Characterization of the reproductive tract bacterial microbiota of virgin, mated, and blood-fed Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus females

Abstract Background Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are vectors of numerous arboviruses that adversely affect human health. In mosquito vectors of disease, the bacterial microbiota influence several physiological processes, including fertility and vector competence, making manipulation of the bacterial community a promising method to control mosquito vectors. In this study, we describe the reproductive tract tissue microbiota of lab-reared virgin Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus males, and virgin, mated, and mated + blood-fed females of each species, comparing the bacterial composition found there to the well-described gut microbiota. Methods We performed metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA isolated from the gut, upper reproductive tract (URT; testes or ovaries), and lower reproductive tract (LRT; males: seminal vesicles and accessory glands; females: oviduct, spermathecae, and bursa) for each species, and evaluated the influence of host species, tissue, nutritional status, and reproductive status on microbiota composition. Finally, based on the identified taxonomic profiles of the tissues assessed, bacterial metabolic pathway abundance was predicted. Results The community structure of the reproductive tract is unique compared to the gut. Asaia is the most prevalent OTU in the LRTs of both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In the URT, we observed differences between species, with Wolbachia OTUs being dominant in the Ae. albopictus URT, while Enterobacter and Serratia were dominant in Ae. aegypti URT. Host species and tissue were the best predictors of the community composition compared to reproductive status (i.e., virgin or mated) and nutritional status (i.e., sugar or blood-fed). The predicted functional profile shows changes in the abundance of specific microbial pathways that are associated with mating and blood-feeding, like energy production in mated tissues and siderophore synthesis in blood-fed female tissues. Conclusions Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus have distinct differences in the composition of microbiota found in the reproductive tract. The distribution of the bacterial taxonomic groups indicates that some bacteria have tissue-specific tropism for reproductive tract tissue, such as Asaia and Wolbachia. No significant differences in the taxonomic composition were observed in the reproductive tract between virgin, mated, and mated + blood-fed females, but changes in the abundance of specific metabolic pathways were found in the predicted microbial functional profiles in mated and blood-fed females. Graphical Abstract

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Zika mosquito vectors: the jury is still out

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.9839.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 2546 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Walter S. Leal

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Yellow Fever ◽

Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Field Data ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Sexual Transmission ◽

Mosquito Vectors ◽

Yellow Fever Mosquito ◽

The Common

After a 40-year hiatus, the International Congress of Entomology (ICE 2016) convened in Orlando, Florida (September 25-30, 2016). One of the symposia at ICE 2016, the Zika Symposium, covered multiple aspects of the Zika epidemic, including epidemiology, sexual transmission, genetic tools for reducing transmission, and particularly vector competence. While there was a consensus among participants that the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is a vector of the Zika virus, there is growing evidence indicating that the range of mosquito vectors might be wider than anticipated. In particular, three independent groups from Canada, China, and Brazil presented and discussed laboratory and field data strongly suggesting that the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, also known as the common mosquito, is highly likely to be a vector in certain environments.

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Human blood microRNA hsa-miR-21-5p induces vitellogenin in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-02385-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hugo D. Perdomo ◽

Mazhar Hussain ◽

Rhys Parry ◽

Kayvan Etebari ◽

Lauren M. Hedges ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Human Blood ◽

Egg Production ◽

Fat Body ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Mosquito Vectors ◽

Progeny Production ◽

Proteomics Analysis ◽

Gene Coding ◽

Reproductive Events

AbstractMosquito vectors transmit various diseases through blood feeding, required for their egg development. Hence, blood feeding is a major physiological event in their life cycle, during which hundreds of genes are tightly regulated. Blood is a rich source of proteins for mosquitoes, but also contains many other molecules including microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we found that human blood miRNAs are transported abundantly into the fat body tissue of Aedes aegypti, a key metabolic center in post-blood feeding reproductive events, where they target and regulate mosquito genes. Using an artificial diet spiked with the mimic of an abundant and stable human blood miRNA, hsa-miR-21-5p, and proteomics analysis, we found over 40 proteins showing differential expression in female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes after feeding. Of interest, we found that the miRNA positively regulates the vitellogenin gene, coding for a yolk protein produced in the mosquito fat body and then transported to the ovaries as a protein source for egg production. Inhibition of hsa-miR-21-5p followed by human blood feeding led to a statistically insignificant reduction in progeny production. The results provide another example of the involvement of small regulatory molecules in the interaction of taxonomically vastly different taxa.

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Acceptability of Aedes aegypti blood feeding on dengue virus-infected human volunteers for vector competence studies in Iquitos, Peru

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0007090 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. e0007090 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Amy C. Morrison ◽

Julia Schwarz ◽

Kanya C. Long ◽

Jhonny Cordova ◽

Jennifer E. Rios ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Dengue Virus ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Human Volunteers

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Insect-specific viruses regulate vector competence in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes via expression of histone H4

10.1101/2021.06.05.447047 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Roenick P. Olmo ◽

Yaovi Mathias H. Todjro ◽

Eric R. G. R. Aguiar ◽

Joao Paulo P. de Almeida ◽

Juliana N. Armache ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Molecular Basis ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽

Host Factor ◽

Mosquito Vectors ◽

Histone H4 ◽

African Cities ◽

Aedes Mosquitoes

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are major mosquito vectors for arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. Mosquitoes also carry insect-specific viruses (ISVs) that may affect the transmission of arboviruses. Here, we analyzed the global virome in urban Aedes mosquitoes and observed that two insect-specific viruses, Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) and Humaita Tubiacanga virus (HTV), were the most prevalent in A. aegypti worldwide except for African cities, where transmission of arboviruses is low. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed that presence of HTV and PCLV led to a 200% increase in the chances of having DENV in wild mosquitoes. In the laboratory, we showed that HTV and PCLV prevented downregulation of histone H4, a previously unrecognized proviral host factor, and rendered mosquitoes more susceptible to DENV and ZIKV. Altogether, our data reveals a molecular basis for the regulation of A. aegypti vector competence by highly prevalent ISVs that may impact how we analyze the risk of arbovirus outbreaks.

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Zika mosquito vectors: the jury is still out

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.9839.2 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 2546 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Walter S. Leal

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Yellow Fever ◽

Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Field Data ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Sexual Transmission ◽

Mosquito Vectors ◽

Yellow Fever Mosquito ◽

The Common

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Blood meal source and mixed blood-feeding influence gut bacterial community composition in Aedes aegypti

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04579-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ephantus J. Muturi ◽

Teresia M. Njoroge ◽

Christopher Dunlap ◽

Carla E. Cáceres

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Blood Meal ◽

Host Species ◽

Bacterial Community Composition ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Mixed Blood ◽

Blood Meals

Abstract Background The guts of blood-sucking insects host a community of bacteria that can shift dramatically in response to biotic and abiotic factors. Identifying the key factors structuring these microbial communities has important ecological and epidemiological implications. Methods We used the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, to investigate the impact of mixed blood meals on gut microbiota of vector mosquitoes. Adult females were experimentally fed on sugar or blood from chicken, rabbit or a mixture of chicken and rabbit blood, and their gut microbiota were characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplification and MiSeq sequencing. Results The gut bacterial communities of mosquitoes fed on the three blood meal treatments clustered separately, suggesting that host species identity and mixed blood-feeding are key determinants of gut bacterial community composition in mosquitoes. Mixed blood meal had a synergistic effect on both operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and the Shannon diversity index, suggesting that mixed blood-feeding can offset the nutritional deficit of blood meals from certain host species. The microbial communities observed in this study were distinct from those identified from similarly fed Ae. aegypti from our previous study. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that vector host-feeding preferences can influence gut microbial composition and diversity, which could potentially impact pathogen acquisition and transmission by the vector. The results also demonstrate that different microenvironmental conditions within the laboratory may play an important role in structuring the microbial communities of independently reared mosquito colonies.

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Vector competence of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus from the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico for Zika virus

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-53117-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Darwin Elizondo-Quiroga ◽

Miriam Ramírez-Medina ◽

Abel Gutiérrez-Ortega ◽

Armando Elizondo-Quiroga ◽

José Esteban Muñoz-Medina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Virus Transmission ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Virus Spread ◽

Zikv Infection ◽

Almost All

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen discovered in the late 40’s in Uganda during a surveillance program for yellow fever. By 2014 the virus reached Eastern Island in the Americas, and two years later, the virus spread to almost all countries and territories of the Americas. The mosquito Aedes aegypti has been identified as the main vector of the disease, and several researchers have also studied the vector competence of Culex quinquefasciatus in virus transmission. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the vector competence of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus in order to understand their roles in the transmission of ZIKV in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. In blood feeding laboratry experiments, we found that Ae. aegypti mosquitoes showed to be a competent vector able to transmit ZIKV in this area. On the other hand, we found that F0 Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes are refractory to ZIKV infection, dissemination and transmission.

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Increased temperatures reduce the vectorial capacity of Aedes mosquitoes for Zika virus

10.1101/702431 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Onyango Maria Gorreti ◽

Bialosuknia Sean ◽

Payne Ann ◽

Mathias Nicholas ◽

Kuo Lilli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Transmission Efficiency ◽

Vectorial Capacity ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Chi Square ◽

Transmission Potential

AbstractRapid and significant range expansion of both ZIKV and its Aedes host species has resulted in ZIKV being declared a global health threat. Mean temperatures are projected to increase globally, likely resulting in alterations of the transmission potential of mosquito-borne pathogens. The relationship between temperature and ZIKV transmission has not been well characterised for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.To understand the effect of diurnal temperature range on the vectorial capacity of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus for ZIKV, factors contributing to transmission potential were measured at different temperature regimens. Their longevity and blood feeding rates were assessed, and vector competence was determined following feeding on blood meals with 8.3 log10 PFU/ml ZIKV.Higher temperature resulted in decreased longevity of Ae. aegypti [Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) Test, Chi-square, df 35.66, 5 P (<0.0001)] and a significant decrease in blood feeding rates across groups [Z score (−5.8478) P (0.0444)]. Temperature had a population and species-specific impact on ZIKV infection rates. Overall, Ae. albopictus reared at the lowest temperature regimen demonstrated the highest vectorial capacity (1.63) and the highest transmission efficiency (57%). Temperature increases decreased vectorial capacity across groups, yet the largest decreases were measured for Ae. aegypti.The results of this study suggest that future climate change could significantly impact vector competence, blood feeding behavior and longevity, and therefore decrease the overall vectorial capacity of Aedes mosquitoes. It is also clear that this impact is likely to be both species and population-specific.

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Ligusticum sinense Nanoemulsion Gel as Potential Repellent against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles minimus, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12070596 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 596

Author(s):

Anuluck Junkum ◽

Wanchai Maleewong ◽

Atiporn Saeung ◽

Danita Champakaew ◽

Arpaporn Chansang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Skin Irritation ◽

Mosquito Vectors ◽

Plant Family ◽

Anopheles Minimus ◽

Human Volunteers ◽

Nanoemulsion Gel ◽

Fresh Preparation

Ligusticum sinense Oliv. cv. is a species of Umbelliferae (Apiaceae), a large plant family in the order Apiales. In this study, L. sinense hexane extract nanoemulsion gel (LHE-NEG) was investigated for mosquito repellency and compared to the standard chemical, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), with the goal of developing a natural alternative to synthetic repellents in protecting against mosquito vectors. The results demonstrated that LHE-NEG afforded remarkable repellency against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles minimus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, with median protection times (MPTs) of 5.5 (4.5–6.0), 11.5 (8.5–12.5), and 11.25 (8.5–12.5) h, respectively, which was comparable to those of DEET-nanoemulsion gel (DEET-NEG: 8.5 (7.0–9.0), 12.0 (10.0–12.5), and 12.5 (10.0–13.5) h, respectively). Evaluation of skin irritation in 30 human volunteers revealed no potential irritant from LHE-NEG. The physical and biological stability of LHE-NEG were determined after being kept under heating/cooling cycle conditions. The stored samples of LHE-NEG exhibited some changes in appearance and differing degrees of repellency between those kept for 3 and 6 heating/cooling cycles, thus providing slightly shorter MPTs of 4.25 (4.0–4.5) and 3.25 (2.5–3.5) h, respectively, when compared to those of 5.0 (4.5–6.0) h in fresh preparation. These findings encourage commercially developed LHE-based products as an alternative to conventional synthetic repellents in preventing mosquito bites and helping to interrupt mosquito-borne disease transmission.

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Permethrin Resistance in Aedes aegypti Affects Aspects of Vectorial Capacity

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12010071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 71

Author(s):

Tse-Yu Chen ◽

Chelsea T. Smartt ◽

Dongyoung Shin

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Sodium Channel ◽

Mosquito Control ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Vectorial Capacity ◽

Parental Population ◽

Control Programs ◽

Channel Gene ◽

Sodium Channel Gene ◽

Specific Pcr

Aedes aegypti, as one of the vectors transmitting several arboviruses, is the main target in mosquito control programs. Permethrin is used to control mosquitoes and Aedes aegypti get exposed due to its overuse and are now resistant. The increasing percentage of permethrin resistant Aedes aegypti has become an important issue around the world and the potential influence on vectorial capacity needs to be studied. Here we selected a permethrin resistant (p-s) Aedes aegypti population from a wild Florida population and confirmed the resistance ratio to its parental population. We used allele-specific PCR genotyping of the V1016I and F1534C sites in the sodium channel gene to map mutations responsible for the resistance. Two important factors, survival rate and vector competence, that impact vectorial capacity were checked. Results indicated the p-s population had 20 times more resistance to permethrin based on LD50 compared to the parental population. In the genotyping study, the p-s population had more homozygous mutations in both mutant sites of the sodium channel gene. The p-s adults survived longer and had a higher dissemination rate for dengue virus than the parental population. These results suggest that highly permethrin resistant Aedes aegypti populations might affect the vectorial capacity, moreover, resistance increased the survival time and vector competence, which should be of concern in areas where permethrin is applied.

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