Education:
2006: Ph.D. in Ecology, University Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris, France.
2002: M.S. and B.S. in Biology-Biochemistry, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France.
Current Research:
My current research is primarily funded by a Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowship from the FP6 Program of the European Commission. It deals with a neglected aspect of dengue epidemiology, namely, the role of vector-virus interactions in shaping dengue virus evolution in nature.
Dengue is a tropical human disease caused by RNA viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes which is a major public health threat. The mechanisms regulating dengue outbreaks and severity of disease are largely unknown. Disregarding the role of vector-virus interactions in virus evolution may have been a limiting factor in gaining important insights into these processes. Among evolutionary forces undergone by viral populations, vector-driven selection is expected to favor viral genotypes that are best suited to replicate and disseminate in local vector populations. Indeed, mosquito populations are not spatially homogenous, but rather consist of genetically differentiated sub-populations. Therefore, specific interactions between virus and vector genotypes combined with the genetic structuring of mosquito populations may promote opportunities for virus specialization towards local vector genotypes.
We are currently evaluating and genetically characterizing local adaptation of dengue viruses to their primary vector Aedes aegypti at several locations in Thailand. The study is based on virus isolates and mosquitoes collected in the field in collaboration with the joint US-Thai Army laboratory in Bangkok (AFRIMS). Experimental infections of mosquitoes are carried out at the UC Davis Center for Vector-borne Disease Research (USA) under the supervision of Dr. Thomas W. Scott, and the genetic characterization of vector-virus interactions is performed at the GEMI laboratory in Montpellier (France), in collaboration with Dr. Christine Chevillon and Dr. François Renaud.
We expect that this study will shed light on a neglected aspect of dengue epidemiology, namely, the role of vector-virus interactions in shaping dengue virus evolution in nature. It will provide important knowledge on the influence of vectors in the extent of dengue outbreaks, because the degree of virus adaptation relative to the vector population structure partly determines success of virus spread and, therefore, the geographic distribution of dengue epidemics. Evaluating the amount of selective pressure imposed by vectors on dengue virus populations will also improve understanding of the conditions that favor the emergence of mutant viruses, such as virulent strains or vaccine escapees.
Key-words: dengue, Aedes aegypti, local adaptation, vector competence, vector-virus interactions, viral evolution.
Links of Interest
Louis Lambrechts' website
http://www.geocities.com/llambrechts
