Project description:We have developed genetically modified Ae. aegypti mosquitoes that activate the conserved antiviral JAK/STAT pathway in the fat body tissue, by overexpressing either the receptor Dome or the Janus kinase Hop by the blood feeding-induced vitellogenin (Vg) promoter. Transgene expression inhibits infection with several dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in the midgut as well as systemically and in the salivary glands. The impact of the transgenes Dome and Hop on mosquito longevity was minimal, but it resulted in a compromised fecundity when compared to wild-type mosquitoes. Overexpression of Dome and Hop resulted in profound transcriptome regulation in the fat body tissue as well as the midgut tissue, pinpointing several expression signatures that reflect mechanisms of DENV restriction. Our transcriptome studies and reverse genetic analyses suggested that enrichment of DENV restriction factor and depletion of DENV host factor transcripts likely accounts for the DENV inhibition, and they allowed us to identify novel factors that modulate infection. Interestingly, the fat body-specific activation of the JAK/STAT pathway did not result in any enhanced resistance to Zika virus (ZIKV) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection, thereby indicating a possible specialization of the pathway’s antiviral role.
Project description:Midgut is an important immune organ of Aedes aegypti. To help further studies on host-pathogen interaction of midgut, we established a midgut cell atlas using scRNA-seq.
Project description:This analysis compare gene expression between 4 day old sugar fed female and male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Keywords: Aedes aegypti sex specific expression
Project description:This analysis defines the adult female and developmental specific transcriptomes of Aedes aegypti. Keywords: Aedews aegypti, development, gene expression
Project description:We used RNA-sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes in the midgut of Aedes aegypti that contribute to the field derivied dengue susceptible (Cali-S) and dengue refractory (Cali-R) phenotypes
Project description:Aedes aegypti mosquito, vector for several viral diseases, undergoes significant physiological changes after a blood meal. Through single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolomics, we unveiled dynamic cellular composition and metabolic adaptations within abdominal midgut and fat body tissues. We revealed high cell diversity, specialized in digestion, metabolism, immunity, and reproduction. While the midgut primarily comprises enterocytes, enteroendocrine, cardia and intestinal stem cells, the fat body consists of not only trophocytes and oenocytes, but also a substantial population of hemocytes and fat body-yolk cells (FYC). The fat body, exhibiting a more complex metabolomic profile than the midgut, played a central role in immune and metabolic gene expression, particularly within trophocytes and FYCs. Additionally, insect-specific viruses were detected at the single-cell level, mainly in the midgut at later stages post-blood meal. These findings offer new vector control strategies by targeting specific abdominal cell populations and metabolic pathways involved after a blood meal.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes of testes in the meiotic drive system in aedes aegypti during spermatogenesis compared to non drive strain. The meiotic drive system in Aedes aegypti causes the female determining chromosome to fragment during spermatogenesis.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes of testes in the meiotic drive system in aedes aegypti during spermatogenesis compared to non drive strain. The meiotic drive system in Aedes aegypti causes the female determining chromosome to fragment during spermatogenesis. A six chip study using total RNA from three separately extracted non driving strain testes of Aedes aegypti and three separately extracted meiotic drive strain testes of Aedes aegypti.
