Her research project will identify a native (African) strain of Wolbachia, an environmentally friendly bacterium with arbovirus transmission-blocking potential, and make a patented version of the strain available across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for arbovirus control. In the last decade, the transmission of high-profile arboviruses like dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever has increased in SSA, and by 2050, the number of arbovirus cases may outnumber malaria cases in the region. Insecticide resistance is increasing among major vectors, and microbial-based interventions are an attractive biological solution to arboviral threats. One such intervention that has been successful in Indonesia involves infecting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with Wolbachia (strain wMel) and releasing them into the environment; the mosquitoes, which become resistant to arbovirus infection, replace arbovirus-susceptible wild-type populations. However, this same strain of Wolbachia may not suit SSA due to differences in Ae. aegypti genetics and climatic factors existing at continental scales. This project will evaluate a new Wolbachia strain for its ability to block arbovirus transmission in the different Ae. aegypti subspecies in Kenya, patent it and make it available across SSA for arbovirus control.