Research Interests
I lead the IDPH-funded Illinois Statewide Tick Surveillance Program and conduct research on vectors at the University of Illinois Prairie Research Insitute INHS Medical Entomology Lab. We collect mosquitoes and ticks throughout Illinois for vector-borne pathogen surveillance and conduct field- and lab-based research to inform and improve vector control. We use an integrated approach to study of arthropod vectors that combines molecular analyses (e.g., microbiome characterization, pathogen detection) with taxonomy, organismal experimentation, mathematical modeling, and socioeconomic and environmental analysis.
I have a B.Sc. in Biology (UNC - Chapel Hill) and an M.Sc. and PhD in Entomology (Clemson University). During my graduate matriculation I won an NSF-GRF for my research on mosquito ecology in zoological parks. I completed two postdocs, in American Samoa and Switzerland, on biology and control of insect vectors. Following those, I worked for two years as an Agricultural Risk Analyst with NCSU & USDA APHIS.
My professional interests center on animal behavior, basic and applied biological research, data gathering and analysis, ecology, entomology, invasive species biology, neglected and (re)emerging diseases, symbioses and coevolution, science communication and collaboration, and teaching.
Education
Entomology, MSc (en route) & PhD, Clemson University
Biology (Chemistry minor), BSc, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Courses Taught
In Spring of even years I teach IB481 "Vector-borne Diseases" at UIUC.
I also provide guest lectures on vector biology and surveillance for other courses on campus.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Department Affiliate, Entomology
Center Affiliate, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Associate Research Scientist, Vector Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey
Highlighted Publications
Phillips, V. C., Zieman, E. A., Kim, C. H., Stone, C. M., Tuten, H. C., & Jiménez, F. A. (2020). Documentation of the Expansion of the Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum) and Rickettsia parkeri: First Report in Illinois. Journal of Parasitology, 106(1), 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1645/19-118
Tuten, H. C., Burkhalter, K. L., Noel, K. R., Hernandez, E. J., Yates, S., Wojnowski, K., Hartleb, J., Debosik, S., Holmes, A., & Stone, C. M. (2020). Heartland Virus in Humans and Ticks, Illinois, USA, 2018-2019. Emerging infectious diseases, 26(7), 1548-1552. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2607.200110
Kumar, D., Sharma, S. R., Adegoke, A., Kennedy, A., Tuten, H. C., Li, A. Y., & Karim, S. (2022). Recently Evolved Francisella-Like Endosymbiont Outcompetes an Ancient and Evolutionarily Associated Coxiella-Like Endosymbiont in the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Linked to the Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, Article 787209. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.787209
Tuten, H. C., & Temesvari, L. (2013). Popular Science Journalism: Facilitating Learning Through Peer Review and Communication of Science News. Journal of College Science Teaching, 42(4), 46-49. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43631920
Adler, P. H., Tuten, H. C., & Nelder, M. P. (2011). Arthropods of medicoveterinary importance in zoos. Annual Review of Entomology, 56, 123-142. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-120709-144741
Recent Publications
Frederick, J. C., Thompson, A. T., Sharma, P., Dharmarajan, G., Ronai, I., Pesapane, R., Smith, R. C., Sundstrom, K. D., Tsao, J. I., Tuten, H. C., Yabsley, M. J., & Glenn, T. C. (2023). Phylogeography of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) throughout the USA identifies candidate loci for differences in vectorial capacity. Molecular ecology, 32(12), 3133-3149. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16921
Taitingfong, R. I., Triplett, C., Vásquez, V. N., Rajagopalan, R. M., Raban, R., Roberts, A., Terradas, G., Baumgartner, B., Emerson, C., Gould, F., Okumu, F., Schairer, C. E., Bossin, H. C., Buchman, L., Campbell, K. J., Clark, A., Delborne, J., Esvelt, K., Fisher, J., ... Bloss, C. S. (2023). Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry. Nature Biotechnology, 41(1), 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w
Flenniken, J. M., Tuten, H. C., Rose Vineer, H., Phillips, V. C., Stone, C. M., & Allan, B. F. (2022). Environmental Drivers of Gulf Coast Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) Range Expansion in the United States. Journal of medical entomology, 59(5), 1625-1635. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac091
Kumar, D., Sharma, S. R., Adegoke, A., Kennedy, A., Tuten, H. C., Li, A. Y., & Karim, S. (2022). Recently Evolved Francisella-Like Endosymbiont Outcompetes an Ancient and Evolutionarily Associated Coxiella-Like Endosymbiont in the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Linked to the Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, Article 787209. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.787209
Murray, M. H., Buckley, J., Byers, K. A., Fake, K., Lehrer, E. W., Magle, S. B., Stone, C., Tuten, H., & Schell, C. J. (2022). One Health for All: Advancing Human and Ecosystem Health in Cities by Integrating an Environmental Justice Lens. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 53, 403-426. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102220-031745