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The molecular and cellular basis of short-range host cue sensing in mosquito vectors

Award Number: R01AI157194
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/21/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

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The molecular and cellular basis of short-range host cue sensing in mosquito vectors - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Mosquito disease transmission relies on the insect’s ability to feed on human hosts, a behavior driven by host- associated sensory cues. Temperature and humidity are key short-range cues that promote the final stages of host approach and biting, but little is known about the molecular and cellular basis of mosquito responses to these cues, or whether these mechanisms are conserved among evolutionarily distant mosquitoes. We propose to address these knowledge gaps by: 1) Probing the molecular basis and evolutionary conservation of heat-seeking between the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae (An. gambiae) and the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti). 2) Investigating the (as yet unknown) molecular and cellular basis of mosquito humidity sensation in An. gambiae. We propose to achieve these goals in three aims: Aim 1) Probe the evolutionary conservation of heat seeking mechanisms. Mosquito blood-feeding is thought to have a common evolutionary origin, but whether the mechanisms that control heat-seeking are conserved across mosquitoes is an open question. We will test this conservation by comparing the roles of key receptors implicated in heat-seeking in multiple mosquito species in order to reveal whether and in what ways heat-seeking mechanisms are shared across vector mosquitoes. Aim 2) Determine the sensory specificities of candidate humidity receptor-expressing neurons in An. gambiae. Despite its importance for host seeking, mosquito humidity sensing is largely unexplored. We will test the hypothesis that mosquito humidity sensors rely on relatives of receptors important for sensing humidity in Drosophila. We will examine the stimulus sensitivities of the sensory neurons expressing these receptors and test the role(s) of these receptors in detecting sensory stimuli. Aim 3) Establish the behavioral roles of candidate hygroin An. gambiae. We will test how our candidate receptors for humidity and temperature contribute to the mosquito’s behavioral responses to humidity and temperature, as well as host seeking and blood feeding. We will also compare how host-seeking roles relate to homeostatic roles in helping modulate body temperature and hydration state. This work will identify molecular receptors and sensory neurons that detect temperature and humidity in vector mosquitoes and establish their roles in mosquito host seeking and blood feeding. As these behaviors supports disease transmission, these basic science findings have potential relevance for vector control efforts.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$6,722 )
2026	2024	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	2/11/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$6,722
														Subtotal = -$6,722

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $645,648 )
2024	2024	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	8/9/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$645,648
														Subtotal = $645,648

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $663,524 )
2023	2023	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	8/9/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$663,524
														Subtotal = $663,524

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $663,581 )
2022	2022	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	8/15/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$663,581
														Subtotal = $663,581

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $663,620 )
2021	2021	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	8/12/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$663,620
														Subtotal = $663,620

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $679,265 )
2020	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	9/21/2020	NEW	$679,265
														Subtotal = $679,265

Grand Total All Awards = $3,308,916

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The molecular and cellular basis of short-range host cue sensing in mosquito vectors

Award Number: R01AI157194

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/21/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

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