Molecular foundations and tissue-specific dynamics of the mosquito circadian clock

Circadian clocks coordinate daily rhythms, shaping mating, host-seeking, and pathogen transmission in mosquitoes. In this review article, we discuss the current understanding of the molecular clockwork in key mosquito species, including Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, highlighting clade-specific features and diversified transcription-translation feedback loops relative to Drosophila's canonical clock model. We synthesize evidence and propose mechanistic hypotheses about the integration of environmental cues by central and peripheral clocks in an organ- and sex-specific manner, including a reanalysis of rhythmic RNA-sequencing data. Finally, we discuss how temporal synchrony among vector, host, and parasite determines transmission efficiency and how emerging single-cell and circuit-level tools will refine models of mosquito circadian organization. Overall, this review provides a framework for understanding mosquito daily and circadian rhythms.