Researcher biography
Project title:
Wolbachia pipiens in natural populations in Australia: their potential as a mosquito population supp
Project description:
Just two mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are responsible for the greatest global transmission of arboviruses that cause dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. My PhD project is dedicated to advancing the Wolbachia-based incompatible insect technique (IIT) for implementation in Australia, with the goal of reducing and removing these species from human-occupied landscapes. By developing multiple incompatible strains, we are ensuring adaptability in the program, as each strain will be reproductively incompatible to each other. Additionally, my research aims to enhance population suppression and delivery efficiency by improving male fitness and longevity, while also boosting the IIT method with the use of larvicides.
Advisors/supervisors:
Associate Professor Nigel Beebe, Associate Professor Gregor Devine, Professor Sassan Asgari