Prof Gordon Hamilton

Title: Professor of Medical Entomology and Vector Control
Phone: +44 (0)1782 733026
Email:
Location: Huxley Building : 101
Role: Infection, Inflammation and Immunity Theme Lead
Contacting me: Try my office or arrange an appointment by e-mail.
gordon hamilton

I was appointed as a lecturer at Keele University in 1995 and promoted to Senior lecturer in 2005, Reader in 2008 and Professor of Medical Entomology and Vector Control in 2011. I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and Zoology and a research MSc in chemical ecology of plant pests from University College Cardiff (now University Cardiff) in 1985 and I completed a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, USA in 1989. My dissertation was on the chemical ecology of Hard Ticks. I returned to the UK to complete a Wellcome Trust Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship and a Wellcome Trust Advanced Training Fellowship at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine before my appointment at Keele University.  In addition I spent a short period in industry with VG MassLab as an LC/MS specialist.

My major research interest is in the theoretical and translational aspects of the chemical ecology of the Neotropical sand fly, Lutzomyia longipalpis, vector of visceral leishmaniasis as well as the chemical ecology of other species of sand flies, mosquitoes and thrips. The work involves cross cutting research in ecology, population biology, medical entomology, veterinary science, epidemiology, parasitology, synthetic chemistry, molecular biology and vector control. The objective is to develop novel sustainable tools and approaches to reduce human disease transmission, improve bio-security and contribute to the development of new approaches at the forefront of bioengineering and molecular biology. This objective is being delivered through laboratory and field based research, early and sustained industrial collaboration as well as interaction with policy makers and end users e.g. the Ministry of Health at National and State levels in Brazil.

I am a Life member of the International Society for Chemical Ecology (ISCE).

 

Members of the sand fly research group

 

Dr Daniel Bray

Field manager and senior postdoctoral research scientist

Dr Vicky Carter

Senior postdoctoral research scientist

Dr Ravi Pathak

Synthetic chemist

Dr Krishna Kumari Bandi

Synthetic chemist

Mrs Ann Underhill

Insectary technician

Mr Fraser Mitchell

Analytical facility manager

Mr Joseph Burhani

PhD student

Ms Khatijah Yaman

PhD student

Ms Graziella Borges Alves*

Field technician

Ms Claudia Simões*

Field technician

Ms Renata Duram*

Field technician

* permanently based in Araçatuba, Brazil

 

Current research projects

1.  Strategic Translation Award Field trials of synthetic sex pheromone to reduce visceral leishmaniasis transmission by Lutzomyia longipalpis in Brazil. Wellcome Trust, 2010-2015.

2.  Analysis of insect semiochemicals. Wellcome Trust, 2010-2015.

3.  Europe Australasian Thrips Semiochemical (EATS) Network: identification of thrips pheromones. EU, 2012-2016.

3.  Biological, semiochemical and selective chemical management methods for insecticide resistant western flower thrips on protected strawberry. Horticulture LINK, 2010-2015.

4.  Aggregation pheromones of thrips. FERA, 2011-2013.

5.  Pheromone Identification for Environmentally Responsible Control of Thrips. EU Marie Curie IIF, 2011-2013

Selected Publications

  • Bray DP and Hamilton JGC. 2013. Insecticide-impregnated netting as a potential tool for long-lasting control of the leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis in animal shelters. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 6, Article ARTN 133. link> doi>
  • Olaniran OA, Sudhakar AVS, Drijfhout FP, Dublon IAN, Hall DR, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2013. A male-predominant cuticular hydrocarbon, 7 methyltricosane, is used as a contact pheromone in the western flower thrips (in press). Journal of Chemical Ecology. doi>
  • Sudhakar AVS, Kirk WDJ, Murai T, Walters KFA, Hamilton JGC. 2013. Characterisation of the aggregation pheromone of the Melon Thrips, Thrips palmi (submitted). PLoS One.
  • Chelbi I, Bray DP, Hamilton JGC. 2012. Courtship behaviour of Phlebotomus papatasi the sand fly vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Parasites and Vectors, 179-187. doi>
  • Chelbi I, Bray DP, Hamilton JGC. 2012. Courtship behaviour of Phlebotomus papatasi the sand fly vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 5, Article ARTN 179. link> doi>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Bray DP and Hamilton JGC. 2013. Insecticide-impregnated netting as a potential tool for long-lasting control of the leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis in animal shelters. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 6, Article ARTN 133. link> doi>
  • Olaniran OA, Sudhakar AVS, Drijfhout FP, Dublon IAN, Hall DR, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2013. A male-predominant cuticular hydrocarbon, 7 methyltricosane, is used as a contact pheromone in the western flower thrips (in press). Journal of Chemical Ecology. doi>
  • Sudhakar AVS, Kirk WDJ, Murai T, Walters KFA, Hamilton JGC. 2013. Characterisation of the aggregation pheromone of the Melon Thrips, Thrips palmi (submitted). PLoS One.
  • Chelbi I, Bray DP, Hamilton JGC. 2012. Courtship behaviour of Phlebotomus papatasi the sand fly vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Parasites and Vectors, 179-187. doi>
  • Chelbi I, Bray DP, Hamilton JGC. 2012. Courtship behaviour of Phlebotomus papatasi the sand fly vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 5, Article ARTN 179. link> doi>
  • Chelbi I, Zhioua E, Hamilton JGC. 2011. Behavioral Evidence for the Presence of a Sex Pheromone in Male Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli (Diptera: Psychodidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 48(3), 518-525. link> doi>
  • Chelbi I, Zhioua E, Hamilton JGC. 2011. Behavioral Evidence for the Presence of a Sex Pheromone in Male Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli (Diptera: Psychodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, vol. 48(3), 518-525. doi>
  • Salomon OD, Araki AS, Hamilton JGC, Acardi SA, Peixoto AA. 2010. Sex pheromone and period gene characterization of Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Posadas, Argentina. MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, vol. 105(7), 928-930. link> doi>
  • Harvey JA, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD. 2010. Presence of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Stimulates Burrowing Behavior by Larvae of the Sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae). NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 39(1), 137-139. link> doi>
  • Bray DP, Alves GB, Dorval ME, Brazil RP, Hamilton JG. 2010. Synthetic sex pheromone attracts the leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis to experimental chicken sheds treated with insecticide. Parasit Vectors, vol. 3, 16. link> doi> full text>
  • Brazil RP, Caballero NN, Hamilton JGC. 2009. Identification of the sex pheromone of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Asuncion, Paraguay. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 2, Article ARTN 51. link> doi>
  • Bray DP, Bandi KK, Brazil RP, Oliveira AG, Hamilton JG. 2009. Synthetic sex pheromone attracts the leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) to traps in the field. J Med Entomol, vol. 46(3), 428-434. link> doi>
  • Araki AS, Vigoder FM, Bauzer LGSR, Ferreira GEM, Souza NA, Araujo IB, Hamilton JGC, Brazil RP, Peixoto AA. 2009. Molecular and Behavioral Differentiation among Brazilian Populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae). PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, vol. 3(1), Article ARTN e365. link> doi> full text>
  • Ranasinghe S, Rogers ME, Hamilton JGC, Bates PA, Maingon RDC. 2008. A real-time PCR assay to estimate Leishmania chagasi load in its natural sand fly vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, vol. 102(9), 875-882. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC. 2008. Sandfly pheromones - Their biology and potential for use in control programs. PARASITE-JOURNAL DE LA SOCIETE FRANCAISE DE PARASITOLOGIE, vol. 15(3), 252-256. link>
  • Dublon IAN, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2008. Quantification of the release rate of the aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, vol. 43(2), 249-256. doi>
  • Maingon RD, Ward RD, Hamilton JG, Bauzer LG, Peixoto AA. 2008. The Lutzomyia longipalpis species complex: does population sub-structure matter to Leishmania transmission?. Trends Parasitol, vol. 24(1), 12-17. link> doi>
  • Bray DP and Hamilton JG. 2007. Courtship behaviour in the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis, the New World vector of visceral leishmaniasis. Med Vet Entomol, vol. 21(4), 332-338. link> doi>
  • Bray DP and Hamilton JG. 2007. Host odor synergizes attraction of virgin female Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol, vol. 44(5), 779-787. link> doi>
  • Dublon IAN, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2007. Development of a laboratory bioassay to test flight responses to semiochemicals in the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. J INSECT SCI, vol. 7.
  • Rebollar-Tellez EA, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD. 2006. Genetic inherence of the response to human kairomones by two allopatric members of the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex. PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 31(1), 94-97. link> doi>
  • Casanova C, Hamilton JGC, Trigo JR, Costa AIP. 2006. Identification of sex pheromones of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) populations from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, vol. 101(1), 113-115. link> doi>
  • HAMILTON JGC, Alexander B, Maingon R, Ward RD. 2005. Analysis of the sex pheromone extract of individual male Lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies from six regions in Brazil. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, vol. 19(4), 480-488. doi>
  • Watts PC, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD, Noyes HA, Souza NA, Kemp SJ, Feliciangeli MD, Brazil R, Maingon RDC. 2005. Male sex pheromones and the phylogeographic structure of the Lutzomyia longipalpis species complex (Diptera : Psychodidae) from Brazil and Venezuela. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, vol. 73(4), 734-743. link>
  • Hamilton JG, Hall DR, Kirk WD. 2005. Identification of a male-produced aggregation pheromone in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. J Chem Ecol, vol. 31(6), 1369-1379. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Brazil RP, Maingon RDC. 2004. A fourth chemotype of \fILutzomyia longipalpis\fP (Diptera:psychodidae) from Jaibas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Journal of Medical Entomology, vol. 41(5), 1021-1026. doi>
  • HAMILTON JGC, Brazil RP, Maingon R. 2004. A Fourth Chemotype of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, vol. 41(6), 1021-1026.
  • Kirk WD and Hamilton JG. 2004. Evidence for a male-produced sex pheromone in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. J Chem Ecol, vol. 30(1), 167-174. link> doi>
  • Ranasinghe S, Maingon R, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD. 2003. Development of a highly sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction as a tool for quantifying Leishmania in sandflies. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, vol. 97(6), 630. link> doi>
  • Maingon RD, Ward RD, Hamilton JG, Noyes HA, Souza N, Kemp SJ, Watts PC. 2003. Genetic identification of two sibling species of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) that produce distinct male sex pheromones in Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil. Mol Ecol, vol. 12(7), 1879-1894. link> doi>
  • HAMILTON JGC and Mellor HE. 2003. Navigation of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) under dusk or starlight conditions. Bulletin of Entomological Research, vol. 93(4), 315-322. doi>
  • MacDonald KM, Hamilton JGC, Jacobson R, Kirk WDJ. 2003. Analysis of anal droplets of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Journal of Chemical Ecology, vol. 29(10), 2385-2389. doi>
  • Mellor HE and Hamilton JGC. 2003. Attraction of female, \fILutzomyia longipalpis\fP (Diptera:Psychodidae) to low intensity blue-green light. Bulletin of Entomological Research, vol. 93(4), 315-322.
  • Alves JCM, Hamilton JGC, Brazil RP. 2003. Oviposition response of \fILutzomyia (Lutzomyia) renei\fP (Martins, Falca"~o & Silva) (Diptera:Psychodidae) to extracts of conspecific eggs in laboratory bioassays. Entomotropica, vol. 18(2), 121-126.
  • Bauzer LGSR, Gesto JSM, Souza NA, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC, Kyriacou CP, Peixoto AA. 2002. Molecular divergence in the period gene between two putative sympatric species of the Lutzomiya longipalpis complex. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, vol. 19(9), 1624-1627. link>
  • Brazil RP and Hamilton JGC. 2002. Isolation and identification of 9-methylgermacrene-B as the putative sex pheromone of \fILutzomyia cruzi\fP (Mangabeira, 1938) (Diptera:Psychodidae). Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 97(3), 435-436. doi>
  • Rebollar-Telez EA, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD. 2002. Biting site selection on a human volunteer by members of the \fILutzomyia longipalpis\fP complex. Southwestern Entomologist, vol. 27(1), 97-104.
  • O'Shea B, Rebollar-Tellez E, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC, Polwart A. 2002. Enhanced sandfly attraction to \fILeishmania\fP infected hosts. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 96(117-118), 117-118. doi>
  • Souza NA, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC, Kyriacou CP, Peixoto AA. 2002. Copulation songs in three siblings of \fILutzomyia longipalpis\fP (Diptera:Psychodidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygeine. doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Brazil RP, Campbell-Lendrum D, Davies CR, Kelly DW, Pessoa FAC, de Queiroz RG. 2002. Distribution of putative male sex pheromones among \fILutzomyia\fP sandflies (Diptera:Psychodidae). Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, vol. 96(1), 83-92.
  • MacDonald KM, Hamilton JGC, Jacobson R, Kirk WDJ. 2002. Effects of alarm pheromone on landing and take-off by adult western flower thrips. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
  • MacDonald KM, Hamilton JGC, Jacobson R, Kirk WDJ. 2002. Effects of alarm pheromone on landing and take-off by adult western flower thrips. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. doi>
  • Hamilton JGC and Hurd H. 2002. Parasite manipulation of vector behaviour. The behavioural ecology of parasites (Ed EE Lewis, JF Cambell, MVK Sukhdeo).
  • Hamilton JGC and Naiem DA. 2000. Sugars in the gut of the sandfly Phlebotomus orientalis from Dinder National Park, Eastern Sudan. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 14(1), 64-70. link> doi>
  • Dougherty MJ, Guerin PM, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC. 1999. Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of the phlebotomine sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera : Psychodidae) when exposed to canid host odour kairomones. PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 24(3), 251-262. link> doi>
  • Rebollar-Tellez EA, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD. 1999. Response of female Lutzomyia longipalpis to host odour kairomones from human skin. PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 24(3), 220-226. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Brazil RP, Morgan ED, Alexander B. 1999. Chemical analysis of oxygenated homosesquiterpenes: a putative sex pheromone from Lutzomyia lichyi (Diptera : Psychodidae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, vol. 89(2), 139-145. link>
  • Hamilton JGC, Hooper AM, Mori K, Pickett JA, Sano S. 1999. 3-methyl-alpha-himachalene is confirmed, and the relative stereochemistry defined, by synthesis as the sex pheromone of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis from Jacobina, Brazil. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 355-356. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Hooper AM, Ibbotson HC, Kurosawa S, Mori K, Muto SE, Pickett JA. 1999. 9-Methylgermacrene-B is confirmed as the sex pheromone of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis from Lapinha, Brazil, and the absolute stereochemistry defined as S. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 2335-2336. link> doi>
  • Jones TM and Hamilton JGC. 1998. A role for pheromones in mate choice in a lekking sandfly. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, vol. 56, 891-898. link> doi>
  • Clark LJ, Hamilton JGC, Chapman JV, Rhodes MJC, Hallahan DL. 1997. Analysis of monoterpenoids in glandular trichomes of the catmint Nepeta racemosa. PLANT JOURNAL, vol. 11(6), 1387-1393. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Dawson GW, Pickett JA. 1996. 3-methyl-alpha-himachalene: Proposed structure for novel homosesquiterpene sex pheromone of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Jacobina, Brazil. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, vol. 22(12), 2331-2340. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JG, Ward RD, Dougherty MJ, Maignon R, Ponce C, Ponce E, Noyes H, Zeledón R. 1996. Comparison of the sex-pheromone components of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera:Psychodidae) from areas of visceral and atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras and Cost Rica. Ann Trop Med Parasitol, vol. 90(5), 533-541. link>
  • Mellor HE, Hamilton JGC, Anderson M. 1996. Spectral sensitivity in the eyes of male and female Lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 10(4), 371-374. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Dawson GW, Pickett JA. 1996. 9-Methylgermacrene-B; Proposed structure for novel homosesquiterpene from the sex pheromone glands of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Lapinha, Brazil. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, vol. 22(8), 1477-1491. link> doi>
  • Dougherty MJ and Hamilton JGC. 1996. A biologically-active compound from pupae of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) and its possible role in defence. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, vol. 86(1), 11-16. link>
  • HAMILTON J and SONENSHINE D. 1995. THE EFFECT OF FEMALE BODY-SIZE ON MALE MOUNTING BEHAVIOR IN DERMACENTOR-VARIABILIS AND D-ANDERSONI. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 9(3), 219-223. link> doi>
  • HALLAHAN D, WEST J, WALLSGROVE R, SMILEY D, DAWSON G, PICKETT J, HAMILTON J. 1995. PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ACYCLIC MONOTERPENE PRIMARY ALCOHOL-NADP(+) OXIDOREDUCTASE FROM CATMINT (NEPETA-RACEMOSA). ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS, vol. 318(1), 105-112. link> doi>
  • HAMILTON J and RAMSOONDAR T. 1994. ATTRACTION OF LUTZOMYIA-LONGIPALPIS TO HUMAN SKIN ODORS. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, vol. 8(4), 375-380. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JG and Ward RD. 1994. Chemical analysis of a putative sex pheromone from Lutzomyia pessoai (Diptera: Psychodidae). Ann Trop Med Parasitol, vol. 88(4), 405-412. link>
  • HAMILTON J, PAPADOPOULOS E, HARRISON S, LLOYD C, WALKER A. 1994. EVIDENCE FOR A MOUNTING SEX-PHEROMONE IN THE BROWN EAR TICK RHIPICEPHALUS-APPENDICULATUS, NEUMAN 1901 (ACARI, IXODIDAE). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY, vol. 18(6), 331-338. link> doi>

Other

  • Ward RD and Hamilton JGC. 2002. Chemical and auditory signals in Phlebotomine sandfly (Diptera:Psychodidae) behaviour. Proceedings of the 2nd International Canine Leishmaniasis Forum, Seville, Spain.
  • Ward RD and Hamilton JGC. 2002. Chemical and auditory signals in Phlebotomine sandfly behaviour (Diptera:Psychodidae).
  • Hamilton JGC and Kirk WDJ. 2003. Method of monitoring/controlling Thysanoptera.
  • Hamilton JGC and Kirk WDJ. 2003. Method of monitoring/controlling Thysanoptera.

Although I am currently on research leave my normal teaching duties include contributions to the MSc course in Vector Biology and Molecular Parasitology (Keele, Salford and Manchester Universities), contributions to the first year undergraduate modules Diversity and the Field Course on Coastal Ecology, the second year Animal Physiology and Information Technology for Life Scientists modules as well as third year research projects and dissertations. I am also 2nd year tutor for the Biology course.