A5063411246- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Malaria Research and Control
- Plant and animal studies
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Cancer-related gene regulation
- Renal and related cancers
Virginia Tech
2014-2025
Sex determination in the mosquito Aedes aegypti is governed by a dominant male-determining factor (M factor) located within Y chromosome-like region called M locus. Here, we show that an M-locus gene, Nix, functions as A. aegypti. Nix exhibits persistent linkage and early embryonic expression, two characteristics required of factor. knockout with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 resulted largely feminized genetic males production female isoforms key...
Abstract Background The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is globally expanding and has become the main vector for human arboviruses in Europe. With limited antiviral drugs vaccines available, control primary approach to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. A reliable accurate DNA sequence of Ae. genome essential develop new approaches that involve genetic manipulation mosquitoes. Results We use long-read sequencing methods modern scaffolding techniques (PacBio, 10X, Hi-C) produce AalbF2, a...
A dominant male-determining locus (M-locus) establishes the male sex (M/m) in yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegyptiNix, a gene M-locus, was shown to be factor (M factor) as somatic knockout of Nix led feminized males while transient expression resulted partially masculinized females (m/m), with reproductive organs but retained female antennae. It not clear whether any other 29 genes 1.3-Mb M-locus are also needed for complete sex-conversion. Here, we report generation multiple transgenic...
During early embryogenesis the zygotic genome is transcriptionally silent and all mRNAs present are of maternal origin. The maternal-zygotic transition marks time over which changes its dependence from RNAs to zygotically transcribed RNAs. Here we first systematic investigation genes (EZGs) in a mosquito species focus on involved onset transcription during 2–4 hr. We used transcriptome sequencing identify “pure” (without expression) EZGs by analyzing transcripts four embryonic ranges 0–2,...
Complete dosage compensation refers to hyperexpression of the entire X or Z chromosome in organisms with heterogametic sex chromosomes (XY male ZW female) order compensate for having only one copy chromosome. Recent analyses suggest that complete compensation, as Drosophila melanogaster, may not be norm. There has been no systematic study focusing on mosquitoes. However, analysis Anopheles mosquitoes provides opportunities evolutionary insights, and its Dipteran relative, D. melanogaster...
The initial signal that governs sex determination is highly variable among insects. A homolog of Nix, the male-determining factor in Aedes aegypti, was previously found Asian tiger mosquito Ae. albopictus. Here we show albopictus Nix (AalNix) more complex gene structure and splice isoforms than its aegypti (AaeNix). AalNix shows a similar transcription profile compared to AaeNix. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockouts vivo C6/36 cells lead shift dsx fru splicing towards female isoforms. G0 knockout...
Diverse genetic strategies are being pursued to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases. These often rely on the release of nonbiting males either reduce target mosquito population or render them resistant pathogens. Male-only releases important as any contaminating females can bite and potentially transmit Despite significant efforts, it remains a major bottleneck reliably efficiently separate from females, especially when nontransgenic preferred. In yellow fever Aedes aegypti , sex is...
We previously showed that Guy1, a primary signal expressed from the Y chromosome, is strong candidate for male-determining factor confers female-specific lethality in Anopheles stephensi (Criscione et al., 2016). Here, we present evidence Guy1 increases X gene expression Guy1-transgenic females two independent lines, providing mechanism underlying Guy1-conferred female lethality. The median level (MGE) of X-linked genes significantly higher than autosomal while there no significant...
Anopheles stephensi is a principal vector of urban malaria on the Indian subcontinent and an emerging model for molecular genetic studies mosquito biology. To enhance our understanding female reproduction, to develop new tools basic research strategies control mosquito-borne infectious diseases, we identified 79 genes that displayed previtellogenic germline-specific expression based RNA-Seq data generated from 11 life stage-specific sex-specific samples. Analysis this gene set provided...
Abstract Single molecule real‐time (SMRT) sequencing has recently been used to obtain full‐length cDNA sequences that improve genome annotation and reveal RNA isoforms. Here, we one such method called isoform from Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) sequence a library the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi . More than 600 000 cDNAs, referred as reads of insert, were identified. Owing inherently high error rate PacBio sequencing, tested different approaches for correction. We found...
The maternal zygotic transition marks the time at which transcription from genome is initiated and a subset of RNAs are progressively degraded in developing embryo. A number early genes have been identified Drosophila melanogaster comparisons to sequenced mosquito genomes suggest that some these such as bottleneck fast-evolving or subject turnover dipteran insects. One objective this study identify yellow fever Aedes aegypti their evolution. We also interested obtaining promoters will direct...
ITmD37E, a unique class II transposable element (TE) with an ancient origin, appears to have been involved in multiple horizontal transfers mosquitoes as ITmD37E sequences from 10 mosquito species of five genera share high nucleotide (nt) identities. For example, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, which estimated common ancestor 145-200 million years ago, display 92% nt identity. The comparison host phylogenies shows lack congruence. wide distribution conserved ITmD37Es the presence intact...
The mosquito family Culicidae is divided into 2 subfamilies named the Culicinae and Anophelinae. Nix, dominant male-determining factor, has only been found in culicines Aedes aegypti albopictus, important arboviral vectors that belong to subgenus Stegomyia. Here we performed sex-specific whole-genome sequencing RNAseq of divergent species explored additional male-inclusive datasets investigate distribution Nix. Except for Culex genus, Nix homologs were all surveyed from subfamily, including...
In contrast to DNA-mediated transposable elements (TEs), retrotransposons, particularly non-long terminal repeat retrotransposons (non-LTRs), are generally considered have a much lower propensity towards horizontal transfer. Detailed studies on site-specific non-LTR families demonstrated strict vertical transmission. More needed with non-site-specific determine whether transmission is phenomenon related site specificity or more general characteristic of all non-LTRs. Juan Jockey clade...
AaegR4_1 and AgamR4_1 are the sole R4 clade non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons in Aedes aegypti Anopheles gambiae, two species that diverged approximately 145–200 million years ago. Twelve full-length copies were found Ae. have less than 1% nucleotide (nt) divergence, suggesting recent activity on an evolutionary time scale. Five of these intact open reading frames 3.6 kb frame AaegR4_1.1 has 78% nt identity to AgamR4_1.1. No An. gambiae. Searches 25 genomic databases for 22...
A dominant and hemizygous male-determining locus (M locus) establishes the male sex (M/m) in yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti . Nix is a factor factor) M its transient expression females (m/m) results partial masculinization. Here, we show that transgene alone was sufficient to convert into fertile males, which continued produce sex-converted progeny subsequent generations. However, assisted mating with wild-type necessary, as converted m/m males could not fly. Knockout of myo-sex ,...
Abstract The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is globally expanding and has become the main vector for human arboviruses in Europe. Here we present AalbF2, a dramatically improved assembly of Ae. genome that revealed widespread viral insertions, novel microRNAs piRNA clusters, sex determining locus, new immunity genes, enabled genome-wide studies geographically diverse populations analyses developmental stage-dependent network expression data. Additionally, built first physical map this...
Abstract Background The wide distribution of Aedes aegypti , the main vector dengue and yellow fever viruses, currently puts three billion people in world at risk infection with these viruses. Continuous transmission other viruses despite aggressive efforts to prevent this emphasizes need develop new control strategies. Proposals disease based on engineering, including both population suppression replacement, rely development transgenes under regulatory elements able drive molecules a...
The Asian malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, is a major urban vector in the Middle East and on Indian subcontinent. Early zygotic transcription, which marks maternal-to-zygotic transition, has not been systematically studied An. stephensi or any other mosquitoes. Improved understanding of early embryonic gene expression will facilitate genetic evolutionary studies help with development novel control strategies for this important disease vector.We obtained RNA-seq data biological...
Background Aedes aegypti , the main vector of dengue, yellow fever, and other arboviruses thrives in tropical subtropical areas around globe putting half world’s population at risk. Despite aggressive efforts to control transmission those viruses, an unacceptable number cases occur every year, emphasizing need develop new strategies. Proposals for focused on suppression could offer a feasible alternative method reduce disease transmission. The induction extreme male-biased sex ratios has...