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Project properties |
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| Title | eDNA as a new tool to determine host contacts of ticks and mosquitoes |
| Group | Entomology, Laboratory of |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 12, 24-36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Sander Koenraadt, Carlijn Balvers |
| Examiner(s) | Marcel Dicke |
| Contact info | sander.koenraadt@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2023/03/01 |
| End date | 2023/12/01 |
| Description | Mosquitoes and ticks can transmit various pathogens, for example Zika virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Knowing what hosts are used by mosquitoes and ticks is important to understand the transmission cycle of these pathogens, but also to better monitor diseases. Traces of DNA of the host on the mosquito or tick legs (eDNA) could potentially tell us more about other hosts in which mosquitoes and ticks are interested. But many questions remain to be answered. For example, how long after contacting the host is the DNA still detectable, can we distinguish host blood meals from host contacts, etc.? The student will help developing a reliable method to study the host contacts of mosquitoes and ticks by the use of eDNA. |
| Used skills | DNA isolation, PCR, sequencing, depending on the time of year: tick and mosquito collection from the field |
| Requirements | For doing a BSc-thesis at Entomology, there are no requirements for specific courses.
For doing a MSc-thesis or internship at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected. Note: these requirements do not apply for MBI students; MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis or internship in the study programme of their specialisation. |