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Kelley M, Holmes CJ, Herbert C, Rayhan A, Joves J, Uhran M, Frigard R, Singh K, Limbach PA, Addepalli B, Benoit JB. Tyrosine transfer RNA levels and modifications during blood-feeding and vitellogenesis in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. bioRxiv 2023:2023.11.29.569187. [PMID: 38076852 PMCID: PMC10705485 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.29.569187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti must consume a blood meal for the nutrients necessary for egg production. Several transcriptome and proteome changes occur post blood meal that likely corresponds with codon usage alterations. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is the adapter molecule that reads messenger RNA (mRNA) codons to add the appropriate amino acid during protein synthesis. Chemical modifications to tRNA enhance codons' decoding, improving the accuracy and efficiency of protein synthesis. Here, we examined tRNA modifications and transcripts associated with the blood meal and subsequent periods of vitellogenesis in A. aegypti. More specifically, we assessed tRNA transcript abundance and modification levels in the fat body at critical times post blood-feeding. Based on a combination of alternative codon usage and identification of particular modifications, we identified that increased transcription of tyrosine tRNAs is likely critical during the synthesis of egg yolk proteins in the fat body following a blood meal. Altogether, changes in both the abundance and modification of tRNA are essential factors in the process of vitellogenin production after blood-feeding in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | | | - Cassandra Herbert
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Asif Rayhan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Judd Joves
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Melissa Uhran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Ronja Frigard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | - Khwahish Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
| | | | | | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211
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2
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Fukatsu T, Gottlieb Y, Duron O, Graf J. Editorial: Microbial associates of blood-sucking arthropods and other animals: relevance to their physiology, ecology and evolution. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1256275. [PMID: 37564283 PMCID: PMC10411339 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1256275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Takema Fukatsu
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuval Gottlieb
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC, CNRS, IRD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Joerg Graf
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
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3
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Seavey CE, Doshi M, Panarello AP, Felice MA, Dickerson AK, Jewett MW, Willenberg BJ. Engineered Human Tissue as A New Platform for Mosquito Bite-Site Biology Investigations. Insects 2023; 14:514. [PMID: 37367330 PMCID: PMC10299109 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases transmitted through the bites of hematophagous arthropods, such as mosquitoes, continue to be a significant threat to human health globally. Transmission of disease by biting arthropod vectors includes interactions between (1) saliva expectorated by a vector during blood meal acquisition from a human host, (2) the transmitted vector-borne pathogens, and (3) host cells present at the skin bite site. Currently, the investigation of bite-site biology is challenged by the lack of model 3D human skin tissues for in vitro analyses. To help fill this gap, we have used a tissue engineering approach to develop new stylized human dermal microvascular bed tissue approximates-complete with warm blood-built with 3D capillary alginate gel (Capgel) biomaterial scaffolds. These engineered tissues, termed a Biologic Interfacial Tissue-Engineered System (BITES), were cellularized with either human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) or human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Both cell types formed tubular microvessel-like tissue structures of oriented cells (82% and 54% for HDFs and HUVECs, respectively) lining the unique Capgel parallel capillary microstructures. Female Aedes (Ae.) aegypti mosquitoes, a prototypic hematophagous biting vector arthropod, swarmed, bit, and probed blood-loaded HDF BITES microvessel bed tissues that were warmed (34-37 °C), acquiring blood meals in 151 ± 46 s on average, with some ingesting ≳4 µL or more of blood. Further, these tissue-engineered constructs could be cultured for at least three (3) days following blood meal acquisitions. Altogether, these studies serve as a powerful proof-of-concept demonstration of the innovative BITES platform and indicate its potential for the future investigation of arthropod bite-site cellular and molecular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey E. Seavey
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Mona Doshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Andrew P. Panarello
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Michael A. Felice
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Andrew K. Dickerson
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Mollie W. Jewett
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Bradley J. Willenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
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Lahondère C, Vinauger C, Liaw JE, Tobin KK, Joiner JM, Riffell JA. Effect of temperature on mosquito olfaction. bioRxiv 2023:2023.04.10.535894. [PMID: 37090630 PMCID: PMC10120655 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.10.535894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes use a wide range of cues to find a host to feed on, eventually leading to the transmission of pathogens. Among them, olfactory cues ( e.g. , host emitted odors, including CO 2 , and skin volatiles) play a central role in mediating host seeking behaviors. While mosquito olfaction can be impacted by many factors, such as the physiological state of the insect ( e.g. , age, reproductive state), the impact of environmental temperature on the olfactory system remains unknown. In this study, we quantified the behavioral responses of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, vectors of dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses, to host and plant related odors under different environmental temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Lahondère
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- The Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- The Global Change Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center of Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Clément Vinauger
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- The Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center of Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Jessica E. Liaw
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Jillian M. Joiner
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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5
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Ebmer D, Balfanz F, Voracek T, Hering-Hagenbeck S, Pichler-Scheder C, Walochnik J, Kniha E. The Palearctic blackfly Simulium equinum (Diptera: Simuliidae) as a biting pest of captive nyala antelopes (Tragelaphus angasii). Zoo Biol 2023; 42:150-156. [PMID: 35795895 PMCID: PMC10084230 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are cosmopolitan nuisance pests of great economic importance as well as vectors of many pathogens. After reports of massive blackfly biting of captive nyala antelopes in the Vienna Zoo, Austria, this study aimed to identify the species causing multiple skin lesions on the antelope hosts. The Palearctic species Simulium equinum, belonging to the medically and veterinary important Wilhelmia subgenus, was identified as the most likely causative agent. Barcoding and maximum likelihood analysis supported morphological species identification and highlighted the complex phylogeny of the subgenus Wilhelmia. Our study gives first evidence of the multi-host feeding blackfly S. equinum in the Vienna Zoo, thereby raising the question whether other hosts could also be bitten on a regular basis. The preliminary results urge for further analysis of blackfly breeding sites as well as the clarification of the host spectrum to assess the medical and veterinary importance of blackflies in the Zoo.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ebmer
- Veterinary Clinic Vienna Zoo, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Julia Walochnik
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Edwin Kniha
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Guinn A, Su T, Thieme J, Cheng ML, Brown MQ, Thiemann T. Characterization of the Blood-Feeding Patterns of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in San Bernardino County, California. J Med Entomol 2022; 59:1756-1765. [PMID: 35808969 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic disease that is endemic in North America and is known to cause a range of symptoms from mild to life threatening in humans. Culex quinquefasciatus is one of the most prominent vectors of WNV in Southern California. The goal of this study was to identify which animal species are most fed upon by these mosquitoes in various habitats in the West Valley area of San Bernardino County, California, and determine the relationship between blood-feeding patterns and WNV activity in the region. Culex quinquefasciatus specimens were collected by West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District during 2011 from 32 different sites. The bloodmeals of 683 individuals (92.4% of those tested) were identified using the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI). These bloodmeals comprised 29 vertebrate species across four different habitats. Species richness (ranging from 10 to 17) was not significantly different between habitats when rarified to account for sample size. Across habitats, the highest percentage of avian bloodmeals were taken from house sparrows (18.8-39.1%) and house finches (2.6-31.5%). Bloodmeals were identified from five mammalian species, accounting for 5.1-59.2% of bloodmeals by habitat, including humans (0-4.1%). A seasonal shift towards increased mammalian bloodmeal prevalence, specifically for domestic dog and human bloodmeals, was observed in urban habitats. The WNV activity during 2011 in San Bernardino County occurred mostly in urban and suburban areas as indicated by minimum infection rate (MIR) in Culex quinquefasciatus, notable as all human bloodmeals were identified from these two habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianyun Su
- West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Ontario, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Thieme
- West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Ontario, CA, USA
| | - Min-Lee Cheng
- West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Ontario, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Q Brown
- West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Ontario, CA, USA
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7
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Das De T, Sharma P, Tevatiya S, Chauhan C, Kumari S, Yadav P, Singla D, Srivastava V, Rani J, Hasija Y, Pandey KC, Kajla M, Dixit R. Bidirectional Microbiome-Gut-Brain-Axis Communication Influences Metabolic Switch-Associated Responses in the Mosquito Anopheles culicifacies. Cells 2022; 11:1798. [PMID: 35681493 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The periodic ingestion of a protein-rich blood meal by adult female mosquitoes causes a drastic metabolic change in their innate physiological status, which is referred to as a ‘metabolic switch’. While understanding the neural circuits for host-seeking is modestly attended, how the gut ‘metabolic switch’ modulates brain functions, and resilience to physiological homeostasis, remains unexplored. Here, through a comparative brain RNA-Seq study, we demonstrate that the protein-rich diet induces the expression of brain transcripts related to mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, possibly causing a shift in the brain’s engagement to manage organismal homeostasis. A dynamic mRNA expression pattern of neuro-signaling and neuro-modulatory genes in both the gut and brain likely establishes an active gut–brain communication. The disruption of this communication through decapitation does not affect the modulation of the neuro-modulator receptor genes in the gut. In parallel, an unusual and paramount shift in the level of neurotransmitters (NTs), from the brain to the gut after blood feeding, further supports the idea of the gut’s ability to serve as a ‘second brain’. After blood-feeding, a moderate enrichment of the gut microbial population, and altered immunity in the gut of histamine receptor-silenced mosquitoes, provide initial evidence that the gut-microbiome plays a crucial role in gut–brain–axis communication. Finally, a comparative metagenomics evaluation of the gut microbiome highlighted that blood-feeding enriches the family members of the Morganellaceae and Pseudomonadaceae bacterial communities. The notable observation of a rapid proliferation of Pseudomonas bacterial sp. and tryptophan enrichment in the gut correlates with the suppression of appetite after blood-feeding. Additionally, altered NTs dynamics of naïve and aseptic mosquitoes provide further evidence that gut-endosymbionts are key modulators for the synthesis of major neuroactive molecules. Our data establish a new conceptual understanding of microbiome–gut–brain–axis communication in mosquitoes.
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8
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Praça YR, Santiago PB, Charneau S, Mandacaru SC, Bastos IMD, Bentes KLDS, Silva SMM, da Silva WMC, da Silva IG, de Sousa MV, Soares CMDA, Ribeiro JMC, Santana JM, de Araújo CN. An Integrative Sialomic Analysis Reveals Molecules From Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:798924. [PMID: 35047420 PMCID: PMC8762107 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.798924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Triatomines have evolved salivary glands that produce versatile molecules with various biological functions, including those leading their interactions with vertebrate hosts’ hemostatic and immunological systems. Here, using high-throughput transcriptomics and proteomics, we report the first sialome study on the synanthropic triatomine Triatoma sordida. As a result, 57,645,372 reads were assembled into 26,670 coding sequences (CDS). From these, a total of 16,683 were successfully annotated. The sialotranscriptomic profile shows Lipocalin as the most abundant protein family within putative secreted transcripts. Trialysins and Kazal-type protease inhibitors have high transcript levels followed by ubiquitous protein families and enzyme classes. Interestingly, abundant trialysin and Kazal-type members are highlighted in this triatomine sialotranscriptome. Furthermore, we identified 132 proteins in T. sordida salivary gland soluble extract through LC-MS/MS spectrometry. Lipocalins, Hemiptera specific families, CRISP/Antigen-5 and Kazal-type protein inhibitors proteins were identified. Our study provides a comprehensive description of the transcript and protein compositions of the salivary glands of T. sordida. It significantly enhances the information in the Triatominae sialome databanks reported so far, improving the understanding of the vector’s biology, the hematophagous behaviour, and the Triatominae subfamily’s evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanna Reis Praça
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Programa Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Paula Beatriz Santiago
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Samuel Coelho Mandacaru
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Kaio Luís da Silva Bentes
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Programa Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Marcelo Valle de Sousa
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - José Marcos Chaves Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jaime Martins Santana
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Programa Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Carla Nunes de Araújo
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Programa Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.,Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
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9
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Phanitchat T, Ampawong S, Yawootti A, Denpetkul T, Wadmanee N, Sompornrattanaphan M, Sivakorn C. Dose-Dependent Blood-Feeding Activity and Ovarian Alterations to PM 2.5 in Aedes aegypti. Insects 2021; 12:948. [PMID: 34680717 DOI: 10.3390/insects12100948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is a mosquito that transmits arboviruses and responds to various biological and environmental stressors, including temperature, rainfall, and humidity. However, there is a lack of knowledge about fine particulate matter (PM2.5) effects on arbovirus vectors. We hypothesized that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may affect Ae. aegypti blood-feeding rate and organs. We set up an environmental chamber that could adjust the concentration of PM2.5 and observed their blood-feeding activity. We observed a dose–response relationship between PM2.5 level and blood-feeding rate in adult female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. In addition, histopathological study showed some changes in the ovaries. Vacuolated or vacuolar degeneration characterized by a formation of non-lipid small droplets in the cytoplasm was observed. This demonstrated the degenerative stage of the cells before developing hydropic degeneration or another advanced stage of cellular damage. The present study explored the effects of PM2.5 exposure on the blood-feeding rate and organ integrity in the major arboviral vector Ae. Aegypti, providing information on the potential but indirect operational impact of PM2.5 exposure on the survival and transmission capabilities of this major vector. Our findings may contribute towards the conceptualization and implementation of mosquito control measures with due consideration of the effects of ambient PM2.5 on their populations. Abstract High levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution are a concern for human health. Several studies have examined the effects of air pollution on human and animal health. However, there is a lack of knowledge about its effects on arbovirus vectors. Thus, we investigated whether PM2.5 concentration alters the blood-feeding activity of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. We investigated the effect on the females’ propensity to blood feed at eight concentrations of PM2.5 ranging from 100 to 1000 μg/m3. Correlation analysis showed blood-feeding activity had a significant strong negative correlation with concentration of PM2.5 (rp = −0.85; p ≤ 0.00001). Exploratory linear and non-linear models showed an exponential decay relationship was the best fitting model (corrected Akaike’s information criterion, 193.0; Akaike’s weight, 0.766; adjusted R2, 0.780). Ultrastructural study demonstrated PM2.5 did not obstruct the respiratory system, but some fine particles were present on the antenna and abdominal body parts. Ovaries showed a dose–response relationship between PM2.5 level and vacuolated degeneration. In conclusion, the blood-feeding behavior of Ae. aegypti females may have an exponential decay relationship with PM2.5 level, and their ovaries may demonstrate dose-dependent degeneration. These findings may be important in understanding the vector’s biology and disease transmission in settings with high PM2.5 levels. These results are important to understand blood-feeding and feeding pattern of mosquitoes during PM2.5 pollution, which is important for disease transmission and vector control.
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10
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Azlan A, Halim MA, Mohamad F, Azzam G. Identification and characterization of long noncoding RNAs and their association with acquisition of blood meal in Culex quinquefasciatus. Insect Sci 2021; 28:917-928. [PMID: 32621332 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) is an important vector that transmit multiple diseases including West Nile encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and lymphatic filariasis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) involve in many biological processes such as development, infection, and virus-host interaction. However, there is no systematic identification and characterization of lncRNAs in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Here, we report the first lncRNA identification in Cx. quinquefasciatus. By using 31 public RNA-seq datasets, a total of 4763 novel lncRNA transcripts were identified, of which 3591, 569, and 603 were intergenic, intronic, and antisense respectively. Examination of genomic features revealed that Cx. quinquefasciatus shared similar characteristics with other species such as short in length, low GC content, low sequence conservation, and low coding potential. Furthermore, compared to protein-coding genes, Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs had lower expression values, and tended to be expressed in temporally specific fashion. In addition, weighted correlation network and functional annotation analyses showed that lncRNAs may have roles in blood meal acquisition of adult female Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. This study presents the first systematic identification and analysis of Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs and their association with blood feeding. Results generated from this study will facilitate future investigation on the function of Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azali Azlan
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | - Faisal Mohamad
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Ghows Azzam
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
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11
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Votypka J, Petrzelkova KJ, Brzonova J, Jirku M, Modry D, Lukes J. How monoxenous trypanosomatids revealed hidden feeding habits of their tsetse fly hosts. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2021; 68. [PMID: 34309583 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Tsetse flies are well-known vectors of trypanosomes pathogenic for humans and livestock. For these strictly blood-feeding viviparous flies, the host blood should be the only source of nutrients and liquids, as well as any exogenous microorganisms colonising their intestine. Here we describe the unexpected finding of several monoxenous trypanosomatids in their gut. In a total of 564 individually examined Glossina (Austenia) tabaniformis (Westwood) (436 specimens) and Glossina (Nemorhina) fuscipes fuscipes (Newstead) (128 specimens) captured in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic, 24 (4.3%) individuals were infected with monoxenous trypanosomatids belonging to the genera Crithidia Léger, 1902; Kentomonas Votýpka, Yurchenko, Kostygov et Lukeš, 2014; Novymonas Kostygov et Yurchenko, 2020; Obscuromonas Votýpka et Lukeš, 2021; and Wallacemonas Kostygov et Yurchenko, 2014. Moreover, additional 20 (3.5%) inspected tsetse flies harboured free-living bodonids affiliated with the genera Dimastigella Sandon, 1928; Neobodo Vickerman, 2004; Parabodo Skuja, 1939; and Rhynchomonas Klebs, 1892. In the context of the recently described feeding behaviour of these dipterans, we propose that they become infected while taking sugar meals and water, providing indirect evidence that blood is not their only source of food and liquids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Votypka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Klara J Petrzelkova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Studenec, Czech Republic.,Liberec Zoo, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Brzonova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Jirku
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - David Modry
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukes
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
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12
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Wang M, Wang J, Guo Y, Zheng Q, Nouhoum D, Meng F. Complete mitochondrial genome of a potential vector louse fly, Lipoptena grahami (Diptera, Hippoboscidae). Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2021; 6:1752-1753. [PMID: 34104761 PMCID: PMC8158204 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2021.1931508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Lipoptena grahami Bequaert, 1942 (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) was first described in China almost 80 years ago. Species of Lipoptena were obligate blooding-feeding insects and commonly reported as vectors of wild animals of Cervinae. The complete mitochondrial genome of L. grahami was assembled to 16,953 bp in length. The AT content of L. grahami mitogenome is 80.59%. In total, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) were annotated from L. grahami’s mitogenome. The typical clover-leaf structure of tRNAs was also analyzed and confirmed except the tRNA-Ser (AGN). A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on L. grahami with some other fly species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Wang
- Key Laboratory for Conserving Wildlife with Small Populations in Yunnan, Faculty of Biodiversity Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Jishan Wang
- China Forest Exploration & Design Institute in Kunming, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, China.,Southwest Monitoring Center of Protected Area and Wildlife, National Forestry Administration, Kunming, China.,Research center of Asian elephant, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Yingya Guo
- Damdo Forestry and Grassland Bureau, Changdu, China
| | | | - Dibo Nouhoum
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fanming Meng
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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13
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Yan J, Gangoso L, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Figuerola J, Martínez-de la Puente J. Understanding host utilization by mosquitoes: determinants, challenges and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1367-1385. [PMID: 33686781 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito host utilization is a key factor in the transmission of vector-borne pathogens given that it greatly influences host-vector contact rates. Blood-feeding patterns of mosquitoes are not random, as some mosquitoes feed on particular species and/or individuals more than expected by chance. Mosquitoes use a number of cues including visual, olfactory, acoustic, and thermal stimuli emitted by vertebrate hosts to locate and identify their blood meal sources. Thus, differences in the quality/intensity of the released cues may drive host selection by mosquitoes at both inter- and intra-specific levels. Such patterns of host selection by mosquitoes in space and time can be structured by factors related to mosquitoes (e.g. innate host preference, behavioural plasticity), to hosts (e.g. emission of host-seeking cues, host availability) or to both (e.g. pathogen infection). In this study, we review current evidence, from phenomena to mechanisms, of how these factors influence host utilization by mosquitoes. We also review the methodologies commonly used in this research field and identify the major challenges for future studies. To bridge the knowledge gaps, we propose improvements to strengthen traditional approaches and the use of a functional trait-based approach to infer mosquito host utilization in natural communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Yan
- Doñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research Council (EBD-CSIC), C/Americo Vespucio 26, Seville, 41092, Spain.,Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, 1816 S Oak St., Champaign, IL, 61821, U.S.A
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Doñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research Council (EBD-CSIC), C/Americo Vespucio 26, Seville, 41092, Spain.,Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 2, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Santiago Ruiz
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Service of Mosquito Control, Diputación Provincial de Huelva, Ctra. Hospital Infanta Elena s/n, Huelva, 21007, Spain
| | - Ramón Soriguer
- Doñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research Council (EBD-CSIC), C/Americo Vespucio 26, Seville, 41092, Spain.,CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Doñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research Council (EBD-CSIC), C/Americo Vespucio 26, Seville, 41092, Spain.,CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Doñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research Council (EBD-CSIC), C/Americo Vespucio 26, Seville, 41092, Spain.,CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada (UGR), Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Granada, 18.071, Spain
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14
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Talyuli OAC, Bottino-Rojas V, Polycarpo CR, Oliveira PL, Paiva-Silva GO. Non-immune Traits Triggered by Blood Intake Impact Vectorial Competence. Front Physiol 2021; 12:638033. [PMID: 33737885 PMCID: PMC7960658 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.638033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropods are considered an enormous public health threat. They are vectors of a plethora of infectious agents that cause potentially fatal diseases like Malaria, Dengue fever, Leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease. These vectors shine due to their own physiological idiosyncrasies, but one biological aspect brings them all together: the requirement of blood intake for development and reproduction. It is through blood-feeding that they acquire pathogens and during blood digestion that they summon a collection of multisystemic events critical for vector competence. The literature is focused on how classical immune pathways (Toll, IMD, and JAK/Stat) are elicited throughout the course of vector infection. Still, they are not the sole determinants of host permissiveness. The dramatic changes that are the hallmark of the insect physiology after a blood meal intake are the landscape where a successful infection takes place. Dominant processes that occur in response to a blood meal are not canonical immunological traits yet are critical in establishing vector competence. These include hormonal circuitries and reproductive physiology, midgut permeability barriers, midgut homeostasis, energy metabolism, and proteolytic activity. On the other hand, the parasites themselves have a role in the outcome of these blood triggered physiological events, consistently using them in their favor. Here, to enlighten the knowledge on vector-pathogen interaction beyond the immune pathways, we will explore different aspects of the vector physiology, discussing how they give support to these long-dated host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio A C Talyuli
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carla R Polycarpo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela O Paiva-Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Nakano T, Suzuki H, Suzuki N, Kimura Y, Sato T, Kamigaichi H, Tomita N, Yamasaki T. Host-parasite relationships between seabirds and the haemadipsid leech Chtonobdella palmyrae (Annelida: Clitellata) inhabiting oceanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Parasitology 2020; 147:1765-73. [PMID: 32943118 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182020001729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The duognathous haemadipsid leeches of the genus Chtonobdella show a trans-oceanic distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Although passive long-distance dispersal (LDD) of Chtonobdella leeches by birds has been suggested, little is known about the host-parasite relationships between avian hosts and Chtonobdella leeches. In the current study, we investigated Chtonobdella leech infestations of the eyes and other mucus membranes of migratory procellariiform seabirds, Pterodroma hypoleuca and Oceanodroma tristrami, captured at six locations in the Bonin Islands, Honshu and Okinawa Island, Japan. Analyses of the partial sequences of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and morphological examination of the specimens demonstrated that the Chtonobdella leeches belonged to Chtonobdella palmyrae, which is indigenous to Palmyra Atoll in the Northern Line Islands. A dominant COI sequence type was observed in samples from all six sites; therefore, C. palmyrae almost surely dispersed approximately 1000 km by infesting the eyes and mucus membranes of procellariiform seabirds. The host-parasite relationships between procellariiform seabirds and C. palmyrae provide explicit evidence of the LDD of duognathous haemadipsid leeches. The taxonomic status of Haemadipsa zeylanica ivosimae from the Volcano Islands is also briefly discussed.
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16
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Pereira-dos-Santos T, Roiz D, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R, Paupy C. A Systematic Review: Is Aedes albopictus an Efficient Bridge Vector for Zoonotic Arboviruses? Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9040266. [PMID: 32272651 PMCID: PMC7238240 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9040266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne arboviruses are increasing due to human disturbances of natural ecosystems and globalization of trade and travel. These anthropic changes may affect mosquito communities by modulating ecological traits that influence the “spill-over” dynamics of zoonotic pathogens, especially at the interface between natural and human environments. Particularly, the global invasion of Aedes albopictus is observed not only across urban and peri-urban settings, but also in newly invaded areas in natural settings. This could foster the interaction of Ae. albopictus with wildlife, including local reservoirs of enzootic arboviruses, with implications for the potential zoonotic transfer of pathogens. To evaluate the potential of Ae. albopictus as a bridge vector of arboviruses between wildlife and humans, we performed a bibliographic search and analysis focusing on three components: (1) The capacity of Ae. albopictus to exploit natural larval breeding sites, (2) the blood-feeding behaviour of Ae. albopictus, and (3) Ae. albopictus’ vector competence for arboviruses. Our analysis confirms the potential of Ae. albopictus as a bridge vector based on its colonization of natural breeding sites in newly invaded areas, its opportunistic feeding behaviour together with the preference for human blood, and the competence to transmit 14 arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taissa Pereira-dos-Santos
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 34090 Montpellier, France;
- Correspondence: (T.P.-d.-S.); (C.P.)
| | - David Roiz
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 34090 Montpellier, France;
| | | | - Christophe Paupy
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 34090 Montpellier, France;
- Correspondence: (T.P.-d.-S.); (C.P.)
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17
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Duvall LB, Ramos-Espiritu L, Barsoum KE, Glickman JF, Vosshall LB. Small-Molecule Agonists of Ae. aegypti Neuropeptide Y Receptor Block Mosquito Biting. Cell 2019; 176:687-701.e5. [PMID: 30735632 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes bite humans to obtain blood to develop their eggs. Remarkably, their strong attraction to humans is suppressed for days after the blood meal by an unknown mechanism. We investigated a role for neuropeptide Y (NPY)-related signaling in long-term behavioral suppression and discovered that drugs targeting human NPY receptors modulate mosquito host-seeking. In a screen of all 49 predicted Ae. aegypti peptide receptors, we identified NPY-like receptor 7 (NPYLR7) as the sole target of these drugs. To obtain small-molecule agonists selective for NPYLR7, we performed a high-throughput cell-based assay of 265,211 compounds and isolated six highly selective NPYLR7 agonists that inhibit mosquito attraction to humans. NPYLR7 CRISPR-Cas9 null mutants are defective in behavioral suppression and resistant to these drugs. Finally, we show that these drugs can inhibit biting and blood-feeding on a live host, suggesting a novel approach to control infectious disease transmission by controlling mosquito behavior. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Duvall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lavoisier Ramos-Espiritu
- High-Throughput Screening and Spectroscopy Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kyrollos E Barsoum
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - J Fraser Glickman
- High-Throughput Screening and Spectroscopy Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Leslie B Vosshall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA; Kavli Neural Systems Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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18
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Duvall LB. Mosquito Host-Seeking Regulation: Targets for Behavioral Control. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:704-714. [PMID: 31326312 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes require protein from blood to develop eggs. They have evolved a strong innate drive to find and bite humans and engorge on their blood. Decades of research have revealed that attraction to hosts is suppressed for days after blood-feeding. During this time, females coordinate complex physiological changes, allowing them to utilize blood protein to develop eggs: clearing excess fluid, digesting protein, and egg maturation. How do mechanosensation, nutrient consumption, and reproductive pathways combine to produce the full expression of host-seeking suppression? Understanding mechanisms of endogenous host-seeking suppression may allow them to be 'weaponized' against mosquitoes through exogenous activation and developed as tools for vector control. Recent work allows unprecedented genetic and pharmacological access to characterize and disrupt this behavioral cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Duvall
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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19
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Perner J, Gasser RB, Oliveira PL, Kopáček P. Haem Biology in Metazoan Parasites - 'The Bright Side of Haem'. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:213-25. [PMID: 30686614 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, host haem has been recognized as a cytotoxic molecule that parasites need to eliminate or detoxify in order to survive. However, recent evidence indicates that some lineages of parasites have lost genes that encode enzymes involved specifically in endogenous haem biosynthesis. Such lineages thus need to acquire and utilize haem originating from their host animal, making it an indispensable molecule for their survival and reproduction. In multicellular parasites, host haem needs to be systemically distributed throughout their bodies to meet the haem demands in all cell and tissue types. Host haem also gets deposited in parasite eggs, enabling embryogenesis and reproduction. Clearly, a better understanding of haem biology in multicellular parasites should elucidate organismal adaptations to obligatory blood-feeding.
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20
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Sharma A, Pooraiiouby R, Guzman B, Vu P, Gulia-Nuss M, Nuss AB. Dynamics of Insulin Signaling in the Black-Legged Tick, Ixodes scapularis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:292. [PMID: 31164865 PMCID: PMC6536706 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) have been identified in several invertebrates, particularly insects, and work on these ILPs has revealed many roles including regulation of energy homeostasis, growth, development, and lifespan to name a few. However, information on arthropod ILPs outside of insects is sparse. Studies of Ixodid tick ILPs are particularly scarce, despite their importance as vectors of infectious agents, most notably Lyme disease. The recent publication of the genome of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, has advanced opportunities to study this organism from a molecular standpoint, a resource sorely needed for an organism with challenging life history requirements for study in the laboratory, such as a long life cycle and obligate, prolonged, blood-feeding at each life stage. Through bioinformatics searches of the tick genome and other available I. scapularis databases, we identified four putative ILP sequences. Full-length sequences of these ILP transcripts were confirmed, and quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine expression levels of these ILPs in different life stages, feeding states, and adult tissues. This work serves as an initial characterization of ILP expression in ticks and provides the foundation for further exploration of the roles of ILPs in these important arthropod vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Rana Pooraiiouby
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Blanca Guzman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Preston Vu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Monika Gulia-Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrew B. Nuss
| | - Andrew B. Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- Monika Gulia-Nuss
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21
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Reinhold JM, Lazzari CR, Lahondère C. Effects of the Environmental Temperature on Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes: A Review. Insects 2018; 9:E158. [PMID: 30404142 DOI: 10.3390/insects9040158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The temperature of the environment is one of the most important abiotic factors affecting the life of insects. As poikilotherms, their body temperature is not constant, and they rely on various strategies to minimize the risk of thermal stress. They have been thus able to colonize a large spectrum of habitats. Mosquitoes, such as Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, vector many pathogens, including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. The spread of these diseases has become a major global health concern, and it is predicted that climate change will affect the mosquitoes’ distribution, which will allow these insects to bring new pathogens to naïve populations. We synthesize here the current knowledge on the impact of temperature on the mosquito flight activity and host-seeking behavior (1); ecology and dispersion (2); as well as its potential effect on the pathogens themselves and how climate can affect the transmission of some of these pathogens (3).
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22
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Abstract
In comparison to other arachnids, ticks are major vectors of disease, but less than 8% of the known species are capable of inducing paralysis, as compared to the ~99⁻100% arachnids that belong to venomous classes. When considering the potential monophyly of venomous Arachnida, this review reflects on the implications regarding the classification of ticks as venomous animals and the possible origin of toxins. The origin of tick toxins is compared with scorpion and spider toxins and venoms based on their significance, functionality, and structure in the search to find homologous venomous characters. Phenotypic evaluation of paralysis, as caused by different ticks, demonstrated the need for expansion on existing molecular data of pure isolated tick toxins because of differences and discrepancies in available data. The use of in-vivo, in-vitro, and in-silico assays for the purification and characterization of paralysis toxins were critically considered, in view of what may be considered to be a paralysis toxin. Purified toxins should exhibit physiologically relevant activity to distinguish them from other tick-derived proteins. A reductionist approach to identify defined tick proteins will remain as paramount in the search for defined anti-paralysis vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronel Pienaar
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council⁻Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa.
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa.
| | - Albert W H Neitz
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council⁻Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa.
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa.
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa.
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23
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Fukutani KF, Kasprzykowski JI, Paschoal AR, Gomes MDS, Barral A, de Oliveira CI, Ramos PIP, de Queiroz ATL. Meta-Analysis of Aedes aegypti Expression Datasets: Comparing Virus Infection and Blood-Fed Transcriptomes to Identify Markers of Virus Presence. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 5:84. [PMID: 29376049 PMCID: PMC5768613 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) is vector of several arboviruses including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and more recently zika. Previous transcriptomic studies have been performed to elucidate altered pathways in response to viral infection. However, the intrinsic coupling between alimentation and infection were unappreciated in these studies. Feeding is required for the initial mosquito contact with the virus and these events are highly dependent. Addressing this relationship, we reinterrogated datasets of virus-infected mosquitoes with two different diet schemes (fed and unfed mosquitoes), evaluating the metabolic cross-talk during both processes. We constructed coexpression networks with the differentially expressed genes of these comparison: virus-infected versus blood-fed mosquitoes and virus-infected versus unfed mosquitoes. Our analysis identified one module with 110 genes that correlated with infection status (representing ~0.7% of the A. aegypti genome). Furthermore, we performed a machine-learning approach and summarized the infection status using only four genes (AAEL012128, AAEL014210, AAEL002477, and AAEL005350). While three of the four genes were annotated as hypothetical proteins, AAEL012128 gene is a membrane amino acid transporter correlated with viral envelope binding. This gene alone is able to discriminate all infected samples and thus should have a key role to discriminate viral infection in the A. aegypti mosquito. Moreover, validation using external datasets found this gene as differentially expressed in four transcriptomic experiments. Therefore, these genes may serve as a proxy of viral infection in the mosquito and the others 106 identified genes provides a framework to future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José Irahe Kasprzykowski
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology in Health and Investigative Medicine, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Rossi Paschoal
- Federal University of Technology-Paraná, UTFPR, Campus Cornélio Procópio, Cornélio Procópio, Brazil
| | | | - Aldina Barral
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Camila I de Oliveira
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Artur Trancoso Lopo de Queiroz
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology in Health and Investigative Medicine, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program in Applied Computation, Universida de Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
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24
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Molaei G, Armstrong PM, Graham AC, Kramer LD, Andreadis TG. Insights into the recent emergence and expansion of eastern equine encephalitis virus in a new focus in the Northern New England USA. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:516. [PMID: 26453283 PMCID: PMC4600208 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1145-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV) causes a highly pathogenic zoonosis that circulates in an enzootic cycle involving the ornithophagic mosquito, Culiseta melanura, and wild passerine birds in freshwater hardwood swamps in the northeastern U.S. Epidemic/epizootic transmission to humans/equines typically occurs towards the end of the transmission season and is generally assumed to be mediated by locally abundant and contiguous mammalophagic "bridge vector" mosquitoes. METHODS Engorged mosquitoes were collected using CDC light, resting box, and gravid traps during epidemic transmission of EEEV in 2012 in Addison and Rutland counties, Vermont. Mosquitoes were identified to species and blood meal analysis performed by sequencing mitochondrial cytochrome b gene polymerase chain reaction products. Infection status with EEEV in mosquitoes was determined using cell culture and RT-PCR assays, and all viral isolates were sequenced and compared to other EEEV strains by phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS The host choices of 574 engorged mosquitoes were as follows: Cs. melanura (n = 331, 94.3 % avian-derived, 5.7 % mammalian-derived); Anopheles quadrimaculatus (n = 164, 3.0 % avian, 97.0 % mammalian); An. punctipennis (n = 56, 7.2 % avian, 92.8 % mammalian), Aedes vexans (n = 9, 22.2 % avian, 77.8 % mammalian); Culex pipiens s.l. n = 6, 100 % avian); Coquillettidia perturbans (n = 4, 25.0 % avian, 75.0 % mammalian); and Cs. morsitans (n = 4, 100 % avian). A seasonal shift in blood feeding by Cs. melanura from Green Heron towards other avian species was observed. EEEV was successfully isolated from blood-fed Cs. melanura and analyzed by phylogenetic analysis. Vermont strains from 2012 clustered with viral strains previously isolated in Virginia yet were genetically distinct from an earlier EEEV isolate from Vermont during 2011. CONCLUSIONS Culiseta melanura acquired blood meals primarily from birds and focused feeding activity on several competent species capable of supporting EEEV transmission. Culiseta melanura also occasionally obtained blood meals from mammalian hosts including humans. This mosquito species serves as the primary vector of EEEV among wild bird species, but also is capable of occasionally contributing to epidemic/epizootic transmission of EEEV to humans/equines. Other mosquito species including Cq. perturbans that feed more opportunistically on both avian and mammalian hosts may be important in epidemic/epizootic transmission under certain conditions. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that EEEV was independently introduced into Vermont on at least two separate occasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Philip M Armstrong
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Alan C Graham
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, 322 Industrial Lane, Barre, VT, 05641, USA.
| | - Laura D Kramer
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 5668 State Farm Rd, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA.
| | - Theodore G Andreadis
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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25
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McDowell MA. Vector-transmitted disease vaccines: targeting salivary proteins in transmission (SPIT). Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:363-72. [PMID: 26003330 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
More than half the population of the world is at risk for morbidity and mortality from vector-transmitted diseases, and emerging vector-transmitted infections are threatening new populations. Rising insecticide resistance and lack of efficacious vaccines highlight the need for novel control measures. One such approach is targeting the vector-host interface by incorporating vector salivary proteins in anti-pathogen vaccines. Debate remains about whether vector saliva exposure exacerbates or protects against more severe clinical manifestations, induces immunity through natural exposure or extends to all vector species and associated pathogens. Nevertheless, exploiting this unique biology holds promise as a viable strategy for the development of vaccines against vector-transmitted diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann McDowell
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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26
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Plotkin D, Goddard J. Blood, sweat, and tears: a review of the hematophagous, sudophagous, and lachryphagous Lepidoptera. J Vector Ecol 2013; 38:289-294. [PMID: 24581357 DOI: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2013.12042.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Although adult Lepidoptera are not often considered medically relevant, some butterflies and moths are notorious for their consumption of mammalian body fluids. These Lepidoptera can be blood-feeding (hematophagous), tear-feeding (lachryphagous), or sweat-feeding (we use the term "sudophagous"). Blood-feeding Lepidoptera have been observed piercing the skin of their hosts during feeding, while tear-feeding Lepidoptera have been observed frequenting the eyes of hosts in order to directly obtain lachrymal fluid. These behaviors have negative human health implications and some potential for disease transmission. In this study, articles concerning feeding behavior of blood, sweat, and tear-feeding Lepidoptera were reviewed, with emphasis on correlations between morphological characters and feeding behaviors. Harmful effects and vector potential of these Lepidoptera are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Plotkin
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
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27
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Abstract
Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small, water-soluble molecules that are thought to transport the hydrophobic odorants to their receptors in the chemosensory neurones. Here we report the identification and molecular characterization of the Anopheles stephensi odorant-binding protein 1 gene (AsteObp1), an Obp1 gene in An. stephensi, a major malaria vector in Asia. We show that AsteObp1 and Anopheles gambiae Obp1 (AgamObp1) are orthologues. These two genes share similar coding sequences and conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) that may be involved in their regulation. Transcript of AsteObp1 was observed in larvae and reached a relatively high level in late pupae. Quantitative real-time PCR on female adult chemosensory tissues showed approximately 900-fold higher expression of AsteObp1 in antennae than in maxillary palp and proboscis. The amount of AsteObp1 in female legs was approximately 15-fold lower than that of maxillary palp and proboscis. The level of AsteObp1 transcript was seven and 85-fold higher in females than in males in the antennae, and maxillary palp and proboscis, respectively. Moreover, the AsteObp1 level was reduced by approximately 20-fold in maxillary palp and proboscis 24 h after a bloodmeal. Our results indicate that AsteObp1 is likely to function in the female olfactory response and may also be involved in blood-feeding behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Sengul
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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28
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Mans BJ, Andersen JF, Schwan TG, Ribeiro JMC. Characterization of anti-hemostatic factors in the argasid, Argas monolakensis: implications for the evolution of blood-feeding in the soft tick family. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2008; 38:22-41. [PMID: 18070663 PMCID: PMC4274796 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2007] [Revised: 09/11/2007] [Accepted: 09/18/2007] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
To date, the only anti-hemostatic factors characterized for softs ticks are for Ornithodoros moubata and Ornithodoros savignyi, ticks that feeds mainly on mammals. This includes thrombin (ornithodorin and savignin), fXa (TAP and fXaI) and platelet aggregation (disagegin and savignygrin) inhibitors that belong to the BPTI-Kunitz protein family. This raises the question on how well anti-hemostatic factors will be conserved in other soft tick genera that feeds on other vertebrates such as birds. We characterized the anti-hemostatic factors from Argas monolakensis, a soft tick that feeds mainly on Californian gulls. The main anti-clotting factor (monobin) is an ortholog of ornithodorin and savignin and shows similar slow tight-binding kinetics. The main anti-platelet activities are apyrase and fibrinogen receptor antagonists (monogrins). The monogrins are orthologs of disagregin and savignygrin and like savignygrin presents the RGD integrin-recognition motif on the BPTI substrate-binding presenting loop. This implies that the anti-hemostatic factors evolved in the ancestral soft tick lineage and has been maintained in soft tick species from two distinct genera with different host preferences. The Argas derived anti-hemostatic factors bind to mammalian targets with affinities similar to that observed for their orthologs in the Ornithodoros genus. This cross-reactivity could have facilitated the switching of soft ticks from avian to mammalian hosts and can explain in part the ability of Argas ticks, to feed on humans, thereby remaining a possible health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Mans
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
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29
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Mans BJ, Andersen JF, Francischetti IM, Valenzuela JG, Schwan TG, Pham VM, Garfield MK, Hammer CH, Ribeiro JM. Comparative sialomics between hard and soft ticks: implications for the evolution of blood-feeding behavior. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2008; 38:42-58. [PMID: 18070664 PMCID: PMC2211429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2007] [Revised: 09/07/2007] [Accepted: 09/18/2007] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Ticks evolved various mechanisms to modulate their host's hemostatic and immune defenses. Differences in the anti-hemostatic repertoires suggest that hard and soft ticks evolved anti-hemostatic mechanisms independently, but raise questions on the conservation of salivary gland proteins in the ancestral tick lineage. To address this issue, the sialome (salivary gland secretory proteome) from the soft tick, Argas monolakensis, was determined by proteomic analysis and cDNA library construction of salivary glands from fed and unfed adult female ticks. The sialome is composed of approximately 130 secretory proteins of which the most abundant protein folds are the lipocalin, BTSP, BPTI and metalloprotease families which also comprise the most abundant proteins found in the salivary glands. Comparative analysis indicates that the major protein families are conserved in hard and soft ticks. Phylogenetic analysis shows, however, that most gene duplications are lineage specific, indicating that the protein families analyzed possibly evolved most of their functions after divergence of the two major tick families. In conclusion, the ancestral tick may have possessed a simple (few members for each family), but diverse (many different protein families) salivary gland protein domain repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Mans
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - John F. Andersen
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Ivo M.B. Francischetti
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Jesus G. Valenzuela
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Tom G. Schwan
- Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Van M. Pham
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Mark K. Garfield
- Research Technology Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Carl H. Hammer
- Research Technology Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - José M.C. Ribeiro
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
- *Corresponding author. Tel.: +1301 496 9389; fax: 1+301 480 2571. E-mail address: (J.M.C. Ribeiro)
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30
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Francischetti IMB, My Pham V, Mans BJ, Andersen JF, Mather TN, Lane RS, Ribeiro JMC. The transcriptome of the salivary glands of the female western black-legged tick Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae). Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2005; 35:1142-61. [PMID: 16102420 PMCID: PMC2887698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2005.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2005] [Revised: 05/19/2005] [Accepted: 05/20/2005] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Sequencing of an Ixodes pacificus salivary gland cDNA library yielded 1068 sequences with an average undetermined nucleotide of 1.9% and an average length of 487 base pairs. Assembly of the expressed sequence tags yielded 557 contigs, 138 of which appear to code for secreted peptides or proteins based on translation of a putative signal peptide. Based on the BLASTX similarity of these contigs to 66 matches of Ixodes scapularis peptide sequences, only 58% sequence identity was found, indicating a rapid divergence of salivary proteins as observed previously for mosquito and triatomine bug salivary proteins. Here we report 106 mostly full-length sequences that clustered in 16 different families: Basic-tail proteins rich in lysine in the carboxy-terminal, Kunitz-containing proteins (monolaris, ixolaris and penthalaris families), proline-rich peptides, 5-, 9.4- and 18.7-kDa proteins of unknown functions, in addition to metalloproteases (class PIII-like) similar to reprolysins. We also have found a family of disintegrins, named ixodegrins that display homology to variabilin, a GPIIb/IIIa antagonist from the tick Dermacentor variabilis. In addition, we describe peptides (here named ixostatins) that display remarkable similarities to the cysteine-rich domain of ADAMST-4 (aggrecanase). Many molecules were assigned in the lipocalin family (histamine-binding proteins); others appear to be involved in oxidant metabolism, and still others were similar to ixodid proteins such as the anticomplement ISAC. We also identified for the first time a neuropeptide-like protein (nlp-31) with GGY repeats that may have antimicrobial activity. In addition, 16 novel proteins without significant similarities to other tick proteins and 37 housekeeping proteins that may be useful for phylogenetic studies are described. Some of these proteins may be useful for studying vascular biology or the immune system, for vaccine development, or as immunoreagents to detect prior exposure to ticks. Electronic version of the manuscript can be found at.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo M B Francischetti
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892-8132, USA.
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