# Evaluating the consequences of genotype displacement and geographic bias of West Nile virus in New York State

> **NIH NIH R21** · WADSWORTH CENTER · 2020 · $175,136

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
There are many factors that govern the potential for arbovirus emergence and expansion, including host
factors and regional environmental conditions, yet the foremost drivers of emergence and spread are the
interactions between virus and vector. West Nile virus (WNV; Flaviviridae; Flavivirus) remains the most
geographically widespread arbovirus globally and the most widespread and prevalent arbovirus in the U.S,
including in New York State (NYS). A resurgence in WNV activity was seen in NYS in 2010 and nationwide in
2012, and our retrospective genetic studies now demonstrate that this was concurrent with genetic change.
Prevalence of WNV in NYS mosquitoes last year was 2nd only to 2012, and WNV cases in upstate NY
reached unprecedent levels. Although environmental shifts likely play a role in epidemiological patterns, our
recent analyses have led us to hypothesize that genetic variation of WNV correlates to shifts in population-
specific vectorial capacity, and that this contributes to WNV transmission and disease intensity. Our proposed
studies aim to understand the phenotypic impact of WNV genotype and its role in prevalence and disease. We
will combine widespread surveillance and deep-sequencing with comprehensive laboratory studies utilizing
historic and contemporary isolates, reverse genetics and experimental studies in relevant genetically-distinct
mosquito populations. These data together will provide a direct assessment of the role of emergent genotypes
in driving WNV transmission and the importance of population-specific selection and competence. In addition,
the comprehensive catalog of virus strains will allow us to launch detailed downstream mechanistic studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9969846
- **Project number:** 1R21AI146856-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** WADSWORTH CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexander Timothy Ciota
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $175,136
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-21 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9969846

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9969846, Evaluating the consequences of genotype displacement and geographic bias of West Nile virus in New York State (1R21AI146856-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9969846. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*