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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
Published on: May 31, 2020
Quantitative analysis of replication and tropisms of Dengue virus type 2 in Aedes albopictus
Meichun Zhang1, Xiaoying Zheng, Yu Wu
1Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. zhanxm@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Abstract:
Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) RNA replication profiles and tropisms were studied by using quantitative RT-PCR (q-RTPCR) in intrathoracically infected Aedes albopictus. The virus RNA replication profiles were diverse in mosquito organs. In fat body, brain, salivary gland, and malpighian tubes, it peaked at 8, 23, 23, and 27 days post-infection, respectively, and then, all declined. In midgut, it increased all the time and had no trend of decline. In ovary, it had no apparent increase. Subsequent Western blotting of DENV-2 E protein had similar results. Using ribosomal protein 7 (rpS7) as an internal control, we found that, in salivary gland, brain, fat body, and midgut, the average DENV-2 RNA levels (DENV-2 RNA/rpS7 mRNA) were 1,028, 464, 5.6, and 6.2, respectively; in malpighian tubes, it was 1, and in ovary, it was far less than 1. These results suggest that infection profiles and tropism of DENV-2 RNA in Ae. albopictus organs are significantly different.
