Dr. Doria F. Bowers Associate Professor R.N. Jackson Memorial Hospital (1978) B.S. University of Massachusetts - Boston Harbor Campus (1983) M.S. George Washington University (1986) Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin (1991) Post-doctoral Fellowship- University of Texas Health Science Center- San Antonio (1991-92) Joined UNF faculty in 1999. Sigma Xi, Jacksonville Chapter, President (2006-present) Office: 3/2240 Phone: 904-620-2830 Lab: 4/1260 Phone: 904-620-1955 Email: dbowers@unf.edu

Arboviruses are transmitted in nature by hematophagous insects and can result in human and/or veterinary infectious diseases. Infection of a mosquito host is prerequisite to biological transmission of such etiologic agents of disease. Currently, such infectious agents have an enormous economic impact in the state of Florida. Maintence in nature of arboviruses depends primarily upon horizontal transmission, a cycle whereby the virus alternately infects the vertebrate and invertebrate host. The genus Alphavirus, of which Sindbis virus (SIN) is the prototype, depends on this pathway. This scenario dictates that the virus replicates in two phylogenetically distinct cellular and biochemical milieux, a situation believed to influence Alphavirus evolution. While virions produced in vertebrate and invertebrate cell culture are biologically equivalent, the cellular responses to infection and to various strains of SIN are quite different. We focus our efforts on understanding the infection process in the mosquito, an essential link in the chain of arbovirus transmission.The student reseachers in my lab are specifically seeking to understand SIN-associated pathology, persistence, and tissue-specific clearance. By looking at long-term infection of two similar mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti, we will compare host responses to virus. Attention will be focused on the salivary glands, gut and ovaries, three important organs of virus transmission in nature. In the current global-climate of emerging and re-emerging diseases, investigations into the basic biology/virology of arboviruses will further efforts to combat mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

PUBLICATIONS:

Vo, Mai and Bowers, Doria F. 2006. Arbovirus lifecycle: links in a chain… Technical Bull. FMCA, Vol. 7:31-34.

Maria del Pilar Corena, Leslie VanEkeris, Ma. Isabel Salazar, Doria Bowers, Molly M. Fiedler, David Silverman, Chingkuang Tu, and Paul J. Linser. 2005. Carbonic anhydrase in the adult mosquito midgut. J. Exp. Biol. 208:3263-3273.

Bowers, DF, and DL Atkins. 2004. The Avian Fissura Prima: Differential Accumulation of Extracellular Matrix at a Fold. J. Morphology, 262: 780-790.

Bowers DF, Coleman CG, and Brown DT. 2003. Sindbis Virus-Associated Pathology in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 40(5): 698-705.

Mickle, RE, JR Brown, DF Bowers, R Reynolds. Characterization and Optimization Studies on the Aerial Application of Dibrom 14. REMSpC Report, pgs 1-28, November, 2001.

Bowers DF, Abell BA* and Brown DT. 1995. Replication and tissue tropism of the alphavirus Sindbis in the mosquito Aedes albopictus. J. Virology, 212: 1-12.

Gauntt CJ, Arizpe HM, Higdon AJ, Wood HJ, Bowers DF, Rozek MM and Crawley R. 1995. Molecular mimicry, anti-Coxsackievirus B3 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and myocarditis. J. Immunology 154:2983-2995.

HONORS, AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS:

2008 Training Exercise – FCCMC Florida Proposal Evaluation Process; developed and chaired by Walter J. Tabachnick, Director,
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, IFAS

2006-2007 - UNF Provost’s Scholarship Course Release for Outstanding in Research

2000-2006 - Certificate of Appreciation, Doria F. Bowers; In recognition of six consecutive years of external funding fiscal years 2000-2006. 
University of North Florida, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

2003- present Member of the Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control (FCCMC),
SubCommittee on Research Proposal Evaluation (selection committee member).

GRANTS, CONTRACTS AND FELLOWSHIPS:

Biology-Pathology of a Persistent Arbovirus in a Mosquito Host.  $225,000  Funded without cuts, July 2007. 

Rapid Response Sensor Networking for Multiple Applications, Phase III in the amount of          
$888,180.00 for the period of 9/26/07-5/18/09.