Insect-specific virus host restriction

蚊子传播的病毒是一个激烈的研究课题，因为它们复杂的生物学，生态学和进化，以及它们在人类和动物中产生不可预测的疾病爆发的潜力。昆虫特异性病毒（Insect-specific viruses，ISV）是一种仅在蚊子细胞中复制的病毒，不能感染脊椎动物组织。该项目旨在评估澳大利亚蚊子种群中ISV的生物多样性，并确定其限制脊椎动物的关键因素。这些研究的目的将回答关于ISV的明确定义的重要生物学问题，同时也为控制和预防虫媒病毒疾病提供技术进步、新型试剂和潜在的商业成果。

Mosquito-borne viruses are a topic of intense research due to their complex biology, ecology and evolution, and their potential to produce unpredictable outbreaks of disease in both humans and animals. Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) are viruses that replicate solely in mosquito cell and are unable to infect vertebrate tissues. This project aims to assess the biodiversity of ISVs in the Australian mosquito population and identify key factors behind their restriction in vertebrates. The objectives of the studies proposed will answer clearly defined important biological questions about ISVs, while also delivering technological advances, novel reagents and potential commercial outcomes for the control and prevention of arboviral disease.