Transcriptomics of differential vector competence: West Nile virus infection in two populations of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus linked to ovary development

Abstract

BackgroundUnderstanding mechanisms that contribute to viral dissemination in mosquito vectors will contribute to our ability to interfere with the transmission of viral pathogens that impact public health. The expression of genes in two Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus populations from Florida with known differences in vector competence to West Nile virus (WNV) were compared using high throughput sequencing.ResultsA total of 15,176 transcripts were combined for comparison of expression differences between the two populations and 118 transcripts were differentially expressed (p < 0.05). The fold change in expression of the differentially expressed genes ranged from -7.5 – 6.13. The more competent population for WNV (Gainesville) over expressed 77 genes and down regulated 44 genes, compared with the less competent population for WNV (Vero Beach). Also, splicing analysis identified 3 transcripts with significantly different splice forms between the two populations. The functional analysis showed that the largest proportion of transcripts was included in the catalytic activity and transporter activity groups except for those in the unknown group. Interestingly, the up- regulated gene set contained most of the catalytic activity function and the down- regulated gene set had a notable proportion of transcripts with transporter activity function. Immune response category was shown in only the down regulated gene set, although those represent a relatively small portion of the function. Several different vitellogenin genes were expressed differentially. Based on the RNAseq data analysis, ovary development was compared across the populations and following WNV infection. There were significant differences among the compared groups.ConclusionsThis study suggests that ovary development is correlated to vector competence in two Culex populations in Florida. Both populations control energy allocations to reproduction as a response to WNV. This result provides novel insight into the defense mechanism used by Culex spp. mosquitoes against WNV.

Discovery and functional identification of fecundity‐related genes in the brown planthopper by large‐scale RNA interference

“…lugens, using high-and low-fecundity populations as sample groups, dozens of proteins and thousands of genes were found to be differentially expressed based on transcriptomic and proteomic analyses (Zhai et al, 2013). In several other insects, transcriptomic profiles related to fecundity have also been analysed (Hall et al, 2013;Niu et al, 2014;Shin et al, 2014;Wei et al, 2015). However, reports of the large-scale identification of potential fecundity-related genes are rare.…”

The Effect of West Nile Virus Infection on the Midgut Gene Expression of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, both in midguts and whole bodies, is modulated by WNV [20,33]. We have shown expression variation in specific midgut genes following infection and the expression of some of these genes influences WNV replication, with the highest expression coinciding with a decrease in titer [20].…”

Combination of kdr mutation and detoxification gene expression associated with high tolerance for permethrin in a resistant Aedes aegypti population

“…All of the Key West population were dead after 120 minutes of exposure to permethrin; thus, sampling from the Key West population was from the unexposed group and those exposed for 30 minutes. Total RNA from ten female mosquitoes per population per group was extracted using Trizol to determine the targeted gene expression [30]. The primers specific to the genes of interest (S2 Table) were designed to determine changes in detoxification gene expression by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR).…”