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Kelley M, Holmes CJ, Herbert C, Rayhan A, Joves J, Uhran M, Klaus L, Frigard R, Singh K, Limbach PA, Addepalli B, Benoit JB. Tyrosine transfer RNA levels and modifications during blood-feeding and vitellogenesis in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39105593 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti must consume a blood meal for the nutrients necessary for egg production. Several transcriptome and proteome changes occur post-blood meal that likely corresponds with codon usage alterations. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is the adapter molecule that reads messenger RNA codons to add the appropriate amino acid during protein synthesis. Chemical modifications to tRNA enhance codon decoding, improving the accuracy and efficiency of protein synthesis. Here, we examined tRNA modifications and transcripts associated with the blood meal and subsequent periods of vitellogenesis in A. aegypti. More specifically, we assessed tRNA transcript abundance and modification levels in the fat body at critical times post blood-feeding. Based on a combination of alternative codon usage and identification of particular modifications, we discovered that increased transcription of tyrosine tRNAs is likely critical during the synthesis of egg yolk proteins in the fat body following a blood meal. Altogether, changes in both the abundance and modification of tRNA are essential factors in the process of vitellogenin production after blood-feeding in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher J Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Cassandra Herbert
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Asif Rayhan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Judd Joves
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Melissa Uhran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Lucas Klaus
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ronja Frigard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Khwahish Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Patrick A Limbach
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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2
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Blackwell AM, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Nasamu AS, Kudo S, Senoo A, Slam C, Tsumoto K, Wohlschlegel JA, Caaveiro JMM, Goldberg DE, Sigala PA. Malaria parasites require a divergent heme oxygenase for apicoplast gene expression and biogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.30.596652. [PMID: 38853871 PMCID: PMC11160694 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.30.596652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Malaria parasites have evolved unusual metabolic adaptations that specialize them for growth within heme-rich human erythrocytes. During blood-stage infection, Plasmodium falciparum parasites internalize and digest abundant host hemoglobin within the digestive vacuole. This massive catabolic process generates copious free heme, most of which is biomineralized into inert hemozoin. Parasites also express a divergent heme oxygenase (HO)-like protein (PfHO) that lacks key active-site residues and has lost canonical HO activity. The cellular role of this unusual protein that underpins its retention by parasites has been unknown. To unravel PfHO function, we first determined a 2.8 Å-resolution X-ray structure that revealed a highly α-helical fold indicative of distant HO homology. Localization studies unveiled PfHO targeting to the apicoplast organelle, where it is imported and undergoes N-terminal processing but retains most of the electropositive transit peptide. We observed that conditional knockdown of PfHO was lethal to parasites, which died from defective apicoplast biogenesis and impaired isoprenoid-precursor synthesis. Complementation and molecular-interaction studies revealed an essential role for the electropositive N-terminus of PfHO, which selectively associates with the apicoplast genome and enzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism and gene expression. PfHO knockdown resulted in a specific deficiency in levels of apicoplast-encoded RNA but not DNA. These studies reveal an essential function for PfHO in apicoplast maintenance and suggest that Plasmodium repurposed the conserved HO scaffold from its canonical heme-degrading function in the ancestral chloroplast to fulfill a critical adaptive role in organelle gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Armiyaw S. Nasamu
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Shota Kudo
- Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akinobu Senoo
- Department of Protein Drug Discovery, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Celine Slam
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Kouhei Tsumoto
- Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Jose M. M. Caaveiro
- Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Paul A. Sigala
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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3
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Barbosa AL, Gois GC, Dos Santos VB, Pinto ATDM, de Castro Andrade BP, de Souza LB, Almeida E Sá FH, Virginio JF, Queiroz MAÁ. Effects of different diets on Aedes aegypti adults: improving rearing techniques for sterile insect technique. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 113:748-755. [PMID: 37743777 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485323000408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim was to evaluate the effect of different energy diets available in adulthood on the longevity, dispersal capacity and sexual performance of Aedes aegypti produced under a mass-rearing system. To evaluate the effects of diets in relation to the survival of the adult male insects of Ae. aegypti, six treatments were used: sucrose at a concentration of 10%, as a positive control (sack10); starvation, as a negative control (starvation); sucrose at a concentration of 20% associated with 1 g/l of ascorbic acid (sac20vitC); wild honey in a concentration of 10% (honey10); demerara sugar in a 10% concentration (demerara10); and sucrose at a concentration of 20% associated with 1 g/l of ascorbic acid and 0.5 g/l of amino acid proline (sac20vitCPr). Each treatment had 16 cages containing 50 adult males. For the tests of flight ability and propensity to copulation, five treatments were used (saca10; sac20vitC; mel10; demerara10; and sac20vitCPr), with males each for flight ability and females copulated by a single male for copulation propensity. The diet composed of sucrose at a concentration of 20% associated with ascorbic acid, as an antioxidant, improved the survival, flight ability and propensity to copulate in Ae. aegypti males under mass-rearing conditions, and may be useful to enhance the performance of sterile males, thus improving the success of sterile insect technique programmes.
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4
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Kelley M, Holmes CJ, Herbert C, Rayhan A, Joves J, Uhran M, Frigard R, Singh K, Limbach PA, Addepalli B, Benoit JB. Tyrosine transfer RNA levels and modifications during blood-feeding and vitellogenesis in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.29.569187. [PMID: 38076852 PMCID: PMC10705485 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.29.569187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti must consume a blood meal for the nutrients necessary for egg production. Several transcriptome and proteome changes occur post blood meal that likely corresponds with codon usage alterations. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is the adapter molecule that reads messenger RNA (mRNA) codons to add the appropriate amino acid during protein synthesis. Chemical modifications to tRNA enhance codons' decoding, improving the accuracy and efficiency of protein synthesis. Here, we examined tRNA modifications and transcripts associated with the blood meal and subsequent periods of vitellogenesis in A. aegypti. More specifically, we assessed tRNA transcript abundance and modification levels in the fat body at critical times post blood-feeding. Based on a combination of alternative codon usage and identification of particular modifications, we identified that increased transcription of tyrosine tRNAs is likely critical during the synthesis of egg yolk proteins in the fat body following a blood meal. Altogether, changes in both the abundance and modification of tRNA are essential factors in the process of vitellogenin production after blood-feeding in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | | | - Cassandra Herbert
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Asif Rayhan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Judd Joves
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Melissa Uhran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Ronja Frigard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Khwahish Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | | | | | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
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5
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Cao X, Wei J, Ge H, Guan D, Zheng Y, Meng X, Qian K, Wang J. Molecular Characterization of Spodoptera frugiperda Heme Oxygenase and Its Involvement in Susceptibility to Chlorantraniliprole. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:2313-2321. [PMID: 36705998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c08255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian heme oxygenase (HO) plays an important role in cytoprotection against oxidative-stress-induced cell damage; however, functional characterization of insect HO is still limited. In this study, cDNA encoding a HO, named SfHO, was cloned from Spodoptera frugiperda. Analysis of the transcription level and enzymatic activity showed that exposure of the LC30 concentration of chlorantraniliprole to the third instar larvae significantly upregulated both the mRNA level and enzymatic activity of SfHO at 24 h after treatment. Further injection of the HO activator, hemin, into the third instar larvae led to the upregulation of SfHO as well as decreased susceptibility of S. frugiperda to chlorantraniliprole. Consistently, overexpression of SfHO increased the Sf9 cell viability under chlorantraniliprole treatment. Strikingly, both RNAi and the dual-luciferase reporter assay in Sf9 cells revealed that, unlike mammalian HO that is regulated by the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), SfHO was not subject to the regulation by cap 'n' collar isoform C (CncC), the Nrf2 homologue in insects. These data provide insights into the function and regulatory mechanism of insect HOs and had applied implications for the control of S. frugiperda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Cao
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaping Wei
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Huichen Ge
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Daojie Guan
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zheng
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangkun Meng
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, People's Republic of China
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6
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Scolari F, Khamis FM, Pérez-Staples D. Beyond Sperm and Male Accessory Gland Proteins: Exploring Insect Reproductive Metabolomes. Front Physiol 2021; 12:729440. [PMID: 34690804 PMCID: PMC8529219 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.729440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect seminal fluid, the non-sperm component of the ejaculate, comprises a variegated set of molecules, including, but not limited to, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, salts, hormones, nucleic acids, and vitamins. The identity and functional role of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) have been widely investigated, in multiple species. However, most of the other small molecules in insect ejaculates remain uncharacterized. Metabolomics is currently adopted to deepen our understanding of complex biological processes and in the last 15years has been applied to answer different physiological questions. Technological advances in high-throughput methods for metabolite identification such as mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are now coupled to an expanded bioinformatics toolbox for large-scale data analysis. These improvements allow for the processing of smaller-sized samples and for the identification of hundreds to thousands of metabolites, not only in Drosophila melanogaster but also in disease vectors, animal, and agricultural pests. In this review, we provide an overview of the studies that adopted metabolomics-based approaches in insects, with a particular focus on the reproductive tract (RT) of both sexes and the ejaculate. Progress in the field of metabolomics will contribute not only to achieve a deeper understanding of the composition of insect ejaculates and how they are affected by endogenous and exogenous factors, but also to provide increasingly powerful tools to decipher the identity and molecular interactions between males and females during and after mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Scolari
- Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGM)-CNR "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Pavia, Italy
| | - Fathiya M Khamis
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Diana Pérez-Staples
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
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7
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Maya-Maldonado K, Cardoso-Jaime V, González-Olvera G, Osorio B, Recio-Tótoro B, Manrique-Saide P, Rodríguez-Sánchez IP, Lanz-Mendoza H, Missirlis F, Hernández-Hernández FDLC. Mosquito metallomics reveal copper and iron as critical factors for Plasmodium infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009509. [PMID: 34161336 PMCID: PMC8221525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron and copper chelation restricts Plasmodium growth in vitro and in mammalian hosts. The parasite alters metal homeostasis in red blood cells to its favor, for example metabolizing hemoglobin to hemozoin. Metal interactions with the mosquito have not, however, been studied. Here, we describe the metallomes of Anopheles albimanus and Aedes aegypti throughout their life cycle and following a blood meal. Consistent with previous reports, we found evidence of maternal iron deposition in embryos of Ae. aegypti, but less so in An. albimanus. Sodium, potassium, iron, and copper are present at higher concentrations during larval developmental stages. Two An. albimanus phenotypes that differ in their susceptibility to Plasmodium berghei infection were studied. The susceptible white stripe (ws) phenotype was named after a dorsal white stripe apparent during larval stages 3, 4, and pupae. During larval stage 3, ws larvae accumulate more iron and copper than the resistant brown stripe (bs) phenotype counterparts. A similar increase in copper and iron accumulation was also observed in the susceptible ws, but not in the resistant bs phenotype following P. berghei infection. Feeding ws mosquitoes with extracellular iron and copper chelators before and after receiving Plasmodium-infected blood protected from infection and simultaneously affected follicular development in the case of iron chelation. Unexpectedly, the application of the iron chelator to the bs strain reverted resistance to infection. Besides a drop in iron, iron-chelated bs mosquitoes experienced a concomitant loss of copper. Thus, the effect of metal chelation on P. berghei infectivity was strain-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal Maya-Maldonado
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Cinvestav, Ciudad de México, México
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Victor Cardoso-Jaime
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Cinvestav, Ciudad de México, México
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Gabriela González-Olvera
- Unidad Colaborativa para Bioensayos Entomológicos, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Beatriz Osorio
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Benito Recio-Tótoro
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Pablo Manrique-Saide
- Unidad Colaborativa para Bioensayos Entomológicos, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Iram Pablo Rodríguez-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Molecular y Estructural, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Fanis Missirlis
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav, Ciudad de México, México
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8
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Talyuli OAC, Bottino-Rojas V, Polycarpo CR, Oliveira PL, Paiva-Silva GO. Non-immune Traits Triggered by Blood Intake Impact Vectorial Competence. Front Physiol 2021; 12:638033. [PMID: 33737885 PMCID: PMC7960658 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.638033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropods are considered an enormous public health threat. They are vectors of a plethora of infectious agents that cause potentially fatal diseases like Malaria, Dengue fever, Leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease. These vectors shine due to their own physiological idiosyncrasies, but one biological aspect brings them all together: the requirement of blood intake for development and reproduction. It is through blood-feeding that they acquire pathogens and during blood digestion that they summon a collection of multisystemic events critical for vector competence. The literature is focused on how classical immune pathways (Toll, IMD, and JAK/Stat) are elicited throughout the course of vector infection. Still, they are not the sole determinants of host permissiveness. The dramatic changes that are the hallmark of the insect physiology after a blood meal intake are the landscape where a successful infection takes place. Dominant processes that occur in response to a blood meal are not canonical immunological traits yet are critical in establishing vector competence. These include hormonal circuitries and reproductive physiology, midgut permeability barriers, midgut homeostasis, energy metabolism, and proteolytic activity. On the other hand, the parasites themselves have a role in the outcome of these blood triggered physiological events, consistently using them in their favor. Here, to enlighten the knowledge on vector-pathogen interaction beyond the immune pathways, we will explore different aspects of the vector physiology, discussing how they give support to these long-dated host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio A C Talyuli
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carla R Polycarpo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela O Paiva-Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Onyango MG, Attardo GM, Kelly ET, Bialosuknia SM, Stout J, Banker E, Kuo L, Ciota AT, Kramer LD. Zika Virus Infection Results in Biochemical Changes Associated With RNA Editing, Inflammatory and Antiviral Responses in Aedes albopictus. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:559035. [PMID: 33133033 PMCID: PMC7561680 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.559035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid and significant range expansion of both the Zika virus (ZIKV) and its Aedes vector species has resulted in the declaration of ZIKV as a global health threat. Successful transmission of ZIKV by its vector requires a complex series of interactions between these entities including the establishment, replication and dissemination of the virus within the mosquito. The metabolic conditions within the mosquito tissues play a critical role in mediating the crucial processes of viral infection and replication and represent targets for prevention of virus transmission. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive metabolomic phenotyping of ZIKV infected and uninfected Ae. albopictus by untargeted analysis of primary metabolites, lipids and biogenic amines. We performed a comparative metabolomic study of infection state with the aim of understanding the biochemical changes resulting from the interaction between the ZIKV and its vector. We have demonstrated that ZIKV infection results in changes to the cellular metabolic environment including a significant enrichment of inosine and pseudo-uridine (Ψ) levels which may be associated with RNA editing activity. In addition, infected mosquitoes demonstrate a hypoglycemic phenotype and show significant increases in the abundance of metabolites such as prostaglandin H2, leukotriene D4 and protoporphyrinogen IX which are associated with antiviral activity. These provide a basis for understanding the biochemical response to ZIKV infection and pathology in the vector. Future mechanistic studies targeting these ZIKV infection responsive metabolites and their associated biosynthetic pathways can provide inroads to identification of mosquito antiviral responses with infection blocking potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G. Onyango
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
| | - Geoffrey M. Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Erin Taylor Kelly
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sean M. Bialosuknia
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
- School of Public Health, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Jessica Stout
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
| | - Elyse Banker
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
| | - Lili Kuo
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
| | - Alexander T. Ciota
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
- School of Public Health, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Laura D. Kramer
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, United States
- School of Public Health, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
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10
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Transcriptomic analyses of Aedes aegypti cultured cells and ex vivo midguts in response to an excess or deficiency of heme: a quest for transcriptionally-regulated heme transporters. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:604. [PMID: 32867680 PMCID: PMC7460771 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06981-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aedes aegypti is the principle vector of many arboviruses, including dengue virus and Zika virus, which are transmitted when an infected female mosquito takes a blood meal in order to initiate vitellogenesis. During blood digestion, ~ 10 mM heme-iron is ingested into the midgut lumen. While heme acts as both a nutrient and signaling molecule during blood digestion, it can also be highly toxic if left unchaperoned. Both signaling by, and degradation of, heme are intracellular processes, occurring in the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. However, the precise mechanism of heme uptake into the midgut epithelium is not currently known. Results We used next generation RNA sequencing with the goal to identify genes that code for membrane bound heme import protein(s) responsible for heme uptake into the midgut epithelium. Heme deprivation increased uptake of a heme fluorescent analog in cultured cells, while treatment of midguts with an excess of heme decreased uptake, confirming physiological changes were occurring in these heme-sensitive cells/tissues prior to sequencing. A list of candidate genes was assembled for each of the experimental sample sets, which included Aag2 and A20 cultured cells as well as midgut tissue, based on the results of a differential expression analysis, soft cluster analysis and number of predicted transmembrane domains. Lastly, the functions related to heme transport were examined through RNAi knockdown. Conclusions Despite a large number of transmembrane domain containing genes differentially expressed in response to heme, very few were highly differentially expressed in any of the datasets examined. RNAi knockdown of a subset of candidates resulted in subtle changes in heme uptake, but minimal overall disruption to blood digestion/egg production. These results could indicate that heme import in Ae. aegypti may be controlled by a redundant system of multiple distinct transport proteins. Alternatively, heme membrane bound transport in Ae. aegypti could be regulated post-translationally.
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11
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Santos VSV, Pereira BB. Low toxicity and high efficacy in use of novel approaches to control Aedes aegypti. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2020; 23:243-254. [PMID: 32515686 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2020.1776655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses are a group of etiologic agents accounting for different incapacitating diseases that progress to severe and lethal forms in animal and human targets consequently representing a significant burden on public health and global economies. Although attempts were undertaken to combat Aedes aegypti, the primary urban mosquito vector of several life-threatening diseases, the misuse of chemical pesticides, development of resistance, and toxicity on non-target species still need to be overcome. In this context, it is imperative for development of long-lasting, novel approaches envisioning effective control of Aedes aegypti, mainly in endemic regions. Thus, the present review was undertaken to describe safe and eco-friendly approaches as potential weapons against Aedes aegypti. Accordingly, the findings discussed indicated that biological larvicides and genetic engineering technologies constitute noteworthy alternatives of future mosquito-borne arbovirus disease control efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Santana Vieira Santos
- Department of Environmental Health, Laboratory of Environmental Health, Federal University of Uberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus , Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Institute of Biotechnology, Umuarama Campus , Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Boscolli Barbosa Pereira
- Department of Environmental Health, Laboratory of Environmental Health, Federal University of Uberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus , Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Institute of Biotechnology, Umuarama Campus , Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Santos VSV, Limongi JE, Pereira BB. Association of low concentrations of pyriproxyfen and spinosad as an environment-friendly strategy to rationalize Aedes aegypti control programs. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 247:125795. [PMID: 31927181 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The association of low concentrations of pyriproxyfen and Spinosad, a naturally-occurring insecticide, was evaluated as an environment-friendly strategy to rationalize Aedes aegypti control programs by reducing larvicide consumption, saving financial costs and increasing residual effect against mosquitoes development. Firstly, the ecotoxicological parameters of the mixture was performed on non-target species Daphnia magna and the results confirmed that the low concentrations used in this larvicide mixture were not able to alter the reproductive parameters of chronically exposed microcrustaceans. In contrast, the mixture altered the behavior and development of Aedes aegypti, effectively inhibiting the emergence of adult insects for a long period. The results confirm the hypothesis that even at very low concentrations, the combination of the Spinosad and Pyriproxyfen larvicides offers an opportunity for Aedes aegypti public control programs to be more efficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Santana Vieira Santos
- Federal University of Uberlândia, Institute of Biotechnology, Umuarama Campus, Avenida Pará, 1720, 38.400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jean Ezequiel Limongi
- Federal University of Uberlandia, Institute of Geography, Laboratory of Macroecology and Environmental Health, Santa Monica Campus, Avenida João Naves de Ávila, 2121, 38.408-100, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Boscolli Barbosa Pereira
- Federal University of Uberlândia, Institute of Biotechnology, Umuarama Campus, Avenida Pará, 1720, 38.400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Federal University of Uberlandia, Institute of Geography, Laboratory of Macroecology and Environmental Health, Santa Monica Campus, Avenida João Naves de Ávila, 2121, 38.408-100, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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