Molecular population genetics of mosquitoes and biodiversity in Southeast Asia

Research on mosquito vectors of disease can have important applications to the control of diseases such as malaria and dengue. Population genetic studies of mosquitoes can also increase our fundamental understanding of interpreting genetic diversity in terms of random genetic drift, population history, selection and barriers to gene flow both within and between species. These research interests extend to encompass molecular evolution, conservation genetics and biodiversity in Southeast Asia.

Selected Publications

• Walton, C., Handley, J.M., Kuvangkadilok, C., Collins, F.H., Harbach, R.E., Baimai, V. and Butlin, R.K. (1999) Identification of five species of the Anopheles dirus complex from Thailand, using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Med. Vet. Entomol.13, pp.24-32.
• Walton, C., Sharpe, R.G., Pritchard, S.J., Thelwell, N.J. and Butlin, R.K. (1999) Molecular identification of mosquito species. Biol. J. Linnean Soc.68, pp.241-56.
• Walton, C., Chang, M.S., Handley, J.M., Harbach, R.E., Collins, F.H., Baimai, V. and Butlin, R.K. (2000) PRIMER NOTE: the isolation and characterization of microsatellites from Anopheles dirus mosquitoes. Mol. Ecol.9, pp.1665-7.
• Walton, C., Handley, J.M., Tun-Lin, W., Collins, F.H., Harbach, R.E., Baimai, V. and Butlin, R.K. (2000) Population structure and population history of Anopheles dirus mosquitoes in Southeast Asia. Mol. Biol. Evol. 17, pp.962-74.
• Walton, C., Handley, J.M., Collins, F.H., Baimai, V., Harbach, R.E., Deesin, V. and Butlin, R.K. (2001) Genetic population structure and introgression in Anopheles dirus mosquitoes in South-east Asia. Mol. Ecol. 10, pp.569-580.