Jason Rasgon

Professor of Entomology and Disease Epidemiology

Jason Rasgon

Research Summary

Integrating population biology, ecology, molecular tools and theory to address fundamental and applied questions related to vector arthropods and the pathogens they transmit.

Huck Graduate Students

Huck Affiliations

Publication Tags

These publication tags are generated from the output of this researcher. Click any tag below to view other Huck researchers working on the same topic.

Culicidae Wolbachia Arthropods Genes Microbiota Culex Tarsalis Microbiome Mosquito Control Anopheles Bacteria Gene Editing Oocyst Pathogens Phenotype West Nile Virus Malaria Culex Microflora Insecta Insects Gene Drive Technology Methodology Technology Disease Vectors Plasmodium

Most Recent Publications

Gerard Terradas, Jaime Manzano-Alvarez, Chiara Vanalli, Kristine Werling, Isabella M. Cattadori, Jason L. Rasgon, 2024, Parasites and Vectors

Joyce M. Sakamoto, Ikkei Shikano, Jason L. Rasgon, 2024, Insects

Leonardo Lima, Mateus Berni, Jamile Mota, Daniel Bressan, Alison Julio, Robson Cavalcante, Vanessa Macias, Zhiqian Li, Jason L. Rasgon, Ethan Bier, Helena Araujo, 2024, CRISPR Journal on p. 88-99

Qicheng Ma, Satyam P. Srivastav, Stephanie Gamez, Gargi Dayama, Fabiana Feitosa-Suntheimer, Edward I. Patterson, Rebecca M. Johnson, Erik M. Matson, Alexander S. Gold, Douglas E. Brackney, John H. Connor, Tonya M. Colpitts, Grant L. Hughes, Jason L. Rasgon, Tony Nolan, Omar S. Akbari, Nelson C. Lau, 2024, Genome Research on p. 160

Nadya Urakova, Renuka E. Joseph, Allyn Huntsinger, Vanessa M. Macias, Matthew J. Jones, Leah T. Sigle, Ming Li, Omar S. Akbari, Zhiyong Xi, Konstantinos Lymperopoulos, Richard T. Sayre, Elisabeth A. McGraw, Jason L. Rasgon, 2024, Insect Molecular Biology

Jaime Manzano-Alvarez, Gerard Terradas, Christopher J. Holmes, Joshua B. Benoit, Jason L. Rasgon, 2023, Journal of Virology on p. e0069523

Gerard Terradas, Vanessa M. Macias, Hillary Peterson, Sage Mckeand, Grzegorz Krawczyk, Jason L. Rasgon, 2023, Integrative and Comparative Biology on p. 1550-1563

Allyson M. Ray, Emma C. Gordon, Thomas D. Seeley, Jason L. Rasgon, Christina M. Grozinger, 2023, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Renuka E. Joseph, Nadya Urakova, Kristine L. Werling, Hillery C. Metz, Kaylee Montanari, Jason L. Rasgon, 2023, Journal of Virology

Sultan Asad, Ahmed M. Mehdi, Sujit Pujhari, Claudia Rückert, Gregory D. Ebel, Jason L. Rasgon, 2023, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 282-293

Most-Cited Papers

Harnessing mosquito-Wolbachia symbiosis for vector and disease control

Kostas Bourtzis, Stephen L. Dobson, Zhiyong Xi, Jason L. Rasgon, Maurizio Calvitti, Luciano A. Moreira, Hervé C. Bossin, Riccardo Moretti, Luke Anthony Baton, Grant L. Hughes, Patrick Mavingui, Jeremie R.L. Gilles, 2014, Acta Tropica on p. S150-S163

Grant L. Hughes, Brittany L. Dodson, Rebecca M. Johnson, Courtney C. Murdock, Hitoshi Tsujimoto, Yasutsugu Suzuki, Alyssa A. Patt, Long Cui, Carlos W. Nossa, Rhiannon M. Barry, Joyce M. Sakamoto, Emily A. Hornett, Jason Rasgon, 2014, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 12498-12503

Duverney Chaverra-Rodriguez, Vanessa M. Macias, Grant L. Hughes, Sujit Pujhari, Yasutsugu Suzuki, David R. Peterson, Donghun Kim, Sage McKeand, Jason L. Rasgon, 2018, Nature Communications

Brittany L. Dodson, Grant L. Hughes, Oluwatobi Paul, Amy C. Matacchiero, Laura D. Kramer, Jason L. Rasgon, 2014, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Shivanand Hegde, Jason L. Rasgon, Grant L. Hughes, 2015, Current Opinion in Virology on p. 97-102

G. L. Hughes, J. L. Rasgon, 2014, Insect Molecular Biology on p. 141-151

Guan Hong Wang, Stephanie Gamez, Robyn R. Raban, John M. Marshall, Luke Alphey, Ming Li, Jason L. Rasgon, Omar S. Akbari, 2021, Nature Communications

Courtney C. Murdock, Simon Blanford, Grant L. Hughes, Jason L. Rasgon, Matthew B. Thomas, 2014, Scientific Reports

Vanessa M. Macias, Johanna R. Ohm, Jason L. Rasgon, 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Richard W. Hagan, Elise M. Didion, Andrew E. Rosselot, Christopher J. Holmes, Samantha C. Siler, Andrew J. Rosendale, Jacob M. Hendershot, Kiaira S.B. Elliot, Emily C. Jennings, Gabriela A. Nine, Paula L. Perez, Alexandre E. Rizlallah, Miki Watanabe, Lindsey E. Romick-Rosendale, Yanyu Xiao, Jason L. Rasgon, Joshua B. Benoit, 2018, Scientific Reports

News Articles Featuring Jason Rasgon

Kissing bugs, vector for Chagas disease, successfully gene edited for first time

Kissing bugs, or triatomine bugs, are the primary vector for Chagas disease. New research from an international team, including a Penn State researcher, demonstrates — for the first time — the use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in kissing bugs and opens the door to research on applied strategies for Chagas disease control.

St. Tammany's ditches are fouled with untreated sewage. The mosquitoes are loving it.

The pollution in drainage ditches in St. Tammany Parish appears to be allowing a disease-carrying mosquito to thrive, even after insecticide treatments

USDA grant supports reproductive microbiome training program

The USDA NIFA has awarded Penn State a five-year, US$238,500 grant to establish a graduate training pipeline in reproductive microbiome research

New USDA grant to support graduate reproductive microbiome training program

The USDA NIFA has awarded Penn State a five-year, $238,500 grant to establish a graduate training pipeline in reproductive microbiome research.

Florida issues MALARIA alert as two MORE people catch deadly mosquito-born disease - in first US outbreak in two decades

Two more people have come down with malaria in southern Florida, health officials say — after doctors were warned to look out for more cases.

Got a fever and testing negative for Covid? It could be MALARIA, CDC says - as disease-ridden mosquitos spread in US for first time in decades

Fever-stricken patients coming to hospitals should be checked for malaria, health officials say — even if they have not recently left the United States.

Faculty in College of Ag Sciences recognized for research achievements

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the college’s inaugural Research Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 25 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.

Rasgon named Huck Chair of Disease Epidemiology and Biotechnology

Jason Rasgon, professor of entomology and disease epidemiology, has been named Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Disease Epidemiology and Biotechnology.

Injecting Cockroaches with CRISPR Gene Edits Their Offspring

A new method has allowed researchers to conduct the first gene knock-out and knock-in edits on cockroaches and may extend to many other insects.

Huck Students Receive Alumni Awards

Two Huck IGDP students have been recognized as part of the 2021-22 Graduate School Alumni Association faculty and student awards in the Life & Health Sciences section.

Scientists develop gene-editing tools that may decrease tick-borne disease

In May 2021, scientists released the first batch of genetically-altered mosquitoes in the Florida Keys as part of a project to combat disease-carrying insects.The mosquitoes, modified versions of the Aedes aegypti species, is associated with several diseases, including Zika and yellow fever. Experts say using modified insects to control populations provides an alternative to insecticides, which some mosquitoes are evolving to develop immunity towards.

World’s first gene editing tools for ticks may help decrease tick-borne diseases

Reducing tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, may now be possible thanks to two new gene editing methods developed by researchers at Penn State; the University of Nevada, Reno; and the University of Maryland. The methods could allow scientists to alter parts of the tick genome that are involved in harboring and transmitting pathogens.

Silencing the alarm

An enzyme in the saliva of certain insects prevents their food plants from warning neighboring plants of an attack.

More dengue fever and less malaria – mosquito control strategies may need to shift as Africa heats up

As it becomes too warm for comfort, the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria may lose the battle against climate change in Africa. But a new foe is on the horizon.

Gene-edited mosquitoes are ready for the U.S. — but is the U.S. ready for them?

In mid-June, Florida’s department of agriculture and consumer services approved a plan to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild.

Gene-editing protocol for whitefly pest opens door to control

Whiteflies are among the most important agricultural pests in the world, yet they have been difficult to genetically manipulate and control, in part, because of their small size. An international team of researchers has overcome this roadblock by developing a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing protocol that could lead to novel control methods for this devastating pest.

Study on DNA spread by genetically modified mosquitoes prompts backlash

For 10 years, the company Oxitec has been testing whether genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes can suppress populations of their natural brethren, which carry devastating viruses such as Zika and dengue. Its strategy: Deploy (nonbiting) male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes bearing a gene that should doom most of their offspring before adulthood.

Graphene film promising for blocking mosquitoes

Health officials are touting a new protection against bloodsucking insects amid reports of a rare mosquito-borne disease that has infected four people in Massachusetts, killing one woman.

Scientists Are Tweeting About The Strangest Experiments They've Ever Done