Christy C. Andrade

I study arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and the mosquitoes that transmit arboviruses. My research interests focus on understanding biotic and abiotic factors that influence transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus.  Typically, the best way to control these viruses is to prevent transmission by a mosquito host; however, this is no simple task.  Recently, it was discovered that bacteria and fungi in the mosquito midgut can actually limit transmission of some arboviruses and exploiting this has become one proposed method for limiting virus transmission thus decreasing disease burden.  Problematically, little is understood about the complex relationship between the mosquito, the virus, and the community of bacteria harbored by the mosquito.