We propose three related projects all focused on control of the major vector, Aedes aegypti, of dengue fever in Brazil. We have developed a powerful new tool for genetic analysis of this species of mosquito, a SNP chip with ~30,000 well-validated SNPs, that will applied in all three projects. The first project is an analysis of a release program using transgenic mosquitoes to suppress population numbers, the so-called RIDL technique. One unanswered question for any such program of this sort is whether the release of such mosquitoes has a lasting impact on the genetic make-up of the natural target population. We have genotyped (using our SNP chip) samples from one site before releases began as well as a sample of the release strain. We will sample the field site 6 months and 12 months after release to examine whether genetic material from the release strain is being transferred to the target population. If so, this has enormous implications for any such future releases of this sort. The second project focuses on studying the genetic underpinning of variation in the ability of female Ae. aegypti to transmit the dengue fever virus, DENV. Our SNP chip coupled with very recent significant advances in genome assembly make this an especially propitious time to undertake such studies. One issue never before addressed in such work is the degree to which populations of mosquito vary geographically in the genes or gene regions responsible for DENV competence. We will also address issues of temporal genetic stability for DENV competence. The third project is on evolution of insecticide resistance in Ae. aegypti in Brazil. Ongoing studies by colleagues at Fiocruz in Rio de Janeiro have revealed very interesting patterns of allele frequencies at the kdr locus responsible for resistance to pyrethroi insecticides. This includes worldwide patterns as well as detailed patterns in Brazil. We propose to continue these studies adding the important adjunct of 30K SNP data from the same samples as studied for kdr alleles. This will provide unprecedented information on evolution of resistance as well as address issues such as the origin of Ae. aegypti populations in Brazil and the timing and origin of insecticide resistance.

Public Health Relevance

Controlling the mosquito that transmits the dengue fever virus (DENV), Aedes aegypti, remains the only way of controlling the disease. We propose three studies on the genetics of Ae. aegypti in Brazil that will aid in controlling populations of this mosquito.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01AI115595-05
Application #
9658362
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1)
Program Officer
Costero-Saint Denis, Adriana
Project Start
2015-03-25
Project End
2021-02-28
Budget Start
2019-03-01
Budget End
2021-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Macoris, Maria de Lourdes; Martins, Ademir Jesus; Andrighetti, Maria Teresa Macoris et al. (2018) Pyrethroid resistance persists after ten years without usage against Aedes aegypti in governmental campaigns: Lessons from São Paulo State, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 12:e0006390
Brito, Luiz Paulo; Carrara, Luana; de Freitas, Rafael Maciel et al. (2018) Levels of Resistance to Pyrethroid among Distinct kdr Alleles in Aedes aegypti Laboratory Lines and Frequency of kdr Alleles in 27 Natural Populations from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biomed Res Int 2018:2410819
Powell, Jeffrey R (2018) Mosquito-Borne Human Viral Diseases: Why Aedes aegypti? Am J Trop Med Hyg 98:1563-1565
Bottino-Rojas, Vanessa; Talyuli, Octavio A C; Carrara, Luana et al. (2018) The redox-sensing gene Nrf2 affects intestinal homeostasis, insecticide resistance, and Zika virus susceptibility in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. J Biol Chem 293:9053-9063
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de Araújo, Helena Rocha Corrêa; Kojin, Bianca Burini; Capurro, Margareth Lara (2018) Sex determination and Aedes population control. Parasit Vectors 11:644
Powell, Jeffrey R; Gloria-Soria, Andrea; Kotsakiozi, Panayiota (2018) Recent History of Aedes aegypti: Vector Genomics and Epidemiology Records. Bioscience 68:854-860
Powell, Jeffrey R (2018) Genetic Variation in Insect Vectors: Death of Typology? Insects 9:
Kotsakiozi, Panayiota; Gloria-Soria, Andrea; Caccone, Adalgisa et al. (2017) Tracking the return of Aedes aegypti to Brazil, the major vector of the dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 11:e0005653
Pless, Evlyn; Gloria-Soria, Andrea; Evans, Benjamin R et al. (2017) Multiple introductions of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, into California. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 11:e0005718

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