Bioinformatics and ecoinformatics approaches for studying climate adaptation in Anopheles gambiae malaria vectors
Supervisors
Dr Marta Shocket, Lancaster University
Dr Barbara Shih, Lancaster University
Dr Alexandre Benedetto, Lancaster University
Dr Francesco Baldini, School of Biodiversity, University of Glasgow
Summary
Mosquito-borne diseases are a major public health burden, and their patterns of transmission are currently shifting in response to climate change. The ability of mosquitoes to adapt to climate change is poorly understood, and current models for transmission of mosquito-borne diseases under future climates do not incorporate evolution. This project will use molecular genetics and trait-based modelling approaches to study climate adaptation in mosquitoes, including Anopheles gambiae, the principal African vector of malaria. This project will provide insight into how mosquitoes might adapt to climate change and help to inform long-term strategies for malaria control.
Aim 1: Ecoinformatics - Generating parameters for evolutionary rescue models
The student will re-analyse existing thermal performance data from Anopheles, Culex, and Aedes mosquitoes to generate estimates of selection intensity and phenotypic variance, two factors that are used in evolutionary rescue models to predict adaptation rates.
Aim 2: Bioinformatics - Linking climate variables to genetic features from sequencing data
The student will derive genetic variations from whole genome Anopheles gambiae sequencing data and determine if metrics related to climate are associated with greater population-level genetic diversity or specific genetic variants.