Understanding the determinants of FTA-enabled surveillance for Culicoides-borne pathogens
Supervisors
Dr Luca Nelli, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow
Dr Ross Cuthbert, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Emilie Pondeville, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow
CASE PARTNER - APS Biocontrol Ltd
Summary
Biting midges (Culicoides spp.) transmit important livestock pathogens including bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses, and their changing distribution is increasing the need for more flexible surveillance. This PhD will investigate whether FTA-enabled traps can provide a scalable way to detect pathogen circulation and, crucially, determine when such surveillance can be relied upon.
The project will examine the complete surveillance pathway, from midge contact and sugar feeding through pathogen deposition, preservation and molecular detection. Controlled behavioural and molecular experiments will quantify the processes determining whether pathogen circulation produces a detectable signal. These data will be integrated within a quantitative model of detection probability and tested through paired FTA-enabled and conventional Culicoides surveillance across contrasting UK epidemiological settings. The resulting framework could also support surveillance for other emerging Culicoides-borne pathogens.
The student will receive interdisciplinary training in Culicoides biology, behavioural experimentation, field surveillance, molecular diagnostics, experimental design and statistical modelling. Through the CASE partnership with APS Biocontrol, they will gain industry experience in operational surveillance, deployment and translation into practical monitoring. Collaboration with the UKRI-funded PAMEC programme, MosquitoNI, Sapienza University of Rome and The Pirbright Institute will provide access to complementary field networks, FTA-surveillance expertise and specialist vector-borne disease research infrastructure.