Authors
L brandner-garrod1; 1 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK Discussion
Vector borne diseases cause an estimated 700,000 deaths each year. Laboratory based insect colonies are key to understanding vector-pathogen interactions facilitating the development of novel therapeutics and vector control strategies. However, the rearing of insects can be difficult to establish and maintain in the large quantities required for research.
This presentation will provide a brief guide to building an insectary, rearing medically important insects, and performing vector-parasite experiments. The focus of which will be on the colonies reared at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, including mosquitos (genera: Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, and Toxorhynchites), bazaar flies (Musca sorbens), and triatomine bugs (genera: Dipetalogaster, Rhodnius, and Triatoma). Highlighting their unique colony conditions and the research utilizing these colonies to combat diseases such as Chagas disease, malaria, and trachoma. 
