Transgenesis and the Management of Vector-Borne Disease

by Serap Aksoy, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology (microbial diseases) (Springer) The author explains the reasons for the resurgence and spread of vector-borne disease. No effective vaccines exist for these diseases, and only limited therapeutic interventions are available to treat them in mammalian hosts. Aksoy describes the causes of the spread of these diseases, including habitat change, irrigation practices, atmospheric and climate change, insecticide and drug resistance and increases in global tourism, human traffic and commercial activities. The author also explores the potential of such molecular technologies as transgenesis in developing disease management strategies.