Molecular Entomology / Pesticide Lab


John Vontas


John Vontas

CV EN | CV GR

Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
Foundation for Research and Technology,
Hellas (IMBB-FORTH)

Institute of Molecular Biology

Professor

Agricultural University of Athens
 

Agricultural University of Athens
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rD2ZXpUAAAAJ&hl=el&oi=ao
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8704-2574
Scopus Author ID: 6603094639


Areas of interest

Understanding the mechanisms by which disease vectors and agricultural pests develop resistance to insecticides, as well as exploring novel insecticide targets and biotechnology based approaches to control insects.

Research

Insecticide Resistance

We investigate the mechanisms by which insects develop resistance to insecticides. Our approaches include classical bioassays and biotechnology-based approaches for the identification and validation of resistance mechanisms. The latter include recombinant enzyme-based techniques, in vivo functional approaches (ectopically expressed genes, CRISPR/Cas9 etc), immunolocalisation, electron microscopy (TEM, SEM) etc. Several insecticide resistance mechanisms in mosquitoes and agricultural pests were functionally elucidated recently (Figure 1, 2 and 3).

Insecticide resistant Anopheles gambiae walking apathetic on impregnated bednets


Figure 1. Insecticide resistant Anopheles gambiae "walking apathetic" on impregnated bednets. Modification of epicuticular hydrocarbons and remodeling of leg cuticles, as well as the overexpression of leg-enriched sensory appendage proteins (SAP2) confers pyrethroid resistance, by sequestering and substantially delaying insecticide uptake, giving time to detoxification mechanisms to detoxify them, thus producing striking insecticide resistance phenotypes. Ingham VA, et al. (2020) Nature 577:376-380; Balabanidou et al. (2019) Proc R Soc B 286:20191091

Operation of a rare evolutionary strategy for circumventing pesticide resistance in the major bee parasite


Figure 2. Operation of a rare evolutionary strategy for circumventing pesticide resistance in the major bee parasite. Reduced proinsecticide activation by cytochrome P450 confers coumaphos resistance in the major bee parasite Varroa destructor (Vlogiannitis et al (2021) PNAS 118, e2020380118)



Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification


Figure 3. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification to understand the genetic basis of insecticide resistance (Douris et al (2020) Pest Biochem Phys. 167:104595

Biotechnology based approaches for novel insecticides targets

Holistic biotechnology based approaches using state-of the-art technologies (transcriptomics, proteomics, functional and cell based assays – Pharma models) are applied to enable the identification of potential molecular targets in insect pests and mosquitoes, as well as elucidate the insecticide pharmacokinetics (cross midgut epithelium etc – Denecke et al IBMB 103, 22-35).

Insecticide resistant Anopheles gambiae walking apathetic on impregnated bednets
Operation of a rare evolutionary strategy for circumventing pesticide resistance in the major bee parasite

Current/Recent Major Research Grants

SuperPests INFRAVEC2 European Commission DMC-Malvec
Bayer CropScience AG
SYNGENTA
  • “NEXTGENBIOPEST” – Next Generation Biopesticides for the control of the most “difficult-to-manage” pests and pathogens HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01-7 Total budget: 6M euro; 2024-2028. role: Coordinator
  • SYNGENTA 2021-2023 Fundamental insect P450 expression and characterization (Project Coordinator)
  • SuperPests, Horizon H2020-2016-2017, Innovations in plant protection (SFS-17-2017), Innovative tools for rational control of the most difficult-to-manage pests ("super pests") and the diseases they transmit (Project coordinator) https://www.superpests.eu/
  • Bayer CropScience AG, 2017-2021, Discovery of Novel Insecticide Targets (Project coordinator)
  • CypTox, Horizon 2020-MSCA-RISE-2020, Training next level scientists and researchers to develop highly selective and safe insecticides (Project Coordinator) https://cyptox.eu/site/
  • ISIDORe – “Integrated Services for Infectious Disease Outbreak Research” https://infravec2.eu/isidore/  
  • EU HORIZON 2020, «Automated diagnostic platform, data management system and innovative communication tool, for improving the impact of malaria vector control interventions» (Project coordinator) https://www.dmc-malvec.eu/

The Group

Mavridis Kostas

Kostas Mavridis, CV
Post Doctoral Research Associate - Staff Scientist, Molecular Diagnostics,
konstantinos_mavridis@imbb.forth.gr

Evangelia Morou

Evangelia Morou, CV
Project/Lab Manager ,
evangelia_morou@imbb.forth.gr

Linda Grigoraki

Linda Grigoraki, CV
Researcher
linda_grigoraki@imbb.forth.gr


Dimitra Tsakireli

Dimitra Tsakireli, CV
Research Technician/PhD Student: Protein expression (cytochrome P450s)-interactions with xenobiotics,
dimitra_tsakireli@imbb.forth.gr

Natasa Kampouraki

Natasa Kampouraki, CV
Post Doctoral Research Associate - Olive fruit flies and Mosquito populations from Greece
(Insectory, Bioassays, genoityping),
kampouraki.an@gmail.com

Latifa Remadi

Latifa Remadi, CV
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Molecular approaches for understanding insecticide resistance in mosquito and sandfly disease vectors,
latifa_remadi@imbb.forth.gr


Kassiani Skouloudaki

Kassiani Skouloudaki, CV
Post Doctoral Research Accociate,
Cell and drosophila model based functional assays ,
k.skouloudaki@imbb.forth.gr

Jason Charamis

Jason Charamis, CV
PhD Student - Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of pesticide resistance in mosquitoes and agricultural pests,
jason_charamis@imbb.forth.gr

Kyriaki-Maria Papapostolou

Kyriaki-Maria Papapostolou, PhD CV
Research Technician - Molecular Entomology,
kyriaki_papapostolou@imbb.forth.gr


Amalia Anthousi

Amalia Anthousi, CV
PhD Student - Functional characterization of insecticide resistance mechanisms, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome modifications,
amalia_anthousi@imbb.forth.gr

Sofia Balaska

Sofia Balaska, CV
PhD Student - Analysis of insecticide resistance in sandflies and biotechnology based application for vector control,
sofia_balaska@imbb.forth.gr

Mengling Chen

Mengling Chen, CV
PhD Student - Functional genetic analysis of complex insecticide resistance mechanisms in mosquitoes, mengling_chen@imbb.forth.gr


Rafaela Panteleri

Rafaela Panteleri,
PhD Student - CRISPR: advanced systems for evaluating resistance mutations in drosophila and cell based assays for insecticide targets discovery, rafaela_panteleri@imbb.forth.gr

Stefanos Mastis

Stefanos Mastis, CV
PhD Student - Discovery and molecular mechanisms of action of bioinsecticides, stefanos_mastis@imbb.forth.gr

Aikaterini Katsanou

Aikaterini Katsanou, CV
PhD Student, Molecular and functional approaches for understanding insecticide resistance mechanisms in thrips aikaterini_katsanou@imbb.forth.gr


Giannis Pirgianakis

Giannis Pirgianakis, CV
MSc - Research Associate, Agricultural Insect Pests and Mosquitoes (Field work, Insectory, Bioassays), giannispirg@gmail.com



Current Master Students / Projects (2023/24):



ALUMNI (Past PhD or PDRA):

  • Vassilis Douris: Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
  • Nena Pavlidi: Post Doctoral Researcher University of Amsterdam
  • Ilias Kioulos: Lecturer, Agricultural University of Athens
  • Elena Vorgia: Post Doctoral Researcher, Precision Medicine IMBB-FORTH
  • Aris Ilias: Researcher ELGO-DIMITRA
  • Ngoc Bao Hang (Jenny) Luong: Research Associate Penn University
  • Megha Kalsi: TECHNICAL Director, USA
  • Shane M. Denecke: Research Associate Penn University
  • Giorgos Samantsidis: Post Doctoral Research Associate Iowa State University
  • Venetia Koidou: Post Doctoral Research Associate, Hellenic Agricultural Organization "DIMITRA", Larissa
  • Max Fotakis: Researcher European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control, Rome Italy (ECDC)
  • Spyros Vlogianitis: Scientific Staff - Faculty member Benaki Phytopathological Institute
  • Mary Kefi: Post Doctoral Research Associate, John Hopkins, USA
  • Vasileia Balabanidou: Teaching position (staff)
  • Panagiotis Ioannidis: Post Doctoral Research Associate, Stamatakis Group
  • Maria Riga: Teaching position (staff)
  • Eva Katsavou: Post Doctoral Research Associate Benaki

Publications

View the full list of publications

Recent

  • Nauen R, Bass C, Feyereisen R, Vontas J. (2022) The Role of Cytochrome P450s in Insect Toxicology and Resistance. Annu Rev Entomol. 67:105-124. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-070621-061328. PMID: 34590892
  • Vlogiannitis S, Mavridis K, Dermauw W, Snoeck S, Katsavou E, Morou E, Harizanis P, Swevers L, Hemingway J, Feyereisen R, Van Leeuwen T, Vontas J. (2021) Reduced proinsecticide activation by cytochrome P450 confers coumaphos resistance in the major bee parasite Varroa destructor. PNAS. 118(6):e2020380118. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020380118. PMID: 33547243
  • Ingham VA, Anthousi A, Douris V, Harding NJ, Lycett G, Morris M, Vontas J, Ranson H (2020) A sensory appendage protein protects malaria vectors from pyrethroids. Nature. 577(7790):376-380 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1864-1. PMID: 31875852
  • Samantsidis GR, Panteleri R, Denecke S, Kounadi S, Christou I, Nauen R, Douris V, Vontas J. (2020) 'What I cannot create, I do not understand': Functionally validated synergism of metabolic and target site insecticide resistance. Proc Biol Sci. 287(1927):20200838. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0838. PMID: 32453986
  • Singh KS, Troczka BJ, Duarte A, Balabanidou V, Trissi N, Carabajal Paladino LZ, Nguyen P, Zimmer CT, Papapostolou KM, Randall E, Lueke B, Marec F, Mazzoni E, Williamson MS, Hayward A, Nauen R, Vontas J, Bass C. (2020) The genetic architecture of a host shift: An adaptive walk protected an aphid and its endosymbiont from plant chemical defenses. Sci. Adv. 6(19): eaba1070. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba1070. PMID: 32494720
  • Balabanidou V, Kefi M, Aivaliotis M, Koidou V, Girotti JR, Mijailovsky SJ, Juárez MP, Papadogiorgaki E, Chalepakis G, Kampouraki A, Nikolaou C, Ranson H, Vontas J. (2019) Mosquitoes cloak their legs to resist insecticides. Proc R Soc B. 286(1907):20191091. DOI:10.1098/rspb.2019.1091. PMID: 31311476
  • Vontas J, Grigoraki L, Morgan J, Tsakireli D, Fuseini G, Segura L, Niemczura de Carvahlo J, Nguema R, Weetman D, Slotman MA, Hemingway J. (2018) Rapid selection of a pyrethroid metabolic enzyme CYP9K1 by operational malaria control activities. PNAS. 115(18):4619-4624. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1719663115. PMID:29674455
  • Balabanidou V, Grigoraki L, Vontas J. (2018) Insect cuticle: a critical determinant of insecticide resistance. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 27:68-74. DOI:10.1016/j.cois.2018.03.001 PMID:30025637
  • Kefi M, Mavridis K, Simões ML, Dimopoulos G, Siden-Kiamos I, Vontas J. (2018) New rapid one-step PCR diagnostic assay for Plasmodium falciparum infective mosquitoes. Sci Rep. 8(1):1462. DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-19780-6. PMID: 29362379
  • Bryon A, Kurlovs AH, Dermauw W, Greenhalgh R, Riga M, Grbić M, Tirry L, Osakabe M, Vontas J, Clark RM, Van Leeuwen T.(2017) Disruption of a horizontally transferred phytoene desaturase abolishes carotenoid accumulation and diapause in Tetranychus urticae. PNAS. 114(29): E5871-5880. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1706865114. PMID: 28674017
  • Douris V, Steinbach D, Panteleri R, Livadaras I, Pickett JA, Van Leeuwen T, Nauen R, Vontas J. (2016) Resistance mutation conserved between insects and mites unravels the benzoylurea insecticide mode of action on chitin biosynthesis. PNAS. 113(51):14692-14697. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1618258113. PMID: 27930336
  • Balabanidou V, Kampouraki A, MacLean M, Blomquist GJ, Tittiger C, Juarez MP, Mijailovsky SJ, Chalepakis G, Anthousi A, Lynd A, Antoine S, Hemingway J, Ranson H, Lycett GJ, Vontas J. (2016) Cytochrome P450 associated with insecticide resistance catalyzes cuticular hydrocarbon production in Anopheles gambiae. PNAS. 113(33):9268-9273. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1608295113 PMID: 27439866.


Selected Publications

  • Nauen R, Bass C, Feyereisen R, Vontas J. (2022) The Role of Cytochrome P450s in Insect Toxicology and Resistance. Annu Rev Entomol. 67:105-124. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-070621-061328. PMID: 34590892
  • Vlogiannitis S, Mavridis K, Dermauw W, Snoeck S, Katsavou E, Morou E, Harizanis P, Swevers L, Hemingway J, Feyereisen R, Van Leeuwen T, Vontas J. (2021) Reduced proinsecticide activation by cytochrome P450 confers coumaphos resistance in the major bee parasite Varroa destructor. PNAS. 118(6):e2020380118. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020380118. PMID: 33547243
  • Ingham VA, Anthousi A, Douris V, Harding NJ, Lycett G, Morris M, Vontas J, Ranson H (2020) A sensory appendage protein protects malaria vectors from pyrethroids. Nature. 577(7790):376-380 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1864-1. PMID: 31875852
  • Singh KS, Troczka BJ, Duarte A, Balabanidou V, Trissi N, Carabajal Paladino LZ, Nguyen P, Zimmer CT, Papapostolou KM, Randall E, Lueke B, Marec F, Mazzoni E, Williamson MS, Hayward A, Nauen R, Vontas J, Bass C. (2020) The genetic architecture of a host shift: An adaptive walk protected an aphid and its endosymbiont from plant chemical defenses. Sci. Adv. 6(19): eaba1070. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba1070. PMID: 32494720
  • Koidou V, Denecke S, Ioannidis P, Vlatakis I, Livadaras I, Vontas J. (2020) Efficient genome editing in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. Insect Mol Biol. 29(4):363-372. DOI:10.1111/imb.12640. PMID: 32141659
  • Balabanidou V, Kefi M, Aivaliotis M, Koidou V, Girotti JR, Mijailovsky SJ, Juárez MP, Papadogiorgaki E, Chalepakis G, Kampouraki A, Nikolaou C, Ranson H, Vontas J. (2019) Mosquitoes cloak their legs to resist insecticides. Proc R Soc B. 286(1907):20191091. DOI:10.1098/rspb.2019.1091. PMID: 31311476
  • Vontas J, Grigoraki L, Morgan J, Tsakireli D, Fuseini G, Segura L, Niemczura de Carvahlo J, Nguema R, Weetman D, Slotman MA, Hemingway J. (2018) Rapid selection of a pyrethroid metabolic enzyme CYP9K1 by operational malaria control activities. PNAS. 115(18):4619-4624. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1719663115. PMID: 29674455
  • Balabanidou V, Grigoraki L, Vontas J. (2018) Insect cuticle: a critical determinant of insecticide resistance. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 27:68-74. DOI:10.1016/j.cois.2018.03.001 PMID:30025637
  • Kefi M, Mavridis K, Simões ML, Dimopoulos G, Siden-Kiamos I, Vontas J. (2018) New rapid one-step PCR diagnostic assay for Plasmodium falciparum infective mosquitoes. Sci Rep. 8(1):1462. DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-19780-6. PMID: 29362379
  • Bryon A, Kurlovs AH, Dermauw W, Greenhalgh R, Riga M, Grbić M, Tirry L, Osakabe M, Vontas J, Clark RM, Van Leeuwen T.(2017) Disruption of a horizontally transferred phytoene desaturase abolishes carotenoid accumulation and diapause in Tetranychus urticae. PNAS. 114(29): E5871-5880. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1706865114. PMID: 28674017
  • Douris V, Steinbach D, Panteleri R, Livadaras I, Pickett JA, Van Leeuwen T, Nauen R, Vontas J. (2016) Resistance mutation conserved between insects and mites unravels the benzoylurea insecticide mode of action on chitin biosynthesis. PNAS. 113(51):14692-14697. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1618258113. PMID: 27930336
  • Balabanidou V, Kampouraki A, MacLean M, Blomquist GJ, Tittiger C, Juarez MP, Mijailovsky SJ, Chalepakis G, Anthousi A, Lynd A, Antoine S, Hemingway J, Ranson H, Lycett GJ, Vontas J. (2016) Cytochrome P450 associated with insecticide resistance catalyzes cuticular hydrocarbon production in Anopheles gambiae. PNAS. 113(33):9268-9273. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1608295113 PMID: 27439866
  • Grigoraki L, Balabanidou V, Meristoudis C, Miridakis A, Ranson H, Swevers L, Vontas J. (2016) Functional and immunohistochemical characterization of CCEae3a, a carboxylesterase associated with temephos resistance in the major arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 74:61-67. DOI:10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.05.007. PMID: 27180726
  • Riga M, Myridakis A, Tsakireli D, Morou E, Stephanou EG, Nauen R, Van Leeuwen T, Douris V, Vontas J. (2015) Functional characterization of the Tetranychus urticae CYP392A11, a cytochrome P450 that hydroxylates the METI acaricides cyenopyrafen and fenpyroximate. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 65:91-99. DOI:10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.09.004. PMID: 26363294
  • Hemingway J, Vontas J, Poupardin R, Raman J, Lines J, Schwabe C, Matias A, Kleinschmidt I. (2013) Country-level operational implementation of the Global Plan for Insecticide Resistance Management. PNAS. 110(23):9397-9402. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1307656110. PMID: 23696658
  • Dermauw W, Wybouw N, Rombauts S, Menten B, Vontas J, Grbic M, Clark RM, Feyereisen R, Van Leeuwen T. (2013) A link between host plant adaptation and pesticide resistance in the polyphagous spider mite Tetranychus urticae. PNAS. 110(2):E113-E122. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1213214110. PMID: 23248300

Contact

Postal Address:
Foundation for Research and Technology, FORTH
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, IMBB
Molecular Entomology Lab
Nikolaou Plastira 100
Heraklion 70013
Crete, Greece

OR

Pesticide Science lab, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
E-mail:
vontas@imbb.forth.gr, vontas@aua.gr
Phone:
+30 2810394077, +30 2810391136 (office, Crete)
+30 2810394438 (lab, Crete)
+30 2105294545 (office/lab Athens)
+30 6932977437 (mobile)
Web page:
www.aua.gr/vontas or www.imbb.forth.gr/vontas