Ainhoa Rodriguez Pereira
PGR Students
Ainhoa is currently doing her full-time PhD research at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, funded by the BBSRC LIDo Doctoral Training Partnership. Originally from Spain, she completed a BSc in Biosciences at Canterbury Christ Church University, including a year at the University of Vigo in Spain, followed by an MSc in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Research at King’s College London, where she investigated the role of stress granules in Ebola virus pathogenesis.
Before starting her PhD, Ainhoa worked at the University of Bristol on a project understanding coinfection of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases in hospital settings, gaining extensive experience in molecular biology and public health. Her broader interests span infectious disease research, epidemiology, and vector biology, with a strong motivation to translate academic research into applied public health policies and interventions. She has co-authored three publications in public-health related topics. Ultimately, she aspires to work at the intersection of academic research and global health policy.
Secondary Supervisor(s)
Dr Frances Hawkes
Associate Professor in Medical Entomology
External Supervisor(s)
Noushin Emami
Thesis Title
Unravelling the host-vector pathogen interplay of Plasmodium and Anopheles
Project Description
Ainhoa’s research interests lie in the intersection between medical entomology and infectious diseases, with a specific focus on host–vector–pathogen interactions. Her project is focused on how Plasmodium parasites modulate the behaviour, physiology, and gene expression of Anopheles mosquitoes, influencing their capacity to transmit malaria. This intricate biological interplay represents both a scientific challenge and a great opportunity if this interplay can be used against the parasite. She is driven by the goal of reducing infectious disease transmission from the vector perspective, particularly to benefit populations in developing regions most affected by malaria and other tropical diseases.
Through behavioural assays, transcriptomics, and microbiomics, Ainhoa’s current work characterises how a Plasmodium metabolite manipulates mosquito behaviour and physiology. By uncovering these molecular and behavioural mechanisms, she aims to identify exploitable vulnerabilities that can inform novel vector control strategies and contribute to global efforts in infectious disease control and vector biology innovation.
- Member of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
- Member of American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
- Member of Royal Entomological Society
- Lihou, K. et al. 2025. Improving the accuracy of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) incidence among hospitalised adults in Bristol, UK. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.24.25321075
- Hyams, C. et al. 2024. Surveillance of pneumococcal serotypes in adults hospitalised with acute lower respiratory tract infection in Bristol, UK. Vaccine 42, 1599–1607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.007
- Thomas, A.C. et al. 2023. Evaluation and deployment of isotype-specific salivary antibody assays for detecting previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults. Commun Med 3, 37. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-023-00264-2
Ainhoa is currently doing her full-time PhD research at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, funded by the BBSRC LIDo Doctoral Training Partnership. Originally from Spain, she completed a BSc in Biosciences at Canterbury Christ Church University, including a year at the University of Vigo in Spain, followed by an MSc in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Research at King’s College London, where she investigated the role of stress granules in Ebola virus pathogenesis.
Before starting her PhD, Ainhoa worked at the University of Bristol on a project understanding coinfection of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases in hospital settings, gaining extensive experience in molecular biology and public health. Her broader interests span infectious disease research, epidemiology, and vector biology, with a strong motivation to translate academic research into applied public health policies and interventions. She has co-authored three publications in public-health related topics. Ultimately, she aspires to work at the intersection of academic research and global health policy.
Secondary Supervisor(s)
Dr Frances Hawkes
Associate Professor in Medical Entomology
External Supervisor(s)
Noushin Emami
Thesis Title
Unravelling the host-vector pathogen interplay of Plasmodium and Anopheles
Project Description
Ainhoa’s research interests lie in the intersection between medical entomology and infectious diseases, with a specific focus on host–vector–pathogen interactions. Her project is focused on how Plasmodium parasites modulate the behaviour, physiology, and gene expression of Anopheles mosquitoes, influencing their capacity to transmit malaria. This intricate biological interplay represents both a scientific challenge and a great opportunity if this interplay can be used against the parasite. She is driven by the goal of reducing infectious disease transmission from the vector perspective, particularly to benefit populations in developing regions most affected by malaria and other tropical diseases.
Through behavioural assays, transcriptomics, and microbiomics, Ainhoa’s current work characterises how a Plasmodium metabolite manipulates mosquito behaviour and physiology. By uncovering these molecular and behavioural mechanisms, she aims to identify exploitable vulnerabilities that can inform novel vector control strategies and contribute to global efforts in infectious disease control and vector biology innovation.
- Member of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
- Member of American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
- Member of Royal Entomological Society
- Lihou, K. et al. 2025. Improving the accuracy of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) incidence among hospitalised adults in Bristol, UK. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.24.25321075
- Hyams, C. et al. 2024. Surveillance of pneumococcal serotypes in adults hospitalised with acute lower respiratory tract infection in Bristol, UK. Vaccine 42, 1599–1607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.007
- Thomas, A.C. et al. 2023. Evaluation and deployment of isotype-specific salivary antibody assays for detecting previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults. Commun Med 3, 37. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-023-00264-2