Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kangkang Chen, Xiaoyi Dou, Jai Hoon Eum, Ruby E. Harrison, Mark R. Brown, Michael R. Strand
Summary: This study assessed the expression of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone (OEH) in Aedes aegypti during a gonadotrophic cycle and further functionally characterized these peptides to understand their roles in regulating egg formation. The results showed that all ILPs and OEH were expressed during the cycle, and there were differences in their biological activities and insulin- insulin growth factor signaling (IIS) phosphorylation levels.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Yi Yan, Dong-Dong Qin, Hong Yang, Kang-Kang Xu, Can Li, Wen-Jia Yang
Summary: This study identified the post-transcriptional pathway of LsAkt in L. serricorne and identified the binding sites of miR-9c-5p and novel-mir50 in the coding sequences of LsAkt. miR-9c-5p and novel-mir50 downregulated the expression of LsAkt, leading to inhibited reproduction and ovarian development in L. serricorne. It was also found that bovine insulin could regulate miR-9c-5p/novel-mir50 expression and rescue the reproductive defects caused by their overexpression.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lin Ling, Alexander S. Raikhel
Summary: Female mosquitoes feed on carbohydrates and proteins during each gonadotrophic cycle to become reproductively competent, with metabolism synchronized to support this process. The hormones juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids play key roles in female mosquito reproduction, while insulin-like peptides are critical for controlling metabolism. The JH and 20E pathways regulate protein levels of ILPs, establishing a regulatory axis for metabolism during gonadotrophic cycles.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Chioma Oringanje, Lillian R. Delacruz, Yunan Han, Shirley Luckhart, Michael A. Riehle
Summary: Overexpression of AMPK in the midgut of female Anopheles stephensi resulted in changes in nutrient storage and metabolism, decreased glycogen levels, increased trehalose levels, and decreased prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum infection. This study highlights the important role of midgut AMPK activity in regulating metabolism, reproduction, and innate immunity in An. stephensi.
Review
Immunology
Andrea M. Darby, Brian P. Lazzaro
Summary: Immune response requires energy and nutrients, and insulin signaling plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism and overall homeostasis. Studies show interactions between host immune activity and insulin signaling, with effects varying depending on the pathogen, infection route, and host nutritional status.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Neha Thakre, Raquel M. Simao Gurge, Jun Isoe, Heather Kivi, Jessica Strickland, Lillian R. Delacruz, Anna M. Rodriguez, Reagan Haney, Rohollah Sadeghi, Teresa Joy, Minhao Chen, Shirley Luckhart, Michael A. Riehle
Summary: This study demonstrates that manipulating pantothenate kinase (PanK) activity and co-enzyme A (CoA) levels in mosquitoes can reduce malaria infection without significant effects on mosquito fitness.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Reproductive Biology
Yanshe Xie, Changhua Wu, Weidong Chen, Zhenfang Wu, Gengyuan Cai, Linjun Hong
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid vesicles derived from cells that participate in cell-cell communication by delivering cargo such as mRNAs, proteins, and non-coding RNAs to recipient cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), typically 22 nucleotides long, play a crucial role in developmental and pathophysiological processes by regulating gene expression in recipient cells. Infertility is a global health issue, and the use of EVs-encapsulated miRNAs in assisted reproductive technology (ART) could potentially optimize ART, improve reproductive rate, and treat infertility. This review discusses the current understanding of EVs-encapsulated miRNAs in reproductive regulation.
Article
Parasitology
Junnan Zheng, Jingwei Xu, Ruiming Zhang, Jiajia Du, Huan Wang, Jinze Li, Dan Zhou, Yan Sun, Bo Shen
Summary: This study demonstrated that miR-989 is crucial for reproduction in female mosquitoes by targeting 5-HTR1. The deletion of miR-989 led to smaller ovaries and reduced egg production, which could be rescued by knocking down 5-HTR1. These findings expand our understanding of reproduction-related miRNAs and could lead to new strategies for mosquito control.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shwetha Shivaprasad, Kuo-Feng Weng, Yaw Shin Ooi, Julia Belk, Jan E. Carette, Ryan Flynn, Peter Sarnow
Summary: Using a novel RNA-protein detection assay, researchers discovered that Sec61A1 and Loqs have pro-viral functions in dengue viral infections in mosquito cells. Specifically, Loqs forms complexes with the positive-strand of the viral RNA and the very 3' end of the negative-strand viral RNA. Further analysis showed that Loqs modulates viral RNA replication of dengue virus and gene amplification of several other flaviviral genomes. These findings suggest that Loqs is an essential pro-viral host factor in mosquitos.
Review
Entomology
Li Gao, Wenxu Yang, Jingwen Wang
Summary: Mosquito-borne diseases cause a significant number of deaths each year, but effective vaccines and drugs are lacking. Disease prevention relies mainly on mosquito control, which is currently insufficiently eco-friendly and sustainable. Understanding the metabolic interactions between mosquitoes and pathogens can help develop strategies to reduce mosquito populations or vector competence. This review summarizes current knowledge on the effects of mosquito metabolism on pathogen transmission and highlights the need for further research in order to develop multiple biological prevention and control strategies for mosquito-borne diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faye Chleilat, Alana Schick, Julie M. Deleemans, Raylene A. Reimer
Summary: Supplementing a paternal HF/S diet with methyl-donors can reduce offspring fat mass, decrease calorie intake, improve health outcomes, and present different features in transcriptome and gut microbiota.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Kang-Kang Xu, Yi Yan, Shu-Yan Yan, Peng-Liang Xia, Wen-Jia Yang, Can Li, Hong Yang
Summary: The study identified and characterized an Akt gene in the cigarette beetle, showing its crucial role in ovarian development, fecundity, hatchability, vitellogenin synthesis, juvenile hormone production, and carbohydrate metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haibo Fang, Xiu Wang, Xiaoxia Liu, J. P. Michaud, Yanan Wu, Huaijiang Zhang, Yisong Li, Zhen Li
Summary: In this study, the molecular characteristics of the insulin receptor (IR) in the cosmopolitan fruit boring pest Grapholita molesta were described, and its regulatory roles in glucolipid homeostasis and metamorphosis were elucidated. The study showed that IR is negatively regulated by miR-982490, which affects larval metamorphosis and adult weight. This expands our understanding of the regulatory network of the Insulin/Insulin-like growth factor signalling pathway (IIS) in insect nutritional homeostasis and development.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Darren Van Essen, Alper James G. Alcaraz, Justin G. P. Miller, Paul D. Jones, Jon A. Doering, Steve Wiseman
Summary: This study investigated the effects of the brominated flame retardant TBCO on oocyte maturation in zebrafish, suggesting impaired oocyte maturation as a potential mechanism for reduced reproductive performance in TBCO-exposed fish. The findings also indicated that the effects of TBCO on oocyte maturation may be due to molecular perturbations on insulin-like growth factor signaling and expression of microRNAs.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)