Ongoing projects
A selection of projects I'm involved in much of my current research is based on understanding long-term data on spatio-temporal incidence patterns of microparasitic infections such as pertussis, measles and bovine tuberculosis. In addition, Some new projects on COVID-19. In my work, I formalize scientific hypotheses as mathematical models to make precise predictions and powerful inference.
Bacterial Evolutionary Signatures
We are developing holistic mechanistic models of pertussis evolution for countries under different vaccine regimes
In collaboration with Andy Preston, Sam Scarpino, Matthew Hahn, Eric Harvill & Michael Weigand
Evolution of resistance to Schistosomiasis
Investigating population structure and differential transmission potential in snail populations in Senegal. Will recruit Postdocs soon!
In collaboration with Jason Rohr, Maurine Neiman & Curt Lively
Disease spreading modeling through social and genomic data of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States
Integrating paralel data streams
In collaboration with carla Mavian
Adaptive behavior and disease transmission
Integrative Epi-economic framework to understand adaptive changes in behavior and transmission consequences
In collaboration With Dan Kaffine & Antonio Bento
Drivers of pertussis dynamics in the Netherlands
Bayesian coalescent framework to formally tests drivers of evolution in B. pertussis populations
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani & Aaron King and the RVM
Herd immunity erosion: source and sink dynamics
Characterize disease dynamics and vaccine coverage, estimate the epidemiological impact of vaccine hesitancy, and identify the spatial scale of herd immunity.
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani, Shweta Bansal, Saad Omer & Murali Haran
Evolution of antiviral resistance
Computationally test the hypothesis that increased HA binding avidity is associated with increased rates of Oseltamivir resistance.
In collaboration with Sam Scarpino
Tick borne emergence in the Midwest
Using Indiana as an Early Warning System for tick expansion in the Midwest. Phylogeographic analysis of tick and pathogen diversity and disease dynamics
In collaboration with Karo Oomodior, Keith Clay, Dan Becker, Curt Lively & Ellen Ketterson
Impact of maternal vaccination
The historical pertussis literature indicates that maternal vaccination may potentially lead to a reduction in the efficacy of routine infant immunization. We studied the possible downstream consequences of maternal immunization.
In collaboration with Lourdes de Lima, Daniela Leite
Influenza viral attributes
Emergence and pathogenesis of influenza viruses, with a focus on identification of attributes which influence tropism, pathogenicity, and evolution of influenza viruses.
In collaboration with Jasmina Luczo, Mark Tompkins & Pejman Rohani
Vaccine waning immunity
England & Wales and particular states in the US incidence times series of pertussis for different vaccine eras.
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani, Aaron King & Felicia Magpantay
Within herd dynamics
Epidemiological impact of control & immunisation activities on within-herd bovine tuberculosis outbreaks
In collaboration with Christl Donnelly and DEFRA
Selected Publications
For a complete list of publications check my CV
Information Seeking Responses to News of Local COVID-19 Cases: Evidence from Internet Search Data
Bento et al PNAS 2020
Effects of mitigation strategies on COVID-19 averted cases in Sichuan, China
Liu et al. 2020
Accepted Plos Comp Bio
COVID-19 incidence in the county increased on average by a statistically significant 0.024 per thousand residents
Andersen et al. 2020
in review
Estimation of the incubation period of COVID-19 using viral load data
Ejima et al. medrxiv 2020
in review
Evolutionary consequences of feedbacks between within-host competition and disease control
Greischar et al. JID 2020
Core pertussis transmission groups in England and Wales: A tale of two eras
Bento et al. 2018. Vaccine
Maternal pertussis immunisation: clinical gains and epidemiological legacy
Bento, King & Rohani. 2017. Eurosurveillance
Inferring Timing of Infection Using Within-host SARS-CoV-2 Infection Dynamics Model: Are “Imported Cases” Truly Imported?
Ejima et al 2020
in review
Global effects of delays in detection of COVID-19
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
Forecasting epidemiological consequences of maternal immunization
Bento & Rohani 2016. Clinical Infectious Diseases
Age and sex specific susceptibility as a predictor for COVID-19 prevalence in China
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
The immune landscape of childhood infections: interactions between vaccination and breastfeeding
Garnier et al.
in prep
The relative role of age groups in pertussis transmission scenarios
Bento et al. 2018. BioRxiv
Physiological proteins in resource-limited herbivores experiencing a population die-off
Garnier et al. 2017
EpiJSON: A unifed data-format for epidemiology
Finnie et al. 2016. Epidemics
A review of epidemiological parameters from Ebola outbreaks to inform early public health decision-making
van Kerkove et al. 2015. Nature Scientific Data
Exploration of the power of routine surveillance data to assess the impacts of industry-led badger culling on bovine tuberculosis incidence in cattle herds
Donnelly et al. 2015. Veterinary Record
Epidemiological impact of control and immunisation activities on within-herd bovine tuberculosis outbreaks
Bento & Donnelly. 2020
in prep
Multiple pathways mediate the effects of climate change on maternal reproductive traits in a red deer population
Stoffer et al. 2014. Ecology
Climatic effects of plant productivity and herbivore performance in St Kilda
Bento et al. in review (available upon request)
Warming and vegetation community dynamics in a wild red deer population
Bento et al. submitted (available upon request)
Spring temperature and rain mediate summer growth in the Park Grass experiment
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
The Bento Lab
Get to know us & join us!
Ana Bento PI
Eco-epidemiologist with a focus on ecology and evolution of infectious diseases.
Seth Edmunds Phd Student
SPH
Varun Rao PhD Student
NRT
Turner DeBlieux Phd student
EEB
Find us here
Bento Lab
School of Public Health, IU-Bloomington
1025 7th Street, #C113
