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Yadav M, Dahiya N, Janjoter S, Kataria D, Dixit R, Sehrawat N. A review on RNA interference studies in Anophelines to reveal candidate genes for malaria transmission blocking vaccine. Life Sci 2024; 351:122822. [PMID: 38866221 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a major public health concern. The development of parasite-based vaccine RTS/AS01 has some therapeutic value but its lower efficacy is one of the major limitations. Mosquito-based transmission-blocking vaccines could have a higher potential for parasite inhibition within the mosquitoes. Several genes of mosquito midgut, salivary gland, hemolymph, etc. get activate in response to the Plasmodium-infected blood and helps in parasite invasion directly or indirectly inside the mosquito. The studies of such genes provided a new insight into developing the more efficient vaccines. In the field of malaria genetics research, RNAi has become an innovative strategy used to identify mosquito candidate genes for transmission-blocking vaccines. This review targeted the gene studies that have been conducted in the period 2000-2023 in different malaria vectors against different malarial parasites using the RNAi approach to reveal mosquito novel gene candidates for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahima Yadav
- Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Nisha Dahiya
- Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Sangeeta Janjoter
- Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Divya Kataria
- Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | | | - Neelam Sehrawat
- Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
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Schinkel M, Bousema T, van Rij RP. Tripartite interactions between viruses, parasites, and mosquitoes. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 64:101222. [PMID: 38908822 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases have a major impact on global human health. Biological agents that colonize the mosquito vector are increasingly explored as an intervention strategy to prevent vector-borne disease transmission. For instance, the release of mosquitoes carrying the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia effectively reduced dengue virus incidence and disease. Insect-specific viruses are likewise considered as biocontrol agents against vector-borne diseases. While most studies focused on insect-specific viruses as an intervention against arthropod-borne viruses, we here consider whether mosquito-specific viruses may affect the transmission of the malaria-causing Plasmodium parasite by Anopheles mosquitoes. Although there is no direct experimental evidence addressing this question, we found that viral infections in dipteran insects activate some of the immune pathways that are antiparasitic in Anopheles. These findings suggest that indirect virus-parasite interactions could occur and that insect-specific viruses may modulate malaria transmission. Tripartite interactions between viruses, parasites, and Anopheles mosquitoes thus merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Schinkel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Moraes B, Martins R, Lopes C, Martins R, Arcanjo A, Nascimento J, Konnai S, da Silva Vaz I, Logullo C. G6PDH as a key immunometabolic and redox trigger in arthropods. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1287090. [PMID: 38046951 PMCID: PMC10693429 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1287090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) plays crucial roles in glucose homeostasis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), being also involved in redox metabolism. The PPP is an important metabolic pathway that produces ribose and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which are essential for several physiologic and biochemical processes, such as the synthesis of fatty acids and nucleic acids. As a rate-limiting step in PPP, G6PDH is a highly conserved enzyme and its deficiency can lead to severe consequences for the organism, in particular for cell growth. Insufficient G6PDH activity can lead to cell growth arrest, impaired embryonic development, as well as a reduction in insulin sensitivity, inflammation, diabetes, and hypertension. While research on G6PDH and PPP has historically focused on mammalian models, particularly human disorders, recent studies have shed light on the regulation of this enzyme in arthropods, where new functions were discovered. This review will discuss the role of arthropod G6PDH in regulating redox homeostasis and immunometabolism and explore potential avenues for further research on this enzyme in various metabolic adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Moraes
- 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–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Martins
- 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–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cintia Lopes
- 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–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ronald Martins
- Programa de Computação Científica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Angélica Arcanjo
- 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–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jhenifer Nascimento
- 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–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Satoru Konnai
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia and Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carlos Logullo
- 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–INCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Prado Sepulveda CC, Alencar RM, Santana RA, Belém de Souza I, D'Elia GMA, Godoy RSM, Duarte AP, Lopes SCP, de Lacerda MVG, Monteiro WM, Nacif-Pimenta R, Secundino NFC, Koerich LB, Pimenta PFP. Evolution and assembly of Anopheles aquasalis's immune genes: primary malaria vector of coastal Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands. Open Biol 2023; 13:230061. [PMID: 37433331 PMCID: PMC10335856 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Anophelines are vectors of malaria, the deadliest disease worldwide transmitted by mosquitoes. The availability of genomic data from various Anopheles species allowed evolutionary comparisons of the immune response genes in search of alternative vector control of the malarial parasites. Now, with the Anopheles aquasalis genome, it was possible to obtain more information about the evolution of the immune response genes. Anopheles aquasalis has 278 immune genes in 24 families or groups. Comparatively, the American anophelines possess fewer genes than Anopheles gambiae s. s., the most dangerous African vector. The most remarkable differences were found in the pathogen recognition and modulation families like FREPs, CLIP and C-type lectins. Even so, genes related to the modulation of the expression of effectors in response to pathogens and gene families that control the production of reactive oxygen species were more conserved. Overall, the results show a variable pattern of evolution in the immune response genes in the anopheline species. Environmental factors, such as exposure to different pathogens and differences in the microbiota composition, could shape the expression of this group of genes. The results presented here will contribute to a better knowledge of the Neotropical vector and open opportunities for malaria control in the endemic-affected areas of the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Camilo Prado Sepulveda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Maciel Alencar
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rosa Amélia Santana
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Igor Belém de Souza
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Gigliola Mayra Ayres D'Elia
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Raquel Soares Maia Godoy
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, FIOCRUZ – Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Duarte
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Stefanie Costa Pinto Lopes
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius Guimarães de Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Nacif-Pimenta
- Departament of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nágila Francinete Costa Secundino
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, FIOCRUZ – Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Barbosa Koerich
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paulo Filemon Paolucci Pimenta
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Heitor Vieira Dourado, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, FIOCRUZ – Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Tafesh-Edwards G, Eleftherianos I. Functional role of thioester-containing proteins in the Drosophila anti-pathogen immune response. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 139:104578. [PMID: 36270515 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Thioester-containing proteins (TEPs) are present in many animal species ranging from deuterostomes to protostomes, which emphasizes their evolutionary conservation and importance in animal physiology. Phylogenetically, insect TEPs share sequence similarity with mammalian α2-macroglobulin. Drosophila melanogaster is specifically considered a superb model for teasing apart innate immune processes. Here we review recent discoveries on the involvement of Drosophila TEPs in the immune response against bacterial pathogens, nematode parasites, and parasitoid wasps. This information generates novel insights into the role of TEPs as regulators of homeostasis in Drosophila and supports the complexity of immune recognition and specificity in insects and more generally in invertebrates. These developments together with recent advances in gene editing and multi-omics will enable the fly immunity community to appreciate the molecular and mechanistic contributions of TEPs to the modulation of the host defense against infectious disease and possibly to translate this information into tangible therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Tafesh-Edwards
- Infection and Innate Immunity Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington DC, 20052, USA.
| | - Ioannis Eleftherianos
- Infection and Innate Immunity Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington DC, 20052, USA.
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Mercury Induced Tissue Damage, Redox Metabolism, Ion Transport, Apoptosis, and Intestinal Microbiota Change in Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Application of Multi-Omics Analysis in Risk Assessment of Hg. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11101944. [PMID: 36290667 PMCID: PMC9598479 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11101944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most toxic elements, mercury (Hg) is a widespread toxicant in aquatic environments. Crayfish are considered suitable for indicating the impact of heavy metals on aquatic crustaceans. Nevertheless, Hg toxicity on Procambarus clarkii is largely unknown. In this research, the acute Hg-induced alterations of biochemical responses, histopathology, hepatopancreatic transcriptome, and intestinal microbiome of Procambarus clarkii were studied. Firstly, Hg induced significant changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malonaldehyde (MDA) content as well as antioxidant enzyme activity. Secondly, Hg exposure caused structural damage to the hepatopancreas (e.g., vacuolization of the epithelium and dilatation of the lumen) as well as to the intestines (e.g., dysregulation of lamina epithelialises and extension of lamina proprias). Thirdly, after treatment with three different concentrations of Hg, RNA-seq assays of the hepatopancreas revealed a large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to a specific function. Among the DEGs, a lot of redox metabolism- (e.g., ACOX3, SMOX, GPX3, GLO1, and P4HA1), ion transport- (e.g., MICU3, MCTP, PYX, STEAP3, and SLC30A2), drug metabolism- (e.g., HSP70, HSP90A, CYP2L1, and CYP9E2), immune response- (e.g., SMAD4, HDAC1, and DUOX), and apoptosis-related genes (e.g., CTSL, CASP7, and BIRC2) were identified, which suggests that Hg exposure may perturb the redox equilibrium, disrupt the ion homeostasis, weaken immune response and ability, and cause apoptosis. Fourthly, bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that Hg exposure decreased bacterial diversity and dysregulated intestinal microbiome composition. At the phylum level, there was a marked decrease in Proteobacteria and an increase in Firmicutes after exposure to high levels of Hg. With regards to genus, abundances of Bacteroides, Dysgonomonas, and Arcobacter were markedly dysregulated after Hg exposures. Our findings elucidate the mechanisms involved in Hg-mediated toxicity in aquatic crustaceans at the tissue, cellular, molecular as well as microbial levels.
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Ahmed S, Sajjadian SM, Kim Y. HMGB1-Like Dorsal Switch Protein 1 Triggers a Damage Signal in Mosquito Gut to Activate Dual Oxidase via Eicosanoids. J Innate Immun 2022; 14:657-672. [PMID: 35512659 PMCID: PMC9801255 DOI: 10.1159/000524561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Several mosquitoes transmit human pathogens by blood feeding, with the gut being the main entrance for the pathogens. Thus, the gut epithelium defends the pathogens by eliciting potent immune responses. However, it was unclear how the mosquito gut discriminates pathogens among various microflora in the lumen. This study proposed a hypothesis that a damage signal might be specifically induced by pathogens in the gut. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, encodes dorsal switch protein 1 (Aa-DSP1) as a putative damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP). Aa-DSP1 was localized in the nucleus of the midgut epithelium in naïve larvae. Upon infection by a pathogenic bacterium, Serratia marcescens, Aa-DSP1 was released to hemocoel and activated phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The activated PLA2 increased the level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the gut and subsequently increased Ca2+ signal to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) via dual oxidase (Duox). Inhibition of Aa-DSP1 via RNA interference or specific inhibitor treatment failed to increase PGE2/Ca2+ signal upon the bacterial infection. Thus, the inhibitors specifically targeting eicosanoid biosynthesis significantly prevented the upregulation of ROS production in the gut and enhanced mosquito mortality after the bacterial infection. However, such inhibitory effects were rescued by adding PGE2. These suggest that Aa-DSP1 plays an important role in immune response of the mosquito gut as a DAMP during pathogen infection by triggering a signaling pathway, DSP1/PLA2/Ca2+/Duox.
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Kakani P, Gupta L, Kumar S. Heme-Peroxidase 2, a Peroxinectin-Like Gene, Regulates Bacterial Homeostasis in Anopheles stephensi Midgut. Front Physiol 2020; 11:572340. [PMID: 33013485 PMCID: PMC7506126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.572340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic nature of mosquito gut microbiome is associated with different stages of development and feeding behaviors. Therefore, mosquito gut harbors a wide range of endogenous microbes that promote numerous life processes such as, nutrition, reproduction and immunity. In addition, gut microbiota also play an important role in the regulation of Plasmodium (malaria parasite) development. Thus, understanding the mechanism of microbial homeostasis in mosquito gut might be one of the strategies to manipulate malaria parasite development. In the present study, we characterized a 692 amino acids long secreted midgut heme-peroxidase 2 (AsHPX2) in Anopheles stephensi, the major Indian malaria vector. The presence of putative integrin binding motifs, LDV (Leu-Asp-Val), indicated its peroxinectin-like nature. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that AsHPX2 is a Culicinae lineage-specific gene. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of AsHPX2 gene significantly enhanced the growth of midgut bacteria in sugar-fed mosquitoes against sham-treated controls. Interestingly, blood-feeding drastically reduced AsHPX2 gene expression and enhanced the growth of midgut bacteria. These results revealed a negative correlation between the expression of AsHPX2 gene and gut bacterial growth. We proposed that AsHPX2, being a mosquito-specific gene, might serve as a "potent target" to manipulate midgut microbiota and vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parik Kakani
- Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.,Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, India
| | - Lalita Gupta
- Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.,Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, India
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Claudio-Piedras F, Recio-Tótoro B, Condé R, Hernández-Tablas JM, Hurtado-Sil G, Lanz-Mendoza H. DNA Methylation in Anopheles albimanus Modulates the Midgut Immune Response Against Plasmodium berghei. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3025. [PMID: 31993053 PMCID: PMC6970940 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications are fundamental for the phenotypic plasticity of insects during their interaction with the environment. In response to environmental cues, the methylation pattern in DNA is dynamically remodeled to achieve an epigenetic control of gene expression. DNA methylation is the focus of study in insects for its evolutionarily conserved character; however, there is scant knowledge about the epigenetic regulation in vector mosquitoes, especially during their infection by parasites. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the participation of DNA methylation in the immune response of Anopheles albimanus to a Plasmodium infection. For this, we first investigated the presence of a fully functional DNA methylation system in A. albimanus by assessing its potential role in larval development. Subsequently, we evaluated the transcriptional response to Plasmodium berghei of two mosquito phenotypes with different degrees of susceptibility to the parasite, in a scenario where their global DNA methylation had been pharmacologically inhibited. Our study revealed that A. albimanus has a functional DNA methylation system that is essential to larval viability, and that is also responsive to feeding and parasite challenges. The pharmacological erasure of the methylome with azacytidine or decitabine abolished the divergent responses of both mosquito phenotypes, leading to a transcriptionally similar response upon parasite challenge. This response was more specific, and the infection load in both phenotypes was lowered. Our findings suggest that DNA methylation may constitute a key factor in vector competence, and a promising target for preventing malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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Herwald H, Egesten A. Tackling the Pros and Cons of Inflammation. J Innate Immun 2019; 11:445-446. [PMID: 31473747 DOI: 10.1159/000502353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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