Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
I. Alexandra Amaro, Yasir H. Ahmed-Braimah, Garrett P. League, Sylvie A. Pitcher, Frank W. Avila, Priscilla C. Cruz, Laura C. Harrington, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: Mating-induced changes in the arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti, driven by seminal fluid proteins, result in altered gene expression responses in the female reproductive tract, highlighting potential targets for further investigation in post-mating responses and vector control strategies.
Article
Biology
Jessica Osorio, Sara Villa-Arias, Carolina Camargo, Luis Felipe Ramirez-Sanchez, Luisa Maria Barrientos, Carolina Bedoya, Guillermo Rua-Uribe, Steve Dorus, Catalina Alfonso-Parra, Frank W. W. Avila
Summary: Transinfection with Wolbachia can control Ae. aegypti populations and reduce the impact on human health. It affects the fertility and fecundity of mosquitoes and extends the lifespan of virgin females.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jun Isoe, Carter J. Simington, Max E. Oscherwitz, Alyssa J. Peterson, Alberto A. Rascon, Brooke B. Massani, Roger L. Miesfeld, Michael A. Riehle
Summary: This study identified several essential proteins for eggshell formation in Aedes aegypti and characterized their roles through molecular and biochemical approaches. These proteins, along with additional secreted eggshell enzymes, provide potential targets for future mosquito control strategies. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which these proteins regulate eggshell formation and melanization.
Article
Virology
Steven M. Erb, Siritorn Butrapet, John T. Roehrig, Claire Y-H Huang, Carol D. Blair
Summary: Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. A study found that adaptive mutations in the virus can increase the infection rate in mosquitoes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Triwibowo Ambar Garjito, Lulus Susanti, Mujiyono Mujiyono, Mega Tyas Prihatin, Dwi Susilo, Sidiq Setyo Nugroho, Mujiyanto Mujiyanto, Raden Ajeng Wigati, Tri Baskoro Tunggul Satoto, Sylvie Manguin, Laurent Gavotte, Roger Frutos
Summary: There are various methods to collect and assess the abundance of dengue vector mosquitoes, but the lack of long-term sampling methods may result in variability and lack of statistical significance in the results. There is no correlation between the collection methods and the presence of dengue virus in mosquitoes or the incidence of dengue, and the efficacy of a given method is inconsistent across different locations.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shailabh Kumar, Felix J. H. Hol, Sujit Pujhari, Clayton Ellington, Haripriya Vaidehi Narayanan, Hongquan Li, Jason L. Rasgon, Manu Prakash
Summary: The Vectorchip is a low-cost microfluidic platform that enables high-throughput analysis of individual mosquito bites, allowing detection of mosquito-carried DNA, RNA, and viral particles. This technology provides a promising approach for laboratory and field characterization of vector-pathogen communities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Sarah E. Maguire, Ali Afify, Loyal A. Goff, Christopher J. Potter
Summary: In mosquitoes, ectopic expression of AgOR inhibits the activity of expressing neurons and leads to significant downregulation of most AgOR transcripts. Additionally, the gene choice of AgOR remains active into adulthood and the expression of AgOR2 inhibits the turning on of AgORs at this late stage.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Daniele Carvalho Abrantes, Carolina Barbara Rogerio, Jhones L. de Oliveira, Estefania V. R. Campos, Daniele Ribeiro de Araujo, Laurindo Cesar Pampana, Marcelo Jose Duarte, Georgio Freesz Valadares, Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto
Summary: Arboviral diseases pose a threat to global public health, with a significant percentage of the world population at risk. Mosquito repellents are an effective strategy but may not be accessible to lower-income populations. The development of nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with repellents shows promise in providing effective, stable, and safe protection against arthropod-borne viruses.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Krithika Venkataraman, Nadav Shai, Priyanka Lakhiani, Sarah Zylka, Jieqing Zhao, Margaret Herre, Joshua Zeng, Lauren A. Neal, Henrik Molina, Li Zhao, Leslie B. Vosshall
Summary: Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes face climate challenges due to rising global temperatures, causing suboptimal conditions for egg-laying. In the laboratory, under drought-like conditions, these mosquitoes retain mature eggs until suitable conditions for laying eggs arise. The genes tweedledee and tweedledum are found to play a crucial role in this extended egg retention.
Article
Parasitology
Austin J. Mejia, H. L. C. Dutra, M. J. Jones, R. Perera, E. A. McGraw
Summary: This study found that there is little relationship among the relative Wolbachia densities in different tissues of the same host. There is also very little relationship between Wolbachia densities in parents and those in offspring, except for a strong positive association in the ovary-egg relationship. Relative Wolbachia densities in reproductive tissues are always greater than those in somatic tissues.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhinan Lin, Yuqi Huang, Sihan Liu, Qiwen Huang, Biliang Zhang, Tianpeng Wang, Ziding Zhang, Xiaowei Zhu, Chenghong Liao, Qian Han
Summary: In this study, a gene coexpression network was constructed to explore the ontogeny of Ae. aegypti. Six gene modules and their intramodular hub genes associated with various developmental processes were identified. These findings provide valuable insights into potential molecular targets for disease control.
Article
Parasitology
Lie Cheng, Wei-Liang Liu, Matthew P. Su, Shu-Chen Huang, Jen-Ren Wang, Chun-Hong Chen
Summary: In this study, we found that prohemocytes were the major type of hemocyte infected by DENV in both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The infection rate of prohemocytes in Ae. albopictus was lower than that in Ae. aegypti, which may explain why systemic DENV infection in Ae. albopictus is less efficient than in Ae. aegypti and why Ae. albopictus is less correlated to dengue fever outbreaks.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chao-Ying Pan, Lie Cheng, Wei-Liang Liu, Matthew P. Su, Hui-Pin Ho, Che-Hun Liao, Jui-Hun Chang, Yu-Chieh Yang, Cheng-Chun Hsu, Joh-Jong Huang, Chun-Hong Chen
Summary: The study compared Aedes mosquito catch rates between passive gravitraps and active fan-traps in six urban areas of Kaohsiung City in 2019. Fan-traps consistently showed higher capture rates compared to gravitraps, with values more closely aligned with reported dengue fever cases and weekly fluctuations in temperature and rainfall. This supports the use of fan-traps for Aedes mosquito surveillance and control within broader vector management strategies, potentially aiding in early identification and prevention of disease outbreaks.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Shih-Che Weng, Po-Nien Tsao, Shin-Hong Shiao
Summary: This study found that blood glucose enhances DENV replication in mosquitoes, leading to increased virus transmission. The activation of AKT and TOR signaling pathways plays a crucial role in facilitating this process. This insight may contribute to understanding the relationship between dengue fever and diabetes mellitus and could potentially offer new targets for antiviral therapies.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Corey E. Seavey, Mona Doshi, Andrew P. Panarello, Michael A. Felice, Andrew K. Dickerson, Mollie W. Jewett, Bradley J. Willenberg
Summary: We have successfully engineered model human dermal microvascular bed tissue to study the biology of the skin bite site created by blood-feeding arthropods. This innovative platform, termed a Biologic Interfacial Tissue-Engineered System (BITES), has the potential to advance our understanding of arthropod bite-site biology.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melissa A. White, Alessandro Bonfini, Mariana F. Wolfner, Nicolas Buchon
Summary: After mating, Drosophila melanogaster females experience significant changes in their digestive system, triggered by the seminal fluid protein Sex Peptide (SP), to support egg production by altering gene expression and metabolism.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah E. Allen, Gabriel T. Koreman, Ankita Sarkar, Bei Wang, Mariana F. Wolfner, Chun Han
Summary: Mosaic animals have been an important tool in scientific research, and a new technique called MAGIC has been developed in Drosophila for generating mosaic animals and studying gene function in neural development. This versatile system eliminates the need for introducing recombinase-recognition sites in the genome, simplifying mosaic analysis in Drosophila and potentially being applicable in other organisms compatible with CRISPR/Cas9.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Melissa A. White, Dawn S. Chen, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: The biogenic monoamine octopamine (OA) plays a crucial role in regulating invertebrate physiology and behavior, particularly in female reproduction in insects. It acts as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and neurohormone in the female reproductive tract (RT), influencing oogenesis, ovulation, sperm storage, and reproductive behaviors in response to internal and external factors, including mating. Research on OA's involvement in female reproduction in insects, with a focus on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, provides insights into potential areas for future exploration.
JOURNAL OF NEUROGENETICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabriel T. Koreman, Yineng Xu, Qinan Hu, Zijing Zhang, Sarah E. Allen, Mariana F. Wolfner, Bei Wang, Chun Han
Summary: The study addresses the deficiencies of tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9 tools in Drosophila and proposes corresponding improvements. By optimizing gRNA design, developing methods to label mutant cells, and generating new genetic reagents, the versatility, reliability, and effectiveness of tissue-specific mutagenesis have been enhanced.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clement Immarigeon, Yohan Frei, Sofie Y. N. Delbare, Dragan Gligorov, Pedro Machado Almeida, Jasmine Grey, Lea Fabbro, Emi Nagoshi, Jean-Christophe Billeter, Mariana F. Wolfner, Francois Karch, Robert K. Maeda
Summary: Many transcripts previously considered noncoding RNAs are now found to produce peptides with important biological functions, such as the micropeptide encoded by male-specific abdominal RNA. This micropeptide is expressed exclusively in the secondary cells of the male accessory gland of Drosophila, and its loss of function results in defects in sperm competition, highlighting the importance of small peptides in biological processes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Garrett League, Ethan Degner, Sylvie C. Pitcher, Yassi S. Hafezi, Erica S. Tennant, Priscilla Cruz, Raksha W. Krishnan, Stefano F. Garcia Castillo, Catalina C. Alfonso-Parra, Frank Avila, Mariana Wolfner, Laura Harrington
Summary: Mating, male accessory gland extracts (MAG) injection, and sugar feeding do not directly affect blood intake or digestion in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, but they have negative impacts on subsequent feedings after an initial blood meal. These factors also influence egg production and laying. Mosquitoes collected in the field in Colombia, whether virgin or mated, were equally likely to contain blood at the time of collection.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erin L. McCullough, Emma Whittington, Akanksha Singh, Scott Pitnick, Mariana F. Wolfner, Steve Dorus
Summary: This study investigates the life history of Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome and reveals substantial compositional changes after sperm are transferred to the female reproductive tract (FRT). Multiple seminal fluid proteins initially associate with sperm, but become undetectable after sperm storage. Female-derived proteins also associate with sperm immediately after mating, and contribute nearly 20% to the postmating sperm proteome after storage in the FRT. These female-derived proteins are enriched in processes associated with energy metabolism, suggesting their role in supporting sperm viability during the period between copulation and fertilization.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stuart Wigby, Nora C. Brown, Irem Sepil, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: Some Drosophila melanogaster seminal fluid proteins are not exclusively expressed in the accessory glands, but also come from other male reproductive tissues.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dawn S. Chen, Andrew G. Clark, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: In a study on Drosophila, researchers found that inhibiting the activity of Tdc2 neurons in females resulted in a higher proportion of offspring from the first male. This suggests that octopaminergic/tyraminergic signaling plays a role in biased sperm usage in multiply-mated females, and highlights a new role for the female nervous system in postcopulatory sexual selection.
Review
Entomology
Melissa A. White, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: This article summarizes the studies on post-mating signaling events in the reproductive tract and digestive system of fruit flies, highlighting the role of male seminal fluid proteins. It also identifies incomplete parts of these pathways and proposes questions for future research.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kirill Borziak, Joseph Finkelstein
Summary: This study investigates X-linked genetic factors associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). Using UK Biobank microarray data, the researchers identified 20 significantly more abundant SNPs in individuals with MS, which are associated with genes involved in immunity and remyelination pathways. Additionally, a significant 20-fold increase in MS incidence was found in women with co-occurrences of SNPs related to myelination and immune functions.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Snigdha Misra, Norene A. Buehner, Akanksha Singh, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: This study reveals that the SP-sperm binding pathway is not entirely male-derived and that female contributions are needed to regulate the levels of SP associated with sperm stored in their storage sites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sofie Y. N. Delbare, Sara Venkatraman, Kate Scuderi, Martin T. Wells, Mariana F. Wolfner, Sumanta Basu, Andrew G. Clark
Summary: This study used high-resolution time series RNA-sequencing data to explore the genetic architecture of female's response to SP in Drosophila melanogaster. The results showed that SP not only triggers the transcriptional switch in females after mating, but also affects metabolic gene regulatory network and neuronal gene regulatory network, especially the disruption of female's circadian rhythm.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Andrology
Mariana F. F. Wolfner, Susan S. S. Suarez, Steve Dorus
Summary: Interactions between spermatozoa and the female reproductive tract are complex and have been historically viewed as hostile. However, recent research reveals that these interactions are beneficial and essential for fertility.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathon M. Thomalla, Mariana F. Wolfner