Your Department Name

Gabriel Hamer

TITLE: Clinical Assistant Professor

EDUCATION:

• Post-doctoral Associate, Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, 2010-2011
• Post-doctoral Associate, Dept of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009-2010
• Ph.D. Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 2008
• M.S. Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Illinois, 2004
• B.S. Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, 2002

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

My research broadly investigates the ecology of infectious diseases of humans, wild animals, and domestic animals, with particular attention to those transmitted by arthropod vectors (e.g. mosquitoes, ticks, midges).  I have focused primarily on vector-host interactions that lead to parasite amplification and increased disease risk.  I utilize a multidisciplinary approach to studying these complex disease systems, including molecular biology, landscape epidemiology, eco-immunology and ecological modeling.  A goal of my research is to elucidate mechanisms of transmission across space and time that facilitate ecological management of diseases with effective intervention and preventative strategies.  My current research focuses on West Nile virus, dengue, haemosporidian parasites, and filarioid nematodes.

PUBLICATIONS:

Gardner, A, G. L. Hamer, A. Hines, C. Newman, E. D. Walker, M. O. Ruiz. 2012. Temporal change in precipitation and temperature affects habitat for larval Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) in storm water catch basins in suburban Chicago, USA, 2010. Journal of Medical Entomology.

Hamer, G. L., D. J. Donovan, R. Hood-Nowotny, M. G. Kaufman, T. L. Goldberg, E. D. Walker. 2012. Evaluation of a stable isotope method to mark naturally-breeding mosquitoes for adult dispersal studies. Journal of Medical Entomology. 49:61-70.

Hamer, G. L., L. F. Chaves, T. K. Anderson, U. D. Kitron, J. D. Brawn, M. O. Ruiz, S. R. Loss, E. D. Walker, T. L. Goldberg. 2011 Fine-scale variation in vector host use and force of infection drive localized patterns of West Nile virus transmission. PLoS ONE. 6:e23767.

Girard, J., T. L. Goldberg, G. L. Hamer. 2011. Field investigation of innate immunity in passerine birds in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Journal of Wildlife Disease. 47:603-611.

Newman, C., F. Cerutti, T. K. Anderson, G. L. Hamer, E. D. Walker, U. D. Kitron, M. O. Ruiz, J. D. Brawn, T. L. Goldberg. 2011. Culex flavivirus and West Nile virus mosquito co-infection and positive association in Chicago, USA. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease.  11:1099-1105.

Chaves, L. F., Hamer, G. L., E. D. Walker, W.M. Brown, M. O. Ruiz, U. D. Kitron. 2011. Climatic variability and  landscape heterogeneity impact urban mosquito diversity and vector abundance and infection. Ecosphere 2:70.

Hamer, G.L., P. H. Kelly, D. A. Focks, T. L. Goldberg, E. D. Walker. 2011. Evaluation of a novel emergence trap to study Culex mosquitoes in urban catch basins. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 27:142-147.

Amore, G., L. Bertolotti, G. L. Hamer, U. D. Kitron, E. D. Walker, M. O. Ruiz, J. D. Brawn, and T. L. Goldberg. 2010. Multi-year evolutionary dynamics of West Nile virus in suburban Chicago, USA, 2005-2007.  Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 365:1871-1878.

Goldberg, T. L., T. K. Anderson, G. L. Hamer. 2010. West Nile virus may have hitched a ride across the Western United States on Culex tarsalis mosquitoes. Molecular Ecology. 19:1518-1519.

Ruiz, M. O., Chaves, L. F., G. L. Hamer, T. Sun, W. M. Brown, E. D. Walker, L. Haramis, T. L. Goldberg, and U. D.  Kitron. 2010. Local impact of temperature and precipitation on West Nile virus infection in Culex species mosquitoes in northeast Illinois, U.S.A. Parasites & Vectors. 3:19.

Huang, S, G. L. Hamer, G. Molaei, E. D. Walker, T. L. Goldberg, U. D. Kitron, and T.  Andreadis.  2009. Genetic variation associated with mammalian feeding in Culex pipiens from a West Nile virus epidemic region in Chicago, Illinois. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease. 6:637-642.

Hamer, G. L., U. D. Kitron, J. D. Brawn, S. R. Loss, M. O. Ruiz, T. L. Goldberg, D. Hayes, and E. D. Walker. 2009. Host selection by Culex pipiens and West Nile virus amplification. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 80:268-278.

Loss, S. R., G. L. Hamer, T. L. Goldberg, M. O. Ruiz, U. D. Kitron, E. D. Walker, and J. D. Brawn. 2009. Nestling passerines are not major hosts for West Nile virus in Chicago, Illinois. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9:13-17.

Loss, S. R., G. L. Hamer, E. D. Walker, M. O. Ruiz, T. L. Goldberg, U. D. Kitron, and J. D. Brawn. 2009. Avian host community structure and prevalence of West Nile virus in Chicago, Illinois. Oecologia. 159:415.

Bertolotti, L., U. D. Kitron, E. D. Walker, M. O. Ruiz, J. D. Brawn, S. R. Loss, G. L. Hamer, and T. L. Goldberg. 2008. Fine-scale genetic variation and evolution of West Nile virus in a transmission “hot spot” in suburban Chicago, USA. Virology. 374:381-389.

Hamer, G. L., E. D. Walker, J. D. Brawn, S. R. Loss, M. O. Ruiz, T. L. Goldberg, A. M. Schotthoefer, W. M. Brown, E. R. Wheeler, and U. D. Kitron. 2008. Rapid amplification of West Nile virus: the role of hatch year birds. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 8:57-67.

Hamer, G. L., U. D. Kitron, J. D. Brawn, S. R. Loss, M. O. Ruiz, T. L. Goldberg, and E. D. Walker. 2008. Culex pipiens can be a bridge vector of West Nile virus to humans. Journal of Medical Entomology. 45:125-128.

Hamer, G. L., E. J. Heske, J. D. Brawn, and P. W. Brown. 2008. Migrant shorebird use of a wetland complex in the Illinois River valley. Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Science. 101:95-106.

Hamer, G. L., E. J. Heske, J. D. Brawn, and P. W. Brown. 2006. Migrant shorebird predation on benthic invertebrates along the Illinois River, Illinois. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 118:152-163.