Partner 24 – University of Zurich (UZH)

The University of Zurich (UZH) is the largest university of Switzerland, with almost three thousand professors, assistants and senior scientists performing research and teaching The Institute of Parasitology (IPZ) is effectively participating in scientific programmes, in which emphasis is given to both applied and basic research. IPZ is the Swiss reference centre for arachno-entomology as appointed by the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, and it provides routine diagnoses of arthropods within this frame. Research on arthropods at IPZ focuses on field investigations of potential and active insect vectors. Recently, IPZ has developed research projects on biting midges (Culicoides spp.), vectors of the bluetongue virus, fruit flies (Phortica spp.), vectors of Thelazia eye worm and invasive mosquitoes as Ae. japonicus and Ae. albopictus, vectors of Chikungunya and West Nile viruses. Research includes field ecology and molecular biology, and current developments of laboratory rearing methodologies will help to implement experimental investigations. The team will include Dr. Francis Schaffner and with this project we ask for financial support for a part of a PhD student position.

In EDENEXT, UZH will provide Ae. japonicus populations for competence studies (CHIKv and DENv) and will be in charge of field activities addressing the bionomics and population dynamics of this invasive species, and will evaluate the efficacy of innovative control strategies against invasive mosquitoes in Central Europe.