Mosquitoes going viral: The role of Aedes aegypti in the transmission of emerging arboviruses

Summary

Emerging mosquito-borne viruses, also known as arboviruses, pose a serious threat to public health. Among the most concerning arboviruses at present are the Zika, chikungunya, and Mayaro viruses, which have caused significant outbreaks and severe illness in South America and other regions over the past decade. The less-known Una virus could become important too. These viruses are primarily transmitted by the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), which thrives in human-populated tropical areas. This thesis explores the role of Ae. aegypti in the transmission of these viruses. I studied  human-mosquito contact through field research on the attraction of odour blends and carbon dioxide in Paramaribo, Suriname, and studied how viral infections influence host-seeking behaviour in the laboratory.

Additionally, I investigated whether mosquitoes are able to transmit multiple
viruses simultaneously. The research highlights the complex interactions
between mosquitoes, humans, and viruses, and underscores the importance of
fundamental, curiosity-driven research in developing new mosquito control
strategies.