Natural Variation And Genetic Basis Of Dengue Virus Transmission Rate In Australian Mosquitoes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,088.00
Summary
Dengue fever outbreaks occur in Australia when infected travelers enter the country and are bitten by local mosquitoes. Here we examine the degree of genetic compatibility between mosquitoes and incoming dengue viruses that may affect disease risk for humans. We will identify the mosquito genes that determine the insect’s capacity to transmit dengue virus and develop a geographic map of transmissibility for a range of different dengue strains across Australian populations of the insect.
Release The Sterile Males: A New Direction For Mosquito Population Control Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,110,112.00
Summary
With over 40% of humans at risk from mosquito-borne disease, new environmentally friendly mosquito control tools are required. We’ve developed a novel sterile male population suppression technology – using neither radiation nor genetic modification – to produce sterile adult male mosquitoes from both male and female larvae. We will show that exposing mosquito larvae to specific RNA molecules can produce fit sterile males adult mosquitoes that can crash mosquito populations in large cage trials
Dynamics Of Malaria Transmission Stages In Host And Vector: Bottlenecks And Their Impact Transmission And Parasite Population Diversity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$780,554.00
Summary
The adoption of malaria elimination as the long-term goal requires malaria programs to shift their focus from controlling the burden of malaria disease & deaths to the interruption of transmission itself. This will be impossible without an improved understanding of the processes involved and novel tools directly targeting transmission. We therefore plan to conduct an in-depth examination of bottlenecks to malaria transmission in Papua New Guinea, the country with the highest malaria burden in ou ....The adoption of malaria elimination as the long-term goal requires malaria programs to shift their focus from controlling the burden of malaria disease & deaths to the interruption of transmission itself. This will be impossible without an improved understanding of the processes involved and novel tools directly targeting transmission. We therefore plan to conduct an in-depth examination of bottlenecks to malaria transmission in Papua New Guinea, the country with the highest malaria burden in our region.Read moreRead less
Wolbachia And West Nile Virus In Mosquitoes: Friends Or Foes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,028.00
Summary
Mosquito-borne viruses pose a great risk to human and animal health. Presence of compentent vectors of several viruses in Australia indicates vulnerability of Australia’s biosecurity. This project will define the mechanisms of inhibition of virus replication in mosquitoes by a symbiotic bacterium which can be utilized in virus inhibition.
Role Of Flavivirus-encoded Small Regulatory RNAs In Virus-mosquito Vector Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,216.00
Summary
Mosquito-borne diseases are major threats to human health. MicroRNAs are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that play important roles in development, cancer, apoptosis, immunity, longevity, and viral infections. We propose to identify the regulatory microRNAs from flaviviruses and establish their potential function in vector-arboviruses interactions. The project will put Australia at the forefront of research in the most rapidly developing area of microRNA research.
The Role Of Capsid Protein Nucleolar Localisation In Chikungunya Virus: Implications For Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,520.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally widespread mosquito-borne alphavirus capable of causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. With no CHIKV vaccine or antiviral available this proposal aims to develop a live attenuated CHIKV vaccine, rationally designed by investigating the host cell nucleolar trafficking of CHIKV capsid protein. This vaccine has the potential to provide cross-protection against additional arthritogenic alphaviruses endemic to Australia such as Ross River virus.
New Vectors, New Diseases: Understanding The Risk Of Chikungunya Transmission In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,580.00
Summary
Chikungunya is a febrile illness that can lead to chronic, debilitating joint pain in adults and severe neurological complications in children. Introductions of this virus into Australia have steadily increased in recent years. We will estimate the risk of chikungunya transmission in Australia now and into the future, and deliver the results to public health authorities to reduce the risk of outbreaks in Australia.
Mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as Ross River and chikungunya viruses cause widespread epidemics and exert extreme pressure on the public health systems of affected regions. Alphaviruses spreads to joints and triggers a severe disease in those affected. There are no effective treatments or vaccines. The project will investigate virus-host interaction at the bite site. The outcome will be new knowledge to treat infection at the mosquito bite site to prevent joint disease.
Novel Insights Into The Pathobiology Of Alphavirus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,660.00
Summary
Infections with mosquito-borne viruses are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Ross River virus is endemic in parts of Australia, PNG and Pacific islands, while chikungunya virus is distributed globally and causes recurrent pandemics that involve millions of people. These viruses cause severe musculoskeletal disease for several months after infection. This project aims to establish how these viruses interact with the human host to cause disease and may provide a basis for new treatments.