1
Features The project aims to cease the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector for the dengue vi- rus, from transmitting this virus between humans. Re- searchers claim the main barrier to this transmission is the Wolbachia bacterium. According to Frank Scholle, microbiology professor and researcher, “Wolbachia is an insect bac- terium that does not infect humans. However, when fe- male mosquitoes mate with male mosquitoes that are infected with Wolbachia, their eggs will die.” In contrast, infected fe- male mosquitoes are able to mate successfully but will pass the bacterium on to their progeny. This bacte- rium prevents the mosqui- toes from getting infected with the dengue virus, and thus forbids the spread of the dengue fever to humans. Dengue fever has en- gulfed the lives of millions of people around the globe. Though it is not so preva- lent in U.S., an outbreak was documented in Florida in 2009 and 2010 and about 5 percent of the population in Key West showed signs of exposure to the virus. The main vector that transmits the deadly den- gue virus is a mosquito called Aedes aegypti. This species of mosquito is more common in the tropical ar- eas and infects inhabitants of the tropics. Infection is largely based on the lifestyle of an individual and their exposure to Aedes aegypti. This species of mosquito has a tendency to breed in stagnant water puddles. Hence, researchers claim dengue is especially com- mon in low-lying areas dur- ing heavy rains. According to Lloyd, dengue is prevalent in Southeast Asia and South America. “As of right now, Wolbachia is not being deployed on a large scale to combat dengue,” Lloyd said. “The tests that were car- ried out to date were designed to determine whether the Wol- bachia infection would spread. In the near future, tests will be carried out in dengue-endemic areas to see what effect there is on transmission of dengue.” Scholle cited a study along the U.S.-Mexican border that shed light on the lifestyle choic- es contributing to the spread of the virus. “…A number of years ago [it] demonstrated this: Laredo and Nuevo Laredo are separated by the Rio Grande, on both sides the vector mosquitoes are pres- ent,” Scholle said. “On both sides, a similar percentage of mosquitoes are carrying den- gue virus. However, cases of dengue fever are almost exclusively found on the Mexican side of the river.” This obser- vation dem- onstrates infected populations in Mexico tend to spend more time outdoors and are likely to open windows instead of using air conditioning to control indoor temperatures; whereas Ameri- cans are more indoors and keep their windows closed, accord- ing to Scholle. But Aedes ae- gypti has shown the likelihood of spreading into neighboring areas, resulting in a higher risk of acquiring the disease in the Southern U.S. Despite all efforts, there has been no antiviral treatment or cure for dengue fever. Treat- ment consists only support therapy, including mainte- nance of fluids and delivery of pain medication. There are no vaccines for dengue, although the microbiology and biochem- istry departments of the Uni- versity are testing quite a few approaches. “The problem is that any ac- ceptable dengue vaccine will need to afford equal protec- tion against all four serotypes simultaneously, and that has been a huge problem with vaccine development,” Scholle said. “The only prevention is to limit exposure to the mos- quitoes.” The Eliminate Dengue Pro- gram has helped prevent yellow fever and its efforts to prevent dengue have yielded success. “I think among the academic community, the global problem with dengue is well appreciated and there are multiple ef- forts under way in vac- cine and an- tiviral drug development, however, since the dis- ease is not [yet] very prevalent in the U.S. itself in my opin- ion,” Scholle said. “It does not get the attention it deserves as far as research funding is con- cerned. I anticipate that with global travel and global warm- ing we will see further expan- sion of the mosquito vectors into new areas, and with them the diseases they carry.” But eliminating dengue isn’t just on the microbial level. Lloyd is taking an epidemio- logical view on the issue. “I developed a model that described the population dy- namics of mosquito popula- tions and the Wolbachia in- fection,” Lloyd said. “Such a model can be used to predict the outcome of an experiment ahead of time, or to help inter- pret the results obtained in an experiment. In the Wolbachia paper, I used models to inter- pret the results obtained from their cage [semi-field system] experiments.” Ann Ross, anthropology professor, developed technology to assist in identifying human remains. Ashish Sharma Staff Writer Modern software is now allowing researchers to gain insight into the origin of our ancestors—taking a new look at old bones. Forensic anthro- pologist and associate professor Ann Ross has developed this technology, called 3D-ID, with the help of scientific comput- ing researcher Dennis Slice of Florida State University. According to Ross, 3D-ID can give information about a person’s sex and ancestral background solely on the mea- surements of the skull. “3D-ID is a software that we developed as a shareware for the forensic scientists,” Ross said. “We started working on this back in 2005.” 3D-ID performs shape analysis using geometric mor- phometrics, which is a field of study that characterizes and evaluates the biological forms. Prior to using 3D-ID, the fo- rensic practitioner had to take measurements of 34 specific points on the skull using a 3D digitizer, which is an electronic pen-like instrument that reads the coordinates of each of these points. The 3D-ID analyzes these measurements to deter- mine the ancestry and sex of the skull. “The purpose of [3D-ID] is to measure the x, y and z coor- dinates [using digitizer] from the anatomical landmarks on the skull,” Ross said. “You can then plug-in this data into the software and it will give you a classification of what the most closely related population the skull belongs to. For example it can tell you if its a Meso- American male or a European female.” The 3D-ID compares the measurements of the digitizer with a reference database to provide information about the skull. “Right now we have about 1,300 individuals in this data- base from all over the world,” Ross said. “And we keep col- lecting and incorporating new data into the software pro- gram.” According to Ross, the grouping of the population has been done a little differently in 3D-ID than how it is normally done in the forensic sciences. “A lot of times we use the term Hispanic, which has no biological meaning,” Ross said. “So we have grouped the pop- ulation according to the geo- graphic regions. For example, we have Circum-Caribbean, Meso-Americans, South Amer- icans. We have also differenti- ated European Americans from Europeans, African Americans from Africans.” The next step, according to Ross, is to include juvenile skel- etons in 3D-ID so the software can help with the growing cases of missing children in America. “We have currently not in- cluded the data that will help determining the ancestry of a juvenile,” Ross said. “But through the research we have done [at the University], we used the 3D-ID for identifying the skeleton of an unidentified boy in a case from 1998 and we were able to say that he is Meso- American.” After this, the next research breakthrough will be making it onto CSI. TECHNICIAN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011 • PAGE 5 Search NSA to Download Search NSA Careers WATCH OUR VIDEO Get the free App for your camera phone at gettag.mobi and then launch the App and aim it at this tag. U.S. citizenship is required. NSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants for employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a parent. where intelligence goes to work ® Your Campus NSA Is Coming to Get to know NSA. Engineering Career Fair Tuesday, October 4 - Wednesday, October 5 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY McKimmon Center Meet and talk with recruiters to discover excellent career opportunities in these fields: n Computer/Electrical Engineering n Computer Science n Information Assurance n Mathematics n Foreign Language n Intelligence Analysis n Cryptanalysis n Signals Analysis n Business & Contracting n Finance & Accounting n Paid Internships, Scholarships and Co-op >> Plus other opportunities KNOWINGMATTERS Features SCIENCE & TECH JORDAN MOORE/TECHNICIAN A screenshot of Alun Lloyd’s work shows the mathematical programs he uses to model mosquito behavior and transmission of the dengue virus. New tool to see into past generations PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION The map shows darkened areas the dengue fever affects. This disease, which mosquitoes spread, is a severe fever caused by the Wolbachia bacterium. This disease is prevalent in tropical areas. SYMPTOMS OF DENGUE FEVER: • High fever, up to 105 F (40.6 C) • A rash over most of your body, which may subside after a couple of days and then reappear • Severe headache, backache or both • Pain behind your eyes • Severe joint and muscle pain • Nausea and vomiting SOURCE: MAYO CLINIC, 2011 FEVER continued from page 1 “It does not get the attention it deserves as far as research funding is concerned.” Alun Lloyd, mathematical biologist indie rock / hip-hop / dance / electronica / metal / folk / post rock / local / soul / a capella / and more!
