Tom Burkot

Professor Tom Burkot is a research leader at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM). Prior to this, he was a research entomologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA (CDC) from 1991 to 2011 where he worked on the transmission of malaria in Africa and Asia. As a National Research Council Fellow at Walter Reed, Dr Burkot developed the first enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to identify and quantify human sporozoites in the mosquito vectors.

He has extensive experience in the surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases including protozoa, helminths, viruses and bacteria transmitted by mosquitos and ticks with  international field experience in  Asia, Africa and the South Pacific. He has also developed and delivered courses and training materials at the professional and technical levels for vector borne disease specialists.

Prof Burkot is a Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and formerly was a member of the Malaria Policy Advisory Group and the Malaria Elimination Oversight Committee of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, as well as being on the Management Board of Building Out Vector Borne Diseases in Sub-Sahara Africa and presently sits on the Aedes albopictus Torres Strait Programme Technical Advisory Group, .

He has published over 180 key articles in the highest ranked international journals with over 13,000 citations.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases Group

Our highly collaborative multi-disciplinary research group aims to improve vector surveillance and control of malaria, dengue, Zika and chikungunya  and with a focus in the Asia-Pacific. Our One Health approach to understanding mosquito-borne disease transmission systems considers  the interactions between the mosquito vectors, disease pathogens, human hosts and the environment. 

Our activities range from basic applied research conducted on campus at JCU  to field based studies in Indonesia, the Torres Strait and the Pacific Islands. We focuson understanding the vectors and associated transmission systems, and their translation into policy guidance. The Group is based at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, on the Cairns campus of James Cook University. Here the facilities include state-of-the-art insectaries, PC2 laboratories and the Mosquito Research Facility (two large semi-field structures). 

Research Themes

• Understanding the underlying broad-scale ecological process influencing malaria and dengue transmission
• Supporting evidence-based control of malaria and dengue vectors
• Improving vector surveillance systems in malaria endemic countries

To read more about our research group follow the link to our website:

https://www.aithm.jcu.edu.au/research/research-projects-and-groups/mosquito-borne-diseases-group/

Evaluating zoonotic malaria transmission and agricultural and forestry land use in Indonesia (ZOOMAL)

This project is partnering Indonesian and Australian researchers to evaluate monkey to human transmission of malaria parasites across Indonesia, specifically Plasmodium knowlesi.

Little is known about the transmission of P. knowlesi in Indonesia, however  changes in agricultural and forestry land use have been linked to increasing numbers of cases of zoonotic malaria (malaria spread between animals and people), particularly affecting farmers and plantation workers.

Theis multi-disciplinary study is working in  Sumatra and Kalimantan to develop and validate  methods to detect P. knowlesi and other zoonotic malaria parasites in humans and vectors to better understand how and where transmission to humans occurs.

This project is part of the Research for One Health Systems Strengthening Program co-funded with DFAT addressing zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and systems strengthening within the Asia Pacific.

Project Outcomes

• Improving detection methods for zoonotic malaria surveillance  to define the disease burden.

• Evaluating agricultural and land-use factors associated with zoonotic malaria transmission.

• Evaluating mosquito vectors transmitting zoonotic malaria and the association with agricultural land-types and practices on their behaviour.

Building capacity for evidence based sustainable vector surveillance and control in the Pacific

The Mosquito-Borne Diseases Group leads a consortium of 11 institutions to enable more effective arbovirus and malaria vector surveillance in Pacific island countries. The program will drive sustainable improvements in vector surveillance and control programs to improve regional health security. Activities focus on building capacity to improve vector surveillance based on World Health Organisation recommended best practices. The consortium strengthens existing networks to facilitate in-country and regional communication. A major goal is to implement practical and actionable strategic plans in the Pacific island countries for sustainable  proactive responses to vector-borne disease outbreaks.