Multiple blood feeding bouts in mosquitoes allow for prolonged survival and are predicted to increase viral transmission during dry periods

iScience, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 28(2), С. 111760 - 111760

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2025

Dry conditions increase blood feeding in mosquitoes, but it is unknown if dehydration-induced bloodmeals are increased beyond what necessary for reproduction. In this study, we investigated the role of dehydration secondary behaviors mosquitoes. Following an initial bloodmeal, prolonged exposure to dry mosquitoes by nearly two-fold, and chronic allowed survive up 20 days without access water. Exposure desiccating following a bloodmeal resulted activity, decreased sleep levels, prompted return CO2 sensing before egg deposition. Increased higher survival during periods predicted pathogen transmission, allowing rapid rebound mosquito populations when favorable return. Overall, these results solidify our understanding how impact that contributes transmission dynamics.

Язык: Английский

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Mosquito Cell Atlas: A single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of the adultAedes aegyptimosquito

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 25, 2025

The female mosquito's remarkable ability to hunt humans and transmit pathogens relies on her unique biology. Here, we present the Mosquito Cell Atlas (MCA), a comprehensive single-nucleus RNA sequencing dataset of more than 367,000 nuclei from 19 dissected tissues adult male Aedes aegypti , providing cellular-level resolution mosquito We identify novel cell types expand our understanding sensory neuron organization chemoreceptors all tissues. Our analysis uncovers male-specific cells sexually dimorphic gene expression in antenna brain. In mosquitoes, find that glial brain, rather neurons, undergo most extensive transcriptional changes following blood feeding. findings provide insights into cellular basis behavior sexual dimorphism. MCA aims serve as resource for vector biology community, enabling systematic investigation cell-type specific across

Язык: Английский

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Strong Positive Selection inAedes aegyptiand the Rapid Evolution of Insecticide Resistance

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 40(4)

Опубликована: Март 23, 2023

Aedes aegypti vectors the pathogens that cause dengue, yellow fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya is a serious threat to public health in tropical regions. Decades of work has illuminated many aspects Ae. aegypti's biology global population structure identified insecticide resistance genes; however, size repetitive nature genome have limited our ability detect positive selection this mosquito. Combining new whole sequences from Colombia with publicly available data Africa Americas, we identify multiple strong candidate selective sweeps aegypti, which overlap genes linked or implicated resistance. We examine voltage-gated sodium channel gene three American cohorts find evidence for successive Colombia. The most recent sweep encompasses an intermediate-frequency haplotype containing four mutations are near-perfect linkage disequilibrium one another Colombian sample. hypothesize may continue rapidly increase frequency perhaps spread geographically coming years. These results extend knowledge how evolved species add growing body suggesting extensive genomic capacity adapt insecticide-based vector control.

Язык: Английский

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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 sex under lock and key

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 16, 2025

Abstract Female mosquitoes typically mate once in a lifetime 1–3 , making this singular mating decision critically important for the female. Yet, mosquito has been historically viewed as male-guided, with female exerting little control 4–6 . To understand contradiction, we investigated initiation of successful mosquitoes. Here show that females two invasive species, yellow fever ( Aedes aegypti ) and Asian tiger albopictus ), actively gate through previously undescribed behavior genital tip elongation. This response is triggered by rapidly-evolving secondary male structure together act “lock-and-key” mechanism. We identified differences interactions species males, which have larger structures, can bypass but not their own species. Coupled previous observations are effectively sterilized such cross-species 7–9 ability to “pick lock” heterospecific provides potential mechanism observed local extinction when they live shared territory 10,11 Our results redefine female-controlled process, implications evolution reproductive barriers population dynamics these globally

Язык: Английский

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miRNA-GABA influences female Aedes aegypti reproduction by modulating midgut homeostasis

Cell Reports, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 44(6), С. 115776 - 115776

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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The Origin and Evolution of Sex Peptide and Sex Peptide Receptor Interactions

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 41(4)

Опубликована: Март 22, 2024

Post-mating responses play a vital role in successful reproduction across diverse species. In fruit flies, sex peptide binds to the receptor, triggering series of post-mating responses. However, origin receptor predates emergence peptide. The evolutionary origins interactions between and mechanisms by which they interact remain enigmatic. this study, we used ancestral sequence reconstruction, AlphaFold2 predictions, molecular dynamics simulations study peptide-sex their origination. Using long-time simulations, predicted structure interactions. We show that potentially states Diptera receptor. Notably, found only few amino acid changes are sufficient for formation Ancestral reconstruction further reveal interacts with through residues mostly involved interaction interface an ligand, myoinhibitory peptides. propose potential mechanism whereby arise from preexisting peptides-sex as well early chance events both inside outside created novel peptide-specific Our findings provide new insights into evolution relationship

Язык: Английский

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Multiple blood feeding bouts in mosquitoes allow for prolonged survival and are predicted to increase viral transmission during drought

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

Опубликована: Июнь 2, 2024

Abstract Survival through periods of drought is critical for mosquitoes to reside in semi-arid regions with humans. Dry conditions increase blood feeding propensity mosquitoes, but it unknown if dehydration-induced bloodmeals beyond what necessary reproduction. Following a bloodmeal, prolonged exposure dry increased secondary by nearly two-fold, and chronic allowed survive up twenty days without access water sources. This refeeding did not alter the number eggs generated, suggesting this hydration nutrient replenishment. Exposure desiccating following bloodmeal resulted activity, decreased sleep levels, prompted return CO 2 sensing before egg deposition. Increased during vitellogenic stage higher survival are predicted pathogen transmission, allowing rapid rebound mosquito populations when more favorable return. explains elevated levels specific arbovirus cases association periodic warrants further consideration as climate change progresses. Overall, these results solidify our understanding role on how dehydration contributes vectorial capacity disease transmission dynamics Significance statement Bouts yield substantial changes insects’ physiology behavior. Mosquitoes exceptionally prone due high loss rates, few integrative studies have examined comprehensive impact mosquitoes. Here, we demonstrate that lead multiple events, periods. repeated associated activity an early attraction vertebrate hosts. season frequent mosquito-borne viruses. suggests prevalence will varying impacts diseases.

Язык: Английский

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Hybridization between Aedes aegypti and Aedes mascarensis mosquitoes leads to disruption of male sex determination

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(1)

Опубликована: Июль 22, 2024

Abstract Understanding the sex determination pathway and its disruptions in mosquitoes is critical for effective control of disease vectors through genetic manipulations based on separation. When male hybrids Aedes aegypti females Ae. mascarensis males are backcrossed to females, a portion backcross progeny manifests as with abnormal sexual differentiation. We discovered significant correlation between pupal abnormalities feminization subsequent adults exemplified by relative abundance ovarian testicular tissues. All intersex individuals were they expressed determining factor, Nix . Further, our analysis sex-specific splicing doublesex fruitless transcripts demonstrated presence both female splice variants indicating that disrupted. A comparative transcriptomic revealed similar expression levels most female-associated genes reproductive organs carcasses intersexual normal females. Moreover, intersexes had largely gene testes but downregulation accessory glands when compared males. conclude evolving hybrid incompatibilities involve disruption accompanied changes associated

Язык: Английский

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Advances in CRISPR/Cas9-Based Gene Editing Technology in Mosquitoes

Zoonoses, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 4(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

As global warming increases, mosquito activity areas are expanding, alongside changes in the natural environment and misuse of insecticides, thus further increasing resistance exposing world to an elevated risk mosquito-borne diseases. With advancements gene editing technology, researchers continually attempting modify various genes validate their functional roles with CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Here, we review recent applications CRISPR-Cas9-based technology disease prevention control, as well population suppression, phenotyping, resistance. We discuss development new techniques, such ReMOT Control DIPA-CRISPR, which differ from conventional embryo microinjection should be expanded future insect research.

Язык: Английский

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