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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
Published on: May 31, 2020
AG129 Mice as a Comprehensive Model for the Experimental Assessment of Mosquito Vector Competence for Arboviruses
Lívia V R Baldon1, Silvana F de Mendonça1, Flávia V Ferreira1
1Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil.
Abstract:
Arboviruses (an acronym for "arthropod-borne virus"), such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya, are important human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. These viruses impose a growing burden on public health. Despite laboratory mice having been used for decades for understanding the basic biological phenomena of these viruses, it was only recently that researchers started to develop immunocompromised animals to study the pathogenesis of arboviruses and their transmission in a way that parallels natural cycles. Here, we show that the AG129 mouse (IFN α/β/γ R-/-) is a suitable and comprehensive vertebrate model for studying the mosquito vector competence for the major arboviruses of medical importance, namely the dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We found that, after intraperitoneal injection, AG129 mice developed a transient viremia lasting several days, peaking on day two or three post infection, for all five arboviruses tested in this study. Furthermore, we found that the observed viremia was ample enough to infect Aedes aegypti during a blood meal from the AG129 infected mice. Finally, we demonstrated that infected mosquitoes could transmit each of the tested arboviruses back to naïve AG129 mice, completing a full transmission cycle of these vector-borne viruses. Together, our data show that A129 mice are a simple and comprehensive vertebrate model for studies of vector competence, as well as investigations into other aspects of mosquito biology that can affect virus-host interactions.
Insights
The AG129 mouse model effectively replicates arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus) infections, showing viremia sufficient for mosquito transmission and subsequent onward infection. This establishes it as a comprehensive model for studying arboviruses and mosquito vector competence.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vector-Borne Diseases
Background:
- Arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) like dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya pose significant global health challenges.
- Traditional mouse models have limitations in studying arbovirus pathogenesis and transmission cycles.
- Immunocompromised mouse models are emerging as valuable tools for arbovirus research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the AG129 mouse as a comprehensive vertebrate model for studying mosquito vector competence for major arboviruses.
- To assess the capacity of AG129 mice to support the replication and transmission cycle of dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).
Main Methods:
- AG129 mice were infected intraperitoneally with DENV, YFV, ZIKV, MAYV, or CHIKV.
- Viremia levels and duration were monitored post-infection.
- Infection of *Aedes aegypti* mosquitoes feeding on infected AG129 mice was assessed.
- Transmission of arboviruses from infected mosquitoes back to naïve AG129 mice was evaluated.
Main Results:
- AG129 mice developed transient viremia for all five tested arboviruses, peaking at 2-3 days post-infection.
- The observed viremia was sufficient to infect *Aedes aegypti* mosquitoes via blood meal.
- Infected mosquitoes successfully transmitted each of the tested arboviruses to naïve AG129 mice, completing a transmission cycle.
Conclusions:
- The AG129 mouse is a suitable and comprehensive vertebrate model for studying mosquito vector competence for major arboviruses.
- This model facilitates research into arbovirus-host interactions and mosquito biology relevant to transmission.
- The AG129 model provides a simplified system for investigating full arbovirus transmission cycles.
