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Vector Signals

Vector Signals

By: Maddy Chang McDonough
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 A private, AI-curated podcast delivering 15-20 minute deep dives into the latest Nature articles on mosquito-borne viruses and AI-driven therapeutic breakthroughs. Designed for the researchers of the Saleh Lab at Institut Pasteur, each episode distills cutting-edge science into accessible insights—so you can stay current, even during your busiest bench days.© 2025 Maddy Chang McDonough Biological Sciences Science
Episodes
  • AI for Culex Mosquito Identification using Wing Patterns (July 2025)

    AI for Culex Mosquito Identification using Wing Patterns (July 2025)
    Jul 1 2025
    Detailed Briefing Document: Application of Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) and Deep Learning (DL) for Culex spp. ClassificationApplication of wings interferential patterns (WIPs) and deep learning (DL) to classify some Culex. spp (Culicidae) of medical or veterinary importanceArnaud Cannet, Camille Simon Chane, Aymeric Histace, Mohammad Akhoundi, Olivier Romain, Pierre Jacob, Darian Sereno, Marc Souchaud, Philippe Bousses & Denis Sereno Scientific Reports volume 15, Article number: 21548 (2025)Source: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08667-yReceived - 28 November 2024 | Accepted - 23 June 2025 | Published - 01 July 2025This briefing document reviews a study that successfully demonstrates the utility of combining Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) with deep learning (DL) models for the accurate identification of Culex mosquito species. Culex mosquitoes are significant vectors for numerous arboviruses and parasites of medical and veterinary importance, including West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, and lymphatic filariasis. Traditional morphological identification methods are labor-intensive, prone to errors due to cryptic species or damaged samples, and often yield variable accuracy (e.g., ~64% average species-level accuracy in external assessments).The research team developed a method leveraging the unique, stable interference patterns visible on transparent insect wing membranes (WIPs) as species-specific morphological markers. By integrating these WIPs with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), the study achieved over 95% genus-level accuracy for Culex and up to 100% species-level accuracy for certain species. While challenges remain with underrepresented species in the dataset, this approach presents a scalable, cost-effective, and robust alternative or complement to traditional identification methods, with significant potential for enhancing vector surveillance and global health initiatives.Key Themes and Important Ideas/Facts1. The Challenge of Mosquito Identification and its ImportanceGlobal Health Threat: Arthropod-transmitted pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, are "among the most destructive infectious agents globally."Vector Role of Culex: The Culex genus, comprising over 783 recognized species and 55 subspecies, "are recognized vectors of significant diseases, such as West Nile virus fever, Japanese encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, or lymphatic filariasis."Difficulty of Traditional Methods: "Traditional morphological identification is labor-intensive and relies on diagnostic features and determination keys." This method is "often challenged by cryptic species, overlapping morphological traits, and damaged specimens."Need for Innovation: These limitations "emphasize the need for innovative identification methods to enhance entomological surveys."2. Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) as Species-Specific MarkersNature of WIPs: WIPs are "visible color patterns caused by thin-film interference" on the thin, transparent wing membranes of insects, particularly smaller species. They become visible when wings are "illuminated in a dark, light-absorbing setting."Species-Specific Consistency: "These Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) show substantial variation between different species, while remaining relatively consistent within a species or between sexes."Stability of WIPs: Unlike conventional iridescence, the "microstructure of insect wings functions as a dioptric system that stabilizes the interference pattern, making WIPs largely insensitive to viewing angle."Potential as Morphological Markers: Due to their "species-specific consistency and interspecific variability, WIPs hold strong potential as morphological markers for insect classification, offering a promising alternative or complement to traditional taxonomic traits."3. Integration of WIPs with Deep Learning (DL) for ClassificationPrevious Successes: WIPs and DL have previously "successfully demonstrated their utility in identifying Anopheles, Aedes, sandflies, and tsetse flies." This study extends the approach to Culex.Methodology: The study applied "WIPs, generated by thin-film interference on wing membranes, in combination with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for species classification."CNN Advantages: Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are "most effective for image classification" and "automatically selects the optimal features during the learning process, making it particularly suitable for WIP classification tasks."Dataset: The study used a refined dataset of "553 images representing WIPs from 7 species" for training, with a larger database including "572 images of 12 species across 5 subgenera" for general classification and 4,944 images of non-Culex Diptera as negative controls.4. Classification Performance and ResultsHigh Genus-Level Accuracy: The CNN achieved "genus-level classification accuracy exceeding 95.00%."Variable Species-Level Accuracy: "At the species ...
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    16 mins
  • Greenland Mosquito Virome: Arctic Aedes Uniqueness (May 2025)

    Greenland Mosquito Virome: Arctic Aedes Uniqueness (May 2025)
    May 30 2025
    Briefing Document: Unique Virome of Arctic Mosquitoes in GreenlandSource: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01086-z: "Metagenomic analysis of mosquitoes from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland reveals a unique virome" by Schilling, Jagdev, Thomas, & Johnson (2025). Date: Received - 17 January 2025 | Accepted - 02 May 2025 | Published - 17 May 2025Subject: Metagenomic analysis of mosquito viromes in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and implications in the context of climate change.Summary: This study provides the first metagenomic analysis of the virome of two prevalent Arctic mosquito species, Aedes impiger and Aedes nigripes, sampled near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The research employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify viruses present in pooled mosquito samples collected in July 2022 and July 2023. The findings reveal a diverse and, importantly, a unique virome in these Arctic mosquitoes compared to other Aedes species. The study highlights the critical need to understand these viromes in light of climate change, which is significantly impacting Arctic ecosystems and potentially increasing the risk of vector-borne disease emergence and spread.Key Findings and Themes:Dominance of Aedes impiger: Contrary to previous assumptions that Aedes nigripes was the sole mosquito species in western Greenland, this study found Aedes impiger to be the predominant species collected at the Kangerlussuaq site.Fact: "Where a definitive identification could be made, A. impiger was the most frequently sampled mosquito at the Kangerlussuaq site."Fact: In 2023, "49 mosquitoes were identified as A. impiger (70%) and 16 as A. nigripes (23%)."Novel and Diverse Arctic Mosquito Virome: Metagenomic analysis identified a range of RNA viruses belonging to various families in both Aedes impiger and Aedes nigripes. Many of these viruses are novel and exhibit low sequence identity (sometimes as low as 34% at the amino acid level) when compared to previously published virus sequences from other mosquito species.Quote: "Metagenomic analysis of RNA extracted from species pools detected a number of novel RNA viruses belonging to a range of different virus families, including Flaviviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyavirales, Totiviridae and Rhabdoviridae."Quote: "However, the sequence identities when compared to previously published, were as low as 34% at the amino acid level."Fact: "Within the family of Flaviviridae, two novel flavi-like virus sequences were identified, with their polyproteins displaying 35% similarity to the nearest published polyprotein..."Fact: "Similarly, two novel orthomyxo-like sequences were identified within the family of Orthomoyxoviridae... Their nucleoprotein comprised only 36% identity to that of Byreska virus..."Fact: "Within the order of Bunyavirales, we discovered two novel phasiviruses as well as two novel phasmaviruses."Uniqueness of the Arctic Mosquito Virome: A significant finding is the distinct virome of Aedes impiger and Aedes nigripes compared to other Aedes species, particularly Aedes aegypti, which has the most well-characterized virome. Only a small percentage of the identified viruses overlapped with those found in other Aedes species.Quote: "To emphasize the uniqueness of the virome of A. impiger and A. nigripes, we compared our findings to a database of viruses published for other Aedes species... The heatmap... reveals that the majority of sequences derived from Greenland mosquitoes were unique to A. impiger and A. nigripes..."Fact: "...only 36 (of a total of 94, 38%) assigned viruses overlapping with viruses published for other Aedes spp."Fact: "Only 22 (23%) overlapped with Aedes aegypti..."Quote: "This makes the virome composition of A. cantans the most similar published virome composition to that of the mosquitoes we sampled near Kangerlussuaq."Influence of Climate Change on Arctic Vector Ecology: The study explicitly links its findings to the dramatic effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems, including the potential for shifts in vector distribution and an increased likelihood of vector-borne disease emergence in previously unaffected areas.Quote: "Climate change is dramatically affecting vector ecology in extreme environments such as the Arctic."Quote: "Global changes in climate are causing a shift in the distribution of vectors and increasing the likelihood of vector-borne disease outbreaks in regions that have not experienced such disease emergence."Quote: "With rapid environmental change, and warming at twice the global average the ecology of Arctic insects will be dramatically affected."Potential for Zoonotic Transmission Risk: While the detected viruses are likely insect-specific, the study highlights the potential for Aedes impiger and Aedes nigripes to replicate viruses belonging to families with known zoonotic potential. The documented human feeding behavior of Aedes impiger further underscores this risk.Quote: "Our findings further support the capability of A. nigripes and A. ...
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    21 mins

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