Federal Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $432,155 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective June 11, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2028. The grant funds research investigating the impacts of coinfection on West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission in songbirds, specifically examining how bacterial pathogen coinfection in house finches—a key amplifying reservoir for WNV—alters viremia levels, WNV transmissibility to Culex mosquitoes, and host attractiveness to mosquitoes.

The research project will develop and employ a coinfection animal model using wild-caught house finches to experimentally test whether bacterial coinfection increases songbird reservoir competence and modifies chemical signaling (scent profiles) that influence mosquito host-seeking behavior. The deliverables will include data on how coinfection augments WNV spillover risk to humans through enhanced viremia transmission and altered host-mosquito chemical interactions. By advancing understanding of factors influencing songbird WNV competence and mosquito attraction, the research aims to inform strategies for reducing human exposure to this zoonotic arboviral disease in areas with high rates of competent bird reservoirs.