Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Judith U. Oguzie, Udoka C. Nwangwu, Paul E. Oluniyi, Testimony J. Olumade, Uwem E. George, Akano Kazeem, Bolajoko E. Bankole, Farida O. Brimmo, Chukwuemeka C. Asadu, Okechukwu C. Chukwuekezie, Josephine C. Ochu, Catherine O. Makwe, Festus A. Dogunro, Cosmas O. Onwude, William E. Nwachukwu, Ebuka K. Ezihe, Gilkenny K. Okonkwo, Ndubuisi E. Umazi, Jacob Maikere, Nneka O. Agashi, Emelda I. Eloy, Stephen O. Anokwu, Angela I. Okoronkwo, Ebuka M. Nwosu, Sandra O. Etiki, Ifeoma M. Ngwu, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Onikepe A. Folarin, Isaac O. O. Komolafe, Christian T. Happi
Summary: This study used metagenomic sequencing to identify viruses in mosquito vectors during Yellow fever outbreaks in Nigeria. Multiple viruses belonging to different families were detected, providing insights into the virome of mosquito vectors in Nigeria. Although the pathogenicity of these viruses is currently unknown, they are closely related to known arboviruses.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heather Coatsworth, Jovana Bozic, Juliana Carrillo, Eva A. Buckner, Adam R. Rivers, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Derrick K. Mathias
Summary: Virome studies have shown the presence of RNA viruses in animals, leading to a rethinking of the relationships between organisms and their microbiota. Mosquito viromes, especially those of Aedes aegypti, could potentially contain a core virome that impacts the basic biology of the host. This study investigated the virome composition in A. aegypti and found varying compositions across samples, suggesting the potential for a vertically maintained core virome.
Article
Microbiology
Rhys Parry, Maddie E. James, Sassan Asgari
Summary: Analysis of over 3000 RNA sequencing libraries revealed virome diversity of Aedes mosquitoes, identifying novel and previously characterized viruses. Significant inter-host variation of insect-specific viruses within individuals and virus diversity in Wolbachia infected Aedes cell lines were found. This study expands our understanding of important vector viromes and provides a resource for further research on the ecology and evolution of these viruses.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jurgen P. Moonen, Michelle Schinkel, Tom van der Most, Pascal Miesen, Ronald P. van Rij
Summary: Mosquitoes are important vectors for infectious viral diseases, and understanding the mosquito virome is crucial for studying disease emergence and outbreak dynamics. A searchable database of insect-specific viruses associated with mosquitoes has been constructed, providing valuable information on their global distribution and the challenges of integrating virome data.
Review
Immunology
Mine Altinli, Esther Schnettler, Mathieu Sicard
Summary: Mosquitoes not only transmit arboviruses but also carry mosquito-associated insect-specific viruses. Recent advances in viral metagenomics have revealed the abundance of viruses without visible symptoms. Studies have shifted towards investigating single-stranded RNA mosquito viruses and their interference with arboviruses in female adults.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
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
Parasitology
Muhammad Sajjad Sarwar, Nusrat Jahan, Azeem Ali, Hafiz Kamran Yousaf, Iqra Munzoor
Summary: The study found that Wolbachia strain wAlbB has the potential to control the spread of dengue fever in Aedes aegypti populations by producing a strong cytoplasmic incompatibility effect, with limited impact on the host.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Oshani C. Ratnayake, Nunya Chotiwan, Karla Saavedra-Rodriguez, Rushika Perera
Summary: Arboviruses like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya cause significant health and economic burdens, primarily in developing countries, and are vectored by mosquitoes. Despite efforts to control these vectors, they continue to spread globally, exposing more than half of the world's population to these viruses. The lack of effective vaccines or antivirals highlights the importance of vector control as a fundamental strategy to prevent disease transmission.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Matheus A. Duarte, Fabricio S. Campos, Osvaldo F. Araujo Neto, Leonardo A. Silva, Arthur B. Silva, Thalita C. Aguiar, Raissa N. Santos, Ueric J. B. Souza, Giselly B. Alves, Fernando L. Melo, Daniel M. P. Ardisson-Araujo, Raimundo W. S. Aguiar, Bergmann M. Ribeiro
Summary: This study used high-throughput sequencing to characterize virus sequences in wild-caught Ae.aegypti mosquitoes in Tocantins state, Brazil, discovering new viral strains and contributing to the understanding of virus diversity in mosquitoes.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Li-Lian Chao, Chien-Ming Shih
Summary: The prevalence and genetic character of Wolbachia endosymbionts in field-collected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were examined for the first time in Taiwan. A total of 665 Ae. aegypti were screened for Wolbachia infection using a PCR assay, and the prevalence of Wolbachia infection was found to be 3.3%, with strains belonging to supergroups A and B.
Article
Parasitology
Luana Cristina Farnesi, Fabiano Dias Carvalho, Anna Paula Canuto Lacerda, Luciano Andrade Moreira, Rafaela Vieira Bruno
Summary: The study found that different blood sources did not influence the fitness of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes; after 35 generations, the Wolbachia density in the mosquito population fed on mouse blood was even higher than in those fed on human blood.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Perran A. Ross, Xinyue Gu, Katie L. Robinson, Qiong Yang, Ellen Cottingham, Yifan Zhang, Heng Lin Yeap, Xuefen Xu, Nancy M. Endersby-Harshman, Ary A. Hoffmann
Summary: Aedes mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacteria are released in arbovirus and mosquito control programs worldwide. Our study demonstrates that the Wolbachia infection remains stable across different mosquito populations and host backgrounds over time, with minimal genetic changes despite spending over 15 years in a novel mosquito host. This stability suggests that Wolbachia could be an effective long-term strategy for controlling arbovirus transmission and mosquito populations.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Roenick P. Olmo, Yaovi M. H. Todjro, Eric R. G. R. Aguiar, Joao Paulo P. de Almeida, Flavia V. Ferreira, Juliana N. Armache, Isaque J. S. de Faria, Alvaro G. A. Ferreira, Siad C. G. Amadou, Ana Teresa S. Silva, Katia P. R. de Souza, Ana Paula P. Vilela, Antinea Babarit, Cheong H. Tan, Mawlouth Diallo, Alioune Gaye, Christophe Paupy, Judicael Obame-Nkoghe, Tessa M. M. Visser, Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt, Merril A. Wongsokarijo, Ana Luiza C. Cruz, Mariliza T. Prieto, Maisa C. P. Parra, Mauricio L. Nogueira, Vivian Avelino-Silva, Renato N. N. Mota, Magno A. Z. Borges, Betania P. Drumond, Erna G. G. Kroon, Mario Recker, Luigi Sedda, Eric Marois, Jean-Luc Imler, Joao T. Marques
Summary: The study analyzed the mechanism by which insect-specific viruses affect mosquito vector competence to transmit dengue virus to humans. Two mosquito-specific viruses, Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) and Humaita Tubiacanga virus (HTV), were found to be the most abundant in Aedes aegypti worldwide. The presence of HTV and PCLV increased the ability of mosquitoes to transmit dengue virus and Zika virus to a vertebrate host.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Michael Leitner, Cameron Bishop, Sassan Asgari
Summary: The study revealed the transcriptional response of Wolbachia in A. aegypti cells infected with dengue virus, indicating changes in the expression of certain functionally important Wolbachia genes. This provides insights into the endosymbiont's reaction to virus infection.
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Rajivganthi Chinnathambi, Fathalla A. Rihan
Summary: This paper describes the combination of sterile and incompatible insect techniques for reducing mosquito populations and preventing disease transmission. The impulsive differential equations and open-loop control system are used to monitor and control the wild mosquito population in real-time. The Sterile insect technique is employed to eliminate or reduce mosquito populations.
MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Seyede Fatemeh Nasehi, Yaghoub Fathipour, Sassan Asgari, Mohammad Mehrabadi
Summary: Temperature has a greater impact on the CI phenotype of Habrobracon hebetor wasps than male age, reducing CI penetrance and decreasing the expression of CI factors. CifA shows higher expression levels than CifB, and temperature affects Wolbachia and prophage WO titers as well as the expression levels of cif genes that modulate CI levels.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Henry de Malmanche, Mazhar Hussain, Esteban Marcellin, Steve Reid, Sassan Asgari
Summary: The Sf9 cell line, widely used for the production of recombinant proteins and virus-like particles, has been found to use RNA interference (RNAi) as an antiviral response to baculovirus infection. Knocking out Dicer-2, a key protein in the RNAi pathway, resulted in increased viral replication in Sf9 cells, indicating a potential role for RNAi in managing chronic viral infections in this cell line.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eduardo A. Albornoz, Alberto A. Amarilla, Naphak Modhiran, Sandra Parker, Xaria X. Li, Danushka K. Wijesundara, Julio Aguado, Adriana Pliego Zamora, Christopher L. D. McMillan, Benjamin Liang, Nias Y. G. Peng, Julian D. J. Sng, Fatema Tuj Saima, Jenny N. Fung, John D. Lee, Devina Paramitha, Rhys Parry, Michael S. Avumegah, Ariel Isaacs, Martin W. Lo, Zaray Miranda-Chacon, Daniella Bradshaw, Constanza Salinas-Rebolledo, Niwanthi W. Rajapakse, Ernst J. Wolvetang, Trent P. Munro, Alejandro Rojas-Fernandez, Paul R. Young, Katryn J. Stacey, Alexander A. Khromykh, Keith J. Chappell, Daniel Watterson, Trent M. Woodruff
Summary: COVID-19 infection may lead to neurological symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. The study found that SARS-CoV-2 and spike protein can directly activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in microglial cells, which may contribute to the development of neuroinflammation.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cameron Bishop, Mazhar Hussain, Leon E. Hugo, Sassan Asgari
Summary: The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia can affect the longevity of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes by regulating their miRNA, providing a potential biocontrol strategy for viruses transmitted by these mosquitoes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Sassan Asgari
Summary: Insect pathogens are crucial in controlling medical and agricultural pests. Cui et al. found that genetically modified fungi, expressing host mosquito miRNAs, can enhance the fungus's efficacy by suppressing the host immune response. This discovery paves the way for the utilization of cross-kingdom RNA interference in biocontrol.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mazhar Hussain, Guangmei Zhang, Michael Leitner, Lauren M. Hedges, Sassan Asgari
Summary: The study found that the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia blocks replication of dengue virus by inducing the expression of RNase HI gene, and knocking down this gene increases dengue virus replication. Moreover, overexpressing the RNase HI gene can reduce replication of positive sense RNA viruses but has no effect on negative sense RNA viruses, revealing the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated virus blocking.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhenkai Dai, Sassan Asgari
Summary: Potential erasers of m(6)A in insects have been identified, including the candidate eraser ALKBH8. Experimental results showed that ALKBH8 can reduce the m(6)A levels in Aedes aegypti and Drosophila melanogaster RNAs.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Virology
Peter Speck, Jason Mackenzie, Rowena A. Bull, Barry Slobedman, Heidi Drummer, Johanna Fraser, Lara Herrero, Karla Helbig, Sarah Londrigan, Gregory Moseley, Natalie Prow, Grant Hansman, Robert Edwards, Chantelle Ahlenstiel, Allison Abendroth, David Tscharke, Jody Hobson-Peters, Robson Kriiger-Loterio, Rhys Parry, Glenn Marsh, Emma Harding, David A. Jacques, Matthew J. Gartner, Wen Shi Lee, Julie McAuley, Paola Vaz, Frank Sainsbury, Michelle D. Tate, Jane Sinclair, Allison Imrie, Stephen Rawlinson, Andrew Harman, Jillian M. Carr, Ebony A. Monson, Merilyn Hibma, Timothy J. Mahony, Thomas Tu, Robert J. Center, Lok Bahadur Shrestha, Robyn Hall, Morgyn Warner, Vernon Ward, Danielle E. Anderson, Nicholas S. Eyre, Natalie E. Netzler, Alison J. Peel, Peter Revill, Michael Beard, Alistair R. Legione, Alexandra J. Spencer, Adi Idris, Jade Forwood, Subir Sarker, Damian F. J. Purcell, Nathan Bartlett, Joshua M. Deerain, Bruce J. Brew, Sassan Asgari, Helen Farrell, Alexander Khromykh, Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu, David Anderson, Sevim Mese, Yaman Tayyar, Kathryn Edenborough, Jasim Muhammad Uddin, Abrar Hussain, Connor J. I. Daymond, Jacinta Agius, Karyn N. Johnson, Paniz Shirmast, Mahdi Abedinzadeshahri, Robin MacDiarmid, Caroline L. Ashley, Jay Laws, Lucy L. Furfaro, Thomas D. Burton, Stephen M. R. Johnson, Zahra Telikani, Mary Petrone, Justin A. Roby, Carolyn Samer, Andreas Suhrbier, April van der Kamp, Anthony Cunningham, Celeste Donato, Jackie Mahar, Wesley D. Black, Subhash Vasudevan, Roman Lenchine, Kirsten Spann, Daniel J. Rawle, Penny Rudd, Jessica Neil, Richard Kingston, Timothy P. Newsome, Ki Wook Kim, Johnson Mak, Kym Lowry, Nathan Bryant, Joanne Meers, Jason A. Roberts, Nigel McMillan, Larisa I. Labzin, Andrii Slonchak, Leon E. Hugo, Bennett Henzeler, Natalee D. Newton, Cassandra T. David, Patrick C. Reading, Camille Esneau, Tatiana Briody, Najla Nasr, Donna McNeale, Brian McSharry, Omid Fakhri, Bethany A. Horsburgh, Grant Logan, Paul Howley, Paul Young
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Mazhar Hussain, Kayvan Etebari, Sassan Asgari
Summary: Wolbachia pipientis can block replication of positive sense RNA viruses. A study on Aedes aegypti cell lines revealed that dengue virus (DENV) was blocked in cells carrying the wAlbB strain of Wolbachia, but significantly inhibited in tetracycline-cured cells. RNA-Seq analysis showed the removal of Wolbachia and absence of Wolbachia gene expression in tetracycline-cured cells, while the abundance of phasi charoen-like virus (PCLV) was increased. Decreasing PCLV levels through RNAi resulted in increased DENV replication, indicating an antagonistic interaction between DENV and PCLV.
Letter
Microbiology
Peter Speck, Jason Mackenzie, Rowena A. Bull, Barry Slobedman, Heidi Drummer, Johanna Fraser, Lara Herrero, Karla Helbig, Sarah Londrigan, Gregory Moseley, Natalie Prow, Grant Hansman, Robert Edwards, Chantelle Ahlenstiel, Allison Abendroth, David Tscharke, Jody Hobson-Peters, Robson Kriiger-Loterio, Rhys Parry, Glenn Marsh, Emma Harding, David A. Jacques, Matthew J. Gartner, Wen Shi Lee, Julie McAuley, Paola Vaz, Frank Sainsbury, Michelle D. Tate, Jane Sinclair, Allison Imrie, Stephen Rawlinson, Andrew Harman, Jillian M. Carr, Ebony A. Monson, Merilyn Hibma, Timothy J. Mahony, Thomas Tu, Robert J. Center, Lok Bahadur Shrestha, Robyn Hall, Morgyn Warner, Vernon Ward, Danielle E. Anderson, Nicholas S. Eyre, Natalie E. Netzler, Alison J. Peel, Peter Revill, Michael Beard, Alistair R. Legione, Alexandra J. Spencer, Adi Idris, Jade Forwood, Subir Sarker, Damian F. J. Purcell, Nathan Bartlett, Joshua M. Deerain, Bruce J. Brew, Sassan Asgari, Helen Farrell, Alexander Khromykh, Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu, David Anderson, Sevim Mese, Yaman Tayyar, Kathryn Edenborough, Jasim Muhammad Uddin, Abrar Hussain, Connor J. Daymond, Jacinta Agius, Karyn N. Johnson, Paniz Shirmast, Mahdi Abedinzadeshahri, Robin MacDiarmid, Caroline L. Ashley, Jay Laws, Lucy L. Furfaro, Thomas D. Burton, Stephen M. R. Johnson, Zahra Telikani, Mary Petrone, Justin A. Roby, Carolyn Samer, Andreas Suhrbier, April van der Kamp, Anthony Cunningham, Celeste Donato, Jackie Mahar, Wesley D. Black, Subhash Vasudevan, Roman Lenchine, Kirsten Spann, Daniel J. Rawle, Penny Rudd, Jessica Neil, Richard Kingston, Timothy P. Newsome, Ki Wook Kim, Johnson Mak, Kym Lowry, Nathan Bryant, Joanne Meers, Jason A. Roberts, Nigel McMillan, Larisa I. Labzin, Andrii Slonchak, Leon E. Hugo, Bennett Henzeler, Natalee D. Newton, Cassandra T. David, Patrick C. Reading, Camille Esneau, Tatiana Briody, Najla Nasr, Donna McNeale, Brian McSharry, Omid Fakhri, Bethany A. Horsburgh, Grant Logan, Paul Howley, Paul Young
Letter
Microbiology
Peter Speck, Jason Mackenzie, Rowena A. Bull, Barry Slobedman, Heidi Drummer, Johanna Fraser, Lara Herrero, Karla Helbig, Sarah Londrigan, Gregory Moseley, Natalie Prow, Grant Hansman, Robert Edwards, Chantelle Ahlenstiel, Allison Abendroth, David Tscharke, Jody Hobson-Peters, Robson Kriiger-Loterio, Rhys Parry, Glenn Marsh, Emma Harding, David A. Jacques, Matthew J. Gartner, Wen Shi Lee, Julie McAuley, Paola Vaz, Frank Sainsbury, Michelle D. Tate, Jane Sinclair, Allison Imrie, Stephen Rawlinson, Andrew Harman, Jillian M. Carr, Ebony A. Monson, Merilyn Hibma, Timothy J. Mahony, Thomas Tu, Robert J. Center, Lok Bahadur Shrestha, Robyn Hall, Morgy Warner, Vernon Ward, Danielle E. Anderson, Nicholas S. Eyre, Natalie E. Netzler, Alison J. Peel, Peter Revill, Michael Beard, Alistair R. Legione, Alexandra J. Spencer, Adi Idris, Jade Forwood, Subir Sarker, Damian F. J. Purcell, Nathan Bartlett, Joshua M. Deerain, Bruce J. Brew, Sassan Asgari, Helen Farrell, Alexander Khromykh, Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu, David Anderson, Sevim Mese, Yaman Tayyar, Kathryn Edenborough, Jasim Muhammad Uddin, Abrar Hussain, Connor J. I. Daymond, Jacinta Agius, Karyn N. Johnson, Paniz Shirmast, Mahdi Abedinzadeshahri, Robin MacDiarmid, Caroline L. Ashley, Jay Laws, Lucy L. Furfaro, Thomas D. Burton, Stephen M. R. Johnson, Zahra Telikani, Mary Petrone, Justin A. Roby, Carolyn Samer, Andreas Suhrbier, April van der Kamp, Anthony Cunningham, Celeste Donato, Jackie Mahar, Wesley D. Black, Subhash Vasudevan, Roman Lenchine, Kirsten Spann, Daniel J. Rawle, Penny Rudd, Jessica Neil, Richard Kingston, Timothy P. Newsome, Ki Wook Kim, Johnson Mak, Kym Lowry, Nathan Bryant, Joanne Meers, Jason A. Roberts, Nigel McMillan, Larisa I. Labzin, Andrii Slonchak, Leon E. Hugo, Bennett Henzeler, Natalee D. Newton, Cassandra T. David, Patrick C. Reading, Camille Esneau, Tatiana Briody, Najla Nasr, Donna McNeale, Brian McSharry, Omid Fakhri, Bethany A. Horsburgh, Grant Logan, Paul Howley, Paul Young
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rong Cheng, Dan Li, De-yong Duan, Rhys Parry, Tian-yin Cheng, Lei Liu
Summary: This study aimed to depict the protein profile and dynamics in tick embryogenesis, and found 93 high-confidence proteins in tick eggs, belonging to seven functional categories. The study also revealed changes in protein abundance during embryonic development. Targeted interventions by focusing on the egg proteins could provide further insights into tick control methods.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Julio Aguado, Alberto A. Amarilla, Atefeh Taherian Fard, Eduardo A. Albornoz, Alexander Tyshkovskiy, Marius Schwabenland, Harman K. Chaggar, Naphak Modhiran, Cecilia Gomez-Inclan, Ibrahim Javed, Alireza A. Baradar, Benjamin Liang, Lianli Peng, Malindrie Dharmaratne, Giovanni Pietrogrande, Pranesh Padmanabhan, Morgan E. Freney, Rhys Parry, Julian D. J. Sng, Ariel Isaacs, Alexander A. Khromykh, Guillermo Valenzuela Nieto, Alejandro Rojas-Fernandez, Thomas P. Davis, Marco Prinz, Bertram Bengsch, Vadim N. Gladyshev, Trent M. Woodruff, Jessica C. Mar, Daniel Watterson, Ernst J. Wolvetang
Summary: Senescent cells play a significant role in brain aging and COVID-19-induced neuropathology, and senolytic therapy shows therapeutic potential in protecting against COVID-19-induced brain aging.
Article
Virology
Connor G. G. Bamford, William M. de Souza, Rhys Parry, Robert J. Gifford
Summary: Flavivirids, a family of RNA viruses, have been found to be over 100 million years old and have evolved in early animals, co-diverging with major animal phyla. The study also reveals that some classical flaviviruses initially evolved in hematophagous arachnids and later acquired the ability to be transmitted by insects.