Mosquito—Virus Interactions

Abstract

Vector-borne viruses (arboviruses) are emerging threats to both human and animal health. The global expansion of dengue virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and most recently Zika virus are prominent examples of how quickly mosquito-transmitted viruses can emerge and spread. We currently lack high quality data from a diversity of mosquito-arbovirus systems on the specific mosquito and viral traits that drive disease transmission. Further, the factors that contribute to variation in these traits and disease transmission remain largely unidentified. In this chapter, we outline and explore the following: 1. the specific mechanisms governing the outcome of vector-virus interactions 2. how genetic variation across mosquito populations and viral strains, as well as environmental variation in abiotic and biotic factors shape the mosquito-virus interaction and 3. the implications of these interactions for understanding and predicting arbovirus transmission, as well as for control of mosquito species that transmit human pathogens.