We use epidemiological and evolutionary models to address questions in human vectorborne disease. Alongside this we work on the ecology of the vector mosquitoes themselves.

Dengue

For example the four serotypes of dengue show a characteristic out of phase pattern in Bangkok, while the phylogenetic analysis of the data shows evidence of an immune interaction between the serotypes. We used models to show that partial cross-immunity was sufficient to cause the out of phase dynamics providing evidence for cross-immunity between dengue serotypes.
Adams, B., E. C. Holmes, C. Zhang, M. P. Mammen Jr, S. Nimmannitya, S. Kalayanarooj and M. Boots (2006). Cross-protective immunity can account for the alternating epidemic pattern of dengue virus serotypes circulating in Bangkok. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. 103, 14234-14239.

We had previously shown that the large difference between the dengue serotypes could be explained by antibody dependent enhancement on death.
Kawaguchi, I., A. Sasaki & M. Boots (2003). Antibody dependent enhancement explains coexistence in dengue sero-types. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 270, 2241-2247.

Further models look at the role of the mosquito transmission in dengue and fieldwork is being carried out in Pakistan and Thailand on Dengue vectors.

Malaria

We have also looked at the dynamics of Malaria in northern Thailand.
Childs, D.Z, Cattadori I, Wannapa Suwonkerd & Somsak Prajakwong, Boots, M (2006). Long-term patterns of Malaria incidence in Northern Thailand. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 100 (7): 623-631.

And built a dynamical seasonally forced model of the malaria that looks at reasons for the contrasting epidemic dynamics of malaria in Thailand and Kenya.
Childs, D.Z. & M. Boots (in Press). Seasonal Forcing, Immunity and the Dynamics of Malaria. In press at Royal Society Interface

Work on mosquitoes has looked at host fidelity in Japanese encephalitis vectors and more applied entomology on aedes.
Mwandawiro, C.S., M. Boots, N. Tuno, Y. Tsuda & M. Takagi (2000). Host choice in Japanese Encephalitus vectors in Northern Thailand. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 94, 238-242.