Integrated analysis of miRNAs and transcriptomes inAedes albopictusmidgut reveals the differential expression profiles of immune-related genes during dengue virus serotype-2 infection

Abstract

Mosquito microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in host-virus interaction, and have been reported to be altered by dengue virus (DENV) infection in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of Aedes albopictus midgut-the first organ to interact with DENV-involved in its resistance to DENV. Here we used high-throughput sequencing to characterize miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression patterns in Aedes albopictus midgut in response to dengue virus serotype 2. A total of three miRNAs and 777 mRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed upon DENV infection. For the mRNAs, we identified 198 immune-related genes and 31 of them were differentially expressed. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses also showed that the differentially expressed immune-related genes were involved in immune response. Then the differential expression patterns of six immune-related genes and three miRNAs were confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, seven known miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs were identified by aligning our two datasets. These analyses of miRNA and mRNA transcriptomes provide valuable information for uncovering the DENV response genes and provide a basis for future study of the resistance mechanisms in Aedes albopictus midgut.

miR-927 has pro-viral effects during acute and persistent infection with dengue virus type 2 in C6/36 mosquito cells

“…For example, miR-87 is downregulated in A. albopictus mosquitoes infected with DENV-2; the target genes of this miRNA include Pelle, Toll1A receptor, class A scavenger receptor with serine protease domain (SCRASP1) and galectin. However, miR-34-5 p was upregulated, and its target is Rel1 [8]. In agreement with this hypothesis, the inhibition or overexpression of miR-927 resulted in changes in the expression of Cecropin A, Cecropin G and Defensin D -all antimicrobial peptides associated with the Toll pathway response.…”

“…They have also been proposed as biomarkers of infection, adjuvants for antiviral treatment and as a method to improve vaccines [1]. miRNAs have been detected in mosquito vectors such as Culex quinquefasciatus [3], Aedes aegypti [3][4][5][6] and Aedes albopictus [7][8][9]. They are part of the antiviral innate immune response in addition to short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) [5,[10][11][12].…”

Zika virus alters the microRNA expression profile and elicits an RNAi response in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

“…In another study from the same group with Ae . albopictus and DENV2 infection specifically in the midgut tissue, three miRNAs (miR-2941, miR-989, miR-2943) were differentially expressed [ 29 ], the first two also with change in abundance upon ZIKV infection in this study. Furthermore, miR-989 was found to be depleted in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes by 2.8-fold when infected with WNV [ 30 ]; although this miRNA was enriched by about 1.8-fold at 2 and 14 dpi with ZIKV in the present study.…”

Leap forward with insect genomics

“…Liu et al . reported an integrated analysis of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and transcriptomes in the midgut of Aedes albopictus (Liu et al ., ). They showed differential expression profiles of immune‐related genes during infection by dengue virus serotype‐2.…”

“…Transcriptome data are powerful tools for direct identification of genes and analysis of global gene expression profiles. Liu et al reported an integrated analysis of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and transcriptomes in the midgut of Aedes albopictus (Liu et al, 2016a). They showed differential expression profiles of immune-related genes during infection by dengue virus serotype-2.…”