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Studies on Biting in Culex Mosquitoes

Siperstein, Alden D
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692625759348482

Abstract Details

2023, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Entomology.
Biting is an essential component of the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. By studying the molecular regulation of blood-feeding and characterizing when mosquitoes feed on vertebrate hosts and which hosts they use, we can better understand how diseases spread and find ways to reduce the spread of diseases. Interestingly, some species of mosquitoes have evolved the ability to produce viable eggs whtihout biting a vertebrate host, a process called “autogeny.” Chapter 1 reviews the topic of autogeny in mosquitoes, summarizing the key studies from the past 100 years and highlighting future research directions to develop a better understand of how to promote this trait in biting mosquitoes. Chapter 2 provides experimental evidence of genes and biochemical pathways that are differentially expressed in biting, anautogenous Cx. pipiens pipiens and the nonbiting, autogenous Cx. pipiens molestus. Chapter 3 summarizes a three-year field study that uncovered when populations of Culex are reproductively active and potentially biting in central Ohio. This chapter focus on the species Cx. pipiens, Cx. restuans, and Cx. erraticus that can all vector West Nile virus. My work revealed that Culex are reproductively active late into the fall and early into the spring, demonstrating a wider range in reproductive activity than was previously predicted. Chapter 4 characterizes host use and host preferences in Culex and if these mosquitoes exhibit a shift in host use from spring to summer in central Ohio. Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans predominantly bit avian species that have been implicated as important amplifying hosts for West Nile virus. Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans did not exhibit a strong preference for any single bird species among the ones they fed upon, nor did they shift preference to or from any avian species from the spring to the summer. Although these chapters have disparate topics, they all serve to find ways to better understand and mitigate the risk of biting from mosquitoes. Finding novel approaches to better understand and inhibit biting in mosquitoes may one day reduce the rate of biting and the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Megan Meuti (Advisor)
202 p.
Entomology
Mosquito, Culex, Autogeny, Differentially Expressed Genes, Biting, Reproductive Activity, Host Use, Host Preference

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Siperstein, A. D. (2023). Studies on Biting in Culex Mosquitoes [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692625759348482

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Siperstein, Alden. Studies on Biting in Culex Mosquitoes . 2023. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692625759348482.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Siperstein, Alden. "Studies on Biting in Culex Mosquitoes ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1692625759348482

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1692625759348482
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© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.