From genes to symbionts: arbovirus-vector interactions

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Many infectious diseases are transmitted by vectors such as mosquitos, including a set of viruses called arboviruses. Factors such as climate change are increasing the risk of these viruses being transmitted across the globe. Our programme aims to understand the mechanisms of this transmission in three types of arboviruses –Rift Valley fever phlebovirus, the human pathogenic alphavirus chikungunya and dengue virus. These arboviruses have their own ribonucleic acid, or RNA, which is genetic material. Arbovirus RNA binds to proteins in the mosquito ‘host’ and uses them help the virus multiply and cause infection. This infection is then passed on to humans or animals through the mosquito bite. These proteins are known to play a part in human and animal defences against viral infection. However, we don’t know very much these proteins in mosquitos, or how arbovirus RNA may bind to these proteins and stops them from doing their antiviral job. We think that if we can understand these mechanisms in mosquitos, we could find new ways of blocking virus transmission and infection by targeting those binding mechanisms with specific interventions, thus also preventing mosquitos from transmitting the viral infection to humans and animals through their bites.