Wolbachia and Dengue Control: Quantifying Serotype-Specific Blocking Effectiveness
Wolbachia is a naturally occurring bacterium that, when introduced into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, can reduce their ability to transmit dengue virus. Laboratory and field studies show that Wolbachia strain wMel does not block all dengue virus (DENV) serotypes equally. Instead, blocking effectiveness varies by serotype (DENV-1 through DENV-4), potentially influencing the long-term persistence and epidemiology of dengue after Wolbachia release. Understanding and quantifying these differences is essential for improving predictive models of dengue control.
This project will involve a comprehensive literature review to compile and analyze published studies measuring how the Wolbachia strain wMel blocks different dengue serotypes.
Student Responsibilities:
- Conduct a systematic review of published studies measuring serotype-specific blocking of DENV by wMel (lab and field settings).
- Extract and summarize key parameters (e.g., reduction in mosquito infection, dissemination, and transmission rates) for each serotype.
- Compare and synthesize findings across studies to estimate plausible ranges for blocking parameters.
Preferred Skills:
- Interest in infectious disease epidemiology and vector-borne diseases.
- Ability to read and summarize scientific papers.
- Interest in learning about statistical analysis is desirable but not required.
Learning Opportunities:
The student will gain experience in scientific literature review and parameter estimation from published data to inform infectious disease models.