DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Adaptive divergence in Anopheles gambiae (with gene flow): facilitation via chromosomal inversions

气候变化和人类干扰增加了病媒构成的威胁。因此，了解使其能够快速适应的机制至关重要。这项研究的重点是特定的染色体结构变化(即染色体倒置)是否促进冈比亚按蚊的适应性分化，冈比亚按蚊是撒哈拉以南非洲最严重的疟疾媒介。这种染色体结构变化可能会促进局部适应，因为它们缓冲了来自不同栖息地的移民对种群的混合影响。这项研究将使用一个框架对这一假设进行实证检验，该框架将提供与测试快速适应机制相关的详细的人口统计、地理和时间信息。这项研究还将对目前关于适应来源的辩论提供见解：由新的倒位突变或先前存在的基因变异促进的快速适应。结果将直接关系到告知害虫控制机构哪些人口或遗传因素将是阻碍蚊子快速适应的最佳目标。例如，它可以提供关于转基因蚊子是否能够与当地种群竞争并在当地环境中生存的关键信息。这项工作将促进美国和喀麦隆研究人员和学生之间的学术交流，并促进当地社区预防疟疾的教育。

Climate change and human disturbance increase the threats posed by disease vectors. Therefore, understanding mechanisms enabling their rapid adaptation is of central importance. This study focuses on whether a specific chromosomal structural change (i.e., chromosomal inversions) facilitates adaptive divergence of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, the most severe malaria vector in sub-Sahara Africa. Such chromosomal structural changes may promote local adaptation because they buffer populations from the mixing effects of migrants from different habitats. This study will test this hypothesis empirically using a framework that will provide detailed demographic, geographic, and temporal information relevant to testing mechanisms of rapid adaptation. The study will also provide insights into the current debate regarding the source of adaptation: rapid adaptation facilitated by new inversion mutations or pre-existing genetic variation. The results will be directly relevant to informing pest control agencies of which demographic or genetic factors will be the best target to impede rapid adaptation in mosquitoes. For example, it can provide critical information on whether genetically modified mosquitoes can compete with native populations and survive in the local environment. The work will foster academic communications between US and Cameroonian researchers and students, and promote the education of local communities in malaria preventions.