Developing a Plan for a More Diverse, Inclusive, and Equitable Library at a Research 1 Land-Grant University

Using the Virginia Tech strategic plan as a guide, a team of its University Libraries faculty and staff designed a strategic planning approach for the library that directly engaged with University goals and explored two areas: 1) contributing to the equity-, diversity-, and inclusion-related (EDI) goals laid out in the University strategic plan, and 2) expanding upon efforts to broaden diversity and representation in the library. The team identified four major themes: accessibility, climate, employment and professional development, outreach, and advocacy, and used these themes to develop specific recommendations. The process served to shine the light on these topics within the library, allowing for reflection and self-understanding, crucial components to change and grow with more attention to inclusion and diversity. Recognizing a need for change, it is hoped the report leads to better advocacy and ally-ship and brings issues to light for other libraries engaging in similar processes

Genome sequences of four cluster P mycobacteriophages

Four bacteriophages infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 (three belonging to subcluster P1 and one belonging to subcluster P2) were isolated from soil and sequenced. All four phages are similar in the left arm of their genomes, but the P2 phage differs in the right arm. All four genomes contain features of temperate phages

Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus

Zika virus is a newly emergent mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused recent large outbreaks in the new world, leading to dramatic increases in serious disease pathology including Guillain-Barre syndrome, newborn microcephaly, and infant brain damage. Although Aedes mosquitoes are thought to be the primary mosquito species driving infection, the virus has been isolated from dozens of mosquito species, including Culex and Anopheles species, and we lack a thorough understanding of which mosquito species to target for vector control. We exposed Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to blood meals supplemented with two Zika virus strains. Mosquito bodies, legs, and saliva were collected five, seven, and 14 days post blood meal and tested for infectious virus by plaque assay. Regardless of titer, virus strain, or timepoint, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were refractory to Zika virus infection. We conclude that Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes likely do not contribute significantly to Zika virus transmission to humans. However, future studies should continue to explore the potential for other novel potential vectors to transmit the virus

Vector competence of selected North American Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a vector-borne flavivirus that has caused recent outbreaks associated with serious disease in infants and newborns in the Americas. Aedes mosquitoes are the primary vectors for ZIKV, but little is known about the diversity of mosquitoes that can transmit ZIKV in North America. We chose three abundant North American mosquito species (Anopheles freeborni, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Culex tarsalis) and one known vector species (Aedes aegypti), fed them blood meals supplemented with a recent outbreak ZIKV strain, and tested bodies, legs, and saliva for infectious ZIKV. ZIKV was able to infect, disseminate, and be transmitted by Aedes aegypti. However, Anopheles freeborni, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Culex tarsalis were unable to be infected. We conclude that these species are unlikely to be involved in ZIKV transmission in North America. However, we should continue to examine the ability for other mosquito species to potentially act as ZIKV vectors in North America

Effects of larval rearing temperature on immature development and West Nile virus vector competence of <it>Culex tarsalis</it>

Abstract Background Temperature is known to induce changes in mosquito physiology, development, ecology, and in some species, vector competence for arboviruses. Since colonized mosquitoes are reared under laboratory conditions that can be significantly different from their field counterparts, laboratory vector competence experiments may not accurately reflect natural vector-virus interactions. Methods We evaluated the effects of larval rearing temperature on immature development parameters and vector competence of two Culex tarsalis strains for West Nile virus (WNV). Results Rearing temperature had a significant effect on mosquito developmental parameters, including shorter time to pupation and emergence and smaller female body size as temperature increased. However, infection, dissemination, and transmission rates for WNV at 5, 7, and 14 days post infectious feeding were not consistently affected. Conclusions These results suggest that varying constant larval rearing temperature does not significantly affect laboratory estimates of vector competence for WNV in Culex tarsalis mosquitoes.</p

<i>Wolbachia</i> effects on Rift Valley fever virus infection in <i>Culex tarsalis</i> mosquitoes

<div><p>Innovative tools are needed to alleviate the burden of mosquito-borne diseases, and strategies that target the pathogen are being considered. A possible tactic is the use of <i>Wolbachia</i>, a maternally inherited, endosymbiotic bacterium that can (but does not always) suppress diverse pathogens when introduced to naive mosquito species. We investigated effects of somatic <i>Wolbachia</i> (strain <i>w</i>AlbB) infection on Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in <i>Culex tarsalis</i> mosquitoes. When compared to <i>Wolbachia</i>-uninfected mosquitoes, there was no significant effect of <i>Wolbachia</i> infection on RVFV infection, dissemination, or transmission frequencies, nor on viral body or saliva titers. Within <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected mosquitoes, there was a modest negative correlation between RVFV body titers and <i>Wolbachia</i> density, suggesting that <i>Wolbachia</i> may slightly suppress RVFV in a density-dependent manner in this mosquito species. These results are contrary to previous work in the same mosquito species, showing <i>Wolbachia</i>-induced enhancement of West Nile virus infection rates. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of exploring the breadth of pathogen modulations induced by <i>Wolbachia</i>.</p></div

Comparison of RVFV body and saliva titers between <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected and control <i>Cx</i>. <i>tarsalis</i>.

<p>At both 7 and 14 days post-blood meal, there were no significant differences in RVFV body titers (A) or saliva titers (B) of <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected <i>Cx</i>. <i>tarsalis</i> compared to control <i>Cx</i>. <i>tarsalis</i>. All replicates are combined in this figure; separate replicates are provided in supplementary materials (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006050#pntd.0006050.s004" target="_blank">S2 Fig</a>). Bars represent medians and bolded numbers above the data points denote sample sizes.</p

Effects of <i>Wolbachia</i> infection on RVFV vector competence frequencies in <i>Cx</i>. <i>tarsalis</i>.

<p>RVFV infection 7 and 14 days post-feeding (A), dissemination 7 and 14 days post-feeding (B), and transmission rates 14 days post-feeding (C) were compared between <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected and control <i>Cx</i>. <i>tarsalis</i>. Bars represent data pooled from three replicates. Error bars denote binomial confidence intervals. See <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006050#pntd.0006050.s001" target="_blank">S1 Table</a> for replicate-specific analyses.</p

Correlation between RVFV body titer and <i>Wolbachia</i> levels in <i>Cx</i>. <i>tarsalis</i>.

<p><i>Wolbachia</i> levels were normalized to the host gene actin. Normalized <i>Wolbachia</i> levels and RVFV body titer for each mosquito were plotted and analyzed with the Spearman rank correlation test to determine relationships. There was a moderate, negative correlation between RVFV body titer and <i>Wolbachia</i> levels at both day 7 (<i>n</i> = 46) (A) and day 14 (n = 54) (B) post-blood feeding (Fig 3). Data for all replicates were combined; see <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006050#pntd.0006050.s002" target="_blank">S2 Table</a> for replicate-specific raw data.</p