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Differential innate immunity responses to West Nile virus and bacterial infections in mosquitoes

Identifying the molecular interactions of pathogens in different mosquito species is critical for understanding how mosquitoes transmit diseases. In this study, the role of the Jak-STAT immune signalling pathway in two different mosquito species, (Aedes aegypti L.) and (Culex quinquefasciatus L.) was assessed. Using in silico analysis tools, cell culture, and molecular techniques, changes in gene expression were assessed during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge and West Nile virus (WNV) infection in the two species. It was found that activation of the Jak-STAT pathway occurred more quickly in Ae. aegypti cells compared to Cx. quinquefasciatus cells during LPS exposure. During WNV infections, no significant differences were observed, although preliminary evidence suggests that differential activation of the Jak-STAT pathway may exist between the two species. This research extends our understanding of the mosquito immune system while demonstrating the critical importance of vector-virus interactions across different mosquito species.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:MWU.1993/16594
Date13 February 2013
CreatorsMahood, Thomas
ContributorsWhyard, Steve (Biological Sciences), Diehl-Jones, William (Biological Sciences) Brassinga, Ann Karen (Microbiology)
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Detected LanguageEnglish

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