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 my work, I formalize scientific hypotheses as mathematical models to make precise predictions and powerful inference.
Bacterial Evolution & immune evasion
Despite high routine vaccination coverage, pertussis has become the most prevalent vaccine-preventable disease in many countries, since the 1990s. While a plethora of candidate explanations for this resurgence remain hotly debated, two main ideas focus on vaccine driven bacterial adaptation and on the change from whole cell to acellular vaccines. We employ generalized linear models within a Bayesian coalescent framework to formally tests drivers of evolution in Bordetella pertussis populations, and the role of allele shifts in the resurgence of pertussis.
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani & Aaron King
Herd immunity erosion: source and sink dynamics
Vaccine hesitancy poses a clear barrier to covering the last mile in global disease eradication efforts for VPDs such as measles and pertussis. In this ongoing project we aim to 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
Vaccine waning immunity
Formulation of mathematical models to confront them with age stratified incidence data to learn about the mechanisms that operate in the dynamics of infectious diseases and the consequences of vaccination policies. Currently, I'm using England & Wales incidence times series of pertussis for different vaccine eras.
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani, Aaron King & Felicia Magpantay
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 Pejman Rohani & Aaron King
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 & Deven Gokhale
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
Within herd dynamics
Epidemiological impact of control & immunisation activities on within-herd bovine tuberculosis outbreaks
In collaboration with Christl Donnelly
Environmental drivers of plant-herbivore dynamics
In temperate regions the seasonal pattern of plant productivity and senescence is influenced strongly by the prevailing weather. For herbivores the onset of spring is particularly important for survival and growth, while subsequent plant production will potentially influence lactation and recovery of body mass before the next breeding season.
In collaboration with Mick Crawley, Josephine Pemberton, Steve Albon & Dan Nussey
Selected Publications
Epidemiological impact of control and immunisation activities on within-herd bovine tuberculosis outbreaks
Bento & Donnelly. 2019. Forthcoming in Scientific Reports
Core pertussis transmission groups in England and Wales: A tale of two eras
Bento et al. 2018. Vaccine
The relative role of age groups in pertussis transmission scenarios
Bento et al. 2018. BioRxiv
Maternal pertussis immunisation: clinical gains and epidemiological legacy
Bento, King & Rohani. 2017. Eurosurveillance
Forecasting epidemiological consequences of maternal immunization
Bento & Rohani 2016. Clinical Infectious Diseases
Physiological proteins in resource-limited herbivores experiencing a population die-off
Garnier, Bento et al. 2017
EpiJSON: A unifed data-format for epidemiology
Finnie, Bento et al. 2016. Epidemics
A review of epidemiological parameters from Ebola outbreaks to inform early public health decision-making
Bento 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
Bento et al. 2015. Veterinary Record
Multiple pathways mediate the effects of climate change on maternal reproductive traits in a red deer population
Stoffer, Bento et al. 2014. Ecology
B. pertussis epidemiology, transmission & evolution in the vaccine era
Bento, King, Taujale, Bosch & Rohani. in review (available upon request)
Feeding the disparities: the geography and trends of breastfeeding in the United States
Garnier, Bento et al. in review (available upon request)
Climatic effects of plant productivity and herbivore performance in St Kilda
Bento et al. in review (available upon request)
Won't you be my neighbor?
Bento, Omer, Haran, Rohani & Bansal ( in prep available upon request)
Warming and vegetation community dynamics in a wild red deer population
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
Spring temperature and rain mediate summer growth in the Park Grass experiment
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
Find me here
Keep track of my publications on the links below.
