Population Genetics

Mosquito-borne viral diseases are a major problem in tropical regions. Dengue in particular has increased dramatically in incidence since the beginning of this century, with more than 100 million infections occurring annually. While most patients experience mild or no symptoms, multiple infections increase the risk of its severe form, which is highly debilitating and can be fatal. Zika is still relatively rare, but in recent years has spread from Africa and Asia to the Americas and can cause severe birth defects and miscarriages. Chikungunya is also becoming more prevalent in many countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. It can be painful and debilitating, and in rare cases can lead to death.

One promising strategy for combatting dengue, zika, and chikungunya is to interrupt the ability of mosquitoes to act as vectors. The Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group (PEARG), part of the School of Biosciences at the University of Melbourne, focuses on Wolbachia bacteria, which are parasitic upon mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. This has several beneficial effects, including reducing the ability of the viruses to replicate within the mosquito and altering its own immune response to the viruses. By interfering with the ability of mosquitoes to transmit viruses, Wolbachia-based interventions can significantly lower the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases in human populations. Jessica Chung is assisting PEARG with bioinformatic analyses related to exploring genetic diversity and population structure.

For more information, see PEARG.