GENETICS AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF SANDFLY DISEASE VECTORS

该项目的目标是继续研究遗传学 白蛉科白蛉的研究与分类。 我们对遗传学和决定基因的参数知之甚少。 这一重要昆虫群体的地理界限，其中 作为巴尔通体病的载体，许多虫媒病毒疾病， 黑热病研究将侧重于实地和实验室研究， Lutzomyia longipalpis和L. shannoni，两种沙蝇， 被认为是利什曼病的载体， 分布在美洲。 生化遗传图谱 建立了L. longipalpis，一个物种密切相关 与人类居住地相关， 发生在流行性高传播地区或 出现了内脏利什曼病的独特临床形式。 这些种群的特征将采取3种形式：（1）样带 基因不同的种群之间的变化模式 在生化特征（突然或逐渐）中，（2）传染性和 恰加斯利什曼原虫在脊椎动物中的临床研究进展 将在遗传/地理定义的宿主组织之间进行比较 载体的菌株，和（3）地理参数的表征 与遗传上独特的 病媒种群。 Lutzomyia shannoni是一种森林物种， 物种复合体，以及与其他沙子阵列相关的物种 飞越它的地理范围。 其基因型变异性， 种群成员之间的关系，以及种的谱系 将在选定的领域介绍协会的特点。 收藏， 鉴定、确定生物化学特征和载体作用将 涉及耶鲁大学科学家的合作努力， 哥伦比亚波哥大国家卫生研究所;此外， 美国和拉丁美洲的专家，特别是巴西的专家， 哥伦比亚、巴拿马和哥斯达黎加将协助收集苍蝇 和现场数据。

The objective of this project is to continue the study of the genetics and biogeography of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae). Little is known about the genetics and the parameters that define the geographical boundaries of this important insect group, members of which serve as vectors of bartonellosis, a number of arboviral diseases and leishmaniasis. Studies will focus on field and laboratory studies of Lutzomyia longipalpis and L. shannoni, two sand fly species that have been implicated as vectors of leishmaniasis and have a very wide range of distribution in the Americas. Biochemical genetic profiles established for geographic strains of L. longipalpis, a species closely associated with human habitation, have identified distinctive populations that occur in regions of high endemic transmission or where unique clinical forms of visceral leishmaniasis have appeared. Characterization of these populations will take 3 forms: (1) a transect between genetically distinct populations will show the pattern of change in biochemical signature (abrupt or gradual), (2) infectivity and clinical progress by the parasite, Leishmania chagasi, in vertebrate host tissues will be compared among genetically/geographically defined strains of the vector, and (3) characterization of geographic parameters that are associated with the distribution of genetically distinctive vector populations. Lutzomyia shannoni is a forest species, a cryptic species complex, and a species associated with arrays of other sand flies across its geographic range. Its genotypic variability, the relationships among members of its species group, and clines of species associations will be characterized in selected areas. Collection, identification, establishing biochemical profiles and vector roles will involve the cooperative efforts of scientists at Yale University and the Instituto Nacional de Salud at Bogota, Colombia; in addition, sand fly specialists in the U.S. and Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica will assist in the collection of flies and field data.