New distributable Plasmodium falciparum lines (2018-19)

Malaria infected cells (©Institut Pasteur)

• From different geographic populations
• Gametocyte-producing clonal lines adapted for culture and mosquito infection
• Sequenced, with genetic fingerprint test for authentication

Infravec2 recommends that researchers obtain arbovirus stocks at no cost from the EU-funded European Virus Archive, EVAg 

• EVAg virus stocks are authenticated and quality controlled

Improved vector reference genome assemblies

Illumina® sequencing instrument (©Illumina Inc.)

• Many vector reference genomes are fragmented and poorly annotated
• Infravec2 will improve reference genomes of two vector species
• Species chosen for public health significance, expected positive research impact of new genome tools, and absence current improvement project for the species.
  1. Anopheles darlingi: major human malaria vector in South America
  2. Phlebotomus perniciosus: European sandfly vector of Leishmania and emerging human arboviral diseases caused by phleboviruses
• Sequencing, assembly and long range mapping will be used to resolve gaps and improve sequence quality

Distributable vector genetic editing tools for Aedes aegypti & Anopheles coluzzii

Transgenic Anopheles larvae (©University of Glasgow)

• CRISPR/Cas9 tools for targeted gene disruption
• Mosquito lines with docking sites for integration of transgenes

Develop and disseminate an experimental infection system for sandfly infection with emerging arboviruses

Sandfly species (©Ray Wilson)

Sandfly species (©Ray Wilson)

• Viruses transmitted by sandflies (phleboviruses) are an emerging public health threat in Europe and elsewhere, but research tools are lacking
• Develop and disseminate standard conditions for experimental sandfly infection (Phlebotomus perniciosus) with model phlebovirus (Toscana virus, Bunyaviridae)
• Improve Phlebotomus perniciosus genome assembly to aid functional studies of sandfly-virus interactions