Expressional characterization of laccase 2 in Aedes aegypti

• Grant number: 13/26017-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Lincoln Suesdek Rocha
• Grantee: Caroline Louise Garcia Mendes
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is a mosquito vector of several pathogens, being the most important vector of dengue viruses in Brazil. This insect is synantropic, highly adapted to the urban environment and has exhibited resistance to insecticides, which is particularly problematic to public health. Nowadays, it has grown the search for fundamental genes of this species which may be useful for the elaboration of control methods of the mosquito vector. As an example, we can mention the gene of enzyme laccase 2, which acts in eggs and body cuticle tanning in insects. When the expression of laccase 2 is knocked down in adults of Aedes albopictus (a congener of Ae. aegypti) their females produce hyaline and unviable eggs. Theoretically, this would be a good candidate for gene manipulation and biological control based in genetically modified organisms. Although the pratical viability of such an idea has not yet been tested, data from the literature have reinforced the need for research on this gene. A laccase 2-like gene (hoomologous) has already been sequenced in the genoma of Aedes aegypti, but despite the promising scenario, its has not yet been subjected to functional studies in this species. Aiming to reduce this knowledge gap, we propose to quantitatively describe in Ae. aegypti the expression profile of laccase 2, as well as the phenotypic effects (viability and survivorship) of laccase 2 knocking down on the development of chorion of eggs when the gene is knocked down in adult females. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LORENZ, CAMILA; ALMEIDA, FABIO; ALMEIDA-LOPES, FERNANDA; LOUISE, CAROLINE; PEREIRA, STELLA N.; PETERSEN, VIVIAN; VIDAL, PALOMA O.; VIRGINIO, FLAVIA; SUESDEK, LINCOLN. Geometric morphometrics in mosquitoes: What has been measured?. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION, v. 54, p. 205-215, OCT 2017. (13/26014-8, 13/26017-7, 10/15039-1, 06/02622-5, 14/27172-9, 12/17717-2, 13/05521-9)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MENDES, Caroline Louise Garcia. Expressional characterization of laccase 2 in Aedes aegypti. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (IMT) São Paulo.