Discovering Genetic Correlation Between Local And Foreign Viruses By Mosquitoes by Emily C.

What is the genetic correlation between local viruses and foreign viruses caused by mosquitoes? Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism, as more than one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases on a daily basis. Not only can mosquitoes affect humans, but they can also transmit several diseases and parasites through other animals. The skin’s allergic reaction to mosquito bites due to the tissue’s interaction with the insect’s saliva leads to severe itching and pain. Vectored diseases from mosquitoes include malaria, dog heartworm, dengue, encephalitis, and yellow fever. My research will take mosquitoes out of their local context and compare them to their foreign counterparts in order to discover a genetic correlation between them. A team of medical researchers at Purdue University have already found a connection between 12-15 species in Indiana that are of significance to the country’s public health. My research project’s purpose is to pinpoint the correlation between local viruses and foreign viruses caused by mosquitoes, and to analyze how this relationship affects the public health of humans so significantly.