Mediators and mechanisms involved in the sensitization and desensitization processes to Aedes egypti mosquito bites

Abstract

Hematophagous mosquitoes represent the most important group of arthropod vectors, transmitting a number of parasitic and infectious diseases to humans. Females of Aedes aegypti species are vectors of dengue fever, yellow fever and Chikungunya fever. During the blood meal, hematophagous mosquitoes deal with the challenges posed by the vertebrate host: hemostasis barrier and immune system. To do so, the saliva of these vectors present several activities such as platelets' anti-aggregant, vasodilator, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulator. Several studies suggest that the proteins found in the saliva of infected mosquitoes are able to increase viral transmission and infectivity. Some other studies show that the salivary cocktail is able to sensitize humans, although most of them present desensitization over time. Our group has been studying the so-called "functional immune" of Ae. aegypti saliva, a pannel of the immunomodulatory activities found in the saliva. Our recent results suggest that the sensitization and desensitization processes can be reproduced in the murine model. Thus, the present project aims to evaluate the immunological mediators and mechanisms involved in the sensitization and desensitization processes to the salivary components of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Experimental models of acute and chronic inflammation will be employed to study these processes. We will also evaluate the mosquitoes' biological fitness following blood feeding in theses hosts. Moreover, a comparison of the humoral response profiles between mice and humans will be evaluated using serum of both species. (AU)