Molecular Entomology & Pest Management

Vontas Group

Grigoraki Group

Our Lab

Some insect species are vectors of deadly diseases, while others are agricultural pests posing an ongoing threat to the sustainability of agricultural output.

Being able to effectively control the population size of those insects is of paramount importance for public health and agriculture.

Our research focuses on combating vector-borne diseases and minimizing agricultural losses caused by pests, by uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying the selection of insecticide resistance and developing innovative tools for efficient insect control.

Highlights

New publication in Nature Communications

28 November 2025

Predictive chemoproteomics and functional validation reveal Coeae6g-mediated insecticide cross-resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Sofia Balaska, Linda Grigoraki, Gareth Lycett, David Weetman, Folasade Oladepo, Fraser Colman, John Vontas, Mark J. I. Paine & Hanafy M. Ismail.

New publication in PNAS

20 July 2026

Synergistic action of different molecular mechanisms causes striking levels of insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Mengling Chen, Latifa Remadi, Dimitra Tsakireli, Emmanouil Kokkas, Sofia Balaska, Sibora Teta, Jocelyn M. F. Ooi, Janet Hemingway,Mark J. I. Paine, Gareth J. Lycett, John Vontas and Linda Grigoraki.