Wetlands in Argentina and spread of bird-borne viruses
Official title: Wetlands in Argentinaas hubs for exchange and emigration of bird-borne arboviruses
Funded at National Council Scientific & Tech Res · NIH-11161501 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tracks how wetlands in Argentina help birds and mosquitoes carry viruses like West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis that can infect people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Council Scientific & Tech Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ciudad Aut?noma de Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA) |
| Project start | August 5, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $133,824 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183506-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161501 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living, working, or spending time near Argentine wetlands, as well as public health workers and clinicians concerned about arboviral infections, would be most relevant to this project.
✕Less likely to help
People who live far from mosquito habitats or in regions where these bird-borne arboviruses do not circulate are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will visit wetlands across Argentina to collect samples from birds and mosquitoes and test them for viruses such as West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. They will use genetic sequencing and mapping of bird migration to follow how viruses move between resident and migratory birds and through mosquito populations. Combining field sampling with lab analyses and phylogenetics will help show where wetlands concentrate infections and when spillover to people is most likely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help public health identify high-risk wetlands and times for targeted surveillance and mosquito control to reduce human infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous surveillance and genetic-tracking studies have successfully traced West Nile virus spread and identified high-risk sites, though focusing on Argentine wetlands and St. Louis encephalitis dynamics is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
National Council Scientific & Tech Res
Ciudad Aut?noma de Buenos Aires, Argentina Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diaz, Adrian — National Council Scientific & Tech Res
- Study coordinator: Diaz, Adrian
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.