Doctoral Dissertation Research: Phylogeographic Investigation of Aedes aegypti

This project investigates the geographic range and movement of the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti in arid desert environments. Arid environments are of increasing attention for mosquito control as Ae. aegypti has recently and rapidly expanded into these arid environments. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes transmit dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. This project sequences and analyzes the entire mitochondrial genome using phylogenetic techniques and couples these data with a spatially explicit analysis of phylogenetic patterns over two seasons. This analysis contributes to an understanding of which local conditions result in source populations and high individual counts. A more complete understanding of the underlying geographic distribution and movement of Ae. aegypti in arid desert environments is beneficial to vector control and public health efforts as this mosquito continues to expand its range and outbreaks of disease occur. This understanding supports public health interventions to be targeted efficiently and effectively to those at greatest risk by establishing a "range of risk" for Ae. aegypti-borne diseases. The objective of this project is to utilize whole mitochondrial genome sequencing of mosquito pools collected over two mosquito seasons to better understand the movement of the vector within this area, as well as any potential source locations of the mosquito population. Researchers will work with public health officials to procure geo-located mosquito samples from 2019 and 2020. Data will be sequenced and analyzed to produce the entire mitochondrial genome using various phylogenetic and phylogeographic techniques. This project develops an understanding of the geographic distribution and movement of Ae. aegypti and identifies potential source locations for the mosquito population in arid environments. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.