Will Balding | 2025 I.S. Symposium
狈补尘别:听Will Balding
罢颈迟濒别:听Bridging the Gap: An Investigation into the Genetic Diversity and Laboratory Colonization of Aedes japonicus japonicus in Northern Ohio
惭补箩辞谤:听Biology
惭颈苍辞谤蝉:听Computer Science; Music
础诲惫颈蝉辞谤蝉:听Ferdinad Nanfack Minkeu; Richard Lehtinen
Invasive mosquitoes are serious ecological and medical threats. The Asian rock pool mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus,鈥痟as been identified as a potential disease vector. Researchers investigating this mosquito have discovered increasing numbers of grouped mutations (haplotypes) within conserved mitochondrial genes COI and NAD4 across several states. However, Ohio has been understudied in this capacity. Furthermore, there are few documented attempts at laboratory colonization of the subspecies. To address both research gaps, this study aimed to experimentally colonize and investigate the population-level genetic diversity of鈥疉e. j. japonicus鈥痬osquitoes in three Ohio cities: 黑料社, Cleveland, and Newark. The study also aimed to identify whether the size phenotypes described in previous student research were heritable. Trapped mosquitoes were separated into large and small colonies based on body size. Due to high mortality rates of the small phenotype, the wild-caught F0 generation consisted entirely of large mosquitoes. Despite this, the F1鈥痮ffspring generation consisted of both large and small mosquitoes, indicating that diet-related factors may determine body size. A subset of mosquitoes from the F0 generation had their DNA sequenced, with a high haplotype diversity discovered in both genes. Furthermore, genetic sequence comparisons revealed an overlap in the haplotypes present between the 黑料社 and Cleveland mosquitoes, providing strong evidence that they diverged from the same invasive population. These results align with reports from other states, underscoring the need to continue monitoring this species as a potential disease vector. As the climate continues to warm, it could enable interactions between Ae. j. japonicus and confirmed mosquito vectors.
Posted in Symposium 2025 on May 1, 2025.
