Ion transport mechanisms in transporting epithelia of aquatic insect larvae

我的研究考察了钠、氯和钾等离子是如何在负责维持血液中适当离子水平的器官细胞之间运输的。这对所有活着的动物来说都是一个至关重要的过程，因为血液中的离子水平会影响神经系统、心脏和大多数其他器官的功能。我的研究重点是离子运输是如何在蚊子和蠓幼虫的肛门乳头中发生的，以及当幼虫受到变化的环境（从淡水到咸水，反之亦然）时，这些过程如何通过神经系统进行调节。这通常发生在蚊子的自然栖息地，通过暴雨和蒸发。肛门乳头是囊状的器官，从动物的尾部伸出。这些肛门乳头通过从水中吸收离子并将其运送到血淋巴（昆虫血液）来帮助蚊子幼虫在淡水条件下生存。许多种类的蚊子能够在咸水中生存，但肛门乳头在这些蚊子中的作用尚不清楚。因此，我正在研究两种关系密切的蚊子，一种生活在淡水中，另一种生活在咸水中。此外，我正在检查蠓幼虫，因为它们的肛门乳头接受神经系统的直接输入。通过这些研究，我将培养学生在学术和私营部门的基础、医学和制药研究中应用的生理技术。我的研究将有助于理解转运组织的离子转运机制及其通过神经系统的调节，这对所有动物都是至关重要的过程。此外，我的研究可以引导开发新的和特定的方法来控制传播疾病（如西尼罗河病毒和疟疾）的蚊子种群。

My research examines how ions such as sodium, chloride and potassium are transported across cells of organs that are responsible for maintaining appropriate ion levels in the blood. This is a fundamentally important process for all living animals because blood ion levels affect the function of the nervous system, the heart, and most other organs. I am focusing on how ion transport occurs in anal papillae of mosquito and midge fly larvae, and how these processes can be regulated via the nervous system when larvae are subjected to a changing environment (from freshwater to salt-water and vice versa). This routinely happens in the natural habitats of mosquitoes through heavy rainfall and evaporation. Anal papillae are sac like organs that project out from the rear end of the animal. These anal papillae help mosquito larvae to survive under freshwater conditions by taking ions from the water and transporting them into the haemolymph (insect blood). Many mosquito species are capable of surviving in salt-water and the role of the anal papillae in these mosquitoes is not well understood. Therefore I am studying 2 closely related mosquitoes, one of which lives in freshwater and the other in salt-water. In addition, I am examining the midge fly larvae because their anal papillae receive direct inputs from the nervous system. Through these studies I will train students in physiological techniques that are applied in basic, medical and pharmaceutical research in both academic and private sector settings. My research will contribute to the understanding of ion transport mechanisms of transporting tissues and their regulation by the nervous system, fundamentally important processes for all animals. In addition my research can lead to the development of new and specific ways of controlling mosquito populations that transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus and Malaria.