Christine Reitmayer

Biography

Dr Reitmayer was awarded her PhD in Biomedical Science from Southampton University. She then moved to the University of Georgia (USA) as a Postdoctoral Researcher to study inheritable fitness traits influencing vector competence in Aedes aegypti, one of the most relevant mosquito species with respect to disease transmission.

In 2018, Dr Reitmayer moved back to the UK to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Pirbright Institute, developing arbovirus refractory technologies in mosquitoes. Her research interest in high containment pathogens, especially RNA viruses, manifested during this time. RNA viruses are known for their high mutation rates and ability to cause significant outbreaks, making them a critical area of study for infectious disease control.

Dr Reitmayer joined the School of Life Sciences at Keele University in 2024 as a Lecturer in Infectious Diseases. With her team, she continues to pursue her research into RNA viruses, how they interact with their vectors and hosts and how that knowledge can be used to develop innovative strategies to disrupt their transmission.

Research and scholarship

The Reitmayer Lab is centred around research into RNA viruses, particularly arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). With our research we are working towards preventing the transmission of diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

We use genetic modification of both, the virus and the vector, to answer questions about the differences between pathogenic and non-pathogenic viruses (insect-specific viruses) and about the drivers for these viruses to expand their vector- and host range. Our aim is to develop novel methods to interject disease transmission and to increase our toolset to effectively respond to spill-over events. Our interest encompasses a broad spectrum of viruses, from those specific to insects to highly pathogenic viruses requiring stringent containment measures in our modern CL3 facility.

One of our key projects involves collaborating with leading scientists in the UK, Europe, and Asia to develop a refractory system against alphaviruses in Aedes aegypti, one of the most important mosquito vectors. In addition, we are interested in advancing novel methods for disease surveillance. These innovative approaches are designed to detect and monitor viral activity more effectively, providing early warnings and improving public health responses. Our team is dedicated to making significant contributions to our fundamental understanding of RNA viruses and how to use this knowledge to ultimately reduce the global burden of viral diseases.

Teaching

Taught courses:

• LSC-20073 - Microbes, Viruses and Parasites

Current PhD students:

• Emily Levitt – Exploring novel arbovirus refractory tools in Aedes aegypti, 2023-2027