Culex spp. Mosquito Mitochondrial Population Genomics

The project aims to determine the regional relationships, geographic ranges, and population barriers of Culex spp. mosquitoes throughout the Southwestern United States. We aim to elucidate the implications of the ranges and barriers present to these mosquito populations on the circulation of various arboviruses throughout the region. Our approach uses the amplification of complete mitochondrial genomes through Long-Range PCR amplification and long-read HiFi Sequencing on pooled mosquitoes in collaboration with vector control agencies. Our methodology allows us to tease apart individual level allele frequencies from pooled samples that are otherwise lost with more traditional methods.