The genetic basis of pathogen blocking: elucidating the contributions of the Wolbachia, dengue virus and mosquito genomes (2017-2022)
Abstract
A bacterium called Wolbachia has been shown to stop dengue virus from replicating inside mosquitoes and so is being field-tested as a biocontrol agent against dengue fever. A major threat to this strategy is the emergence of resistance either in the mosquito or virus. This proposal addresses two fundamental knowledge gaps ¿ how does Wolbachia block virus growth and how might resistance evolve? This research is significant as it will inform the development of strategies to counter resistance.
