A5000422885- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- interferon and immune responses
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Malaria Research and Control
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- HIV Research and Treatment
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
- RNA regulation and disease
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Immune cells in cancer
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
University of Connecticut
2019-2025
UConn Health
2018-2025
Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
2022
Universidad Cristiana Autónoma de Nicaragua
2021
New York Medical College
2015-2021
Yale University
2009-2019
Zhejiang University of Technology
2015
Tianjin Medical University
2010-2014
Office of Infectious Diseases
2011
National University of Singapore
2005
The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (Nlrp) 6 maintains gut microbiota homeostasis and regulates antibacterial immunity. We now report a role for Nlrp6 in the control of enteric virus infection. Nlrp6(-/-) mice systemically challenged with encephalomyocarditis had similar mortality; however, gastrointestinal tract exhibited increased viral loads. orally infected mortality viremia compared controls. Similar results were observed murine norovirus 1. bound RNA via...
The commensal microbiota of the mosquito gut plays a complex role in determining vector competence for arboviruses. In this study, we identified bacterium from field Aedes albopictus mosquitoes named Rosenbergiella sp. YN46 ( Rosenbergiella_ YN46) that rendered refractory to infection with dengue and Zika viruses. Inoculation 1.6 × 10 3 colony forming units (CFUs) into A. effectively prevents viral infection. Mechanistically, secretes glucose dehydrogenase Ry GDH), which acidifies lumen fed...
West Nile (WNV), dengue (DENV) and yellow fever (YFV) viruses are (re)emerging, mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cause human disease mortality worldwide. Alterations in mosquito gene expression common unique to individual flaviviral infections poorly understood. Here, we present a microarray analysis of the Aedes aegypti transcriptome over time during infection with DENV, WNV or YFV. We identified 203 genes were ≥5-fold differentially up-regulated (DUR) 202 ≥10-fold down-regulated (DDR) one...
West Nile virus (WNV) is the most-common cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis in United States. Invasion brain by WNV influenced viral and host factors, molecular mechanism underlying disruption blood-brain barrier likely multifactorial. Here we show that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) involved entry into enhancing permeability. Murine MMP9 expression was induced circulation shortly after infection, protein levels remained high even when viremia subsided. In murine brain, its enzymatic...
Dengue virus (DENV), a flavivirus of global importance, is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. In this study, we developed in vitro and vivo models saliva-mediated enhancement DENV infectivity. Serine protease activity Aedes aegypti saliva augmented infectivity proteolyzing extracellular matrix proteins, thereby increasing viral attachment heparan sulfate proteoglycans inducing cell migration. A serine inhibitor reduced vivo, marked 100-fold reduction load murine lymph nodes. screen...
The complement system functions during the early phase of infection and directly mediates pathogen elimination. recent identification complement-like factors in arthropods indicates that this shares common ancestry vertebrates invertebrates as an immune defense mechanism. Thioester (TE)-containing proteins (TEPs), which show high similarity to mammalian C3, are thought play a key role innate immunity arthropods. Herein, we report viral recognition cascade composed two complement-related...
Abstract Transmission from an infected mosquito to a host is essential process in the life cycle of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Numerous studies have demonstrated that saliva facilitates viral transmission. Here we find saliva-specific protein, named Aedes aegypti venom allergen-1 ( Aa VA-1), promotes dengue and Zika virus transmission by activating autophagy immune cells monocyte lineage. The AG6 mice ifnar1 –/– ifngr1 ) bitten virus-infected VA-1-deficient mosquitoes present lower viremia...
Flaviviruses have evolved complex mechanisms to evade the mammalian host immune systems including RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene I) like receptor (RLR) signaling. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging flavivirus that associated with severe neonatal microcephaly and adult Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, molecular underlying ZIKV pathogenesis remain poorly defined. Here we report non-structural protein 4A (NS4A) impairs RLR-mitochondrial antiviral-signaling (MAVS) interaction subsequent...
C-type lectins are a family of proteins with carbohydrate-binding activity. Several in mammals or arthropods employed as receptors attachment factors to facilitate flavivirus invasion. We previously identified lectin Aedes aegypti, designated mosquito galactose specific lectin-1 (mosGCTL-1), facilitating the West Nile virus (WNV) on cell membrane. Here, we first that 9 A. aegypti mosGCTL genes were key susceptibility DENV-2 infection, which mosGCTL-3 exhibited most significant effect. found...
In order to eliminate viral infections, hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) are induced via type I interferons (IFNs). However, the functions and mechanisms most ISGs largely unclear. A tripartite motif (TRIM) protein encoding gene TRIM69 is by dengue virus (DENV) infection as an ISG. restricts DENV replication, its RING domain, which has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, critical for antiviral activity. An in vivo study further confirmed that contributes control immunocompetent mice....
A hallmark of chronic kidney disease is renal fibrosis, which can result in progressive loss function. Currently, there no effective therapy for fibrosis. Therefore, an urgent need to identify potential drug targets In this study, we examined the effect a selective STAT6 inhibitor, AS1517499, on myeloid fibroblast activation, macrophage polarization, and development fibrosis two experimental murine models. To investigate inhibition wild-type mice were subjected unilateral ureteral...
Background and Purpose Renal fibrosis is a common feature of chronic kidney disease. Myeloid fibroblasts macrophages contribute significantly to the pathogenesis renal fibrosis. However, molecular mechanisms underlying myeloid fibroblast activation macrophage polarization are not fully understood. In this study, we examined role Jumonji domain‐containing protein‐3 (JMJD3) in activation, polarization, development preclinical model obstructive nephropathy. Experimental Approach To examine...
Abstract Herd immunity achieved through mass vaccination is an effective approach to prevent contagious diseases. Nonetheless, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants with frequent mutations largely evaded humoral induced by Spike-based COVID-19 vaccines. Herein, we develop a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated mRNA-based T-cell-inducing antigen, which targeted three proteome regions that enriched human HLA-I epitopes (HLA-EPs). Immunization of HLA-EPs induces potent cellular responses infection in...
Abstract Mosquitoes transmit many disease-relevant flaviviruses. Efficient viral transmission to mammalian hosts requires mosquito salivary factors. However, the specific components facilitating and their mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. Here, we show that a female gland-specific protein, here named A. aegypti Neutrophil Recruitment Protein ( Aa NRP), facilitates Zika dengue viruses. NRP promotes rapid influx neutrophils, followed by virus-susceptible myeloid cells toward bite...