Dr Rhayza Maingon

Title: Senior lecturer
Phone: +44 (0)1782 734219
Email:
Location: Huxley Building : 105
Role: Year 2 Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences Tutor Study Abroad Subject Coordinator (Biology, Biochemistry, Studies on Biomedical Sciences)
Contacting me: Try my office or arrange an appointment by e-mail.
rhayza maingon

I trained initially as a Licenciado en Química (~ BSc in Chemistry), at the Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela in 1970. I found my passion was really Biochemistry and studied it through an MSc from University College London in 1979, and a PhD project in 1982 on eukaryotic gene expression using a cloned human ß-globin gene model at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, (now part of Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine). I applied my molecular biology training to the investigation of insect-vector borne diseases of public health interest in endemic countries. Between 1983 and 1986, I lectured Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the Biology Department, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, and established the molecular biology infrastructure required to isolate the tubulin genes of Trypanosoma cruzi, cause of Chagas' disease in Latin America. Between 1986 and 1994, I worked as a Wolfson Lecturer in Molecular Genetics at the Medical Entomology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, extending T. cruzi work to the related Leishmania parasite, responsible for the leishmaniases in tropical and Mediterranean regions. I joined Keele in 1994, as a Lecturer in Molecular Genetics, and as a molecular entomologist/parasitologist at the Research Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology (CAEP).

My research interests are in molecular parasitology and entomology, specifically on genetic determinants involved in tipping asymptomatic infection into symptomatic disease. Research emphasis continues to be on leishmaniasis since this is a neglected disease affecting the poor worldwide (500 million at risk), it is a serious opportunistic infection in the increasing HIV co-infected population, and its sandfly vector is becoming urbanised. Main studies in progress are on the role played by sandfly & Leishmania genetic determinants of vectorial capacity, Leishmania/sandfly co-evolution and of the initial successful establishment of Leishmania in the vertebrate host.

Further details

 

Selected Publications

  • Lins RMMA, Souza NA, Brazil RP, Maingon RDC, Peixoto AA. 2012. Fixed Differences in the paralytic Gene Define Two Lineages within the Lutzomyia longipalpis Complex Producing Different Types of Courtship Songs. PLOS ONE, vol. 7(9), Article ARTN e44323. link> doi>
  • Ranasinghe S, Maingon RDC, Bray DP, Ward RD, Udagedara C, Dissanayake M, Jayasuriya V, de Silva NK. 2012. A morphologically distinct Phlebotomus argentipes population from active cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in central Sri Lanka. MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, vol. 107(3), 402-+. link>
  • Elnaiem D-EA, Hassan HK, Osman OF, Maingon RDC, Killick-Kendrick R, Ward RD. 2011. A possible role for Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) rodhaini (Parrot, 1930) in transmission of Leishmania donovani. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 4, Article ARTN 238. link> doi>
  • Maingon R, Khela A, Sampson C, Ward R, Walker K, Exley C. 2008. Aluminium: a natural adjuvant in Leishmania transmission via sand flies?. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, vol. 102(11), 1140-1142. link> doi>
  • 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>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Lins RMMA, Souza NA, Brazil RP, Maingon RDC, Peixoto AA. 2012. Fixed Differences in the paralytic Gene Define Two Lineages within the Lutzomyia longipalpis Complex Producing Different Types of Courtship Songs. PLOS ONE, vol. 7(9), Article ARTN e44323. link> doi>
  • Ranasinghe S, Maingon RDC, Bray DP, Ward RD, Udagedara C, Dissanayake M, Jayasuriya V, de Silva NK. 2012. A morphologically distinct Phlebotomus argentipes population from active cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in central Sri Lanka. MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ, vol. 107(3), 402-+. link>
  • Elnaiem D-EA, Hassan HK, Osman OF, Maingon RDC, Killick-Kendrick R, Ward RD. 2011. A possible role for Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) rodhaini (Parrot, 1930) in transmission of Leishmania donovani. PARASITES & VECTORS, vol. 4, Article ARTN 238. link> doi>
  • Maingon R, Khela A, Sampson C, Ward R, Walker K, Exley C. 2008. Aluminium: a natural adjuvant in Leishmania transmission via sand flies?. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, vol. 102(11), 1140-1142. link> doi>
  • 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>
  • 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>
  • Bauzer LGSR, Souza NA, MAINGON R, Peixoto AA. 2007. Lutzomyia longipalpis in Brazil: a complex or a single species? A mini-review. Memorias Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 102, 1-12. doi>
  • Hamilton JG, Maingon RD, Alexander B, Ward RD, Brazil RP. 2005. Analysis of the sex pheromone extract of individual male Lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies from six regions in Brazil. Med Vet Entomol, vol. 19(4), 480-488. link> 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>
  • Campos-Ponce M, Ponce C, Ponce E, Maingon RDC. 2005. Leishmania chagasi/infantum: further investigations on Leishmania tropisms in atypical cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis foci in Central America. EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY, vol. 109(4), 209-219. link> doi>
  • Hamilton JGC, Maingon RDC, Alexander B, Ward RD, Brazil RP. 2005. Analysis of the sex pheromone extract of individual male Lutzomyia longipalis from six regions in Brazil. Medical Veterinary Entomology, vol. 19, 480-488.
  • Campos-Ponce M, Ponce C, Ponce E, Maingon RDC. 2005. L Chagas/infantum: Further investigations on Leishmania tropisms in atypical cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis foci in Central America. Experimental Parasitiology, vol. 109, 209-216.
  • 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 longipalis species complex (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Brazil and Venezuela. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 73, 734-743.
  • 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>
  • Hassan MM, Elraba'a FMA, Ward RD, Maingon RDC, Elnaiem DA. 2004. Detection of high rates of in-village transmission of \fILeishmania donovani\fP in eastern Sudan. Acta Tropica. doi>
  • Hassan MM, Elraba'a FMA, Ward RD, Maingon RDC, Elnaiem DA. 2004. Detection of high rates of in-village transmission of \fILeishmania donovani\fP in eastern Sudan. Acta Tropica.
  • 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>
  • Feliciangeli MD, Mazzarri MB, Campbell-Lendrum D, Maroli M, Maingon R. 2003. Cutaneous leishmaniasis vector control perspectives using lambdacylhalothrin residual house spraying in El Ingenio, Miranda State, Venezuela. Cutaneous leishmaniasis control in Venezuela.
  • Maingon R, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC, Noyes HA, Souza N, Kemp SJ, Watts PC. 2003. Genetic differentiation of two sibling species of \fILutzomyia longipalpis\fP(Diptera:Psychodidae)that produce distinct male sex pheromones in Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil. Sympatric \fIL. longipalpis\fP sibling populations.
  • HURD H, Ahmed AM, Boggott SL, Maingon R. 2002. The costs of mounting an immune response are reflected in the reproductive fitness of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Oikos, vol. 97(3), 371-377. doi>
  • Ahmed AM, Baggott S, Maingon RDC, Hurd H. 2002. \fIAnopheles gambiae:\fP The fitness costs of mounting an immune response. Oikos.
  • Watts PC, Boyland E, Noyes HA, Maingon R, Kemp SJ. 2002. Polymorphic dinucleotide microsatellite loci in the sandfly \fILutzomyia longipalpis\fP (Diptera:Phlebotominae). Molecular Ecology Notes.
  • Ahmed AM, Maingon R, Romans P, Hurd H. 2001. Effects of malaria infection on vitellogenesis in Anopheles gambiae during two gonotrophic cycles. Insect Mol Biol, vol. 10(4), 347-356. link> doi>
  • Elnaiem DA, Hassan MM, Maingon R, Nureldin GH, Mekawi AM, Miles M, Ward RD. 2001. The Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, is a possible reservoir host of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Sudan. Parasitology, vol. 122(Pt 5), 531-536. link>
  • Haran D, Maingon R, Sandiford P, Cassel J. 1999. The potential of hydrolysed DNA assay to improve cervical screening programmes; evidence from a developing country setting. MEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, vol. 27(8), 557-559. link>
  • Nimmo DD, Ham PJ, Ward RD, Maingon R. 1997. The sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis shows specific humoral responses to bacterial challenge. Med Vet Entomol, vol. 11(4), 324-328. link> doi>
  • Noyes HA, Arana BA, Chance ML, Maingon R. 1997. The Leishmania hertigi (Kinetoplastida; Trypanosomatidae) complex and the lizard Leishmania: their classification and evidence for a neotropical origin of the Leishmania-Endotrypanum clade. J Eukaryot Microbiol, vol. 44(5), 511-517. link> doi>
  • Noyes H, Chance M, Ponce C, Ponce E, Maingon R. 1997. Leishmania chagasi: genotypically similar parasites from Honduras cause both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. Exp Parasitol, vol. 85(3), 264-273. link> doi>
  • Noyes HA, Belli AA, Maingon R. 1996. Appraisal of various random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction primers for Leishmania identification. Am J Trop Med Hyg, vol. 55(1), 98-105. link>
  • Wheeler AS, Feliciangeli MD, Ward RD, Maingon RD. 1996. Comparison of sticky-traps and CDC light-traps for sampling phlebotomine sandflies entering houses in Venezuela. Med Vet Entomol, vol. 10(3), 295-298. link> doi>
  • Motazedian H, Noyes H, Maingon R. 1996. Leishmania and Sauroleishmania: the use of random amplified polymorphic DNA for the identification of parasites from vertebrates and invertebrates. Exp Parasitol, vol. 83(1), 150-154. link> doi>
  • Fargeas C, Hommel M, Maingon R, Dourado C, Monsigny M, Mayer R. 1996. Synthetic peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. J Clin Microbiol, vol. 34(2), 241-248. link>
  • Wheeler A, Feliciangeli MD, Ward RD, MAINGON R. 1996. Comparison of sticky-traps and CDC light-traps for sampling phlebotomine sandflies entering houses in Venezuela. Medical Veterinary Entomology, vol. 10, 295-298.
  • Hamilton JGC, Ward RD, Dougherty MJ, MAINGON R, Ponce C, Ponce E, Noyes H, Zeledon R. 1996. Comparison of the sex-pheromones components of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) from areas of visceral and atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras and Costa Rica. Annals Tropical Medicine Parasitology, vol. 90, 533-541.
  • Carreira PF, Maingon R, Ward RD, Noyes H, Ponce C, Belli A, Arana B, Zeledon R, Sousa OE. 1995. Molecular techniques in the characterization of Leishmania isolates from Central America. Ann Trop Med Parasitol, vol. 89 Suppl 1, 31-36. link>
  • Le Ray D, Maingon R, Guizani I. 1995. The EUROLEISH network: an exercise in partnership. Ann Trop Med Parasitol, vol. 89 Suppl 1, 3-9. link>
  • MAINGON R, LERAY D, HOMMEL M. 1995. LEISHMANIASIS RESEARCH AND THE EUROPEAN-UNION. PARASITOLOGY TODAY, vol. 11(10), 357-359. link> doi>
  • Maingon R, Feliciangeli D, Guzman B, Rodriguez N, Convit J, Adamson R, Chance M, Petralanda I, Dougherty M, Ward R. 1994. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tachira State, Venezuela. Ann Trop Med Parasitol, vol. 88(1), 29-36. link>
  • Ben-Ismael R, MAINGON R, Le Ray D. 1994. Leishmaniasis, Health Services and Epidemiology: avenues for a needed partnership. Parasitology Today, vol. 10, 123-124.
  • Maingon R, Feliciangeli D, Ward R, Chance M, Adamson R, Rodriguez N, Convit J, Petralanda I, Hernandez A, Segovia M. 1993. Molecular approaches applied to the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Venezuela. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, vol. 70(3-4), 309-324. link>
  • Adamson RE, Ward RD, Feliciangeli MD, Maingon R. 1993. The application of random amplified polymorphic DNA for sandfly species identification. Med Vet Entomol, vol. 7(3), 203-207. link> doi>
  • Zeledón R, Maingon R, Ward R, Arana B, Belli A, de Carreira P, Ponce C. 1993. The characterization of Leishmania parasites and their vectors from Central America using molecular techniques. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, vol. 70(3-4), 325-329. link>
  • nco-Tuiran PJ, MAINGON R, Hommel M, Alcala JE. 1993. A focus of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis on the northern coast of Colombia. Archives of the Institute Pasteur Tunis, vol. 70, 481-488.
  • Navarro M, Maingon R, Hamers R, Segovia M. 1992. Dynamics and size polymorphisms of minichromosomes in Leishmania major LV-561 cloned lines. Mol Biochem Parasitol, vol. 55(1-2), 65-74. link> doi>
  • MAINGON R, SEGOVIA M, LERAY D. 1992. EUROLEISH-III WORKSHOP. PARASITOLOGY TODAY, vol. 8(9), 293-295. link> doi>
  • Gerke-Bonet R, Townson H, MAINGON R. 1992. A method for isolation of high molecular weight, DNA for cosmid cloning from non-mammalian sources. Methods in Molecular and Cellular Biology, vol. 3, 183-185.
  • Maingon R, Gerke R, Rodriguez M, Urbina J, Hoenicka J, Negri S, Aguirre T, Nehlin J, Knapp T, Crampton J. 1988. The tubulin genes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Eur J Biochem, vol. 171(1-2), 285-291. link> doi>
  • MAINGON R, BONET R, KNAPP T, CRAMPTON J. 1986. TUBULIN GENE ORGANIZATION IN TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, vol. 80(2), 340. link>
  • Jackson I, MAINGON R, Freund R, Wasylyk B, Malcolm A, Williamson R. 1981. Isolation, mapping and transcription in vitro of a beta-zero-thalassaemic globin gene. European Journal of Biochemistry, vol. 121, 27-31.
  • Apitz-Castro R, Ramírez E, Maingon R, de Murciano A, Ribbi A. 1976. Plasma membrane phosphorylation by endogenous phosphate donors in human blood platelets. Selectivity of the action of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Biochim Biophys Acta, vol. 455(2), 371-382. link> doi>
  • Maingon RD, Ranasinghe S, Bray DP, Ward RD. A morphologically distinct Phlebotomus argentipes population from active cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in central Sri Lanka. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, vol. 3(107), 402-409.
  • Maingon RD, Elnaiem DEA, Hassan HK, Osman OF, Killick-Kendrick R, Ward RD. A possible role for Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) rodhaini (Parrot, 1930) in transmission of Leishmania donovani. Parasites and Vectors, vol. 4(238). doi>
  • Maingon RD, Ranasinghe, S, Rogers, ME, Hamilton, JG, Bates, PA. 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(11).
  • Maingon RD, Lins RM, Souza NA, Brazil RP, Peixoto AA. Fixed differences in the paralytic gene define two lineages within the lutzomyia longipalpis complex producing different types of courtship songs. PLoS One, vol. 9(7). doi>

Year 1

Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences

  • LSC-10012 Experimental Methods in Molecular Bioscience

  • LSC-10024 Ethical Issues in the Biosciences (Module Manager)

  • LSC-10038 Information and inheritance (Module Manager)

Forensic Sciences

  • CHE-10028 Molecular Genetics for Forensic Science

Medicine

  • Microbiology teaching and SSC supervisor

Year 2

Biomedical Sciences/Biochemistry/Forensic Science

  • LSC-20003 Gene & Protein Engineering

Year 3

Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences

  • LSC-30018 Biochemistry & therapy of Disease

  • LSC-30008 Research Project I

  • LSC-30012 Research Project II

  • LSC-30014 Biochemistry research Project (Non-experimental)

  • LSC-30015 Biology of Disease

  • LSC-30010 Acquisition & Analysis of Information

Biology

  • LSC-30007 Dissertation for Biology

Year 4

Medicine

  • 4th Year UG Project Supervisor

  • MSc in Molecular Parasitology and Analytical Parasitology (run jointly with Salford and Manachester Universities)

  • Molecular Parasitology

  • Analytical Parasitology (Module Manager)

Administration

  • My administrative duties include subject coordination for Keele students, (Biology, Biochemistry and Studies on Biomedical Sciences), studying abroad for a semester, and for International students at the School, and Second Year Tutor for the Biochemistry and Single Honours accredited Biomedical Sciences Principal Programmes.