Determining the effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on mosquito fitness and arbovirus transmission potential

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Kennesaw State University $517,956 on September 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to investigate the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on mosquito fitness and arbovirus transmission potential.

The recipient will establish laboratory models of sublethal PFAS exposure across four mosquito species: Aedes albopictus (Zika virus vector), Aedes aegypti (Zika virus vector), Aedes triseriatus (La Crosse virus vector), and Culex quinquefasciatus (West Nile virus vector). The research will measure how exposure of immature mosquito stages (larvae and pupae) to real-world PFAS concentrations affects pre-emergence mortality, emergence timing, adult fitness, and capacity to transmit arboviruses. Prior work by the laboratory has demonstrated that immature-stage exposure to PFAS results in increased mortality prior to emergence and emergence delays; this project will determine whether such sublethal exposures enhance arbovirus transmission potential, as seen with other chemical exposures.

Work is performed in Kennesaw, Georgia. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029. The assistance type is a project grant. This award is classified as a child grant within the federal grants structure.

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals", are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that are highly toxic to invertebrates, wildlife, and humans. These toxic compounds have been used in a variety of industrial applications and consumer products since the 1950S and are resistant to environmental degradation. PFAS predominantly enter the environment via contaminated wastewater discharged from industrial facilities and through using aqueous fire-fighting foams. Subsequently, PFAS infiltrate watersheds, aquatic ecosystems, retention and detention ponds, stormwater catch basins, and sewers, where they are absorbed by both vertebrates and invertebrates after oral exposure. Despite their toxicity and widespread presence in aquatic environments, where mosquitoes undergo development, the effect PFAS have on mosquito fitness and their capacity to transmit arboviruses remains undetermined. To delineate the impact PFAS have on mosquito fitness and the transmission of medically important arboviruses, my laboratory has developed novel aedes albopictus (vector of zika virus [zikv]), AE. Aegypti (vector of zikv), AE. Triseriatus (vector of LA crosse virus [lacv]), and culex quinquefasciatus (vector of west nile virus [WNV]) mosquito models of sublethal PFAS exposure. Using our newly developed models, we have demonstrated that exposure of immature stages (larvae and pupae) to real- world concentrations of PFAS resulted in increased mortality prior to emergence, as well as emergence delays. These data, combined with previous work showing that sublethal exposure of immature-stage mosquitoes to other chemicals, such as larvicides, decreases fitness and enhances arbovirus transmission potential, suggest that PFAS exposure of the immature stages of these four mosquito species may lead to similar outcomes. Thus, our new mosquito models of sublethal PFAS exposure provide a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of PFAS exposure on mosquito fitness and arbovirus transmission. We will use our four mosquito models of PFAS exposure in aim 1 to determine the effects that pfos exposure has on the fitness of mosquitoes species of public health importance, and in aim 2 to determine the effects that pfos exposure has on the ability of medically important mosquitoes to transmit arboviruses. Together, the proposed aims will provide new insights into how pervasive environmental contaminants impact the fitness and ability of mosquitoes to transmit three arboviruses that threaten human health. Other major benefits include (i) identification of environmental risk factors for enhanced arbovirus transmission; and (II) providing undergraduate and master's students the opportunity to gain significant biomedical research experience while strengthening the research environment at kennesaw state university.