Dr Gareth J. Lycett

Lecturer

Gareth trained at Surrey University and LSTM and subsequently took post-doctoral and fellowship positions at the Institute of Parasitology, University of Rome (93-94), the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in Crete (96-00 and 2004-2006), and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany (2001-2004).

Research Interests

Gareth Lycett is a vector molecular biologist whose main interests are focused on functional genetic analysis of Anopheles gambiae. The topics explored include cellular and molecular analysis of mosquito/plasmodium interactions, developing tools for conditional expression in transgenic Anophelines, tissue specific regulation of gene expression in mosquito, and functional genetic analysis of insecticide resistance.

We have developed routine analysis of gene function in Anopheles gambiae through piggyBac transformation, PhiC31 mediated cassette exchange, Gal4/UAS, enhancer trapping and CRISPR/Cas9 methodology. 

 

Teaching

Gareth undertakes practical and small group teaching on vector biology in Undergraduate, Postgraduate Masters and Diploma Courses at the School.

BSc Module coordinator of LIFE359: Vector Biology: Theory, Research and Implementation that is run in association with Liverpool University

Supervision of MSc and BSc projects.

Students

Jessica Purcell (at Pirbright Institute: Luke Alphey supervisor). Genetic control of mosquito populations

Beth Poulton

Abadi Mashlawi

Past PhD students

Adriana Adolfi (University of California, Irvine) 

Nathan Dennison (Qiagen, Manchester) – Co-supervisor (PI - Jarek Krzywinski)

Chris Spencer (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) – Co-supervisor (PI - Mark Paine) 

Glauber Pacelli (U of Florida, Gainsville) Co-supervisor (PI Mark Paine) 

Previous Alumni

Amy Lynd (LSTM)

Dolly Amenya (Abbott-LA,USA)

Research Support 

Grants

MRC CASE Studentship (2017-2021) PI

Rapid, automated resistance detection in mosquito larva

AntiVec (2018-2019) PI Paine) 

Targeted disruption of the steroid hormone inactivation pathway in Anopheline mosquitoes for malaria control

Translational Support

Confidence in Concept, LSTM MRC 2017-2018: In vivo screening of resistance breaking compounds.

Proximity to Discovery, LSTM MRC 2017-2018 :High throughput larval behavioural screening

IVCC 2017-2018        Prospective liability of IVCC-5743 and back up compounds to metabolic resistance in An. gambiae

IVCC 2018 -2019       In vivo screening of novel compounds

Completed Research Support

Grants

EMBO Fellowship                                              1994                                        

“Analysis of trypsin expression in Anopheles gambiae” Short term fellowship to characterize trypsin promoter activity in mosquito cells and tissues.

BBSRC New Investigator Grant                      2008 - 2011                   

“Post Genomic, Functional Genetic Analysis of Parasite/Insect Interaction” This study is aimed towards the development of Gal4/UAS expression lines in A. gambiae for functional genetic analysis of innate immunity in relation to Plasmodium transmission, including tissue-specific gain and loss of function analysis of immunity genes. 

 (Co-PI) MRC/LSTM Research Studentship      (PI Kryzwinski)            2008 – 2011     

 “Developmental gene regulation in mosquitoes and genetic control of vector populations.”

This is an award for a PhD student to study sex-specific gene expression in A. gambiae mosquitoes.

Co-PI EU FP7 Collaborative Grant                  2008 - 2012                  

“Malaria Transmission Blocking by Vaccines, Drugs and Immune Mosquitoes: Efficacy Assessment and Targets”

WP leader on a project that examined gain and loss of function analysis of Leucine rich immune molecules in A. gambiae in relation to malaria blocking potential of transgenic mosquitoes.

Co-PI Wellcome Trust        (PI Kryzwinski)                                2010 – 2013                 

Functional genetic and transcriptomic analysis of male fertility in Anopheles gambiae

The study surveys the fast evolving genes expressed in An. gambiae testis using second generation sequencing and investigates their role in spermatogenesis using double stranded RNA-expressing transgenic mosquitoes.

Co-PI Leverhulme Project Grant   (PI Paine)           2012-2015

Molecular Characterisation of Anopheles gambiae Heme Oxygenase

The study characterizes the structure and function of heme oxygenase in the mosquito An. gambiae, with particular emphasis on its role in blood meal detoxification

PI         MRC/LSTM Research Studentship          2013 - 2016        

‘Functional Genetic Analysis of Insecticide Resistance in Malaria Mosquitoes’ A Ph.D. student award to examine gain and loss of functional analysis of specific insecticide metabolising genes in A. gambiae

Co-PI EU FP7 Grant         (Co-Ordinator  - G. Christophides)                     2011-2016

AvecNet: African Vector Control:New Tools” Work Package leader for the validation of insecticide resistance markers in An. gambiae as part of a large consortium of vector biologists developing and testing new tools for mosquito control. 

Co-PI MRC Grant             (PI – M. Bayliss)                                  2016-2017

Zika: susceptibility of vectors to infection and influence of temperature on the extrinsic incubation period”

Collaborative project with University of Liverpool examining Zika infection of different Aedes populations when challenged at alternative temperatures. 

 

Selected publications

  • Pondeville E, Puchot N, Meredith J, Lynd A, Vernick K, Lycett G, Eggleston P and Bourgouin C. Efficient phiC31 integrase-mediated site-specific germ-line transformation of Anopheles gambiae. Nature Protocols 2014 Jul;9(7):1698-712 

    Magnusson K, Lycett GJ, Mendes AM, Lynd A, Papathanos P, Crisanti A and Windbichler A: Demasculinization of the Anopheles gambiae X chromosome. BMC Evol Biol. 2012 doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-69. 

    Lynd A, Lycett GJ: Development of the bi-partite Gal4-UAS system in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. PLoS One 2012, 7(2):e31552. 

    Lycett GJ, Amenya D, Lynd A: The Anopheles gambiae alpha-tubulin-1b promoter directs neuronal, testes and developing imaginal tissue specific expression and is a sensitive enhancer detector. Insect Mol Biol 2012, 21(1):79-88. 

    Lynd A, Lycett GJ: Optimization of the Gal4-UAS system in an Anopheles gambiae cell line. Insect Mol Biol 2011, 20(5):599-608. 

    Blandin SA, Wang-Sattler R, Lamacchia M, Gagneur J, Lycett G, Ning Y, Levashina EA, Steinmetz LM: Dissecting the genetic basis of resistance to malaria parasites in Anopheles gambiae. Science 2009, 326(5949):147-150.