Characterising the virome diversity of malaria vectors and its potential role in blocking transmission

Malaria is the most devastating vector borne disease worldwide. The World Health Organisation estimates around ~500,000 people are killed each year, with ~250 million infected. The disease is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites spread through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. To date, control has relied upon insecticides and bed nets and while these have been incredibly successful in reducing burden, insecticide resistance is widespread and there is increasing need for alternative controls. One potential method to be explored is using insect-specific viruses. These viruses, which infect mosquitoes but crucially cannot infect humans, may be able to reduce the likelihood of Plasmodium successfully developing within the mosquito. However, we know little about the insect-specific viruses that infect Anopheles mosquitoes and currently lack robust tools to test interactions in vitro.

This project will involve cell culture, microscopy, molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics and aims to:

1. Using field collected mosquitoes to characterise virome diversity in malaria vectors
2. Establish an in vitro model of the mosquito gut and simulate plasmodium infections
3. Assess the ability of insect specific viruses to infect Anopheles derived cells in vitro
4. Test the effect of insect specific viruses on Plasmodium development

Biological Sciences (4)