VALIDATE Climate Change Seminar: Sand Flies - Tiny Insects, Important Challenge скачать в хорошем качестве

VALIDATE Climate Change Seminar: Sand Flies - Tiny Insects, Important Challenge

Sand flies are minute yet highly significant dipteran insects, as their females feed on the blood of various mammals, including humans and domestic animals, and can transmit several pathogens—primarily viruses and parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Sand fly-borne diseases remain neglected despite posing serious health challenges in endemic countries. Predominantly thriving in tropical and subtropical regions, sand flies are expected to expand due to ongoing climate change, potentially leading to the emergence of sand fly-borne pathogens in new and previously non-endemic areas. In this talk, Dr Suzana Blesić, Dr Vít Dvořák and Dr Iva Kolářová discussed the CLIMOS project, which combines active data collection on sand flies across 12 countries with predictive models to understand better current and future risks and the factors influencing them. The presenters explored the likely impact of climate change on sandfly distribution, and the consequent shifting of leishmaniasis endemicity, the impact on vaccine development, as well as their plan to provide an early warning system that will support effective policies and protect public health. About the speakers Dr Suzana Blesić is an Associate Professor of research at the Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, where she leads the Group for Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, and Physics of Complex Systems. With a PhD in theoretical statistical physics, her work spans climate modelling, complex systems, and biomedical engineering. She has held prestigious fellowships, including a Marie Curie Fellowship at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and has contributed to major EU-funded projects on climate change and health. Dr. Blesić has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and presented her research at more than 50 international conferences. Dr Vít Dvořák, PhD, is an assistant professor of parasitology and researcher at the Laboratory of Vector Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. His research focuses on the biology of blood-feeding insects, particularly sandflies, and their role in transmitting vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis. With extensive field experience across Europe, North Africa, and Asia, he specializes in sand fly ecology, molecular taxonomy, and epidemiology. Dr. Dvořák has led and contributed to numerous international research projects and has published extensively in the field of parasitology and vector biology. Dr Iva Kolářová, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Parasitology and researcher at the Laboratory of Vector Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. Her research focuses on Leishmania-sand fly-host immune interactions, sand fly saliva function, and leishmaniasis epidemiology. She has led and contributed to major international projects, including CLIMOS and EDENext, and has published extensively in parasitology. A dedicated educator, she lectures at Charles University and internationally and co-authored Of Parasites and Men, awarded the 2019 Magnesia Litera Award.