Genetic evaluation of the vectorial competence and genomic silencing study mediated by RNAi in natural Brazilian populations of Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Dengue is the arbovirosis of greater growth in recent years, reflecting on social and economic impacts due to the high morbidity and mortality rates triggered by infection. Dengue has Aedes aegypti as its primary vector, which is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the planet. Due to its anthropophilic and haematophagic habit, rapid development and specific behavioral characteristics, it is an excellent dengue virus transmitter. Control measurements are restricted to eliminating the mosquito vector since neither specific treatments nor tetravalent vaccines are yet commercially available. One feature that determines the spread of the disease is the high vector competence of its vector mosquitoes, which has been associated to its genetic factors and to its gut microbiota. The present study will evaluate genetic and microbial factors related to vector competence of natural populations of Ae. Aegypti with different levels of susceptibilities to dengue virus serotype 4 (DENV-4). For that, we will evaluate the susceptibility to DENV-4 infection of two field collected mosquito populations (Botucatu-SP and Neópolis-SE) through infection assays and relative quantification by RT-qPCR. Differential gene expression and gut microbial diversity analyses will be performed using next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) through Illumina HiScanSQ and MiSeq platforms, respectively. This study will assist in obtaining data to enable the development of strategies to reduce transmission of dengue, the mosquito vector control and thus prevent epidemics. (AU)