Abbie Tait

Biting back: Using SYBR PCR to detect and track alphaviruses and flaviviruses

Alphaviruses and flaviviruses, predominantly carried by arthropods such as mosquitoes, can be found across the globe and have the ability to negatively impact human health and livestock. This denotes a need to monitor which alpha and flaviviruses are currently circulating in order to respond effectively when viral outbreaks are detected. In collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), TGen North’s Viral Ecology and Translational Research Core set out to better understand the viral landscape of alpha and flaviviruses in the Southwestern United States (U.S.). Using pan-detection assays and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) we have tested over 300 pools of Culex quinquefasciatusand Culex tarsalis mosquitoes across three different Southwestern states for the presence of alphaviruses and flaviviruses. Through the use of melt peak analyses, we were able to differentiate between alpha and flaviviruses present within the Southwest.