Dissertation
Diagnostic strategies for managing dengue virus and insecticide resistance in Aedes mosquitoes
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00739
Abstract
More than half the world’s global population is currently at risk of dengue virus (DENV) exposure, a mosquito-borne disease with four different serotypes (DENV 1-4). This project focused on improving surveillance of DENV by developing low-resource rapid tests to detect DENV and insecticide resistance in the primary DENV mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Following a review of strategies for mosquito-based surveillance, four diagnostic improvements were advanced. (1) Development of rapid singleplex tests for each DENV serotype, demonstrating 92-100% diagnostic sensitivity and 90-100% diagnostic specificity when tested for detection in individual and pooled Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. (2) Investigation into proof-of-concept rapid tests for a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) conferring insecticide knockdown resistance, F1534C, and identification of one test that enabled a 3-log distinction between wild-type and mutant template in only 15 minutes. (3) Trialling the rapid F1534C test to distinguish between wild-type and F1534C mutant Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, demonstrating 100% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for detection of both heterozygous and homozygous mutants in only 25 minutes. (4) Development of duplex DENV-1/2 and DENV-3/4 rapid tests, demonstrating 96.15% and 100% diagnostic sensitivity respectively, and 100% and 97.14% diagnostic specificity, respectively. Collectively, the rapid tests developed during this thesis provide time-efficient, user friendly and field-amenable tools without compromising sensitivity and specificity. The tests are promising alternative diagnostic tools for DENV and insecticide resistance detection in resource-limited settings and could improve the accessibility of mosquito-based surveillance.
Details
- Title
- Diagnostic strategies for managing dengue virus and insecticide resistance in Aedes mosquitoes
- Authors
- Madeeha Ahmed - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Contributors
- Nina Pollak (Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00739
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99706798702621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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