PhD student Alyssa Peterson is using insect-specific viruses in mosquitoes to control the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and West Nile to humans.
These insect-specific viruses are naturally occurring and only infect mosquitoes, not humans or animals. When mosquitoes are infected with these insect-specific viruses, they spread within the population by means of vertical transmission, and effectively reduce the number of mosquitoes capable of transmitting diseases to humans.
Alyssa is analyzing the different factors that allow for insect-specific viruses to spread within mosquito populations and aims to optimize this as a biocontrol.
This innovative strategy offers a targeted and environmentally friendly way to combat arbovirus outbreaks while minimizing the use of chemical pesticides.