Offer title : Research of New Antiviral Agents Against the Emerging Arbovirus Dengue from the Plant Biodiversity of Reunion Island
[ The PhD offer is now closed ]
Dengue, the most widespread arboviral disease globally, affects 50-60% of the world's population and approximately 400 million people annually. Classified as a "re-emerging" disease, severe cases are on the rise. Reunion Island is particularly vulnerable due to the presence of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, a vector of the dengue virus, and its tropical location. Current strategies to combat dengue mainly include vector control and vaccination, although these have not yet resulted in completely effective solutions. No specific treatment exists for dengue, making the search for new antivirals crucial for global public health.
This thesis focuses on exploiting the biodiversity of Reunion Island to identify new anti-infective agents against the dengue virus. The project includes selecting plants based on traditional use criteria within the framework of the TrétZerbaj project (winner of the Overseas Innovation Program), screening 400 plant extracts against the four serotypes of the virus, identifying specialized metabolites through advanced fractionation and metabolic profiling techniques, developing standardized extracts, and evaluating the impact of the extracts on dengue transmission by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Besides the phytotherapy approach, we will also evaluate the possibility of using active extracts as tools to control virus transmission in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. This project aims to significantly contribute to the fight against dengue and valorize the biodiversity of Reunion Island.
Start date of the thesis : 1 October 2024
Contract Period : 36 months
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