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Updated: Aug 18, 2025
Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
Published on: May 31, 2020
Transcriptome profiling and Calreticulin expression in Zika virus -infected Aedes aegypti
Laísa Silva de Almeida1, Milton Yutaka Nishiyama-Jr2, Aurélio Pedroso3
1Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo ICB/USP, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2415, São Paulo CEP 05508-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil 1500, Butantã, São Paulo, SP CEP 05503-900, Brazil.
Zika virus infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes did not upregulate calreticulin-like (CRT) gene expression as hypothesized. Instead, CRT levels varied greatly and were negatively correlated with viral load, suggesting complex virus-host interactions.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Zika virus (ZIKV) causes febrile illness and neurological damage, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
- Understanding virus-vector molecular interactions is crucial for disease mitigation strategies.
- ZIKV infection is known to alter gene expression in mosquitoes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genes differentially expressed in ZIKV-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
- To investigate the role of calreticulin-like (CRT) gene expression during ZIKV infection.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic analysis comparing ZIKV-infected and uninfected Ae. aegypti females.
- Interactome analysis to identify gene functions.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) to measure CRT gene expression.
- RNA interference (RNAi) to attempt CRT gene silencing.
Main Results:
- Transcriptomics revealed differentially expressed genes, many involved in immune response.
- Calreticulin-like (CRT) gene expression showed high inter-individual variability and a negative correlation with viral load, contrary to initial hypotheses.
- RNAi-mediated silencing did not reduce CRT expression and increased variability.
Conclusions:
- ZIKV infection's effect on CRT expression in Ae. aegypti is complex and not a simple upregulation.
- A homeostatic mechanism may regulate gene expression during infection, or expression may be randomly disturbed.
- Further research into CRT protein function and its role in the mosquito metabolic network is needed to understand ZIKV-host interactions.
