Dr Christopher Sanders

Christopher Sanders’ research focuses on the physiological and behavioural attributes that enable an insect species to transmit a pathogen – known as its ‘vector capacity’. Since 2006, his work has explored the behaviour of Culicoides biting midges, vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) between ruminants. These small insects have the potential to be transported over long distances on prevailing winds, carrying viruses with them.

Christopher has used trapping techniques at different altitudes to identify the behaviours and meteorological conditions that may allow such long distance dispersal in Culicoides. Parameters estimated from these experiments were used in collaboration with the UK Met Office to develop a model within the Numerical Atmospheric Modelling Environment (NAME), used as an early warning system to predict incursion of BTV and other Culicoides-borne viruses to the UK and other likely incursion zones internationally.  To examine within and between-farm dispersal of Culicoides, he has developed an immunomarking technique using protein marking of both individuals and habitat, demonstrating that an individual Culicoides midge can fly more than 3km overnight.

Another variable in assessing vector capacity is the proportion of a vector population able to transmit a virus, its vector competence. This varies with virus species, virus strain, and vector species and population. Christopher is studying this interaction with specific reference to the variance in ability of BTV strains to be transmitted by Northern European Culicoides. He is also interested in how a changing climate may influence vector populations, survival of adults in winter and the likelihood of vector-borne virus transmission.