Arbovirus transmission in a changing climate: a molecular perspective on Aedes mosquitoes

"Climate change is accelerating the global spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, posing a critical challenge to public health. Yet, our understanding of how shifting climate variables (rising temperatures, increased humidity fluctuations, and extreme weather), reshape the biology of Aedes mosquitoes and their capacity for disease transmission, remains limited. This project aims to unravel the molecular, cellular, and metabolic mechanisms by which climate change impacts mosquitovector competence, using Aedes aegypti as a primary model and translating findings to Aedes albopictus, now a growing vector of concern in Europe and France. Leveraging state-of-the-art resources at Institut Pasteur, I will integrate innovative single-cell transcriptomics, spatial and developmental metabolomics, and microbiome sequencing to characterize mosquito physiological acclimatation and identify molecular biomarkers associated with increased arboviral risk under future climate scenarios. Fieldcollected Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus colonies will be analyzed under programmable climate chamber experiments simulating global warming and climate extremes. Key molecular targets revealed by this multi-omics approach will be functionally validated through gene and metabolite manipulation, and operationalized for field diagnostics and surveillance in collaboration with national and international partners. This translational, interdisciplinary strategy will provide a robust scientific foundation for modeling, predicting, and mitigating arboviral disease risk in a changing climate. Open-access data validated molecular signatures, and field-ready diagnostic protocols will empower health authorities with precise tools for early warning, targeted intervention, and real-time response, addressing an urgent societal need and establishing a"