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Temperature Dramatically Shapes Mosquito Gene Expression With Consequences for Mosquito-Zika Virus Interactions
Priscila Gonçalves Ferreira1, Blanka Tesla2, Elvira Cynthia Alves Horácio3,4
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|June 30, 2020
Summary
Lower temperatures significantly alter mosquito gene expression, impacting Zika virus replication. Cold-induced changes in the mosquito midgut environment limit virus spread, affecting innate immunity and blood-meal digestion.
Area of Science:
- * Molecular biology
- * Vector-borne disease research
- * Environmental science
Background:
- * Vector-borne flaviviruses, like Zika virus (ZIKV), pose significant human health risks.
- * Mosquitoes mount transcriptional responses to flavivirus infection, influencing transmission.
- * Environmental factors, particularly temperature, are known to affect virus transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate host transcriptional changes in mosquitoes in response to ZIKV infection at varying temperatures.
- * To understand how temperature influences the early stages of ZIKV infection in mosquitoes.
- * To identify molecular mechanisms underlying temperature-dependent ZIKV transmission.
Main Methods:
- * Transcriptome analysis of *Aedes aegypti* midgut samples.
- * Comparison of gene expression in ZIKV-exposed and non-exposed mosquitoes.
- * Housing mosquitoes at three different temperatures: 20°C, 28°C, and 36°C.
Main Results:
- * A distinct transcriptome profile was observed in mosquitoes housed at 20°C compared to 28°C and 36°C.
- * Cooler temperatures (20°C) altered gene expression related to blood-meal digestion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, and innate immunity.
- * ZIKV replication appeared limited at 20°C, with no significant increase in viral RNA copy number observed between 24 and 48 hours post-exposure.
Conclusions:
- * Temperature significantly impacts mosquito transcriptional responses to ZIKV infection.
- * Cold-induced alterations in the mosquito midgut environment may limit ZIKV replication.
- * Vitellogenin expression is notably up-regulated at 20°C in ZIKV-exposed mosquitoes, suggesting a role in temperature-dependent host-pathogen interactions.
