Expanding the scope of mosquito-gut microbiome research to incorporate insect-specific viruses
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Department Name: Vector Biology
Abstract
Canada
| Description | Expanding the scope of mosquito-gut microbiome research to incorporate insect-specific viruses Mosquitoes are the major vector for many medically important human pathogens across the world. Their microbiomes play vital roles in development, fitness and ability to transmit these pathogens to humans. Therefore, manipulating the microbiome has the potential as a tool to control these pathogens. Using BBSRC funding we are working to gain a deeper understanding of the host and bacterial factors that affect the ability of bacteria to colonize the mosquito gut. Insect-specific viruses are an understudied factor that also has the potential to affect how bacteria and the mosquito host interact. With this ITAS funding, Drs Eva Heinz and Laura Brettell conducted a research visit to Brock University, Canada to draw upon the virology expertise of Dr Edward Patterson to better understand how we may be able to incorporate ISVs into our ongoing work. During the visit, LB gained theoretical knowledge and practical training in many aspects of virology relevant for the study of insect-specific viruses. EP shared knowledge of how to design and create ISV molecular clones with fluorescent markers for conducting infection assays and visualising the results. LB received training in the required laboratory techniques, including insect cell culture, experimental infections and microscopy. Under the supervision of Anneliese Von Eicken (PhD student working with EP), LB successfully infected a mosquito-derived cell line (C7/10) using an infectious clone of Piura virus labelled with ZsGreen, visualised the resulting virus infected cells and harvested and stored the infective virus for future work. |
| Exploitation Route | With these new skills and expertise, the team at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is now equipped to incorporate ISVs into their ongoing work. Research plans include determining how a prior infection with an ISV affects the ability of bacterial isolates of interest to colonize the mosquito gut. Further, using fluorescently labelled ISVs we can determine ISV localisation in the mosquito host and investigate whether virus infections in gut tissues specifically affect host-microbe interactions. The research visit also provided the opportunity to initiate new collaborations and project proposals. The team met with Prof Fiona Hunter and discussed new projects that may utilize all the team's complementary expertise and a valuable mosquito collection curated by Prof Hunter. LB gained valuable input from EP to build her future independent niche, which will involve investigating the potential of ISVs as novel arbovirus control tools and will include EP as a collaborator and mentor. |
| Sectors | Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Collaboration with A/Prof Ian Patterson on ISVs |
| Organisation | Brock University |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Mosquitoes are the major vector for many medically important human pathogens across the world. Their microbiomes play vital roles in development, fitness and ability to transmit these pathogens to humans. Therefore, manipulating the microbiome has the potential as a tool to control these pathogens. Using BBSRC funding we are working to gain a deeper understanding of the host and bacterial factors that affect the ability of bacteria to colonize the mosquito gut. Insect-specific viruses are an understudied factor that also has the potential to affect how bacteria and the mosquito host interact. With this ITAS funding, Drs Eva Heinz and Laura Brettell conducted a research visit to Brock University, Canada to draw upon the virology expertise of Dr Edward Patterson to better understand how we may be able to incorporate ISVs into our ongoing work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The BBSRC Travel Award enabled EH and LB to visit Brock University for one week, have extensive discussions and for LB to get insight into the lab work. During the visit, LB gained theoretical knowledge and practical training in many aspects of virology relevant for the study of insect-specific viruses. EP shared knowledge of how to design and create ISV molecular clones with fluorescent markers for conducting infection assays and visualising the results. LB received training in the required laboratory techniques, including insect cell culture, experimental infections and microscopy. Under the supervision of Anneliese Von Eicken (PhD student working with EP), LB successfully infected a mosquito-derived cell line (C7/10) using an infectious clone of Piura virus labelled with ZsGreen, visualised the resulting virus infected cells and harvested and stored the infective virus for future work. |
| Impact | With these new skills and expertise, the team at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is now equipped to incorporate ISVs into their ongoing work. Research plans include determining how a prior infection with an ISV affects the ability of bacterial isolates of interest to colonize the mosquito gut. Further, using fluorescently labelled ISVs we can determine ISV localisation in the mosquito host and investigate whether virus infections in gut tissues specifically affect host-microbe interactions. The research visit also provided the opportunity to initiate new collaborations and project proposals. The team met with Prof Fiona Hunter and discussed new projects that may utilize all the team's complementary expertise and a valuable mosquito collection curated by Prof Hunter. LB gained valuable input from EP for a fellowship application currently being prepared which will involve investigating the potential of ISVs as novel arbovirus control tools and will include EP as a collaborator and mentor. |
| Start Year | 2022 |