Project: Vertical transmission of Ross River virus in mosquito vectors
Fazakerley Group
Alphaviruses, such as Ross River virus, chikungunya and Semliki Forest virus, are transmitted between susceptible vertebrate hosts by mosquito vectors. In vertebrates, these viruses initiate acute infections characterised by high virus production and brain or joint disease. In contrast, when a mosquito becomes infected, the virus establishes a persistent infection; there is no apparent effect on mosquito fitness and the mosquito transmits virus for the rest of its life. Using recombinant alphaviruses expressing fluorescent proteins, this project will look at aspects of the immune response in mosquitoes and the possibility that virus is transmitted vertically down the generations. Tools and techniques being used will include recombinant viruses, microscopy, cell culture and insect work.
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Fazakerley Group
3 vacancies
The Fazakerley group’s main interest is in the pathogenesis of infections caused by RNA viruses, in particular vector-borne (arbovirus) alphaviruses infections of the central nervous system and insect vectors. Our main focus is to dissect the immune mechanisms during viral encephalitis and virus persistence in the central nervous system. We also investigate the arthropod responses to alphaviruses and study their transmission in mosquito vectors.
Fazakerley Group Current Projects
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Role of suppressor of cytokine signalling proteins in viral encephalitis
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Age-dependent susceptibility of neurons to RNA virus infection
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Vertical transmission of Ross River virus in mosquito vectors
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.