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Updated: Dec 13, 2025
Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
Published on: May 31, 2020
Susceptibility and interactions between Aedes mosquitoes and Zika viruses
Teng-Fei Zhou1, Ze-Tian Lai1, Shuang Liu1
1Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research of Guangdong Province, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Zika virus disease is caused by Zika virus infection, as transmitted by Aedes spp. mosquitoes. Many of the Zika virus strains isolated from patients display different pathogenicities toward humans. The vector mosquitoes for Zika virus are mainly of the Aedes genus, especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. However, susceptibility and interactions between Aedes spp. mosquitoes and Zika viruses remain unclear. In this study, we chose two Zika virus strains (FSS13025 and PRVABC59) with different abilities to infect the primary vector mosquitoes Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The transcriptomes and small RNA profiles of infected and uninfected mosquitoes were comparatively analyzed, and differentially expressed genes were functionally examined using RNA interference. According to the results, the susceptibility of PRVABC59 was higher than that of FSS13025 in Aedes vector mosquitoes, and Ae. aegypti was more susceptible to Zika virus than was Ae. albopictus. For PRVABC59 infection, specific differential expression profiles correlated with Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, and susceptibility was significantly affected when three targeted genes were successfully knocked down. Compared with PRVABC59, infection of Ae. albopictus with FSS13025 generated more 21-nt virus small interference RNA. It can be concluded that the susceptibility of vector Aedes spp. mosquitoes to Zika viruses varies and that the interactions between mosquitoes and Zika virus correlate with susceptibility.
Insights
Zika virus (ZIKV) susceptibility varies between Aedes mosquito species and ZIKV strains. This study reveals mosquito gene expression changes and small RNA profiles that correlate with ZIKV infection levels and mosquito vector competence.
Area of Science:
- * Vector-borne disease research
- * Molecular entomology
- * Virology
Background:
- * Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with varying human pathogenicity among strains.
- * The interactions between ZIKV strains and primary vector mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) remain incompletely understood.
- * Mosquito vector competence is crucial for arbovirus transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To compare the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus to two distinct ZIKV strains (FSS13025 and PRVABC59).
- * To analyze the transcriptomic and small RNA profiles of infected mosquitoes to identify molecular mechanisms underlying differential susceptibility.
- * To investigate the role of specific mosquito genes in ZIKV susceptibility using RNA interference (RNAi).
Main Methods:
- * Comparative analysis of transcriptomes and small RNA profiles in ZIKV-infected and uninfected Aedes mosquitoes.
- * Functional validation of differentially expressed genes through RNA interference (RNAi).
- * Quantification of virus small interfering RNA (siRNA) production.
Main Results:
- * The PRVABC59 ZIKV strain exhibited higher susceptibility in Aedes mosquitoes compared to the FSS13025 strain.
- * Aedes aegypti demonstrated greater susceptibility to ZIKV infection than Aedes albopictus.
- * Knockdown of three specific genes significantly affected ZIKV susceptibility in Aedes mosquitoes.
- * FSS13025 infection in Aedes albopictus generated more 21-nt virus small interfering RNAs compared to PRVABC59.
Conclusions:
- * Vector Aedes mosquito susceptibility to Zika virus varies significantly depending on both the mosquito species and the ZIKV strain.
- * Mosquito gene expression and small RNA profiles are key determinants of ZIKV susceptibility and vector competence.
- * Understanding these mosquito-virus interactions is critical for developing effective vector control strategies against Zika virus.
