Biological vector control reducing arboviruses, including Dengue and Chikungunya

说明(申请人提供)：在缺乏有效的、经批准的药物或疫苗的情况下，媒介控制仍然是许多人对抗蚊媒疾病的唯一干预手段。随着最近多种外来蚊子物种和蚊媒病原体的出现，这个问题变得更加复杂。此外，气候条件的变化预计将改变本土蚊子的传统活动范围。一个明显的例子是20世纪80年代中期引入美国的亚洲白纹伊蚊，这种入侵物种已经蔓延到整个东南部，随着冬天变暖，它的活动范围现在转移到纽约和其他北部州，在那里它已经成为主要的叮咬蚊子。2011年，加利福尼亚州发现了稳定的虫害，尽管正在进行消灭运动，但这种情况仍在持续。这种蚊子的生物学很神秘，很难用传统的杀虫方法来发现和治疗。白纹伊蚊除了作为叮咬有害生物的重要性外，还是20多种病原体的合格媒介。流行病学模型显示了返程旅行者感染基孔肯雅病毒、感染白纹伊蚊和从当地出发的风险 变速箱。这一假想的事件将类似于最近在欧洲、印度、斯里兰卡和留尼汪岛发生的流行病。我们与全国主要蚊子控制区(加利福尼亚州、佛罗里达州、纽约州)的讨论表明，有必要采取新的方法来防治白纹伊蚊，并对我们的产品感兴趣，这是一个商业机会。我们的第一阶段结果证明了沃尔巴克氏菌生物杀虫剂方法的可行性。反复释放感染沃尔巴克氏菌的雄性白纹伊蚊会导致一种条件不育，能够在8周内消灭白纹伊蚊种群。在拟议的第二阶段工作中，我们将继续研究和开发沃尔巴克氏菌生物杀虫剂方法，主要目标是(1)展示大规模生产的原型单位，(2)提供感染沃尔巴克氏菌的雄性白纹伊蚊的田间表现数据，以及(3)测量感染沃尔巴克氏菌的雄性白纹伊蚊对本地田间种群的杀虫剂效果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the absence of effective, approved drugs or vaccines, vector control remains the only means of intervention for many against mosquito-borne diseases. This problem grows more complex with the recent establishment of multiple exotic mosquito species and mosquito-borne pathogens. Furthermore, changing climate conditions are predicted to alter the traditional range for native mosquitoes. A notable example is Aedes albopictus, the Asian Tiger mosquito, introduced into the USA in the mid-1980s, this invasive species has spread throughout the southeast, and with warmer winters, its range is now moving into New York and other northern states, where it has become the primary biting mosquito. A stable infestation was discovered in California in 2011, which persists despite an ongoing elimination campaign. The cryptic biology of this mosquito makes it difficult to find and treat using traditional insecticidal approaches. In addition to its importance as a biting nuisance A. albopictus is a competent vector of over twenty pathogens. Epidemiological models show risk of returning travelers, infected with chikungunya virus, infecting A. albopictus and starting local transmission. This hypothesized event would be similar to recent epidemics that have occurred in Europe, India, Sri Lanka and La Reunion. Our discussions with major mosquito control districts around the country (California, Florida, New York) demonstrate the need and commercial opportunity for new approaches against A. albopictus and an interest in the our product. Our Phase I results demonstrate feasibility of a Wolbachia biopesticide approach. Repeated releases of Wolbachia- infected males cause a form of conditional sterility, capable of eliminating an A. albopictus population within eight weeks. In the proposed Phase II work, we will continue the research and development of the Wolbachia biopesticide approach, with the major goals of (1) demonstrating a prototype mass production unit, (2) providing field performance data for Wolbachia-infected A. albopictus males, and (3) measuring the pesticidal effect of Wolbachia- infected A. albopictus males against an indigenous field population.