Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R03AI177172-02
Defining the virosphere of neglected hematophagous arthropods
Recipient
Iowa State University
Award Amount
$76,500.00
Ceiling
$76,500.00
Awarded
April 22, 2025
Identifier
5R03AI177172-02
Research project funded by NIAID to identify and characterize novel viruses in blood-feeding arthropods using sequencing and bioinformatics to assess spillover risks to humans and animals.
Description
This project aims to identify and characterize novel viruses in hematophagous arthropods, such as ticks, midges, sandflies, blackflies, and fleas, which are largely neglected in virus metagenomics. The research involves high-throughput sequencing of homogenates from over 37,000 arthropods collected from North America, bioinformatics analysis to define the virosphere, and subsequent virus isolation and characterization in vertebrate cell lines. The goal is to understand the host range, virulence, and potential for spillover into humans and animals.