Skip to main content

Vanessa M. Macias

Title: Assistant Professor

Department: Biological Sciences

College: College of Science

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae Link

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 4460.001Eukaryotic GeneticsFall 2024 Syllabus
BIOL 5460.001Eukaryotic GeneticsFall 2024
BIOL 6940.739Individual ResearchFall 2024

Previous Scheduled Teaching

BIOL 3770.001BiotechnologySpring 2024 Syllabus SPOT
BIOL 6940.739Individual ResearchSpring 2024
BIOC 5950.739Master's ThesisSpring 2024
BIOL 4900.739Special ProblemsSpring 2024
BIOL 4460.001Eukaryotic GeneticsFall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
BIOL 5460.001Eukaryotic GeneticsFall 2023 SPOT
BIOL 3996.739Honors College Mentored Research ExperienceFall 2023
BIOL 6940.739Individual ResearchFall 2023
BIOC 5950.739Master's ThesisFall 2023
BIOL 4900.739Special ProblemsSummer 5W1 2023
BIOL 3770.001BiotechnologySpring 2023 Syllabus SPOT
BIOL 6940.739Individual ResearchSpring 2023
BIOC 5950.739Master's ThesisSpring 2023
BIOL 4460.001Eukaryotic GeneticsFall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
BIOL 5460.001Eukaryotic GeneticsFall 2022 SPOT
BIOL 6940.739Individual ResearchFall 2022
BIOL 3770.001BiotechnologySpring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
BIOL 6940.739Individual ResearchSpring 2022

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)

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. (2023 - 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. (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).
,
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