The evolution of odorant receptors in the domestication of Aedes mosquitoes: the link to zoonotic disease emergence

This project addresses key BBSRC priority areas of Data Driven Biology and Animal Health. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit numerous zoonotic diseases that affect animal health and understanding their evolution will help to understand the emergence of zoonotic disease. Our approach of data driven biology utilises advances in next generation sequencing and the power of evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics tools and computational approaches to identify genes involved in adaptation. This approach allows us to both understand the complexity of adaptation of pest species to increasingly anthropogenic environments and provides an alternative approach to standard functional studies to instead rapidly identify key components of the odorant sensory pathway that can be targeted for more detailed study. The PhD student will interact with collaborators in Africa and the US who are particularly concerned with disease control, enabling the student to appreciate the importance of international collaboration and use of their findings to inform policy.