Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OPRAS (Olfactory processing of repellent and attractive stimuli in the brain of Drosophila)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2017-04-01 do 2019-03-31
1) The development of novel genetic tools, split-QF, essential for studying neuronal function in Drosophila flies, and potentially applicable to other insects like mosquitoes. This discovery led to the publication in the journal Genetics, 1 conference presentation and 3 invited seminars.
2) The development of new approaches and methods to study olfactory function and olfactory behaviours in mosquito larvae, by using the genetic tool Q-system. I expect the publication of these results within the next 1-2 years. These results has led to 4 invited conference talks and 2 invited seminars. As a result of these presentations, I have also been recently invited to be a senior author on an invited review article in the journal Current Opinion in Insect Science.
3) Both discoveries formed the basis of my extensive public outreach program about olfactory function in flies and mosquitoes, run partially in collaboration with Manchester Fly Facility. In total, I took part in 7 outreach events (2 invited Lectures at the University of Ioannina, Greece, 2017; Science Fair for local primary schools and Body Experience Exhibition (British Science Week), University of Manchester, UK, 2017; Science Spectacular event, Manchester Museum, UK, 2017; British Science Week event for local schools, University of Manchester, UK, 2018; European Researcher’s Night public event, Manchester Museum, UK, 2018) and organised a special insect olfactory stand, manned by 8 volunteers, at the European Researchers Night 2017 at Manchester museum.
1) Scientific impact for combatting malaria and other mosquito-transmitted diseases. New genetic approaches and methodology that I developed in the course of this project are instrumental in developing novel olfaction-based methods to malaria transmission. Indeed, the decrease in the number of malaria cases worldwide has currently stalled, partly due to the emerging insecticide resistance and climate change, that allows mosquitoes to populate previously uninhabitable cold areas of the world. New methods of mosquito control are urgently needed. This project laid the scientific basis for future olfactory-based methods to control larval and adult malaria mosquitoes.
2) Impact on my career. I have greatly benefitted from the now-published and preliminary results of this project. In particular, after receiving the Individual Fellowship I was able to secure competitive funding from the Villum Foundation (Denmark) and an Assistant Professor position at Durham University (UK). I have established several new important collaborations that will kick-start the research in my newly established laboratory and as a new PI I already received funding from the Wellcome Trust (UK). I believe that these developments are a direct consequence of the funding that I received from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual fellowship scheme.