# Chromosomal rearrangements in arboviral vector Aedes aegypti

> **NIH NIH R21** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2020 · $227,596

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Aedes aegypti transmits several arboviral diseases, including dengue and Zika fever, which threaten
virtually half of the world’s population. Two subspecies, Ae. aegypti aegypti (Aaa) and Ae. aegypti formosus
(Aaf), have been described based on their body coloration. These two subspecies differ remarkably from each
other in their worldwide distribution, association with humans, and ability to transmit pathogens. In Anopheles
populations, polymorphic inversions are often responsible for epidemiologically important phenotypes but our
knowledge about chromosomal rearrangements in Aedes populations is scarce. So far, only two chromosomal
inversions have been directly observed in chromosomes of Ae. aegypti from Senegal. Based on our
preliminary data, we hypothesize that chromosomal inversions are abundant in Ae. aegypti and are involved in
the establishment and maintenance of genomic and phenotypic divergence in natural populations of this
mosquito. In this study, we will take advantage of a dramatically improved, fully re-annotated genome
assembly for Ae. aegypti and employ the Hi-C approach along with Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT)
sequencing to characterize chromosomal rearrangements. [The primary goal of this R21 proposal is to
identify chromosomal rearrangements in aedine mosquitoes]. Toward this end, we propose three specific
aims: 1) characterize chromosomal rearrangements in 16 strains of Aaa and Aaf from various
worldwide populations using the Hi-C approach; 2) develop a high-quality de novo genome assembly
for the Aaf Uganda strain using advanced genome technologies; and 3) develop PCR and FISH-based
approaches for identification of the 3p2 chromosomal inversion, which is potentially of medical
importance. The innovative strategies of using Hi-C analysis and ONT sequencing will make possible the
discovery of chromosomal inversions in Ae. aegypti and will stimulate future genetic studies aimed at
preventing mosquito-borne disease transmission.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9974917
- **Project number:** 1R21AI146528-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria Sharakhova
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $227,596
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-02-07 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9974917

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9974917, Chromosomal rearrangements in arboviral vector Aedes aegypti (1R21AI146528-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9974917. Licensed CC0.

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