# FACTORS AFFECTING VECTOR COMPETENCE IN AEDES TRISERIATUS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME · 1988 · $264,007

## Abstract

Aedes triseriatus, the treehole mosquito, is the primary vector of La
Crosse virus (LAC) cause of the most common form of encephalitis in the
midwest.  Both control and monitoring of this mosquito are exceptionally
difficult.  Continued genetic and ecological research on vector competence
are proposed, with the hope than an "Achilles heel" can be exploited.
Research includes a sibling species, Ae. hendersoni (non-vector of LAC),
Ae. brelandi, Ae. zoosophus and Ae. atropalpus.  (1) Ability to transmit
LAC differs greatly in different populations (10-90%).  Oral, transovarial
and venereal transmission will be analyzed genetically; virus-refactory
strains with genetic markers will be developed.  Studies on pathology (EM,
FA), salivation rate, biting behavior and fecundity will be used to assess
the cost of viral infection to the mosquito.  Effect of environmental
stress on transmission rate will be determined.  (2) Studies on genetic
structure involve further isolation of biochemical and morphological
mutants, as well as improvement of linkage maps.  Physiological traits
(barriers to LAC infection, inability to diapause in the egg. resistance to
drying) will be located on the linkage map.  Electrophoretic analysis of
clinical variation and sibling species differences will be compared via
isozyme allele frequency.  Effect of breeding system will be determined in
inbred lines (F10 + of brother-sister mating).  (3) Ecological studies will
concentrate on population dynamics and productivity of mosquitoes that
breed in discarded tires.  Strains with rare isozyme alleles will be used
to trace field dispersal.  Since virtually nothing is known of field
bionomics of Ae. hendersoni, we will study this species in the forest
canopy via high towers.  Tire productivity and adult dispersal of Ae.
atropalpus will be followed.  Finally, we will try to develop improved
capture methods for adults.  (5) Biological control laboratory experiments
and field trials will be continued with predatory mosquitoes,
Toxorhynchites sp. and Anopheles barberi.  Control potential of a gregarine
protozoan parasite of the larval midgut, Ascogrenarina, will be
determined.  Larval competition experiments will be undertaken with a
female-sterile mutant of Aedes aegypti; this mutant absorbs the available
food, causing Ae. triseriatus to starve.  (5)  Our Stock Center will
continue to maintain 40 species and 180 strains and to furnish them to
other laboratories.  Finally Ae. hendersoni will be colonized (without
forced-mating) for the first time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124097
- **Project number:** 5R01AI002753-29
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FPU6XGFXMBE9
- **Principal Investigator:** GEORGE B CRAIG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $264,007
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-01-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124097

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124097, FACTORS AFFECTING VECTOR COMPETENCE IN AEDES TRISERIATUS (5R01AI002753-29). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124097. Licensed CC0.

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