Identifying the drivers of insecticide resistance in Brazilian Aedes aegypti

Our understanding of Aedes aegypti mosquito biology in Brazil and insecticide resistance, is very limited. This is despite the importance this mosquito holds as a vector of at least four fatal or debilitating arboviruses – dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika. Insecticide-based approaches remain the main method used to minimise vector-borne disease burden across the diseases. However, overuse or misuse of insecticides increases resistance, which threatens the effectiveness of control interventions. While public health and agricultural insecticide use have been suggested as drivers of increased resistance, the role of unregulated use of household insecticides remain unknown and poorly investigated. 

This project will provide crucial insights into the mechanism underlying Brazilian Ae. aegypti pyrethroid-resistance, focusing on the contribution of household insecticides to the evolution of insecticide resistance.    

This grant was awarded under the scheme's previous name of Training Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.