Name: Maria Angenica Fulo Regilme
Affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases
Position: Specially Appointed Researcher
Term: November 2022 – May 2025
Host researcher: Prof. Shin-ichiro Kawazu (English /Japanese)
At the NRCPD
Circumstances of application:
Months before my PhD graduation at Ehime University, I searched for postdoc positions related to my research interests. I came across a paper about mosquitoes. I emailed the author, who shared the job posting at NRCPD for a Specially Appointed Researcher. I applied, hoping to continue researching vectors of diseases affecting both humans and animals.
Research activity in NRCPD:
My research is about the population genetics of horseflies, Tabanus nipponicus, in Tokachi, Hokkaido. Using the mitochondrial cox1 sequences, high genetic diversity and past population expansion were found. The haplotype network showed 3 haplogroups wherein there are significant differences in the mean altitude between 2 haplogroups, along with high haplotype diversity and private haplotypes, suggesting limited gene flow, probably influenced by the environment and host-related factors. An understanding of the horsefly genetic structure is important in planning effective disease control strategies and in the assessment of possible movement of horseflies in farms.
Future prospects:
My research experience at NRCPD further motivated my interest in the genetic structure and movement of disease vectors, such as horseflies, to plan better vector control strategies. In my next journey, I will use all the learnings to pursue further research on entomology, focusing on the population genetics of the vector. In my little way, I hope to contribute to giving information for developing an effective vector-borne disease control program in both the veterinary and public health sectors.