the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae.