NEWVEC Update

EDITION 05: September 2025

What's new at NEWVEC?

A community update for those interested in vector-borne diseases in New England.

Entomological Society of America (ESA) names NEWVEC’s Allie Gardner as one of the 2025 professional award honorees.

ESA Awards & Honors recognize scientists, educators, and students who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to entomology. Award honorees will be showcased during Entomology 2025, November 9-12 in Portland, Oregon.

Fall Work-in-Progress (WIP) series begins Wednesday, September 10.

Every two weeks this fall we have a different expert taking an hour to talk to us about their work. Our fall series began on September 10 at 11:00 EST with Matt Cahillane and his work in tick education and public health in New Hampshire. On September 24th at 11:00 EST, Guang Xu will update us on his work with pathogens and anti-tick vaccines.

These talks are online, free, and open to the public.

Work-in-Progress Series

Tick Tip of the Month

Now that you’ve treated your clothes and boots with permethrin for fall, remember to use a repellent containing 20–30% DEET or 20% picaridin on exposed skin when outside. Make sure to check the instructions and reapply!

Tick bites are preventable. Carefully check for ticks and use repellents that contain DEET or acaricides like permethrin. Learn how HERE or download and print this flyer for your home or work space.

Have you found any ticks this year?

A bear takes a shower and checks for ticks in this infographic.

Complete our survey here.

New Outbreak Communications Toolkit from the CDC

The West Nile Virus (WNV) Outbreak Communications Toolkit was developed by CDC for state and local health departments to adapt and use in local communication about WNV outbreaks.

Find the toolkit HERE.

William Lee Science Impact Program (Lee SIP)

This summer Behanka Adonis (below, left) and Karen Bae (below, right) participated in the William Lee Science Impact Program (Lee SIP), a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at UMass Amherst. William Lee SIP Scholars are mentored directly by research faculty, work within a research team, and participate in professional development workshops. Both students presented their work in August.

In her own words, Behanka’s project goal was to “computationally identify and characterize selective small-molecule inhibitors with high affinity/ targeting Inosine 5’-Monophosphate Dehydrogenase (IMPDH) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in Borrelia burgdorferi while minimizing off-target effects on homologous human/mouse enzymes, through an in silico approach.”

Karen Bae presented her findings on spatial repellency. She spent the summer evaluating ethyl benzoate as a novel tick repellent. In her own words, “adult tick behavior was measured by quantitative activity parameters including movement, speed, peregrination, time/movement across four quadrants/zones when exposed to 30% ethyl benzoate formulated in isopropanol. Ethyl benzoate showed strong repellency with both species relative to absolute isopropanol-exposed controls. These results suggest that ethyl benzoate may be an effective repellent against a range of tick species.”

Community Outreach

Hadley Public Library and UMass’s own Science Stories hosts Dr. Rich on Friday September 19th. This event is free, open to the public, and will be available virtually. Register here, and learn more at sci-stories.org.

Dr. Rich holds a tick up to his face with fine-tipped forceps.

On August 5th, Dr. Rich presented “Envisioning New England After Lyme Disease” at the 42nd Annual School Nurse Conference in Manchester, New Hampshire. Watch the recording here.

Calendar

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