Gene expression profile of Aedes aegypti females in courtship and mating

Author(s)

Alonso, Diego Peres ^{[1, 2]} ; Campos, Melina ^{[1, 2]} ; Troca, Heitor ^{[1, 2]} ; Kunii, Rafael ^{[1, 2]} ; Tripet, Frederic ^[3] ; Martins Ribolla, Paulo Eduardo ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Biotechnol Inst, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Biosci Inst, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] Keele Univ, Ctr Appl Entomol & Parasitol, Keele ST5 5BG, Staffs - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 9, OCT 29 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the most synanthropic and anthropophilic mosquito of Culicidae. This species always cohabits with humans and is extremely opportunistic. Vector dispersal is directly related to the ability of the females on successfully finding a mate in a generally patchy urban scenario. In the present work, we investigate transcriptional changes in Ae. aegypti females during the courtship process and after mating. We observe a substantial alteration in gene expression triggered just upon contact with Ae. aegypti males, which in turn was not fully correlated to the changes triggered by the contact. After analysing shared significant differentially regulated genes between conspecific contact and insemination, the major part of the observed transcriptomic change triggered by contact is reversed after mating, indicating an intermediary situation between naive and mating conditions that we hypothesize to be crucial for mating success. Upon contact, several chemosensory related genes are repressed, especially odorant binding proteins. Most of these genes return to higher expression rates after mating. None of these genes are significantly regulated by the encounter of a different species, Aedes albopictus. The results presented here might be applied to an innovative control approach focusing on the semiochemical systems of mosquitoes in an effort to disrupt undesirable host-insect interaction to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission to humans. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/10481-6 - Analysis of satyrization between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Brazil
• Grantee: Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/50411-2 - Frederic Tripet | Keele University - Inglaterra
• Grantee: Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International