Investigating Arbovirus Dissemination and Transmission

Climate change is predicted to increase the risk of arboviruses, both domestically and internationally. Understanding and predicting fundamental features of arbovirus disease transmission that are impacted by alterations in the climate will be key to mitigating their spread. Under the leadership of Dr. Laura Dickson at UTMB this project will be accomplish two main objectives; Define the optimum humidity exposure and duration in that increases arbovirus replication, dissemination and transmission, and Identify the function of Aedes and Culex midgut components in arbovirus invasion, replication, and dissemination.