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Bevivino G, Maurizi L, Ammendolia MG, Longhi C, Arcà B, Lombardo F. Peptides with Antimicrobial Activity in the Saliva of the Malaria Vector Anopheles coluzzii. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5529. [PMID: 38791567 PMCID: PMC11121840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquito saliva plays a crucial physiological role in both sugar and blood feeding by helping sugar digestion and exerting antihemostatic functions. During meal acquisition, mosquitoes are exposed to the internalization of external microbes. Since mosquitoes reingest significant amounts of saliva during feeding, we hypothesized that salivary antimicrobial components may participate in the protection of mouthparts, the crop, and the gut by inhibiting bacterial growth. To identify novel potential antimicrobials from mosquito saliva, we selected 11 candidates from Anopheles coluzzii salivary transcriptomic datasets and obtained them either using a cell-free transcription/translation expression system or, when feasible, via chemical synthesis. Hyp6.2 and hyp13, which were predicted to be produced as propeptides and cleaved in shorter mature forms, showed the most interesting results in bacterial growth inhibition assays. Hyp6.2 (putative mature form, 35 amino acid residues) significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) bacteria. Hyp13 (short form, 19 amino acid residues) dose-dependently inhibited E. coli and S. marcescens growth, inducing membrane disruption in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as indicated with scanning electron microscopy. In conclusion, we identified two A. coluzzii salivary peptides inhibiting Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria growth and possibly contributing to the protection of mosquito mouthparts and digestive tracts from microbial infection during and/or after feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bevivino
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Linda Maurizi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Ammendolia
- National Center for Innovative Technologies in Public Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Catia Longhi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Bruno Arcà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Fabrizio Lombardo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
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2
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Chang YC, Liu WL, Fang PH, Li JC, Liu KL, Huang JL, Chen HW, Kao CF, Chen CH. Effect of C-type lectin 16 on dengue virus infection in Aedes aegypti salivary glands. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae188. [PMID: 38813522 PMCID: PMC11134184 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
C-type lectins (CTLs) are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins and an important component of mosquito saliva. Although CTLs play key roles in immune activation and viral pathogenesis, little is known about their role in regulating dengue virus (DENV) infection and transmission. In this study, we established a homozygous CTL16 knockout Aedes aegypti mutant line using CRISPR/Cas9 to study the interaction between CTL16 and viruses in mosquito vectors. Furthermore, mouse experiments were conducted to confirm the transmission of DENV by CTL16-/- A. aegypti mutants. We found that CTL16 was mainly expressed in the medial lobe of the salivary glands (SGs) in female A. aegypti. CTL16 knockout increased DENV replication and accumulation in the SGs of female A. aegypti, suggesting that CTL16 plays an important role in DENV transmission. We also found a reduced expression of immunodeficiency and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway components correlated with increased DENV viral titer, infection rate, and transmission efficiency in the CTL16 mutant strain. The findings of this study provide insights not only for guiding future investigations on the influence of CTLs on immune responses in mosquitoes but also for developing novel mutants that can be used as vector control tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chen Chang
- National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Liang Liu
- National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Pai-Hsiang Fang
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Chiuan Li
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Lin Liu
- National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Ling Huang
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 711301, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Wei Chen
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Fei Kao
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hong Chen
- National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
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3
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Li M, Zhou Y, Cheng J, Wang Y, Lan C, Shen Y. Response of the mosquito immune system and symbiotic bacteria to pathogen infection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:69. [PMID: 38368353 PMCID: PMC10874582 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06161-4] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the word, transmitting a variety of insect-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika, causing more deaths than any other vector-borne pathogen. Moreover, in the absence of effective drugs and vaccines to prevent and treat insect-borne diseases, mosquito control is particularly important as the primary measure. In recent decades, due to the gradual increase in mosquito resistance, increasing attention has fallen on the mechanisms and effects associated with pathogen infection. This review provides an overview of mosquito innate immune mechanisms in terms of physical and physiological barriers, pattern recognition receptors, signalling pathways, and cellular and humoral immunity, as well as the antipathogenic effects of mosquito symbiotic bacteria. This review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the interaction process between mosquitoes and pathogens and provides a theoretical basis for biological defence strategies against mosquito-borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjin Li
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jin Cheng
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yiqing Wang
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Cejie Lan
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China.
| | - Yuan Shen
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China.
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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4
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Mehmood N, Hassan A, Zhong X, Zhu Y, Ouyang G, Huang Q. Entomopathogenic fungal infection following immune gene silencing decreased behavioral and physiological fitness in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 195:105535. [PMID: 37666588 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105535] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi are a promising category of biocontrol agents with mosquitocidal properties. Prior studies have proved their potential to reduce fecundity, human biting and vector competence, all of them together determine vectorial capacity of the mosquitoes. Unfortunately, conventional vector control strategies are inadequate with growing problem of insecticide resistance and environmental deterioration. Therefore, alternate vector control measures are immediately needed and to accomplish that, an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological defense mechanisms of the mosquitoes against fungal infection is essential. In this study, fitness was considered with respect to different behavioral (self-grooming and flight), physiological (antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides) parameters and survival rates as compared to the control group. We found a significant upregulation in CLSP2, TEP22, Rel1 and Rel2 genes at multiple time periods of fungal infection, which indicates the successful fungal infection and activation of Toll and IMD pathways in mosquitoes. RNAi-mediated silencing of Rel1 and Rel2 genes (transcription factors of Toll and IMD pathways, respectively) significantly reduced the survival, self-grooming frequencies and durations, and flight locomotor activity among adult Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes. Moreover, Rel1 and Rel2 knockdown significantly decreased antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides expression levels in target mosquitoes. These results indicate an overall decrease in fitness of the mosquitoes after fungal challenge following Rel1 and Rel2 silencing. These findings provide an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological responses in mosquitoes with altered immunity against entomopathogenic fungal infections which can guide us towards the development of novel biocontrol strategies against mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Mehmood
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xueshan Zhong
- Yuexiu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongzhang Zhu
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guang Ouyang
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Sri-In C, Thontiravong A, Bartholomay LC, Wechtaisong W, Thongmeesee K, Riana E, Tiawsirisup S. 34-kDa salivary protein enhances duck Tembusu virus infectivity in the salivary glands of Aedes albopictus by modulating the innate immune response. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9098. [PMID: 37277542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35914-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is an important flavivirus that can be transmitted to poultry via Aedes albopictus bites. Furthermore, humans residing in the DTMUV epidemic area display activated antiviral immune responses to local DTMUV isolates during the pathogenic invasion, thereby raising the primary concern that this flavivirus may be transmitted to humans via mosquito bites. Therefore, we identified the gene AALF004421, which is a homolog of the 34-kDa salivary protein (34 kDa) of Ae. albopictus and studied the salivary protein-mediated enhancement of DTMUV infection in Ae. albopictus salivary glands. We observed that double-stranded RNA-mediated silencing of the 34 kDa in mosquito salivary glands demonstrated that the silenced 34 kDa impaired DTMUV infectivity, similar to inhibition through serine protease. This impairment occurred as a consequence of triggering the innate immune response function of a macroglobulin complement-related factor (MCR). 34-kDa in the salivary gland which had similar activity as a serine protease, results in the abrogation of antimicrobial peptides production and strong enhance DTMUV replication and transmission. Although the function of the 34 kDa in Ae. albopictus is currently unknown; in the present study, we showed that it may have a major role in DTMUV infection in mosquito salivary glands through the suppression of the antiviral immune response in the earliest stages of infection. This finding provides the first identification of a prominently expressed 34 kDa protein in Ae. albopictus saliva that could serve as a target for controlling DTMUV replication in mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chalida Sri-In
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Aunyaratana Thontiravong
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lyric C Bartholomay
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Wittawat Wechtaisong
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Kritsada Thongmeesee
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Elizabeth Riana
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Sonthaya Tiawsirisup
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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Laureti M, Lee RX, Bennett A, Wilson LA, Sy VE, Kohl A, Dietrich I. Rift Valley Fever Virus Primes Immune Responses in Aedes aegypti Cells. Pathogens 2023; 12:563. [PMID: 37111448 PMCID: PMC10146816 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing global emergence of arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses has accelerated research into the interactions of these viruses with the immune systems of their vectors. Only limited information exists on how bunyaviruses, such as Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), are sensed by mosquito immunity or escape detection. RVFV is a zoonotic phlebovirus (Bunyavirales; Phenuiviridae) of veterinary and human public health and economic importance. We have shown that the infection of mosquitoes with RVFV triggers the activation of RNA interference pathways, which moderately restrict viral replication. Here, we aimed to better understand the interactions between RVFV and other vector immune signaling pathways that might influence RVFV replication and transmission. For this, we used the immunocompetent Aedes aegypti Aag2 cell line as a model. We found that bacteria-induced immune responses restricted RVFV replication. However, virus infection alone did not alter the gene expression levels of immune effectors. Instead, it resulted in the marked enhancement of immune responses to subsequent bacterial stimulation. The gene expression levels of several mosquito immune pattern recognition receptors were altered by RVFV infection, which may contribute to this immune priming. Our findings imply that there is a complex interplay between RVFV and mosquito immunity that could be targeted in disease prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rui-Xue Lee
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Amelia Bennett
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright GU24 0NF, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Claverton Down, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Lucas Aladar Wilson
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright GU24 0NF, UK
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | | | - Alain Kohl
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Isabelle Dietrich
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright GU24 0NF, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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7
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Morejon B, Michel K. A zone-of-inhibition assay to screen for humoral antimicrobial activity in mosquito hemolymph. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:891577. [PMID: 36779191 PMCID: PMC9908765 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.891577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In insects, antibacterial immunity largely depends on the activation of downstream signaling and effector responses, leading to the synthesis and secretion of soluble effector molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs are acute infection response peptides secreted into the hemolymph upon bacterial stimulation. The transcription of innate immunity genes encoding for AMPs is highly dependent on several signaling cascade pathways, such as the Toll pathway. In the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, AMPs hold a special interest as their upregulation have been shown to limit the growth of malaria parasites, bacteria, and fungi. Most of the current knowledge on the regulation of insect AMPs in microbial infection have been obtained from Drosophila. However, largely due to the lack of convenient assays, the regulation of antimicrobial activity in mosquito hemolymph is still not completely understood. In this study, we report a zone of inhibition assay to identify the contribution of AMPs and components of the Toll pathway to the antimicrobial activity of A. gambiae hemolymph. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that Micrococcus luteus challenge induces antimicrobial activity in the adult female mosquito hemolymph, which is largely dependent on defensin 1. Moreover, by using RNAi to silence Cactus, REL1, and MyD88, we showed that Cactus kd induces antimicrobial activity in the mosquito hemolymph, whereas the antimicrobial activity in REL1 kd and MyD88 kd is reduced after challenge. Finally, while injection itself is not sufficient to induce antimicrobial activity, our results show that it primes the response to bacterial challenge. Our study provides information that increases our knowledge of the regulation of antimicrobial activity in response to microbial infections in mosquitoes. Furthermore, this assay represents an ex vivo medium throughput assay that can be used to determine the upstream regulatory elements of antimicrobial activity in A. gambiae hemolymph.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Morejon
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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8
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Carvalho KS, Rezende TMT, Romão TP, Rezende AM, Chiñas M, Guedes DRD, Paiva-Cavalcanti M, Silva-Filha MHNL. Aedes aegypti Strain Subjected to Long-Term Exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis svar. israelensis Larvicides Displays an Altered Transcriptional Response to Zika Virus Infection. Viruses 2022; 15:72. [PMID: 36680112 PMCID: PMC9866606 DOI: 10.3390/v15010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis svar. israelensis (Bti) larvicides are effective in controlling Aedes aegypti; however, the effects of long-term exposure need to be properly evaluated. We established an Ae. aegypti strain that has been treated with Bti for 30 generations (RecBti) and is still susceptible to Bti, but females exhibited increased susceptibility to Zika virus (ZIKV). This study compared the RecBti strain to a reference strain regarding: first, the relative transcription of selected immune genes in ZIKV-challenged females (F30) with increased susceptibility detected in a previous study; then, the whole transcriptomic profile using unchallenged females (F35). Among the genes compared by RT-qPCR in the ZIKV-infected and uninfected females from RecBti (F30) and the reference strain, hop, domeless, relish 1, defensin A, cecropin D, and gambicin showed a trend of repression in RecBti infected females. The transcriptome of RecBti (F35) unchallenged females, compared with a reference strain by RNA-seq, showed a similar profile and only 59 differentially expressed genes were found among 9202 genes analyzed. Our dataset showed that the long-term Bti exposure of the RecBti strain was associated with an alteration of the expression of genes potentially involved in the response to ZIKV infection in challenged females, which is an important feature found under this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine S. Carvalho
- Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50670-420, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiany P. Romão
- Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50670-420, Brazil
| | - Antônio M. Rezende
- Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50670-420, Brazil
| | - Marcos Chiñas
- Center for Genomic Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
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9
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Rosendo Machado S, Qu J, Koopman WJH, Miesen P. The DEAD-box RNA helicase Dhx15 controls glycolysis and arbovirus replication in Aedes aegypti mosquito cells. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010694. [PMID: 36441781 PMCID: PMC9731432 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of arthropod-borne (arbo)viruses including dengue and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) but in contrast to human hosts, arbovirus-infected mosquitoes are able to efficiently control virus replication to sub-pathological levels. Yet, our knowledge of the molecular interactions of arboviruses with their mosquito hosts is incomplete. Here, we aimed to identify and characterize novel host genes that control arbovirus replication in Aedes mosquitoes. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are well-known to regulate immune signaling pathways in all kingdoms of life. We therefore performed a knockdown screen targeting 461 genes encoding predicted RBPs in Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells and identified 15 genes with antiviral activity against Sindbis virus. Amongst these, the three DEAD-box RNA helicases AAEL004419/Dhx15, AAEL008728, and AAEL004859 also acted as antiviral factors in dengue and CHIKV infections. Here, we explored the mechanism of Dhx15 in regulating an antiviral transcriptional response in mosquitoes by silencing Dhx15 in Aag2 cells followed by deep-sequencing of poly-A enriched RNAs. Dhx15 knockdown in uninfected and CHIKV-infected cells resulted in differential expression of 856 and 372 genes, respectively. Interestingly, amongst the consistently downregulated genes, glycolytic process was the most enriched gene ontology (GO) term as the expression of all core enzymes of the glycolytic pathway was reduced, suggesting that Dhx15 regulates glycolytic function. A decrease in lactate production indicated that Dhx15 silencing indeed functionally impaired glycolysis. Modified rates of glycolytic metabolism have been implicated in controlling the replication of several classes of viruses and strikingly, infection of Aag2 cells with CHIKV by itself also resulted in the decrease of several glycolytic genes. Our data suggests that Dhx15 regulates replication of CHIKV, and possibly other arboviruses, by controlling glycolysis in mosquito cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara Rosendo Machado
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jieqiong Qu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Werner J. H. Koopman
- Department of Pediatrics, Amalia Children’s Hospital, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal Miesen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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10
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Saucereau Y, Wilson TH, Tang MCK, Moncrieffe MC, Hardwick SW, Chirgadze DY, Soares SG, Marcaida MJ, Gay NJ, Gangloff M. Structure and dynamics of Toll immunoreceptor activation in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5110. [PMID: 36042238 PMCID: PMC9427763 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32690-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti has evolved to become an efficient vector for arboviruses but the mechanisms of host-pathogen tolerance are unknown. Immunoreceptor Toll and its ligand Spaetzle have undergone duplication which may allow neofunctionalization and adaptation. Here we present cryo-EM structures and biophysical characterisation of low affinity Toll5A complexes that display transient but specific interactions with Spaetzle1C, forming asymmetric complexes, with only one ligand clearly resolved. Loop structures of Spaetzle1C and Toll5A intercalate, temporarily bridging the receptor C-termini to promote signalling. By contrast unbound receptors form head-to-head homodimers that keep the juxtamembrane regions far apart in an inactive conformation. Interestingly the transcriptional signature of Spaetzle1C differs from other Spaetzle cytokines and controls genes involved in innate immunity, metabolism and tissue regeneration. Taken together our results explain how upregulation of Spaetzle1C in the midgut and Toll5A in the salivary gland shape the concomitant immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoann Saucereau
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Thomas H Wilson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Matthew C K Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Martin C Moncrieffe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Steven W Hardwick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Dimitri Y Chirgadze
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Sandro G Soares
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Maria Jose Marcaida
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicholas J Gay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Monique Gangloff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK.
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11
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Ramos LFC, Martins M, Murillo JR, Domont GB, de Oliveira DMP, Nogueira FCS, Maciel-de-Freitas R, Junqueira M. Interspecies Isobaric Labeling-Based Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Protein Changes in the Ovary of Aedes aegypti Coinfected With ZIKV and Wolbachia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:900608. [PMID: 35873163 PMCID: PMC9302590 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.900608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika is a vector-borne disease caused by an arbovirus (ZIKV) and overwhelmingly transmitted by Ae. aegypti. This disease is linked to adverse fetal outcomes, mostly microcephaly in newborns, and other clinical aspects such as acute febrile illness and neurologic complications, for example, Guillain-Barré syndrome. One of the most promising strategies to mitigate arbovirus transmission involves releasing Ae. aegypti mosquitoes carrying the maternally inherited endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia pipientis. The presence of Wolbachia is associated with a reduced susceptibility to arboviruses and a fitness cost in mosquito life-history traits such as fecundity and fertility. However, the mechanisms by which Wolbachia influences metabolic pathways leading to differences in egg production remains poorly known. To investigate the impact of coinfections on the reproductive tract of the mosquito, we applied an isobaric labeling-based quantitative proteomic strategy to investigate the influence of Wolbachia wMel and ZIKV infection in Ae. aegypti ovaries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most complete proteome of Ae. aegypti ovaries reported so far, with a total of 3913 proteins identified, were also able to quantify 1044 Wolbachia proteins in complex sample tissue of Ae. aegypti ovary. Furthermore, from a total of 480 mosquito proteins modulated in our study, we discuss proteins and pathways altered in Ae. aegypti during ZIKV infections, Wolbachia infections, coinfection Wolbachia/ZIKV, and compared with no infection, focusing on immune and reproductive aspects of Ae. aegypti. The modified aspects mainly were related to the immune priming enhancement by Wolbachia presence and the modulation of the Juvenile Hormone pathway caused by both microorganism’s infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Felipe Costa Ramos
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Michele Martins
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jimmy Rodriguez Murillo
- Division of Chemistry I, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gilberto Barbosa Domont
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio César Sousa Nogueira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Arbovirology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Magno Junqueira, ; Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas,
| | - Magno Junqueira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Magno Junqueira, ; Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas,
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12
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Cheung YP, Park S, Pagtalunan J, Maringer K. The antiviral role of NF-κB-mediated immune responses and their antagonism by viruses in insects. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 35510990 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The antiviral role of innate immune responses mediated by the NF-κB family of transcription factors is well established in vertebrates but was for a long time less clear in insects. Insects encode two canonical NF-κB pathways, the Toll and Imd ('immunodeficiency') pathways, which are best characterised for their role in antibacterial and antifungal defence. An increasing body of evidence has also implicated NF-κB-mediated innate immunity in antiviral responses against some, but not all, viruses. Specific pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and molecular events leading to NF-κB activation by viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) have been elucidated for a number of viruses and insect species. Particularly interesting are recent findings indicating that the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway detects viral RNA to activate NF-κB-regulated gene expression. We summarise the literature on virus-NF-κB pathway interactions across the class Insecta, with a focus on the dipterans Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti. We discuss potential reasons for differences observed between different virus-host combinations, and highlight similarities and differences between cGAS-STING signalling in insects versus vertebrates. Finally, we summarise the increasing number of known molecular mechanisms by which viruses antagonise NF-κB responses, which suggest that NF-κB-mediated immunity exerts strong evolutionary pressures on viruses. These developments in our understanding of insect antiviral immunity have relevance to the large number of insect species that impact on humans through their transmission of human, livestock and plant diseases, exploitation as biotechnology platforms, and role as parasites, pollinators, livestock and pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin P Cheung
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Sohyun Park
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Justine Pagtalunan
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Kevin Maringer
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
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13
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Barletta Ferreira AB, Bahia AC, Pitaluga AN, Barros E, Gama dos Santos D, Bottino-Rojas V, Kubota MS, Oliveira PLD, Pimenta PFP, Traub-Csekö YM, Sorgine MHF. Sexual Dimorphism in Immune Responses and Infection Resistance in Aedes aegypti and Other Hematophagous Insect Vectors. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.847109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in immune function is prevalent across different species, where males trade their ability to fight pathogens for a practical reproductive function while females favor an extended lifespan. In insects, these differences in immune function reflect an evolutionary life strategy, where females have a presumably more robust immune system than insect males. Here, we evaluate immune functioning in four male and female insect vectors, Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae), Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera, Culicidae), Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera, Psychodidae) and Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). We show evidence that challenges the concept of immune sexual dimorphism in three of these insect vectors. In the three Diptera species, A. aegypti, A. aquasalis and L. longipalpis that transmit arboviruses, Plasmodium spp. (Haemospororida, Plasmodiidae) and Leishmania spp. (Trypanosomatida, Trypanosomatidae), respectively, unchallenged adult males express higher levels of immune-related genes than adult females and immature developmental stages. The main components of the Toll, IMD, and Jak/STAT pathways and antimicrobial effectors are highly expressed in whole-body males. Additionally, males present lower midgut basal microbiota levels than females. In A. aegypti mosquitoes, the differences in immune gene expression and microbiota levels are established in adult mosquitoes but are not present at the recently emerged adults and pupal stage. Antibiotic treatment does not affect the consistently higher expression of immune genes in males, except defensin, which is reduced significantly after microbiota depletion and restored after re-introduction. Our data suggest that Diptera males have a basal state of activation of the immune system and that activation of a more robust response through systemic immune challenge acutely compromises their survival. The ones who survive clear the infection entirely. Females follow a different strategy where a moderate immune reaction render higher tolerance to infection and survival. In contrast, hematophagous adult males of the Hemiptera vector R. prolixus, which transmits Trypanosoma cruzi, present no differences in immune activation compared to females, suggesting that diet differences between males and females may influence immune sexual dimorphism. These findings expand our understanding of the biology of insect vectors of human pathogens, which can help to direct the development of new strategies to limit vector populations.
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14
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Van den Eynde C, Sohier C, Matthijs S, De Regge N. Japanese Encephalitis Virus Interaction with Mosquitoes: A Review of Vector Competence, Vector Capacity and Mosquito Immunity. Pathogens 2022; 11:317. [PMID: 35335641 PMCID: PMC8953304 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic flavivirus and a major cause of human viral encephalitis in Asia. We provide an overview of the knowledge on vector competence, vector capacity, and immunity of mosquitoes in relation to JEV. JEV has so far been detected in more than 30 mosquito species. This does not necessarily mean that these species contribute to JEV transmission under field conditions. Therefore, vector capacity, which considers vector competence, as well as environmental, behavioral, cellular, and biochemical variables, needs to be taken into account. Currently, 17 species can be considered as confirmed vectors for JEV and 10 other species as potential vectors. Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex annulirostris are considered primary JEV vectors in endemic regions. Culex pipiens and Aedes japonicus could be considered as potentially important vectors in the case of JEV introduction in new regions. Vector competence is determined by various factors, including vector immunity. The available knowledge on physical and physiological barriers, molecular pathways, antimicrobial peptides, and microbiome is discussed in detail. This review highlights that much remains to be studied about vector immunity against JEV in order to identify novel strategies to reduce JEV transmission by mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Van den Eynde
- Exotic Viruses and Particular Diseases, Sciensano, Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussels, Belgium; (C.S.); (N.D.R.)
| | - Charlotte Sohier
- Exotic Viruses and Particular Diseases, Sciensano, Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussels, Belgium; (C.S.); (N.D.R.)
| | - Severine Matthijs
- Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Nick De Regge
- Exotic Viruses and Particular Diseases, Sciensano, Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussels, Belgium; (C.S.); (N.D.R.)
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15
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Feitosa-Suntheimer F, Zhu Z, Mameli E, Dayama G, Gold AS, Broos-Caldwell A, Troupin A, Rippee-Brooks M, Corley RB, Lau NC, Colpitts TM, Londoño-Renteria B. Dengue Virus-2 Infection Affects Fecundity and Elicits Specific Transcriptional Changes in the Ovaries of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:886787. [PMID: 35814655 PMCID: PMC9260120 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.886787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue fever (DF), caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is the most burdensome arboviral disease in the world, with an estimated 400 million infections each year. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector of DENV and transmits several other human pathogens, including Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses. Previous studies have shown that the pathogen infection of mosquitoes can alter reproductive fitness, revealing specific vector-pathogen interactions that are key determinants of vector competence. However, only a handful of studies have examined the effect of DENV infection in A. aegypti, showing a reduction in lifespan and fecundity over multiple blood meals. To provide a more comprehensive analysis of the impact of DENV infection on egg laying and fecundity, we assessed egg laying timing in DENV-2 blood-fed mosquitoes (infected group) compared to mock blood-fed mosquitoes (control group). We confirmed a significant decrease in fecundity during the first gonadotrophic cycle. To further investigate this phenotype and the underlying DENV-2 infection-dependent changes in gene expression, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis for differentially expressed genes in the ovaries of A. aegypti infected with DENV-2 vs. mock-infected mosquitoes. This analysis reveals several DENV-2-regulated genes; among them, we identified a group of 12 metabolic genes that we validated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Interestingly, two genes found to be upregulated in DENV-infected mosquito ovaries exhibited an antiviral role for DENV-2 in an Aedes cell line. Altogether, this study offers useful insights into the virus-vector interface, highlighting the importance of gene expression changes in the mosquito's ovary during DENV-2 infection in the first gonadotrophic cycle, triggering antiviral responses that may possibly interfere with mosquito reproduction. This information is extremely relevant for further investigation of A. aegypti's ability to tolerate viruses since virally infected mosquitoes in nature constitute a powerful source of supporting viruses during intra-epidemic periods, causing a huge burden on the public health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Feitosa-Suntheimer
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Zheng Zhu
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Enzo Mameli
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Blavatnik Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gargi Dayama
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alexander S Gold
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Aditi Broos-Caldwell
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrea Troupin
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Meagan Rippee-Brooks
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, United States
| | - Ronald B Corley
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nelson C Lau
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Genome Science Institute, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tonya M Colpitts
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Berlin Londoño-Renteria
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States.,Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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16
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Singh S, Singh A, Baweja V, Roy A, Chakraborty A, Singh IK. Molecular Rationale of Insect-Microbes Symbiosis-From Insect Behaviour to Mechanism. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122422. [PMID: 34946024 PMCID: PMC8707026 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects nurture a panoply of microbial populations that are often obligatory and exist mutually with their hosts. Symbionts not only impact their host fitness but also shape the trajectory of their phenotype. This co-constructed niche successfully evolved long in the past to mark advanced ecological specialization. The resident microbes regulate insect nutrition by controlling their host plant specialization and immunity. It enhances the host fitness and performance by detoxifying toxins secreted by the predators and abstains them. The profound effect of a microbial population on insect physiology and behaviour is exploited to understand the host–microbial system in diverse taxa. Emergent research of insect-associated microbes has revealed their potential to modulate insect brain functions and, ultimately, control their behaviours, including social interactions. The revelation of the gut microbiota–brain axis has now unravelled insects as a cost-effective potential model to study neurodegenerative disorders and behavioural dysfunctions in humans. This article reviewed our knowledge about the insect–microbial system, an exquisite network of interactions operating between insects and microbes, its mechanistic insight that holds intricate multi-organismal systems in harmony, and its future perspectives. The demystification of molecular networks governing insect–microbial symbiosis will reveal the perplexing behaviours of insects that could be utilized in managing insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujata Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India; (S.S.); (V.B.)
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India;
| | - Archana Singh
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India;
| | - Varsha Baweja
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India; (S.S.); (V.B.)
- DBC i4 Center, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Amit Roy
- EVA 4.0 Unit, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic;
- Excelentní Tým pro Mitigaci (ETM), Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Amrita Chakraborty
- EVA 4.0 Unit, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (I.K.S.)
| | - Indrakant Kumar Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India; (S.S.); (V.B.)
- DBC i4 Center, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (I.K.S.)
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17
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TmSpz-like Plays a Fundamental Role in Response to E. coli but Not S. aureus or C. albican Infection in Tenebrio molitor via Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptide Production. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910888. [PMID: 34639230 PMCID: PMC8509142 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The cystine knot protein Spätzle is a Toll receptor ligand that modulates the intracellular signaling cascade involved in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-encoding genes. Spätzle-mediated activation of the Toll pathway is critical for the innate immune responses of insects against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. In this study, the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of Spätzle-like from T. molitor (TmSpz-like) identified from the RNA sequencing dataset was cloned and sequenced. The 885-bp TmSpz-like ORF encoded a polypeptide of 294 amino acid residues. TmSpz-like comprised a cystine knot domain with six conserved cysteine residues that formed three disulfide bonds. Additionally, TmSpz-like exhibited the highest amino acid sequence similarity with T. castaneum Spätzle (TcSpz). In the phylogenetic tree, TmSpz-like and TcSpz were located within a single cluster. The expression of TmSpz-like was upregulated in the Malpighian tubules and gut tissues of T. molitor. Additionally, the expression of TmSpz-like in the whole body and gut of the larvae was upregulated at 24 h post-E. coli infection. The results of RNA interference experiments revealed that TmSpz-like is critical for the viability of E. coli-infected T. molitor larvae. Eleven AMP-encoding genes were downregulated in the E. coli-infected TmSpz-like knockdown larvae, which suggested that TmSpz-like positively regulated these genes. Additionally, the NF-κB-encoding genes (TmDorX1, TmDorX2, and TmRelish) were downregulated in the E. coli-infected TmSpz-like knockdown larvae. Thus, TmSpz-like plays a critical role in the regulation of AMP production in T. molitor in response to E. coli infection.
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18
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Angleró-Rodríguez YI, Tikhe CV, Kang S, Dimopoulos G. Aedes aegypti Toll pathway is induced through dsRNA sensing in endosomes. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 122:104138. [PMID: 34022257 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito anti-pathogen immune responses, including those controlling infection with arboviruses are regulated by multiple signal transduction pathways. While the Toll pathway is critical in the defense against arboviruses such as dengue and Zika viruses, the factors and mechanisms involved in virus recognition leading to the activation of the Toll pathway are not fully understood. In this study we evaluated the role of virus-produced double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) intermediates in mosquito immune activation by utilizing the synthetic dsRNA analog polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). Poly I:C treatment of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and Aag2 cells reduced DENV infection. Transcriptomic analyses of Aag2 cell responses to poly I:C indicated putative activation of the Toll pathway. We found that poly I:C is translocated to the endosomal compartment of Aag2 cells, and that the A. aegypti Toll 6 receptor is a putative dsRNA recognition receptor. This study elucidates the role of dsRNAs in the immune activation of non-RNAi pathways in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chinmay V Tikhe
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States
| | - Seokyoung Kang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States
| | - George Dimopoulos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.
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19
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Cell Line Platforms Support Research into Arthropod Immunity. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12080738. [PMID: 34442304 PMCID: PMC8397109 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Many insect and tick species are serious pests, because insects damage crop plants and, along with ticks, transmit a wide range of human and animal diseases. One way of controlling these pests is by impairing their immune system, which protects them from bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. An important tool for studying immunity is using long-lasting cell cultures, known as cell lines. These lines can be frozen and thawed at will to be used in automated tests, and they provide consistent results over years. Questions that can be asked using cell lines include: How do insects or ticks recognize when they have been infected and by what organism? What kinds of defensive strategies do they use to contain or kill infectious agents? This article reviews research with insect or tick cell lines to answer these questions, as well as other questions relating to immunity. This review also discusses future research strategies for working with cell lines. Abstract Innate immune responses are essential to maintaining insect and tick health and are the primary defense against pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Cell line research is a powerful method for understanding how invertebrates mount defenses against pathogenic organisms and testing hypotheses on how these responses occur. In particular, immortal arthropod cell lines are valuable tools, providing a tractable, high-throughput, cost-effective, and consistent platform to investigate the mechanisms underpinning insect and tick immune responses. The research results inform the controls of medically and agriculturally important insects and ticks. This review presents several examples of how cell lines have facilitated research into multiple aspects of the invertebrate immune response to pathogens and other foreign agents, as well as comments on possible future research directions in these robust systems.
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20
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Weng SC, Li HH, Li JC, Liu WL, Chen CH, Shiao SH. A Thioester-Containing Protein Controls Dengue Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti Through Modulating Immune Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:670122. [PMID: 34054842 PMCID: PMC8155531 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.670122] [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: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Complement-like proteins in arthropods defend against invading pathogens in the early phases of infection. Thioester-containing proteins (TEPs), which exhibit high similarity to mammalian complement C3, are thought to play a key role in the innate immunity of arthropods. We identified and characterized anti-dengue virus (DENV) host factors, in particular complement-like proteins, in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Our results indicate that TEP1 limits DENV infection in Ae. aegypti. We showed that TEP1 transcription is highly induced in mosquitoes following DENV infection. Silencing TEP1 resulted in the up-regulation of viral RNA and proteins. In addition, the production of infectious virus particles increased in the absence of TEP1. We generated a transgenic mosquito line with a TEP1 loss-of-function phenotype under a blood meal-inducible promoter. We showed that viral protein and titers increased in transgenic mosquitoes after an infectious blood meal. Interestingly, expression of transcription factor Rel2 and certain anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) were inhibited in transgenic mosquitoes. Overall, our results suggest that TEP1 regulates the immune response and consequently controls the replication of dengue virus in mosquitoes. This finding provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms of mosquito host factors in the regulation of DENV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Che Weng
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Han Li
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Chiuan Li
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Liang Liu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hong Chen
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.,National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Hong Shiao
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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21
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Russell TA, Ayaz A, Davidson AD, Fernandez-Sesma A, Maringer K. Imd pathway-specific immune assays reveal NF-κB stimulation by viral RNA PAMPs in Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008524. [PMID: 33591970 PMCID: PMC7909628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major vector for the arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Vector immune responses pose a major barrier to arboviral transmission, and transgenic insects with altered immunity have been proposed as tools for reducing the global public health impact of arboviral diseases. However, a better understanding of virus-immune interactions is needed to progress the development of such transgenic insects. Although the NF-κB-regulated Toll and 'immunodeficiency' (Imd) pathways are increasingly thought to be antiviral, relevant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) remain poorly characterised in A. aegypti. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS We developed novel RT-qPCR and luciferase reporter assays to measure induction of the Toll and Imd pathways in the commonly used A. aegypti-derived Aag2 cell line. We thus determined that the Toll pathway is not inducible by exogenous stimulation with bacterial, viral or fungal stimuli in Aag2 cells under our experimental conditions. We used our Imd pathway-specific assays to demonstrate that the viral dsRNA mimic poly(I:C) is sensed by the Imd pathway, likely through intracellular and extracellular PRRs. The Imd pathway was also induced during infection with the model insect-specific virus cricket paralysis virus (CrPV). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our demonstration that a general PAMP shared by many arboviruses is sensed by the Imd pathway paves the way for future studies to determine how viral RNA is sensed by mosquito PRRs at a molecular level. Our data also suggest that studies measuring inducible immune pathway activation through antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression in Aag2 cells should be interpreted cautiously given that the Toll pathway is not responsive under all experimental conditions. With no antiviral therapies and few effective vaccines available to treat arboviral diseases, our findings provide new insights relevant to the development of transgenic mosquitoes as a means of reducing arbovirus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany A. Russell
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Andalus Ayaz
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin Maringer
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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22
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Stokes S, Almire F, Tatham MH, McFarlane S, Mertens P, Pondeville E, Boutell C. The SUMOylation pathway suppresses arbovirus replication in Aedes aegypti cells. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1009134. [PMID: 33351855 PMCID: PMC7802965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many clinically important arboviruses that cause significant levels of annual mortality and socioeconomic health burden worldwide. Deciphering the mechanisms by which mosquitoes modulate arbovirus infection is crucial to understand how viral-host interactions promote vector transmission and human disease. SUMOylation is a post-translational modification that leads to the covalent attachment of the Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) protein to host factors, which in turn can modulate their stability, interaction networks, sub-cellular localisation, and biochemical function. While the SUMOylation pathway is known to play a key role in the regulation of host immune defences to virus infection in humans, the importance of this pathway during arbovirus infection in mosquito vectors, such as Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti), remains unknown. Here we characterise the sequence, structure, biochemical properties, and tissue-specific expression profiles of component proteins of the Ae. aegypti SUMOylation pathway. We demonstrate significant biochemical differences between Ae. aegypti and Homo sapiens SUMOylation pathways and identify cell-type specific patterns of SUMO expression in Ae. aegypti tissues known to support arbovirus replication. Importantly, depletion of core SUMOylation effector proteins (SUMO, Ubc9 and PIAS) in Ae. aegypti cells led to enhanced levels of arbovirus replication from three different families; Zika (Flaviviridae), Semliki Forest (Togaviridae), and Bunyamwera (Bunyaviridae) viruses. Our findings identify an important role for mosquito SUMOylation in the cellular restriction of arboviruses that may directly influence vector competence and transmission of clinically important arboviruses. Half the world’s population is at risk of infection from arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes. Deciphering the viral-host interactions that influence the outcome of arbovirus infection in mosquitoes is beneficial to the development of future vector control strategies to limit arbovirus transmission and viral emergence within the human population. Similar to humans, mosquitoes possess different immune pathways to limit the replication of arboviruses. While the Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) pathway is known to play an important role in the regulation of immune defences to viral infection in humans, the influence of this pathway during arbovirus infection in mosquito cells is currently unknown. Here we define the conservation, biochemical activity, and tissue distribution of the core effector proteins of the Aedes aegypti SUMOylation pathway. We show that the mosquito SUMOylation pathway plays a broadly antiviral role against a wide range of clinically important arboviruses, including Zika, Semliki Forest, and Bunyamwera viruses. Our findings identify SUMOylation as an important component of the antiviral response to arbovirus infection in mosquito cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Stokes
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Floriane Almire
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Michael H. Tatham
- Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Steven McFarlane
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Mertens
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, England, United Kingdom
| | - Emilie Pondeville
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EP); (CB)
| | - Chris Boutell
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EP); (CB)
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23
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Bitencourt RDOB, Salcedo-Porras N, Umaña-Diaz C, da Costa Angelo I, Lowenberger C. Antifungal immune responses in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): A review. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 178:107505. [PMID: 33238166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes transmit many parasites and pathogens to humans that cause significant morbidity and mortality. As such, we are constantly looking for new methods to reduce mosquito populations, including the use of effective biological controls. Entomopathogenic fungi are excellent candidate biocontrol agents to control mosquitoes. Understanding the complex ecological, environmental, and molecular interactions between hosts and pathogens are essential to create novel, effective and safe biocontrol agents. Understanding how mosquitoes recognize and eliminate pathogens such as entomopathogenic fungi may allow us to create insect-order specific biocontrol agents to reduce pest populations. Here we summarize the current knowledge of fungal infection, colonization, development, and replication within mosquitoes and the innate immune responses of the mosquitoes towards the fungal pathogens, emphasizing those features required for an effective mosquito biocontrol agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo de Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt
- Program in Veterinary Science, Institute of Veterinary Science, Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Nicolas Salcedo-Porras
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Claudia Umaña-Diaz
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada.
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24
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Li HH, Cai Y, Li JC, Su MP, Liu WL, Cheng L, Chou SJ, Yu GY, Wang HD, Chen CH. C-Type Lectins Link Immunological and Reproductive Processes in Aedes aegypti. iScience 2020; 23:101486. [PMID: 32891883 PMCID: PMC7481239 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological trade-offs between mosquito immune response and reproductive capability can arise due to insufficient resource availability. C-type lectin family members may be involved in these processes. We established a GCTL-3-/- mutant Aedes aegypti using CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate the role of GCTL-3 in balancing the costs associated with immune responses to arboviral infection and reproduction. GCTL-3-/- mutants showed significantly reduced DENV-2 infection rate and gut commensal microbiota populations, as well as upregulated JAK/STAT, IMD, Toll, and AMPs immunological pathways. Mutants also had significantly shorter lifespans than controls and laid fewer eggs due to defective germ line development. dsRNA knock-down of Attacin and Gambicin, two targets of the AMPs pathway, partially rescued this reduction in reproductive capabilities. Upregulation of immune response following GCTL-3 knock-out therefore comes at a cost to reproductive fitness. Knock-out of other lectins may further improve our knowledge of the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying reproduction-immunity trade-offs in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsing-Han Li
- Institution of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan; National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan
| | - Yu Cai
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 117604, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117558, Singapore
| | - Jian-Chiuan Li
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan
| | - Matthew P Su
- Department of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Wei-Liang Liu
- National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan
| | - Lie Cheng
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Jen Chou
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan
| | - Guann-Yi Yu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Dar Wang
- Institution of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hong Chen
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan; National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 350401, Taiwan.
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25
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Yin C, Sun P, Yu X, Wang P, Cheng G. Roles of Symbiotic Microorganisms in Arboviral Infection of Arthropod Vectors. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:607-615. [PMID: 32386795 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod vectors serve as native reservoirs and transmitters of hundreds of arboviruses. In arthropod vectors, symbiotic microorganisms residing in the gut lumen and/or hemocoelic tissues maintain complicated relationships with their host and influence multiple aspects of vector physiology. Recently, accumulating evidence has established an important role for symbiotic microorganisms in vector-virus interactions which could potentially be used to control viral transmission. Herein, we review recent progress on symbiotic microbe-arbovirus interactions and summarize the molecular mechanisms by which commensal microbes act on hosts and arboviruses. Understanding the sophisticated interactions among arthropod vectors, microbiota, and arboviruses may offer new strategies for the prevention of arboviral diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhong Yin
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 100084; Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, 518055
| | - Peng Sun
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 100084; Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, 518055
| | - Xi Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 100084
| | - Penghua Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA, 06030
| | - Gong Cheng
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 100084; Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, 518055.
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26
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Contreras G, Shirdel I, Braun MS, Wink M. Defensins: Transcriptional regulation and function beyond antimicrobial activity. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 104:103556. [PMID: 31747541 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.103556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Defensins are one the largest group of antimicrobial peptides and are part of the innate defence. Defensins are produced by animals, plants and fungi. In animals and plants, defensins can be constitutively or differentially expressed both locally or systemically which confer defence before and a stronger response after infection. Immune signalling pathways regulate the gene expression of defensins. These pathways include cellular receptors, which recognise pathogen-associated molecular patterns and are found both in plants and animals. After recognition, signalling pathways and, subsequently, transcriptional factors are activated. There is an increasing number of novel functions in defensins, such as immunomodulators and immune cell attractors. Identification of defensin triggers could help us to elucidate other new functions. The present article reviews the different elicitors of defensins with a main focus on human, fish and marine invertebrate defensins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Contreras
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Iman Shirdel
- Marine Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran
| | - Markus Santhosh Braun
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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27
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Cabral S, de Paula A, Samuels R, da Fonseca R, Gomes S, Silva JR, Mury F. Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Immune Responses with Different Feeding Regimes Following Infection by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. INSECTS 2020; 11:E95. [PMID: 32024202 PMCID: PMC7074208 DOI: 10.3390/insects11020095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the most notorious vector of illness-causing viruses. The use of entomopathogenic fungi as bioinsecticides is a promising alternative for the development of novel mosquito control strategies. We investigate whether differences in immune responses could be responsible for modifications in survival rates of insects following different feeding regimes. Sucrose and blood-fed adult A. aegypti females were sprayed with M. anisopliae 1 × 106 conidia mL-1, and after 48 h, the midgut and fat body were dissected. We used RT-qPCR to monitor the expression of Cactus and REL1 (Toll pathway), IMD, REL2, and Caspar (IMD pathway), STAT and PIAS (JAK-STAT pathway), as well as the expression of antimicrobial peptides (Defensin A, Attacin and Cecropin G). REL1 and REL2 expression in both the midgut and fat body were higher in blood-fed fungus-challenged A. aegypti than in sucrose-fed counterparts. Interestingly, infection of sucrose-fed insects induced Cactus expression in the fat body, a negative regulator of the Toll pathway. The IMD gene was upregulated in the fat body in response to fungal infection after a blood meal. Additionally, we observed the induction of antimicrobial peptides in the blood-fed fungus-challenged insects. This study suggests that blood-fed A. aegypti are less susceptible to fungal infection due to the rapid induction of Toll and IMD immune pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cabral
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade—NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; (S.C.); (J.R.S.)
| | - Adriano de Paula
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia—CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseDarcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-603, Brazil; (A.d.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Richard Samuels
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia—CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseDarcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-603, Brazil; (A.d.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Rodrigo da Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade –NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil;
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular—INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Simone Gomes
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia—CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseDarcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-603, Brazil; (A.d.P.); (S.G.)
| | - José Roberto Silva
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade—NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; (S.C.); (J.R.S.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular—INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Flávia Mury
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular—INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
- Laboratório Integrado de Biociências Translacionais—Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade—NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil
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28
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Castillo-Méndez M, Valverde-Garduño V. Aedes aegypti Immune Response and Its Potential Impact on Dengue Virus Transmission. Viral Immunol 2019; 33:38-47. [PMID: 31738698 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2019.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) transmission to human populations requires infection of vector mosquitoes as an essential component of the transmission process. DENV transmission leads to infections that range from asymptomatic to life-threatening pathologies, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Aedes aegypti is the principal vector of DENV, and its vector competence consists of the intrinsic factors, genes, molecules, and pathways that allow infection, replication, and dissemination of this virus throughout the cells of mosquito tissues. In the search for mosquito molecular targets to block DENV transmission, the effect of DENV infection on mosquitoes has been an important focus of research. In this study, we review the findings of research on the effect of DENV infection on mosquito tissue cells and the immunity pathways and molecules that are involved in this infection. We emphasize the relevance of recent findings to understand the relationship between Ae. aegypti immune response, vector competence, and DENV transmission to human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Castillo-Méndez
- Departamento de Infección e Inmunidad, Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México.,Escuela de Salud Pública de México, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Verónica Valverde-Garduño
- Departamento de Infección e Inmunidad, Centro de Investigaciones Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México.,Escuela de Salud Pública de México, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México
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29
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Fredericks AC, Russell TA, Wallace LE, Davidson AD, Fernandez-Sesma A, Maringer K. Aedes aegypti (Aag2)-derived clonal mosquito cell lines reveal the effects of pre-existing persistent infection with the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus on arbovirus replication. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007346. [PMID: 31693659 PMCID: PMC6860454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aedes aegypti is a vector mosquito of major public health importance, transmitting arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Wild mosquito populations are persistently infected at high prevalence with insect-specific viruses that do not replicate in vertebrate hosts. In experimental settings, acute infections with insect-specific viruses have been shown to modulate arbovirus infection and transmission in Ae. aegypti and other vector mosquitoes. However, the impact of persistent insect-specific virus infections, which arboviruses encounter more commonly in nature, has not been investigated extensively. Cell lines are useful models for studying virus-host interactions, however the available Ae. aegypti cell lines are poorly defined and heterogenous cultures. Methodology/Principle findings We generated single cell-derived clonal cell lines from the commonly used Ae. aegypti cell line Aag2. Two of the fourteen Aag2-derived clonal cell lines generated harboured markedly and consistently reduced levels of the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) known to persistently infect Aag2 cells. In contrast to studies with acute insect-specific virus infections in cell culture and in vivo, we found that pre-existing persistent PCLV infection had no major impact on the replication of the flaviviruses dengue virus and Zika virus, the alphavirus Sindbis virus, or the rhabdovirus vesicular stomatitis virus. We also performed a detailed characterisation of the morphology, transfection efficiency and immune status of our Aag2-derived clonal cell lines, and have made a clone that we term Aag2-AF5 available to the research community as a well-defined cell culture model for arbovirus-vector interaction studies. Conclusions/Significance Our findings highlight the need for further in vivo studies that more closely recapitulate natural arbovirus transmission settings in which arboviruses encounter mosquitoes harbouring persistent rather than acute insect-specific virus infections. Furthermore, we provide the well-characterised Aag2-derived clonal cell line as a valuable resource to the arbovirus research community. Mosquito-borne viruses usually only infect humans through the bite of a mosquito that carries the virus. Viruses transmitted by the ‘yellow fever mosquito’ Aedes aegypti, including dengue virus, Zika virus, yellow fever virus and chikungunya virus, are causing an ever-increasing number of human disease cases globally. Mosquito-borne viruses have to infect and replicate inside the mosquito before they are transmitted to humans, and the presence of other infectious agents can change the efficiency of virus transmission. Mosquitoes are known to be infected with ‘insect-specific viruses’ that only infect mosquitoes and cannot cause human disease. We have shown here that in laboratory cell cultures derived from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, pre-existing infection with an insect-specific virus called Phasi Charoen-like virus does not affect the infection and growth of the mosquito-borne viruses dengue virus, Zika virus, Sindbis virus or vesicular stomatitis virus. Our research provides important new insights into whether and how insect-specific viruses may affect mosquito-borne virus replication. Ultimately, this information could inform ongoing research into whether insect-specific viruses could be used to prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses to reduce global disease burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C. Fredericks
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Tiffany A. Russell
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa E. Wallace
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AF-S); (KM)
| | - Kevin Maringer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (AF-S); (KM)
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30
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Fredericks AC, Russell TA, Wallace LE, Davidson AD, Fernandez-Sesma A, Maringer K. Aedes aegypti (Aag2)-derived clonal mosquito cell lines reveal the effects of pre-existing persistent infection with the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus on arbovirus replication. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007346. [PMID: 31693659 DOI: 10.1101/596205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti is a vector mosquito of major public health importance, transmitting arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Wild mosquito populations are persistently infected at high prevalence with insect-specific viruses that do not replicate in vertebrate hosts. In experimental settings, acute infections with insect-specific viruses have been shown to modulate arbovirus infection and transmission in Ae. aegypti and other vector mosquitoes. However, the impact of persistent insect-specific virus infections, which arboviruses encounter more commonly in nature, has not been investigated extensively. Cell lines are useful models for studying virus-host interactions, however the available Ae. aegypti cell lines are poorly defined and heterogenous cultures. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS We generated single cell-derived clonal cell lines from the commonly used Ae. aegypti cell line Aag2. Two of the fourteen Aag2-derived clonal cell lines generated harboured markedly and consistently reduced levels of the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) known to persistently infect Aag2 cells. In contrast to studies with acute insect-specific virus infections in cell culture and in vivo, we found that pre-existing persistent PCLV infection had no major impact on the replication of the flaviviruses dengue virus and Zika virus, the alphavirus Sindbis virus, or the rhabdovirus vesicular stomatitis virus. We also performed a detailed characterisation of the morphology, transfection efficiency and immune status of our Aag2-derived clonal cell lines, and have made a clone that we term Aag2-AF5 available to the research community as a well-defined cell culture model for arbovirus-vector interaction studies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings highlight the need for further in vivo studies that more closely recapitulate natural arbovirus transmission settings in which arboviruses encounter mosquitoes harbouring persistent rather than acute insect-specific virus infections. Furthermore, we provide the well-characterised Aag2-derived clonal cell line as a valuable resource to the arbovirus research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Fredericks
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Tiffany A Russell
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa E Wallace
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin Maringer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Tawidian P, Rhodes VL, Michel K. Mosquito-fungus interactions and antifungal immunity. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 111:103182. [PMID: 31265904 PMCID: PMC6639037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The mosquito immune system has evolved in the presence of continuous encounters with fungi that range from food to foes. Herein, we review the field of mosquito-fungal interactions, providing an overview of current knowledge and topics of interest. Mosquitoes encounter fungi in their aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Mosquito larvae are exposed to fungi on plant detritus, within the water column, and at the water surface. Adult mosquitoes are exposed to fungi during indoor and outdoor resting, blood and sugar feeding, mating, and oviposition. Fungi enter the mosquito body through different routes, including ingestion and through active or passive breaches in the cuticle. Oral uptake of fungi can be beneficial to mosquitoes, as yeasts hold nutritional value and support larval development. However, ingestion of or surface contact with fungal entomopathogens leads to colonization of the mosquito with often lethal consequences to the host. The mosquito immune system recognizes fungi and mounts cellular and humoral immune responses in the hemocoel, and possibly epithelial immune responses in the gut. These responses are regulated transcriptionally through multiple signal transduction pathways. Proteolytic protease cascades provide additional regulation of antifungal immunity. Together, these immune responses provide an efficient barrier to fungal infections, which need to be overcome by entomopathogens. Therefore, fungi constitute an excellent tool to examine the molecular underpinnings of mosquito immunity and to identify novel antifungal peptides. In addition, recent advances in mycobiome analyses can now be used to examine the contribution of fungi to various mosquito traits, including vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Tawidian
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 267 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - V L Rhodes
- Missouri Southern State University, Biology Department, Reynolds Hall 220, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO, 64801-1595, USA
| | - K Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 267 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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The Mosquito Immune System and the Life of Dengue Virus: What We Know and Do Not Know. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8020077. [PMID: 31200426 PMCID: PMC6631187 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8020077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses are largely transmitted to humans by their arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks. The dengue virus (DENV) is one of the members of the family Flaviviridae and is the causative agent of dengue fever. In the mosquito vector, DENV enters through viremic blood meal and replicates in the mid-gut. Newly formed virion particles circulate to various mosquito organs and get transmitted to the next host in subsequent bites. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus have intricate immune control to allow DENV production at a sub-pathogenic level. In the mosquito, antimicrobial peptides (AMP) and RNA inference (RNAi) are the two main antiviral strategies used against DENV. Apart from innate immunity, mosquito resident microbes play a significant role in modulating DENV replication. In this review, we discuss different immune mechanisms and preventive strategies that act against DENV in two of its vectors: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
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Alonso-Palomares LA, Moreno-García M, Lanz-Mendoza H, Salazar MI. Molecular Basis for Arbovirus Transmission by Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. Intervirology 2019; 61:255-264. [PMID: 31082816 DOI: 10.1159/000499128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are considered the most important vectors for the transmission of pathogens to humans. Aedes aegypti is a unique species, not only by its highly anthropophilic and peridomestic habits but also because it can transmit an important variety of pathogenic viruses. Examples are dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, and Mayaro viruses. After ingesting viremic blood, a wide range of mechanisms are activated in the mosquito to counteract viral infection. Nevertheless, these arboviruses possess strategies to overcome barriers in the mosquito and eventually reach the salivary glands to continue the transmission cycle. However, the infection and eventual transmission of arbovirus depends on multiple factors. The current review focuses in detail on the anatomic, physiological, and molecular characteristics of the mosquito A. aegypti that participate in response to a viral infection. In the past decades, the awareness of the importance of this mosquito as a disease vector and its impact on human health was largely recognized. We need to improve our comprehension of molecular mechanisms that determine the outcome of successful virus replication or control of infection for each arbovirus in the vector; this could lead to the design of effective control strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Alonso-Palomares
- Laboratorio de Virología e Inmunovirología, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Unidad Profesional "Lázaro Cárdenas", Mexico City, Mexico.,Centro de Investigación sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CISEI-INSP), Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Miguel Moreno-García
- Centro Regional de Control de Vectores, Secretaría de Salud (CERECOVE-SS), Panchimalco, Mexico
| | - Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigación sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CISEI-INSP), Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Ma Isabel Salazar
- Laboratorio de Virología e Inmunovirología, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Unidad Profesional "Lázaro Cárdenas", Mexico City, Mexico,
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Lee WS, Webster JA, Madzokere ET, Stephenson EB, Herrero LJ. Mosquito antiviral defense mechanisms: a delicate balance between innate immunity and persistent viral infection. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:165. [PMID: 30975197 PMCID: PMC6460799 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3433-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases are associated with major global health burdens. Aedes spp. and Culex spp. are primarily responsible for the transmission of the most medically important mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue virus, West Nile virus and Zika virus. Despite the burden of these pathogens on human populations, the interactions between viruses and their mosquito hosts remain enigmatic. Viruses enter the midgut of a mosquito following the mosquito’s ingestion of a viremic blood meal. During infection, virus recognition by the mosquito host triggers their antiviral defense mechanism. Of these host defenses, activation of the RNAi pathway is the main antiviral mechanism, leading to the degradation of viral RNA, thereby inhibiting viral replication and promoting viral clearance. However, whilst antiviral host defense mechanisms limit viral replication, the mosquito immune system is unable to effectively clear the virus. As such, these viruses can establish persistent infection with little or no fitness cost to the mosquito vector, ensuring life-long transmission to humans. Understanding of the mosquito innate immune response enables the discovery of novel antivectorial strategies to block human transmission. This review provides an updated and concise summary of recent studies on mosquito antiviral immune responses, which is a key determinant for successful virus transmission. In addition, we will also discuss the factors that may contribute to persistent infection in mosquito hosts. Finally, we will discuss current mosquito transmission-blocking strategies that utilize genetically modified mosquitoes and Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes for resistance to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai-Suet Lee
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Julie A Webster
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Eugene T Madzokere
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Eloise B Stephenson
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia.,Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Lara J Herrero
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia.
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Salcedo-Porras N, Guarneri A, Oliveira PL, Lowenberger C. Rhodnius prolixus: Identification of missing components of the IMD immune signaling pathway and functional characterization of its role in eliminating bacteria. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214794. [PMID: 30943246 PMCID: PMC6447187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system in insects is regulated by specific signalling pathways. Most immune related pathways were identified and characterized in holometabolous insects such as Drosophila melanogaster, and it was assumed they would be highly conserved in all insects. The hemimetabolous insect, Rhodnius prolixus, has served as a model to study basic insect physiology, but also is a major vector of the human parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, that causes 10,000 deaths annually. The publication of the R. prolixus genome revealed that one of the main immune pathways, the Immune-deficiency pathway (IMD), was incomplete and probably non-functional, an observation shared with other hemimetabolous insects including the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and the bedbug (Cimex lectularius). It was proposed that the IMD pathway is inactive in R. prolixus as an adaptation to prevent eliminating beneficial symbiont gut bacteria. We used bioinformatic analyses based on reciprocal BLAST and HMM-profile searches to find orthologs for most of the "missing" elements of the IMD pathway and provide data that these are regulated in response to infection with Gram-negative bacteria. We used RNAi strategies to demonstrate the role of the IMD pathway in regulating the expression of specific antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the fat body of R. prolixus. The data indicate that the IMD pathway is present and active in R. prolixus, which opens up new avenues of research on R. prolixus-T. cruzi interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Salcedo-Porras
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alessandra Guarneri
- Instituto René Rachou, Avenida Augusto de Lima, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pedro L. Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Salivary Gland Extract from Aedes aegypti Improves Survival in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis through Oxidative Mechanisms. Cells 2018; 7:cells7110182. [PMID: 30360497 PMCID: PMC6262460 DOI: 10.3390/cells7110182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a systemic disease with life-threatening potential and is characterized by a dysregulated immune response from the host to an infection. The organic dysfunction in sepsis is associated with the production of inflammatory cascades and oxidative stress. Previous studies showed that Aedes aegypti saliva has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. Considering inflammation and the role of oxidative stress in sepsis, we investigated the effect of pretreatment with salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ae. aegypti in the induction of inflammatory and oxidative processes in a murine cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) model. Here, we evaluated animal survival for 16 days, as well as bacterial load, leukocyte migration, and oxidative parameters. We found that the SGE pretreatment improved the survival of septic mice, reduced bacterial load and neutrophil influx, and increased nitric oxide (NO) production in the peritoneal cavity. With regard to oxidative status, SGE increased antioxidant defenses as measured by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and glutathione (GSH), while reducing levels of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA). Altogether, these data suggest that SGE plays a protective role in septic animals, contributing to oxidative and inflammatory balance during sepsis. Therefore, Ae. aegypti SGE is a potential source for new therapeutic molecule(s) in polymicrobial sepsis, and this effect seems to be mediated by the control of inflammation and oxidative damage.
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Kumar A, Srivastava P, Sirisena P, Dubey SK, Kumar R, Shrinet J, Sunil S. Mosquito Innate Immunity. INSECTS 2018; 9:insects9030095. [PMID: 30096752 PMCID: PMC6165528 DOI: 10.3390/insects9030095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes live under the endless threat of infections from different kinds of pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The mosquito defends itself by employing both physical and physiological barriers that resist the entry of the pathogen and the subsequent establishment of the pathogen within the mosquito. However, if the pathogen does gain entry into the insect, the insect mounts a vigorous innate cellular and humoral immune response against the pathogen, thereby limiting the pathogen's propagation to nonpathogenic levels. This happens through three major mechanisms: phagocytosis, melanization, and lysis. During these processes, various signaling pathways that engage intense mosquito⁻pathogen interactions are activated. A critical overview of the mosquito immune system and latest information about the interaction between mosquitoes and pathogens are provided in this review. The conserved, innate immune pathways and specific anti-pathogenic strategies in mosquito midgut, hemolymph, salivary gland, and neural tissues for the control of pathogen propagation are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Kumar
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
| | - Priyanshu Srivastava
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
| | - Pdnn Sirisena
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
| | - Sunil Kumar Dubey
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
| | - Ramesh Kumar
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
| | - Jatin Shrinet
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
| | - Sujatha Sunil
- Vector Borne Diseases Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi-110067, India.
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