Ashraf Mohamed Ahmed Ali

Biography

I completed my PhD at Keele University, UK, in 2002, have had an ongoing research fellowship at Keele since 2004, and have been a Fellow of the Royal Society, UK, from 2004 until now.  I am a professor of medical and forensic Entomology at the Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. My current research interest is “medical and forensic Entomology, and successfully achieved several granted research projects, including the latest two projected during the period from 2013 to 2015 for controlling mosquito vectors (1.5 million SR) and producing natural bee-derived antibiotics against the American Foulbrood disease (AFB) in honey bees (1.6 million SR). I successfully monitored undergraduate and postgraduate students and research scholars. My academic output consists of more than 60 papers in reputed journals, including “Insects," membership in several scientific societies, attending several local, national, and international conferences, and being invited to speak at many international scientific meetings.

Research Interest

My current research interest is “Mosquito Immunity and Biocontrol," aiming at utilizing bioagents as well as the immunity of mosquito vectors against mosquito-borne diseases. I successfully achieved several granted research projects, including two projects (1.6 million Saudi Riyals each) during the period from 2013 to 2015 for biocontrolling mosquito vectors and producing natural antibiotics against the American Foulbrood disease (AFB) in honeybees. I successfully supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students and research scholars. My academic output consists of more than 40 papers in reputed journals, membership in several scientific societies, attending several local, national, and international conferences, and being invited to speak at many international scientific meetings.

  II- Significance
The findings of my research raise up a warning message that care should be taken while thinking about utilizing the immune system of the vector in the battle against malaria. On the other hand, it is not known whether or not the second strategy (transmission-blocking strategy) affects the reproductive fitness of the modified mosquitoes. Thus, it is of interest to establish whether or not this strategy affects the fecundity of the modified mosquito, which may help in winning the battle against malaria.

III- Current Research 
My current research interest is “Mosquito Immunity and Biocontrol", aiming at utilizing bio-agents as well as the immunity of mosquito vectors against mosquito-borne diseases. I have successfully achieved several granted research projects, including two projects (1.6 million Saudi Riyals each) for bio-controlling mosquito vectors and producing natural antibiotics against the American Foulbrood (AFB) in honey bees.
Part of the recent ongoing work is being done in collaboration with the malaria group at Keele University, UK (for more details, please see: https://www.keele.ac.uk/caep/w orldwidecollaborations/