A5087251553- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Malaria Research and Control
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Leprosy Research and Treatment
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
- Cellular transport and secretion
Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular
2013-2024
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
2015-2024
Rhodnius prolixus not only has served as a model organism for the study of insect physiology, but also is major vector Chagas disease, an illness that affects approximately seven million people worldwide. We sequenced genome R. prolixus, generated assembled sequences covering 95% (∼ 702 Mb), including 15,456 putative protein-coding genes, and completed comprehensive genomic analyses this obligate blood-feeding insect. Although immune-deficiency (IMD)-mediated immune responses were observed,...
The presence of bacteria in the midgut mosquitoes antagonizes infectious agents, such as Dengue and Plasmodium, acting a negative factor vectorial competence mosquito. Therefore, knowledge molecular mechanisms involved control microbiota could help development new tools to reduce transmission. We hypothesized that toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by epithelial cells bacterial growth Aedes aegypti, vector Yellow fever viruses. show ROS are continuously present sugar-fed (SF)...
The bloodsucking hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus is a vector of Chagas' disease, which affects 7–8 million people today in Latin America. In contrast to other hematophagous insects, the triatomine gut compartmentalized into three segments that perform different functions during blood digestion. Here we report analysis transcriptomes for each using pyrosequencing technology. Comparison transcript frequency digestive libraries with whole-body library was used evaluate expression levels. All...
Background Aedes aegypti is the main vector of virus causing Dengue fever, a disease that has increased dramatically in importance recent decades, affecting many tropical and sub-tropical areas globe. It known viruses other parasites can potentially alter behavior. We investigated whether infection with modifies behavior females respect to their activity level. Methods/Principal Findings carried out intrathoracic 2 (DENV-2) infections recorded locomotor observed an increase up ∼50% infected...
Abstract Background The understanding of mosquito immune responses can provide valuable tools for development novel control strategies. Aiming the study at insect innate immunity, continuous cell lines have been established and used as research due to fact that they constitute more homogeneous, sensitive, reproducible systems than insects from which originated. More recently, Aag-2, an Aedes aegypti lineage, began be frequently a model studies immunity. Nevertheless, our knowledge, no has...
Abstract In mammals, lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous organelles that modulate immune and inflammatory responses through the production of mediators. insects, it is unknown whether LDs play any role during development responses. We show Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells – an responsive cell lineage accumulates when challenged with Enterobacter cloacae , Sindbis Dengue viruses. Microarray analysis E.cloacae or infected virus revealed high transcripts levels genes associated storage biogenesis,...
Background Digestion of blood in the midgut Aedes aegypti results release pro-oxidant molecules that can be toxic to mosquito. We hypothesized after a meal, antioxidant capacity is increased protect cells against oxidative stress. Concomitantly, pathogens present ingested by mosquitoes, such as arboviruses Dengue and Zika, also have overcome same challenge, program induced insect likely influence infection status mosquito its vectorial competence. Methodology/Principal findings found...
Aedes aegypti is the main vector of important arboviruses such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya. During infections mosquitoes can activate immune pathways Toll, IMD JAK/STAT to limit pathogen replication. Here, we evaluate response profile Ae. against Sindbis virus (SINV). We analyzed gene expression components showed that a blood meal infection upregulated aaREL2 in microbiota-dependent fashion, since this induction was prevented by antibiotic. The presence microbiota activates impaired...
Abstract Re‐emergence of vector‐borne diseases such as dengue and yellow fever, which are both transmitted by the A edes aegypti mosquito, has been correlated with insecticide resistance. P ‐glycoproteins ( ‐gps) ATP ‐dependent efflux pumps that involved in transport substrates across membranes. Some these proteins have implicated multidrug resistance MDR ). In this study, we identified a putative ‐glycoprotein Ae . database based on its significantly high identity nopheles gambiae , C ulex...
In ticks, the digestion of blood occurs intracellularly and proteolytic hemoglobin takes place in a dedicated type lysosome, digest vesicle, followed by transfer heme moiety to specialized organelle that accumulates large aggregates, called hemosomes. present work, we studied uptake fluorescent metalloporphyrins, used as analogs, amitraz, one most regularly acaricides control cattle tick infestations, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus midgut cells. Both compounds were taken up cells vitro...
Blood-feeding mosquitoes are exposed to high levels of heme, the product hemoglobin degradation. Heme is a pro-oxidant that influences variety cellular processes. We performed global analysis heme-regulated Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) transcriptional changes better understand influence on mosquito physiology at molecular level. observed an iron- and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-independent signaling induced by heme comprised genes related redox metabolism. By modulating abundance...
Wolbachia is a bacterial endosymbiont that naturally infects wide range of insect species, and causes drastic changes to host biology. Stable infections in mosquitoes can inhibit infection with medically important pathogens such as dengue virus malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites. However, some native strains enhance certain pathogens, the case for mosquito Aedes fluviatilis, where gallinaceum enhanced by wFlu strain. To better understand biological interactions between infections,...
Background Here we report the monitoring of digestive tract colonization Rhodnius prolixus by Trypanosoma cruzi using an accurate determination parasite load qPCR coupled with fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging (BLI). These complementary methods revealed critical steps necessary for population to colonize insect gut establish vector infection. Methodology/Principal Findings analysis in showed several limitations due mainly presence digestive-derived products that are thought degrade...
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and frequently resulting in irreversible deformities disabilities. Ticks play important role transmission due to their low host specificity, worldwide distribution, the biological ability support transovarial of a wide spectrum pathogens, including viruses, bacteria protozoa. To investigate possible for ticks as vectors leprosy, we assessed M. artificially-fed adult female Amblyomma sculptum ticks, infection growth tick cell...
Zika has emerged as a new public health threat after the explosive epidemic in Brazil 2015. It is an arbovirus transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The knowledge of physiological, behavioural and biological features virus-infected vectors may help understanding transmission dynamics elucidate their influence vector capacity. We aimed to investigate effects virus (ZIKV) infection behaviour Ae. females analysing locomotor activity, egg production viability. were orally infected with...
An aspartic proteinase precursor, herein named BYC ( Boophilus Yolk pro-Cathepsin) was isolated from eggs of the hard tick, microplus . As judged by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide slab gel (SDS–PAGE), purified presented 2 bands 54 and 49 kDa, bearing same NH -terminal amino acid sequence. By Western blot analysis, also found in haemolymph, indicating an extraovarian site synthesis. Several organs were incubated culture medium with [ 35 S] methionine, only gut fat...
An aspartic proteinase that binds heme with a 1:1 stoichiometry was isolated and cloned from the eggs of cattle tick<i>Boophilus microplus</i>. This proteinase, herein named THAP (tick heme-binding proteinase) showed pepstatin-sensitive hydrolytic activity against several peptide protein substrates. Although hemoglobin good substrate for THAP, low proteolytic observed globin devoid prosthetic group. Hydrolysis by increased as increasing amounts were added to globin, maximum activation at...
In this opinion paper, we discuss the potential and challenges of using symbiont Wolbachia to block mosquito transmitted diseases such as dengue, malaria chikungunya in Latin America.