The evolution of odorant receptors in the domestication of Aedes mosquitoes: the link to zoonotic disease emergence

该项目涉及数据驱动生物学和动物健康的关键BBSRC优先领域。埃及伊蚊传播许多影响动物健康的人畜共患病，了解它们的进化将有助于了解人畜共患病的出现。我们的数据驱动生物学方法利用下一代测序的进展和进化基因组学，生物信息学工具和计算方法的力量来识别参与适应的基因。这种方法使我们能够理解害虫物种适应日益人为环境的复杂性，并为标准功能研究提供了一种替代方法，以快速识别气味感觉通路的关键组分，这些组分可以用于更详细的研究。博士生将与非洲和美国特别关注疾病控制的合作者互动，使学生能够理解国际合作的重要性，并利用他们的研究结果为政策提供信息。

This project addresses key BBSRC priority areas of Data Driven Biology and Animal Health. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit numerous zoonotic diseases that affect animal health and understanding their evolution will help to understand the emergence of zoonotic disease. Our approach of data driven biology utilises advances in next generation sequencing and the power of evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics tools and computational approaches to identify genes involved in adaptation. This approach allows us to both understand the complexity of adaptation of pest species to increasingly anthropogenic environments and provides an alternative approach to standard functional studies to instead rapidly identify key components of the odorant sensory pathway that can be targeted for more detailed study. The PhD student will interact with collaborators in Africa and the US who are particularly concerned with disease control, enabling the student to appreciate the importance of international collaboration and use of their findings to inform policy.