Faculty Profile

Vanessa Macias

Title
Assistant Professor
Department
Biological Sciences
College
College of Science

    

    

      


                          

            
Curriculum Vitae

            

              Click Here to View Faculty CV
            

          

        
                          

            
Education

            



  

  


  
PhD, University of California, Irvine, 2015. 
Major: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
MS, New Mexico State University, 2010. 
Major: Biology
BS, New Mexico State University, 2007. 
Major: Microbiology





          

        
                

          
Current Scheduled Teaching*


          
BIOL 3770.001, Biotechnology, Spring 2024 Syllabus
BIOL 6940.739, Individual Research, Spring 2024 
BIOC 5950.739, Master's Thesis, Spring 2024 
BIOL 4900.739, Special Problems, Spring 2024 


          
*
  Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of
  higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for
  undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.
  

        

      

    

  


    

    

      


        


          


            
Previous Scheduled Teaching*


            
                    

                    BIOL 4460.001, Eukaryotic Genetics, Fall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
                    

                    BIOL 5460.001, Eukaryotic Genetics, Fall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
                    

                    BIOL 3996.739, Honors College Mentored Research Experience, Fall 2023 
                    

                    BIOL 6940.739, Individual Research, Fall 2023 
                    

                    BIOC 5950.739, Master's Thesis, Fall 2023 
                    

                    BIOL 4900.739, Special Problems, Summer 5W1 2023 
                    

                    BIOL 3770.001, Biotechnology, Spring 2023 Syllabus SPOT
                    

                    BIOL 6940.739, Individual Research, Spring 2023 
                    

                    BIOC 5950.739, Master's Thesis, Spring 2023 
                    

                    BIOL 4460.001, Eukaryotic Genetics, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
                    

                    BIOL 5460.001, Eukaryotic Genetics, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
                    

                    BIOL 6940.739, Individual Research, Fall 2022 
                    

                    BIOL 3770.001, Biotechnology, Spring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
                    

                    BIOL 6940.739, Individual Research, Spring 2022 

          


          
*
  Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of
  higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for
  undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.
  

        

      

    

  

  
  	

	

	  

		

		   
Published Publications



  

  
Published Intellectual Contributions


  
Book Chapter
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
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. 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), . 



	
		
		
	  

	

	

  
    
	

	

	  

		

		   
Awarded Grants



  
  
  	  
          
Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research  

 	 
	 	 
  
Grant - Research   
Ayre, B. G., 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. (September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2027).
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. (June 1, 2023 – August 30, 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. (June 27, 2022 – May 2023).



	
		
		
	  

	

	

	
	

  
  
  

  	

		

		,  
			
				

					
					Overall
Summative Rating		
					Challenge and
Engagement Index		
					Response Rate
					
				

			
			
				

					
					
out of 5		
					
out of 7		
					%
 of 
students responded		
					
					
				

			
		


		
    
			
  • Overall Summative Rating (median):
    
			This rating represents the combined responses of students to the four global summative items and is presented to provide an overall index of the class’s quality. Overall summative statements include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 5 = Excellent, 3 = Good, and 1= Very poor):
				
      
					
    • The course as a whole was
      • 
					
    • The course content was
      • 
					
    • The instructor’s contribution to the course was
      • 
					
    • The instructor’s effectiveness in teaching the subject matter was
      • 
				
    
			
    • 
			
  • Challenge and Engagement Index:
    
			This rating combines student responses to several SPOT items relating to how academically challenging students found the course to be and how engaged they were. Challenge and Engagement Index items include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 7 = Much higher, 4 = Average, and 1 = Much lower):
				
      
					
    • Do you expect your grade in this course to be
      • 
					
    • The intellectual challenge presented was
      • 
					
    • The amount of effort you put into this course was
      • 
					
    • The amount of effort to succeed in this course was
      • 
					
    • Your involvement in course (doing assignments, attending classes, etc.) was
      • 
				
    
			
    • 
		

		CLOSE