Aedes–Chikungunya Virus Interaction: Key Role of Vector Midguts Microbiota and Its Saliva in the Host Infection

Abstract

Aedes mosquitoes are important vectors for emerging diseases caused by arboviruses, such as chikungunya (CHIKV). These viruses’ main transmitting species are Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus , which are present in tropical and temperate climatic areas all over the globe. Knowledge of vector characteristics is fundamentally important to the understanding of virus transmission. Only female mosquitoes are able to transmit CHIKV to the vertebrate host since they are hematophagous. In addition, mosquito microbiota is fundamentally important to virus infection in the mosquito. Microorganisms are able to modulate viral transmission in the mosquito, such as bacteria of the Wolbachia genus, which are capable of preventing viral infection, or protozoans of the Ascogregarina species, which are capable of facilitating virus transmission between mosquitoes and larvae. The competence of the mosquito is also important in the transmission of the virus to the vertebrate host, since their saliva has several substances with biological effects, such as immunomodulators and anticoagulants, which are able to modulate the host’s response to the virus, interfering in its pathogenicity and virulence. Understanding the Aedes vector-chikungunya interaction is fundamentally important since it can enable the search for new methods of combating the virus’ transmission.

Management Options for Ixodes ricinus-Associated Pathogens: A Review of Prevention Strategies

“…This includes two strategies which are very promising in management of mosquito associated risks, yet understudied in TAR management research. First, the impact of midgut microbiome on mosquito vector competence has been studied extensively [139][140][141]. Several laboratory and field experiments showed that release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes can reduce prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya [142].…”

The Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) microbiome varies spatially and with Ascogregarine infection

“…and Anopheles sp. mosquitoes to arboviruses and Plasmodium sp., respectively [ 10 – 12 ]. This change in vector competence might be associated with competition between microbial symbionts for resources, the release of anti-pathogen peptides that directly limit pathogen growth and extend the incubation period, or through the regulation of specific components of the insect immune system [ 8 , 13 ].…”

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

“…Secondly, limited research is available on other disease vectors such as sand flies and ticks. A bulk of the literature identified in this analysis focuses on mosquitoes—the discussions on common vector breeding grounds [ 52 , 106 , 107 , 108 ] and the efficacy of insect-killing traps seldom involve other disease vectors [ 128 ]. There is a need for research into effective methods to better understand the breeding habitat ecology of sand flies in immature stages, which will facilitate the development of targeted control strategies such as source reduction, which are not yet possible as sand fly larvae can be difficult to detect, in contrast to other vectors such as mosquitoes [ 173 , 174 , 175 ].…”

“…Water bodies and still water are the most common mosquito larval habitats [ 52 ]; their prevalence increases the risk of disease transmission, as noted for VBDs such as Zika [ 106 ], chikungunya [ 107 ], and malaria [ 108 ].…”