Origins and viruses of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on Southwest Indian Ocean islands
Comprehensive characterization of ancestral populations of the vector Aedes aegypti on Indian Ocean islands
Researchers are tracing where these mosquitoes came from and checking which human viruses they carry to help people at risk of dengue, Zika, and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11112324 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project collects Aedes aegypti and related mosquito species from islands in the Southwest Indian Ocean and examines their genetics and genomes to trace origins and relationships. Scientists will test how capable these ancestral mosquitoes are at carrying human viruses and will analyze the viruses found inside field-caught females. They will also check what animals or people the mosquitoes recently fed on using blood meal analysis. The team aims to discover previously unrecognized mosquito lineages and undescribed arboviruses and to assemble complete genomes that help compare island and worldwide populations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants or collaborators would be residents, public-health workers, or researchers in the Southwest Indian Ocean islands (for example Madagascar) who can help with mosquito collection or local sample sharing.
Not a fit: People living far from regions where Aedes aegypti are present or who are not exposed to mosquito-borne viruses are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve detection of virus threats and guide targeted mosquito-control and outbreak prevention for communities at risk.
How similar studies have performed: Related genetic and vector-competence studies have successfully traced mosquito origins and virus transmission, but assembling full ancestral genomes and fully surveying island viromes remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Powell, Jeffrey R — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Powell, Jeffrey R
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.