MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity
Understanding the molecular and physiological processes underlying biting behavior in vector mosquitoes has important implications for developing novel strategies to suppress disease transmission. Here, we conduct small-RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNA...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/8/700 |
| _version_ | 1797584317763813376 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarah Marzec Alden Siperstein Angela Zhou Christina M. Holzapfel William E. Bradshaw Megan E. Meuti Peter A. Armbruster |
| author_facet | Sarah Marzec Alden Siperstein Angela Zhou Christina M. Holzapfel William E. Bradshaw Megan E. Meuti Peter A. Armbruster |
| author_sort | Sarah Marzec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the molecular and physiological processes underlying biting behavior in vector mosquitoes has important implications for developing novel strategies to suppress disease transmission. Here, we conduct small-RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the head tissues of two subspecies of <i>Culex pipiens</i> that differ in biting behavior and the ability to produce eggs without blood feeding. We identified eight differentially expressed miRNAs between biting <i>C. pipiens pipiens</i> (Pipiens) and non-biting <i>C. pipiens molestus</i> (Molestus); six of these miRNAs have validated functions or predicted targets related to energy utilization (miR8-5-p, miR-283, miR-2952-3p, miR-1891), reproduction (miR-1891), and immunity (miR-2934-3p, miR-92a, miR8-5-p). Although miRNAs regulating physiological processes associated with blood feeding have previously been shown to be differentially expressed <i>in response</i> to a blood meal, our results are the first to demonstrate differential miRNA expression <i>in anticipation</i> of a blood meal before blood is actually imbibed. We compare our current miRNA results to three previous studies of differential messenger RNA expression in the head tissues of mosquitoes. Taken together, the combined results consistently show that biting mosquitoes commit to specific physiological processes in anticipation of a blood meal, while non-biting mosquitoes mitigate these anticipatory costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:51:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21693fd2d6224506b9bff6185306e583 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:51:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-21693fd2d6224506b9bff6185306e5832023-11-19T01:36:48ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-08-0114870010.3390/insects14080700MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and ImmunitySarah Marzec0Alden Siperstein1Angela Zhou2Christina M. Holzapfel3William E. Bradshaw4Megan E. Meuti5Peter A. Armbruster6Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USADepartment of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USALaboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USALaboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USADepartment of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USAUnderstanding the molecular and physiological processes underlying biting behavior in vector mosquitoes has important implications for developing novel strategies to suppress disease transmission. Here, we conduct small-RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the head tissues of two subspecies of <i>Culex pipiens</i> that differ in biting behavior and the ability to produce eggs without blood feeding. We identified eight differentially expressed miRNAs between biting <i>C. pipiens pipiens</i> (Pipiens) and non-biting <i>C. pipiens molestus</i> (Molestus); six of these miRNAs have validated functions or predicted targets related to energy utilization (miR8-5-p, miR-283, miR-2952-3p, miR-1891), reproduction (miR-1891), and immunity (miR-2934-3p, miR-92a, miR8-5-p). Although miRNAs regulating physiological processes associated with blood feeding have previously been shown to be differentially expressed <i>in response</i> to a blood meal, our results are the first to demonstrate differential miRNA expression <i>in anticipation</i> of a blood meal before blood is actually imbibed. We compare our current miRNA results to three previous studies of differential messenger RNA expression in the head tissues of mosquitoes. Taken together, the combined results consistently show that biting mosquitoes commit to specific physiological processes in anticipation of a blood meal, while non-biting mosquitoes mitigate these anticipatory costs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/8/700mosquito-borne diseasebitinganticipatory physiologyvector<i>Culex pipiens</i>blood feeding |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Marzec Alden Siperstein Angela Zhou Christina M. Holzapfel William E. Bradshaw Megan E. Meuti Peter A. Armbruster MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity Insects mosquito-borne disease biting anticipatory physiology vector <i>Culex pipiens</i> blood feeding |
| title | MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity |
| title_full | MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity |
| title_fullStr | MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity |
| title_full_unstemmed | MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity |
| title_short | MicroRNA Expression Prior to Biting in a Vector Mosquito Anticipates Physiological Processes Related to Energy Utilization, Reproduction and Immunity |
| title_sort | microrna expression prior to biting in a vector mosquito anticipates physiological processes related to energy utilization reproduction and immunity |
| topic | mosquito-borne disease biting anticipatory physiology vector <i>Culex pipiens</i> blood feeding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/8/700 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahmarzec micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity AT aldensiperstein micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity AT angelazhou micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity AT christinamholzapfel micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity AT williamebradshaw micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity AT meganemeuti micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity AT peteraarmbruster micrornaexpressionpriortobitinginavectormosquitoanticipatesphysiologicalprocessesrelatedtoenergyutilizationreproductionandimmunity |