The virome of UK Culex pipiens mosquitoes and its effect on their competence as vectors of arboviruses

T1 - Basic Research

Mosquito-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as Dengue and West Nile virus globally cause millions of infections every year. The virome is defined as the community of the viruses inside the mosquito including insect specific viruses. The mosquito's microbiome and virome can impact the mosquitoes' ability to become infected, and to transmit these arboviruses, with ~10 insect specific viruses shown to directly impact arboviruses. However, before the virome's effect on competence can be researched the virome needs to be sequenced from more locations and species.

The virome in general is an under researched aspect of vector biology until relatively recently, and research on European mosquitoes is still lacking. The UK maintains ~30 species of mosquito including ~9 species capable of carrying a range of arboviruses in other countries. Including Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium which can vector West Nile virus and Sindbis virus. These arboviruses aren't currently endemic in the UK primarily due to the low temperature. However, Usutu virus can already circulate in the warmer South of the UK. As climate change is predicted to increase global temperatures by ~1.7'C by 2050, the possibility of arboviruses in this country increases. This is due to higher temperatures required for their growth in the mosquito as well as overseas mosquitoes surviving in the UK if it warmer. Therefore, an understanding of UK mosquitoes' virome, and their ability to carry and pass on arboviruses in currently non endemic countries will become increasingly needed. My research project aims to:
- Will habitat type affect the virome variability ?
- Is the virome maintained through life stage ?
- Will virome community structure effect the transmission potential of arboviruses in UK ?
The research aims in this project are basic research with the hope to be the base of future research in possible control methods for arboviruses. With the possibility of ISVs which supress arboviruses being pursued to as a pathogen control method. This has already been seen in the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia. As well as the information on the virome's variety across species, habitats, countries and virus transmission method could be used to predict arbovirus risk and spread in the UK.