Last week the VectorBiTE RCN working groups met at Imperial College London to engage with fellow researchers from around the world studying vector biology. Working groups focused on particular areas of vector behavior, ecology or eco-informatics and set to work organizing databases, drafting manuscripts, reviewing literature and brainstorming on ways to improve our field. Continue reading “VectorBiTE: UK edition”
News
A Geodatabase on Anophelines in the Afrotropics!
A research group funded by Wellcome Trust have just produced a newly updated geodatabase on anophelines in the Afrotropics (sub-Sarahan Africa, SSA). It updates the inventories produced by both the MAP and MARA groups, building on a long history of inventories, and includes both dominant and potential secondary malarial vectors. The final database comprises a total of >13,000 Anopheles survey locations. This is a wonderful new resource and is uploaded in entirety to the Harvard Dataverse for researchers to access and use (http://dx.doi.org/10.7910/DVN/NQ6CUN)
How to cite:
Kyalo D, Amratia P, Mundia CW et al. A geo-coded inventory of anophelines in the Afrotropical Region south of the Sahara: 1898-2016 [version 1; referees: awaiting peer review]. Wellcome Open Res 2017, 2:57 (doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.12187.1)
The Dataverse information:
Snow, Robert W., 2017, “A geo-coded inventory of anophelines in the Afrotropical Region south of the Sahara: 1898-2016”, doi:10.7910/DVN/NQ6CUN, Harvard Dataverse, V1
By VectorBiTE member Sadie J. Ryan
Applications for the VectorBiTE 2017 Open Session
We are now accepting applications for an Open Session of VectorBiTE 2017.
The Open Session is available for any RCN members who would like to participate, regardless of participation in the rest of the meeting. The Open Session will take place on:
Thursday 27 July 2017 from 8:45am to noon
in the Moore Auditorium at the Royal Holloway University.
In person attendance to the session is capped (due to maximum occupancy of the room) so we will allocate places in the order requests are received.
We also intend to allow remote participation in the open session. If that would be your preference, please indicate this under the “special requests” section of the application.
We are now accepting applications for VectorBiTE 2017 new working groups!!
Hello VectorBiTE members,
We are preparing for VBite 2017 and are now accepting applications for new working groups. We have had an extremely strong response from the exiting groups and many of them have proposed Open meeting activities (meaning that if you apply to the meeting you could join one of these groups). We will therefore be accepting a very small number (1-2) of new working groups. If you would like to propose a new working group please send a 1 page summary containing the following information. We would like these by Feb 20th.
- Proposed activities/objectives- Why do you need to meet? What do you hope to accomplish?
- Proposed group members- What composition of group members do you need to accomplish these objectives? This may be only one or two people at this stage.
- Funding requirements of the group- Accommodation is covered for all attendees automatically. In order to ensure we can maximize the number of folks who can attend we are asking that if funding for alternative travel is available that people use this. Some attendees last year mentioned they would be willing to draw on these alternative sources for travel funding if it meant others could attend. However, it will not count against an application if all attendees need travel funds.
- What if you are not funded? Even if proposals are not chosen we are open to creating a virtual working group through the VectorBiTE website to help develop community ideas. Let us know if you would like us to arrange for this in the event that you are not funded and who the admin should be for your group.
- Open or Closed Enrollment? All new working groups must be Open to new members
Some additional notes: We want to balance participation across early stage and late stage career researchers, theoretical and empirical focus, and geographic region. We would be especially interested in increasing participation from early career UK scientists. We are also specifically interested in a group to look at the effect of vector age on transmission.
Please submit your 1 page summary by emailing vectorbitercn@gmail.com
Best,
Vectorbite Board
The collection and public dissemination of mosquito abundance data, AMCA symposium
From discussions started at the 2016 VectorBiTE symposium, a symposium on mosquito abundance data has been organized for the American Mosquito Control Association annual meeting in San Diego in February 2017. Many of the RCN members are involved. If this topic interests you, we hope you’ll join us!
The collection and public dissemination of mosquito abundance data: Perspectives and options.
Mosquito Surveillance in Iowa (1969-present): Perspectives, Achievements, and Challenges
Ryan Smith, Iowa State University
Mosquito surveillance has been performed in the state of Iowa for nearly fifty years. This has enabled accurate assessments of mosquito diversity, abundance, the establishment of invasive mosquito species, and arbovirus transmission. We will discuss the strengths of long-running mosquito surveillance, data dissemination, arbovirus transmission dynamics, as well as future challenges.
Mosquitoes in Hawaii: engaging the public using the INaturalist citizen science platform
Durrell D. Kapan, Ph.D. , University of Hawaii – Manoa
Perspectives from a Mosquito Control District that shares extensive data online
Barbara Bayer, Manatee County Mosquito Control District, Florida
This presentation will discuss Manatee County Mosquito Control District’s objective in posting surveillance data on our website and the pros and cons associated with general access to that data.
Scope and insights from already publicly-available mosquito abundance data
Samuel Rund, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
There are current calls for the aggregation and dissemination of mosquito population abundance data generated by mosquito abatement districts. There are many benefits of this data sharing, but also legitimate concerns. However, many districts already provide publicly available data on their websites, or submit their data to state-level aggregators. I will present an overview of this already publicly available data, such as the scope, differences in reporting, hurdles, and some insights gained from aggregation of the data.
Reconstructing Spatiotemporal Patterns of Vector Abundance via Online Data Sources
Micaela Elvira Martinez, Princeton University, US.
Vector-borne infectious diseases continue to pose a public health threat. Epidemiological studies of the transmission of emerging vector-borne diseases (e.g., Zika and Chikungunya) are limited, due to the lack of data as epidemics unfold. In the face of data limitations, we propose that vector abundance can be used as a proxy for pathogen transmission potential. We have identified and curated vector abundance data from online public health and environment websites. We used these integrated data to study broad spatiotemporal patterns of vector abundance. Specifically, we characterized (1) the seasonality of mosquitoes—at the genus level—using trap data, and (2) geographic variation in seasonal cycles of vector abundance. Due to the seasonal transmission of vector-borne diseases, such data can be used to form testable predictions regarding the seasonal structure of disease risk (for emerging pathogens) and to identify data-gaps to be supplemented, specifically with the collection of more trap data or epidemiological case reports of disease.
Thoughts on the difficulties of interpreting shared mosquito abundance data
Douglas Carlson, Indian River Mosquito Control District, Vero Beach, FL
Surveillance is an integral component of any IPM-based mosquito control program yet the proper interpretation of such data must take into account a variety of environmental factors. Based on previous research, this presentation will attempt to provide some insights as to the importance of considering several variables when reviewing abundance data. However when considering shared data, it is common that such environmental factors are not adequately considered. This can lead to the strong possibility of incorrect conclusions being drawn from this shared information.
“Connecting Vector Abundance with Vector Ecology: VectorBITE”
Samraat Pawar, Imperial College, London, UK
The Vector Behavior in Transmission Ecology (VectorBiTE) research network brings together theoreticians and empiricists interested in better understanding the role of vector behavior and variation in individual vector traits in determining disease dynamics. As part of this effort, the network is creating two publicly available data bases. One of these, VectorDyn, will contain information on vector abundance through time and space. We will present our current progress in this effort and discuss how the VectorBiTE community envisions applying this resource to better understand transmission dynamics.
Statewide Mosquito Surveillance System for Florida
Adriane N. Rogers, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has received an increasing number of requests for statewide mosquito surveillance data since January 2016 due to the current public health emergency of global concern that we are faced with as a result of the Zika virus. A repository for statewide mosquito distribution and abundance data does not currently exist in Florida. FDACS has been pursuing the creation of a statewide database to monitor species abundance/distribution, track invasive mosquito species, identify trends in population dynamics over time, and to enhance/predict response to emergency storm events or public health situations rapidly and early. Ideally, this would be an online data sharing platform that would make access to the data immediate. This would be useful to counties to determine what species may be occurring in neighboring counties that could potentially impact their respective control operations and could be correlated with weather, flight range of species, etc.. This information would also be useful for researchers in Florida interested in various aspects of mosquito biology or ecology, arboviruses, or mosquito control. FDACS is in the very early stages of identifying resources and information technology companies to create a database that would suit the needs of Florida. This would not only be useful for Florida, but would have potential to fill a void in other states’ mosquito surveillance capabilities as well.
Benefits and pitfalls of using mosquito abundance data from varied sources in models – closing remarks and synthesis
Cynthia Lord, Florida Medical Entomology Lab
Those interested in this topic, may also be interested in “Map-based exploration of vector surveillance data in VectorBase” which will be held during a different session.
VectorBiTE 2017
The second annual meeting will take place this summer at Imperial College in London, UK.
Upcoming events of interest
Hello VectorBiters,
Two meetings of interest have been brought to our attention. One in the USA and one in the UK (how appropriate).
- 2017 Arthropod Genomics meeting at Notre Dame
- Launch and Networking event for the GCRF: Networks in Vector Borne Disease Research
VectorBiTE RCN SpIT! Group Blog Update
The Species Interaction in Transmission (SpIT!) group met virtually in mid-April to discuss and approve a timeline for group research. As laid out in the document the group created at the RCN, SpIT! will investigate whether predation influences vector traits relevant to vector-borne disease (VBD) transmission. The group will explore the following questions:
1. What evidence is there that vector populations of any stage are regulated by predators?
2. What are the direct and indirect effects of predators on vector traits and transmission?
3. What life history and vector traits determine whether vector population regulation by predators exists?
4. Do these predator prey interactions lead to selection on the vector trait?
The group selected the interaction of predation to focus on first out of the following list of interactions: Coinfections (vectored or not), Predation / parasitoids / vector pathogen (hosts, non hosts), Competition with other vectors, Microbiome, Endosymbiont / mutualisms, and Hosts.
The group will first carry out a literature search on the following traits with the questions above in mind: Survival (juvenile / adult), Fecundity, Development rate, Host preference (behavior), Biting rate (behavior), Dispersal, Phenology (seasonal / daily), Competence, Transmission mode, Immunology / Resistance / Susceptibility.
The review will feedback and inform a general model and develop a modeling framework for effects of predation on vector populations and vector traits influencing transmission of VBD. The group plans to organize a SMASH to propose at the next RCN meeting.
To get everyone thinking about the process of developing a model framework, group member Fadoua El Moustaid presented her exploration of the model found in Moore et al 2010 (J. R. Soc. Interface (2010) 7, 161–176). She explained the model and parameter sensitivities, collected feedback, and answered questions from the group. The next directions are to get informed feedback on how to modify and apply this model to specific systems and incorporate vector traits into the model. The group will meet again virtually in June.
By SpIT group leader: Catherine M. Herzog
VectorBiTE Ecoinfo Nerds Unite!
The Ecoinformatics working group has been set up. If you are a VectorBiTE member and interested in joining this group, please go ahead! We are currently working on a draft data sheet template for VecDyn, which we will then make available for VectorBiTE members to give feedback on. Then, after a revision or two, we should be ready to start assembling vector presence-absence and abundance data.
VecTrait will follow soon after.
VectorBiTE Launches in Clearwater, Florida
Written by our very own Lauren Cator:
What role do vector traits play in shaping disease transmission dynamics? Last week the VectorBiTE Research Coordination Network held its first meeting in Florida to start tackling this question. The meeting is summarized here.