VT College of Science Magazine Summer 2008

7 By Alyssa Haak Christine George of Manassas, Va., was named Outstanding Senior in the College of Science and selected for the 2008 All-USA College Academic Team. Issue No. 5 suMMeR 2008 Mosquitoes continued page11 M a g a z i n e Through her work as an undergraduate research assistant in Zach Adelman’s lab, George was aware of the in- George raised $15,000 in contributions from various university departments and donors to conduct the necessary research and surveillance and pay for the trip. This sum was matched by a significant contribution from Adelman. George returned to Mali in July 2007 to begin work on phase one of her project to determine the highrisk areas of mosquito-borne infections, foster Virginia Tech-Malian working relations to continue progress toward a sustainable Malian surveillance center, and provide enough data and information for the Mali people to apply for additional funding and support. S C i e n C e Last year, as a junior biological sciences major in the University Honors Program, George began her undergraduate research on Aedes mosquitoes, the insect known for spreading the dengue and yellow fever viruses. In the fall of 2006, George was selected for an entomology study course under the guidance of Don Mullins and Richard Fell, professors of entomology. Included in this class was a trip to Mali to learn about the country’s culture, agriculture, and public health systems. While there, George worked with researchers and physicians from the Malaria Research and Training Center at the Medical University in Bamako, Mali. George discovered that no one in Mali was researching mosquito-borne viruses. Given the abundance of these viruses in that particular African region, she decided this must change. creased funding that Virginia Tech has recently put into the Vector-Borne Disease Research Group. Adelman, an assistant professor of entomology, is a member of the group. George presented Adelman with her ideas for providing Mali with the preliminary data and education to set up a sustainable mosquito-borne virus surveillance center. Her seemingly lofty goals are now well underway. o f Mosquito infections, such as dengue and yellow fever, are a dangerous issue in mosquito-infested areas, and Virginia Tech senior Christine George is working to ﬁght them. C o l l e g e undergraduate reSearCh foSterS initiativeS to deCreaSe MoSQuito-Borne illneSSeS

VT College of Science Magazine Summer 2008 | Page 9