Professional Summary

Tereza Magalhaes, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Entomology. Her research and teaching interests focus on the determinants and drivers of arthropod-borne (or vector-borne) disease transmission. Through transdisciplinary and multisectoral networks, Magalhaes has been developing studies on mosquito-transmitted pathogens such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya and Madariaga viruses, that involve aspects of host-vector-pathogen interactions, disease epidemiology and ecology, virus emergence and re-emergence, and control and surveillance strategies.

Her projects engage basic and applied research and are carried out in the U.S. and Brazil, falling within at least one of the following areas: 1) Investigation of natural transmission cycles of unexplored arboviruses and their potential as an emerging threat; 2) Simulation of field host-mosquito- arbovirus interactions in the lab; 3) Epidemiology and ecology of arboviral diseases in endemic regions. The aim of her studies is to better understand the complex transmission dynamics of arboviruses so that improved prevention and control strategies can be designed. In the field, Magalhaes works closely with human populations affected by mosquito-borne diseases. Her work has led to high-impact publications and the acquisition of significant financial resources over the years.

Research Areas of Expertise

• Mosquito biology
• Host-vector-pathogen interactions
• Disease epidemiology
• Disease ecology
• Medical and veterinary entomology
• One Health

Selected Publications

1. Gil L. H. V. G. & Magalhaes T., Santos B. S. A. S., Oliveira L. V., Oliveira-Filho E. F., Cunha J. L. R., Fraiha A. L. S., Rocha B. M. M., Longo, C., Ecco R., Faria G. C., Furtini R., Drumond S. R. M., Maranhão R. P. A., Lobato Z. I. P., Guedes M. I. M. C., Teixeira R. B. C. and Costa E.A. (2021) Active Circulation of Madariaga Virus, a Member of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Complex, in Northeast Brazil. Pathogens, Vol 10, #983: 1-13. 983, https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10080983
2.  Magalhaes T., Morais C. N. L., Jacques I. J. A. A., Azevedo E. A. N., Brito A. M., Lima P. V., Carvalho G. M. M., Lima A. R. S., Castanha P. M. S., Cordeiro M. T., Oliveira A. L. S., Jaenisch T., Lamb M. M., Marques E. T. A., Foy B. D. (2021) Follow-Up Household Serosurvey in Northeast Brazil for Zika Virus: Sexual Contacts of Index Patients Have the Highest Risk for Seropositivity. J Infect Dis, Vol 223, #4: 673-685, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa563
3. Magalhaes T., Chalegre K. D. M., Braga C., Foy B. D. (2020) The Endless Challenges of Arboviral Diseases in Brazil. Trop Med Infect Dis, Vol 5, #75: 1-6, https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed5020075
4. Magalhaes T., Robison A., Young M. C., Black IV W. C., Foy B. D., Ebel G. D. and Rückert C. (2018) Sequential Infection of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes with Chikungunya Virus and Zika Virus Enhances Early Zika Virus Transmission. Insects, Vol 9, #177: 1-12, https://doi.org/10.3390/insects9040177
5.  Magalhaes T., Braga C., Cordeiro M. T., Oliveira A. L. S., Castanha P. M. S., Maciel A. P. R., Amancio N. M. L., Gouveia P. N., Peixoto-da-Silva Jr. V. J., Peixoto T. F. L., Britto H., Lima P. V., Lima A. R. S., Rosenberger D., Jaenisch T., Marques E. T. A. (2017) Zika virus displacement by a chikungunya outbreak in Recife, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, Vol 6, #11: 1-25, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006055