C.V.
JOBS:
Pennsylvania State University (2009 - present)
Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology.
University of Michigan (2002-2009)
Ph.D. student, Department of Natural Resources Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Infectious Disease.
University of Michigan School of Public Health (2006-2008)
NIH training grant Fellow, Department of Epidemiology Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
DEGREES:
Ph.D. Natural Resources (2009), University of Michigan
B.S. in Biology, minor in Spanish literature (2002), University of Michigan
JOBS:
Pennsylvania State University (2009 - present)
Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology.
University of Michigan (2002-2009)
Ph.D. student, Department of Natural Resources Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Infectious Disease.
University of Michigan School of Public Health (2006-2008)
NIH training grant Fellow, Department of Epidemiology Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
DEGREES:
Ph.D. Natural Resources (2009), University of Michigan
B.S. in Biology, minor in Spanish literature (2002), University of Michigan
Research interests
I am interested in the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. In particular, my research investigates how environmental factors (e.g. temperature, nutrition, humidity) affect the outcome of parasite-host associations either through direct impacts on parasite growth and development within the host and / or through indirect effects on host immunity, physiology, and condition. Current research explores the hypothesis that temperature is an important environmental driver of geographic variation in resistance and susceptibility of insect vector populations to vector-borne parasites. My current work involves empirical and statistical approaches to better understand the effects of temperature on a suite of key innate immune responses and overall vector competence of the Asian malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi.
I am interested in the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. In particular, my research investigates how environmental factors (e.g. temperature, nutrition, humidity) affect the outcome of parasite-host associations either through direct impacts on parasite growth and development within the host and / or through indirect effects on host immunity, physiology, and condition. Current research explores the hypothesis that temperature is an important environmental driver of geographic variation in resistance and susceptibility of insect vector populations to vector-borne parasites. My current work involves empirical and statistical approaches to better understand the effects of temperature on a suite of key innate immune responses and overall vector competence of the Asian malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi.
Publications
Accepted for Publication:
Murdock, C. Foufopoulos, J. and C. Simon (2013) A transmission model for the ecology of an avian blood parasite in a temperate ecosystem, PLoS One, pdf.
Murdock, C. C., Moller-Jacobs, L., and M. B. Thomas (2013). Complex environmental drivers of immunity and resistance in a malaria mosquito. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London Series B, pdf.
Cator, L. J., Blanford, S., Murdock, C. C., Baker, T. C., Read, A. F., and M. B. Thomas (2013). Manipulation without the parasite: altered feeding behavior of malaria mosquitoes is not dependent on parasite infection. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London Series B, pdf.
Paaijmans, K. P., Heinig, R. L., Seliga, R. A., Blanford, J. I., Blanford, S.,Murdock, C. C., and M. B. Thomas (2013). Temperature variation makes ectotherms more sensitive to climate change. Global Change Biology, pdf.
Dietz, M. S., Murdock, C. C., Romero, M. L., Ozgul, A., and J. Foufopoulos (2013) Distance to road is associated with reproductive success and physiological stress in a migratory landbird. Wilson Journal of Ornithology, pdf.
Murdock, C. C., Paaijmans, K. P., Cox-Foster, D., Read, A. F., and M. B. Thomas (2012) Rethinking vector immunology: the role of the environment in shaping resistance. Nature Reviews Microbiology, pdf.
Murdock, C. C., Paaijmans, K. P., Bell, A. S., King, J. G., Hillyer, J. F., Read, A. F., and M. B. Thomas. 2012. Complex effects of temperature on mosquito immune function. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Biological Sciences B, 279: 3357-3366, pdf
Murdock, C. C., Olival, K. J., and S. L. Perkins. 2010. Molecular identification of host feeding patterns of snow-melt mosquitoes: potential implications for the transmission ecology of Jamestown Canyon Virus, Journal of Medical Entomology, 47(2): 226-229. pdf
Foxman, B., Goldberg, D., Murdock, C., Xi, C. and J. Gilsdorf. Conceptualizing human microbiota: from multi-celled organ to ecological community. Volume 2008, Article ID 613979, 5 pages. pdf
Under Review:
Murdock, C.C., Hughes, G., Rasgon, J., and M.B. Thomas (under review). Environmental temperature alters malaria blocking byWolbachia. PLoS Pathogens
Low, B., Murdock, C. C., Dietz, M. S., and P. Bendekoff (commissioned for publication in Winter 2014) Behavioral Ecology: Life Histories in a Changing World. Oxford University Press.
In Preparation:
Murdock, C. C., Blanford, S., Luckhart, S., and M. B. Thomas (to be submitted in September). Direct and indirect effects of temperature on susceptibility of mosquitoes to malaria. Parasites and Vectors.
Murdock, C.C., Perkins, S., and P. Adler (to be resubmitted by October). Molecular analyses on host-seeking black flies reveal a diverse assemblage of Leucocytozoon parasites. Journal of Parasitology
Murdock, C.C., Dietz, M.S., Romero, M., Low, B., and J. Foufopoulos (to be resubmitted by October). Effects of food availability and parasitism on stress and immune response in song birds. Functional Ecology
Moller-Jacobs, L.L., Murdock, C.C., and M.B. Thomas (in prep). Larval body condition influences mosquito resistance to malaria infection. Malaria Journal
Accepted for Publication:
Murdock, C. Foufopoulos, J. and C. Simon (2013) A transmission model for the ecology of an avian blood parasite in a temperate ecosystem, PLoS One, pdf.
Murdock, C. C., Moller-Jacobs, L., and M. B. Thomas (2013). Complex environmental drivers of immunity and resistance in a malaria mosquito. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London Series B, pdf.
Cator, L. J., Blanford, S., Murdock, C. C., Baker, T. C., Read, A. F., and M. B. Thomas (2013). Manipulation without the parasite: altered feeding behavior of malaria mosquitoes is not dependent on parasite infection. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London Series B, pdf.
Paaijmans, K. P., Heinig, R. L., Seliga, R. A., Blanford, J. I., Blanford, S.,Murdock, C. C., and M. B. Thomas (2013). Temperature variation makes ectotherms more sensitive to climate change. Global Change Biology, pdf.
Dietz, M. S., Murdock, C. C., Romero, M. L., Ozgul, A., and J. Foufopoulos (2013) Distance to road is associated with reproductive success and physiological stress in a migratory landbird. Wilson Journal of Ornithology, pdf.
Murdock, C. C., Paaijmans, K. P., Cox-Foster, D., Read, A. F., and M. B. Thomas (2012) Rethinking vector immunology: the role of the environment in shaping resistance. Nature Reviews Microbiology, pdf.
Murdock, C. C., Paaijmans, K. P., Bell, A. S., King, J. G., Hillyer, J. F., Read, A. F., and M. B. Thomas. 2012. Complex effects of temperature on mosquito immune function. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Biological Sciences B, 279: 3357-3366, pdf
Murdock, C. C., Olival, K. J., and S. L. Perkins. 2010. Molecular identification of host feeding patterns of snow-melt mosquitoes: potential implications for the transmission ecology of Jamestown Canyon Virus, Journal of Medical Entomology, 47(2): 226-229. pdf
Foxman, B., Goldberg, D., Murdock, C., Xi, C. and J. Gilsdorf. Conceptualizing human microbiota: from multi-celled organ to ecological community. Volume 2008, Article ID 613979, 5 pages. pdf
Under Review:
Murdock, C.C., Hughes, G., Rasgon, J., and M.B. Thomas (under review). Environmental temperature alters malaria blocking byWolbachia. PLoS Pathogens
Low, B., Murdock, C. C., Dietz, M. S., and P. Bendekoff (commissioned for publication in Winter 2014) Behavioral Ecology: Life Histories in a Changing World. Oxford University Press.
In Preparation:
Murdock, C. C., Blanford, S., Luckhart, S., and M. B. Thomas (to be submitted in September). Direct and indirect effects of temperature on susceptibility of mosquitoes to malaria. Parasites and Vectors.
Murdock, C.C., Perkins, S., and P. Adler (to be resubmitted by October). Molecular analyses on host-seeking black flies reveal a diverse assemblage of Leucocytozoon parasites. Journal of Parasitology
Murdock, C.C., Dietz, M.S., Romero, M., Low, B., and J. Foufopoulos (to be resubmitted by October). Effects of food availability and parasitism on stress and immune response in song birds. Functional Ecology
Moller-Jacobs, L.L., Murdock, C.C., and M.B. Thomas (in prep). Larval body condition influences mosquito resistance to malaria infection. Malaria Journal
Miscellaneous
NIH R21 (June 1, 2011 - May 31, 2013): Effects of Temperature on Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence
NIH R21 (June 1, 2011 - May 31, 2013): Effects of Temperature on Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence