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Mosquitoes are sometimes considered the most dangerous animals in the world because of the different pathogens they can transmit to humans. For example, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) transmit epidemic viruses such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses. Still, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, it is still very much unknown why certain mosquitoes are so deadly efficient in transmitting viruses while others are less competent in spreading disease. Pascal Miesen, research program Vector-borne diseases and Zoonoses, aims to shed light on this important problem. In recognition of his groundbreaking work, he received the Beijerinck Premium 2024, awarded by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
What happens inside an infected mosquito?
A mosquito is not merely a passive carrier of human pathogens; instead, a delicate interaction between the virus and its vector is needed to allow efficient virus transmission. On the one hand, viruses must multiply in mosquitoes sufficiently to ensure transmission to the next human host. On the other hand, the virus should not replicate to levels that cause disease or kill mosquitoes. What happens inside mosquitoes at the molecular level to accomplish this balance is still not known.
Advancement of molecular research to understand virus transmission by mosquitoes
Pascal Miesen’s team takes a molecular approach to unravel factors that impact virus transmission by Aedes mosquitoes, with a special focus on innate immunity as well as epigenetic and metabolic processes in the mosquito. Through a combination of genetic techniques and advanced sequencing methods the researchers aim to dissect virus-mosquito interactions. For this purpose, a brand-new research unit including an insectary and a biosafety level-3 mosquito laboratory was established in the Radboudumc central animal facility. In this research environment, state-of-the-art molecular experiments can be performed in virus infected mosquitoes.
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Beijerinck premium
The Beijerinck premium was established in 2002 and is since then awarded to early career scientists who conduct original and outstanding research in the field of virology. The laureate receives the prize during the Dutch Annual Virology Symposium, held this year on 8th March in Amsterdam.
Top photo by Maarten Nauw
