Two novel, tightly linked, and rapidly evolving genes underlie Aedes aegypti mosquito reproductive resilience during drought

eLife, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 12

Опубликована: Фев. 6, 2023

Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes impose a severe global public health burden as vectors of multiple viral pathogens. Under optimal environmental conditions, females have access to human hosts that provide blood proteins for egg development, conspecific males sperm fertilization, and freshwater serves an egg-laying substrate suitable offspring survival. As temperatures rise, are faced with climate challenges like intense droughts intermittent precipitation, which create unpredictable, suboptimal conditions egg-laying. Here, we show under drought-like simulated in the laboratory, retain mature eggs their ovaries extended periods, while maintaining viability these until they can be laid freshwater. Using transcriptomic proteomic profiling ovaries, identify two previously uncharacterized genes named tweedledee tweedledum, each encoding small, secreted protein both ovary-enriched, temporally-restricted expression during retention. These mosquito-specific, linked within syntenic locus, rapidly evolving positive selection, raising possibility serve adaptive function. CRISPR-Cas9 deletion tweedledum demonstrates specifically required retention viable eggs. results highlight elegant example taxon-restricted at heart important adaptation equips ‘insurance’ flexibly extend reproductive schedule without losing capacity, thus allowing this species exploit unpredictable habitats changing world.

Язык: Английский

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Mosquito taste responses to human and floral cues guide biting and feeding

Nature, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 635(8039), С. 639 - 646

Опубликована: Окт. 16, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Automated analysis of feeding behaviors of females of the mosquito Aedes aegypti using a modified flyPAD system

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(1)

Опубликована: Ноя. 18, 2023

Mosquitoes present a global health challenge due to their ability transmit human and animal pathogens upon biting blood feeding. The investigation of tastants detected by mosquitoes associated feeding behaviors is needed answer physiological ecological questions that could lead novel control methods. A high-throughput system originally developed for research in fruit flies behavior, the flyPAD, was adapted tested with interaction or consumption liquid diets offered females mosquito Aedes aegypti Liverpool strain. Females were given water, sucrose solution sheep choice non-choice assays. volume ingested evaluated fluorescein. placement on heated surface allowed consumption, without puncturing membrane. flyPAD recorded nine behavioral variables, which number sips activity bouts correlated meal both blood. adaptation differentiated behavior variables between two deterrents, capsaicin, caffeine. has potential quickly assess diverse may contribute characterizing more precisely mode action.

Язык: Английский

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Three-dimensional body reconstruction enables quantification of liquid consumption in small invertebrates

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Июнь 14, 2024

Abstract Quantifying feeding patterns provides valuable insights into animal behaviour. However, small invertebrates often consume incredibly amounts of food. This renders traditional methods, such as weighing individuals before and after food acquisition, either inaccurate or prohibitively expensive. Here, we present a non-invasive method to quantify consumption whose body expands during feeding. Using the markerless pose estimation software DeepLabCut, three-dimensionally track Argentine ants, Linepithema humile . these extracted markers, developed an algorithm which computationally reconstructs ant’s body, directly measuring volumetric change over time. Moreover, provide measures accuracy response range sucrose concentrations, well gradient caffeine-laced solutions. Small are prolific invasive species disease vectors, causing significant ecological economical damage. Understanding their behaviour could be important step towards effective control strategies.

Язык: Английский

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Differential sensitivity and specificity of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae to adenine nucleotide phagostimulants—an all-or-none response?

Parasites & Vectors, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 17(1)

Опубликована: Ноя. 4, 2024

Abstract Background The decision to imbibe a blood meal is predominantly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of haematophagous arthropods blood-derived adenine nucleotides, in particular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Despite previous efforts identify characterise ATP other as well role phagostimulants across Culicidae, comparisons species remain difficult. Methods feeding response yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae nucleotides presence carbonate buffer was assessed using membrane assay. proportion mosquitoes engorged volume imbibed by all scored visually spectrophotometrically. In addition, prediuresing An. , prediuresed, examined. Results more sensitive than but both maintained these phagostimulants, demonstrating dose-dependent bimodal pattern, thereby expanding our understanding all-or-none blood-feeding hypothesis. Feeding bicarbonate —but not that Ae. —demonstrated species-specific variation how are encoded. Adenine with without bovine serum albumin, were observed dose-dependently regulate volumes prediuresed engorged. Conclusions Taken together, results this study expand differentially assess respond constituents, provide basis for further physiological molecular studies. Graphical

Язык: Английский

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Heat Shock Causes Lower Plasmodium Infection Rates in Anopheles albimanus

Frontiers in Immunology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 12

Опубликована: Июнь 24, 2021

The immune response of Anopheles mosquitoes to Plasmodium invasion has been extensively studied and shown be mediated mainly by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS), dual oxidase (DUOX), phenoloxidase (PO), antimicrobial peptides activity. Here, we correlation between a heat shock insult, transcription genes, subsequent susceptibility berghei infection in albimanus . We found that transcript levels many genes were drastically affected thermal stress, either positively or negatively. Furthermore, associated with modifications nucleic acid methylation was affected, suggesting an increment both DNA RNA methylation. increased PO NOS activity hemolymph, as well several genes. As consequence, observed resistance invasion. data provided here could help understanding transmission under ever more common waves.

Язык: Английский

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Artificial Membrane Feeding Mosquitoes in the Laboratory with Glytube

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 2023(3), С. pdb.prot108013 - pdb.prot108013

Опубликована: Окт. 12, 2022

Artificial membrane feeders are devices that replace vertebrate hosts when blood feeding mosquitoes. Created using readily available materials found in mosquito laboratories, Glytube is one of the simplest artificial scientists can use to provide a meal female mosquitoes laboratory. was optimized for main epidemiologically important species, such as Aedes aegypti , albopictus Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles aquasalis . Although be used without modifications feed females, some researchers have modified device improve its assembly adapt it different assays do not involve basic meal, broadening utility. Here, I describe how transform 50-mL conical centrifuge tube into convenient, versatile, cost-effective feeder.

Язык: Английский

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Optimisation of adult Anopheles funestus blood-feeding on an artificial membrane feeding system

African Entomology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 31

Опубликована: Окт. 27, 2023

Malaria is one of the most severe vector-borne diseases caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted Anopheles mosquitoes. Laboratory-reared anophelines are essential to advance research needed reduce or eliminate malaria. The success laboratory rearing as well studies on parasite-mosquito transmission, advanced using an artificial membrane feeding systems. These require optimisation mosquito ensure that optimal number mosquitoes feed, thereby enabling successful reproduction sample sizes. In this study, various parameters such type membrane, density adults in cup, age mosquito, duration starvation, method volume blood meal, feeding, light dark effect lactic acid were evaluated determine their impact rate a main African malaria vector, funestus. By optimising parameters, increase An. funestus was observed. results obtained from these increased above 50%. However, rates not significantly density, addition cattle intestine membrane. Therefore, study provides information suitable conditions for adult allows colony maintenance. Furthermore, it additional dependent blood-feeding, transmission blocking studies, endectocide etc.

Язык: Английский

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Rapidly evolving genes underlie Aedes aegypti mosquito reproductive resilience during drought

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2022, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 2, 2022

SUMMARY Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes impose a severe global public health burden as vectors of multiple viral pathogens. Under optimal environmental conditions, females have access to human hosts that provide blood proteins for egg development, conspecific males sperm fertilization, and freshwater serves an egg-laying substrate suitable offspring survival. As temperatures rise, are faced with climate challenges like intense droughts intermittent precipitation, which create unpredictable, suboptimal conditions egg-laying. Here we show under drought-like simulated in the laboratory, retain mature eggs their ovaries extended periods, while maintaining viability these until they can be laid freshwater. Using transcriptomic proteomic profiling ovaries, identify two previously uncharacterized genes named tweedledee tweedledum , each encoding small, secreted protein both ovary-enriched, temporally-restricted expression during retention. These mosquito-specific, linked within syntenic locus, rapidly evolving positive selection, raising possibility serve adaptive function. CRISPR-Cas9 deletion demonstrates specifically required retention viable eggs. results highlight elegant example taxon-restricted at heart important adaptation equips “insurance” flexibly extend reproductive schedule without losing capacity, thus allowing this species exploit unpredictable habitats changing world.

Язык: Английский

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A blood digestion scoring method for poultry red mites, Dermanyssus gallinae

Parasitology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 149(12), С. 1623 - 1630

Опубликована: Авг. 22, 2022

Abstract The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae , is one of the most detrimental ectoparasite on farms worldwide. blood fed birds provides mites with nutrition and energy for their activities, development reproduction. In evaluation efficacy novel drugs or vaccines against PRMs, effects digestion are generally used as a key parameter. haematophagous arthropods (including D. ) usually assessed by weighing; however, this method shows some limitations. main objective present study was to develop scoring that can quickly visually evaluate status PRMs. A 0–4 point criterion established describe based changes in appearance intestinal tract PRMs during process. There good consistency between results obtained weighing, indicating reliability new method. from volunteers were consistent researchers low coefficient variation, has practicability. applicability confirmed an study, where it found doramectin could significantly inhibit lowering score.

Язык: Английский

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