Vanessa M. Macias

Previous Scheduled Teaching

Published Intellectual Contributions

Book Chapter

• Gaul, C., Vijay, T., Heu, C., Macias, V.M. (2025). Manipulation of a new non-model insect genome using targeted CRISPR-era approachesManipulation of a new non-model insect genome using targeted CRISPR-era approaches. Methods in Molecular Biology - Insect Genomics. New York, New York, Springer Protocols.
• Dave, S., Patel, C., Heu, C., Macias, V.M. (2025). Adapting and Testing ReMOT control for expanded CRISPR-era genome functions in non-model insects. Methods in Molecular Biology - Insect Genomics. 336-385. New York, New York, Springer Protocols.
• Macias, V.M., James, A.A. (2023). Gene drive applications for mosquito control. Gene Drives and The Malaria Eradication Agenda. Jenny Standford Publishing. https://www.jennystanford.com/9789814968331/mosquito-gene-drives-and-the-malaria-eradication-agenda/
• Tarradas, G., Macias, V., Peterson, H., McKeand, S., Crawczyk, G., Rasgon, J.L. (2022). Receptor-mediated ovary transduction of cargo (ReMOT control): a comprehensive review and detailed protocol for implementation. Transgenic Insects-Techniques and Applications. (Second) 125-148. Boston, MA, CABI. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781800621176.0000
• Macias, V., James, A.A. (2014). Impact of genetic modification of vector populations on the malaria eradication agenda. Genetic control of malaria and dengue. 423-444.

Journal Article

• Lau, N., Macias, V.M. (2024). Transposon and Transgene Tribulations in Mosquitoes: A Perspective of piRNA Proportions. DNA Repair. Special Issue: DNA Organization in Model Organisms. 4 (2) 104-128. MDPI. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11286205/pdf/nihms-2005567.pdf
• Lima, L., Berni, M., Mota, J., Bressan, D., Julio, A., Cavalcante, R., Macias, V.M., Li, Z., Rasgon, J.L., Bier, E., Araujo, H. (2024). Gene editing in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus by Cas9-mediated ReMOT Control. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2 88-99. New Rochelle, NY, Gene Editing in the Chagas Disease Vector Rhodnius prolixus by Cas9-Mediated ReMOT Control. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/crispr.2023.0076?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
• Urakova, N., Joseph, R.E., Huntsinger, A., Macias, V.M., Jones, M.J., Sigle, L.T., Li, M., Akbari, O.S., Xi, Z., Lymperopoulos, K., Sayre, R.T., McGraw, E.A., Rasgon, J.L. (2024). Alpha-mannosidase-2 modulates arbovirus infection in a pathogen- and Wolbachia-specific manner in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Insect Molecular Biology. 33 362-371. Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12904
• Macias, V.M., Palatini, U., Bonizzoni, M., Rasgon, J.L. (2021). Lean into the Bite: The piRNA pathway as an exemplar for the Genetic Engineering need in mosquitoes. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.614342/full
• Macias, V.M., Mc, S., Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Hughes, G.L., Fazekas, A., Pujhari, S., Jasinkiene, N., Jamesa, A.A., Rasgon, J.L. (2020). Cas9-mediated gene-editing in the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi by ReMOT Control. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics.
• Pujhari, S., Brustolin, M., Macias, V., Nissly, R., Nomura, M., Kuchipudi, S., Rasgon, J.L. (2019). Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) mediates Zika virus entry, replication, and egress from host cells. Emerging Microbes and Infections. 8 (1) 8-16. Online, Taylor and Francis Online. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2018.1557988
• Chaverra-Rodriguez, D., Macias, V., Hughes, G.L., Pujhari, S., Suzuki, Y., Peterson, D., Kim, D., McKeand, S., Rasgon, J.L. (2018). Targeted delivery of CRISPR-associated endonuclease 9 (Cas9) into arthropod ovaries for heritable germline gene editing. Nature Communications. 9 (3008)
• Macias, V., Ohm, J.R., Rasgon, J.L. (2017). Gene Drive for Mosquito Control: Where Did It Come from and Where Are We Headed?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/9/1006
• Macias, V., Jimenez, A.J., Kojin, B.B., Pledger, D., Jasinkiene, N., Phong, C.H., Chu, K., Fazekas, A., Martin, K., Marinotti, O., James, A.A. (2017). nanos-driven expression of piggyBac transposase induces mobilization of a synthetic autonomous transposon in Anopheles stephensi.. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096517481730098X
• Gantz, V.M., Jasinskiene, N., Tatarenkova, O., Fazekas, A., Macias, V., Bier, E., , A.A. (2015). Highly efficient Cas9-mediated gene drive for population modification of the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles stephensi.. PNAS: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (49) National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1521077112
• Macias, V.M., Coleman, J., Bonizzoni, M., James, A. (2014). piRNA pathway gene expression in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi. Insect Molecular Biology. 5 579-86. Online, John Wiley and Sons.
• James, B.K., Qi, Y., Pledger, D., Macias, V., James, A.A. (2014). Maternal germline-specific genes in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi: characterization and application for disease control. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 5 (2)

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Fellowship

• Johnson, R.M. (Principal), Brackney, D. (Supporting), Macias, V.M. (Supporting), Page-McCaw, A. (Supporting), , R.S. (Supporting), "K99/R00 Pathway to Independence: Elucidating the processes mediating mosquito basement membrane repair and the implications on within-mosquito virus dynamics," sponsored by NIH, Federal, $1097175 Funded. (2025).

Grant - Research

• Root, D.D. (Principal), Bernardino, A. (Supporting), Ayre, B.G. (Supporting), McGarry, R.C. (Supporting), Shah, J. (Supporting), Dzialowski, E.M. (Supporting), Gu, F. (Supporting), Macias, V.M. (Supporting), Burleson, M. (Supporting), "COS 2025 Equipment Grant Program," sponsored by College of Science, Local, $78500 Funded. (2025).
• Ayre, B.G. (Principal), McGarry, R.C., Macias, V.M., Horn, P., Shah, J., "A Laser Microdissection System to Enhance Agricultural and Food Research in the North Texas and Southern Oklahoma Region," sponsored by USDA NIFA Equipment Grants Program, Federal, $341019 Funded. (2023 - 2027).
• Macias, V.M. (Principal), Baxter-Slye, J.L. (Co-Principal), Junker, J. (Co-Principal), Oluwadare, O. (Co-Principal), "Artificial Intelligence and the Classical Entomologist: Designing interdisciplinary pedagogy to revive an essential, but dying art-(Start date January 16th 2025)," sponsored by Learning Institutes, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2025 - 2026).
• Macias, V.M. (Principal), Lau, N., "Resubmission: Small RNA interactions with transgenes in genetically modified mosquito lines," sponsored by National Institutes of Health-National Institutes of Allergy and Infection Diseases, Federal, $466440 Funded. (2023 - 2026).
• Macias, V.M. (Co-Principal), Baxter-Slye, J.L. (Co-Principal), "Surveillance of Mosquitoes and Arboviruses Including West Nile Virus in the City of Denton during the 2025 Mosquito Season," sponsored by The City of Denton, Local, $25000 Funded. (2025 - 2025).
• Macias, V.M., Gregory, A.J., "Establishing effective protocols for microbial enrichment and metagenome sequencing for submission of the grant “Holobiont genomics for exploring the roles of small RNAs in mosquito-microbe communications” to NSF-EDGE-FGT," sponsored by AERI, University of North Texas, $10000 Funded. (2023 - 2023).
• Macias, V.M. (Principal), "Engineering novel piRNA biogenesis in the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti," sponsored by UNT College of Science, University of North Texas, $9000 Funded. (2022 - 2023).