How mosquito-borne viruses adapt and survive with temperature changes
Quasispecies dynamics in arbovirus persistence emergence and fitness
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11260258
This project looks at how mosquito-borne viruses change under different temperatures to help protect people from infections like West Nile.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (FORT COLLINS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11260258 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team will rear mosquitoes and infect them with viruses such as West Nile, then expose those mosquitoes to constant and fluctuating temperature conditions. They will sequence virus genomes to track how many different virus variants appear and which ones become dominant. Computer models and lab measurements will be combined to see how temperature patterns shape virus survival, bottlenecks, and the chance of new variants emerging. The goal is to connect temperature-driven virus changes to real-world risks so public health can better prepare for outbreaks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in or traveling to areas where mosquito-borne viruses circulate, or those willing to donate samples to surveillance programs, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People with health problems unrelated to mosquito-borne infections are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help public health predict and prevent mosquito-borne outbreaks by identifying conditions that favor dangerous virus variants.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and genetic studies have shown temperature can change virus diversity in mosquitoes, and this project builds on those findings.
Where this research is happening
FORT COLLINS, UNITED STATES
- COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY — FORT COLLINS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: EBEL, GREGORY DAVID — COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: EBEL, GREGORY DAVID
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.