title: Novel Genetic and Molecular Tools for the Investigation and Control of Dengue Virus Transmission by Mosquitoes.
abstract: Aedes aegyptiis the principal vector of dengue virus (DENV) throughout the tropical world. This anthropophilic mosquito species needs to be persistently infected with DENV before it can transmit the virus through its saliva to a new vertebrate host. In the mosquito, DENV is confronted with several innate immune pathways, among which RNA interference is considered the most important. TheAe. aegyptigenome project opened the doors for advanced molecular studies on pathogen-vector interactions including genetic manipulation of the vector for basic research and vector control purposes. Thus,Ae. aegyptihas become the primary model for studying vector competence for arboviruses at the molecular level. Here, we present recent findings regarding DENV-mosquito interactions, emphasizing how innate immune responses modulate DENV infections inAe. aegypti. We also describe the latest advancements in genetic manipulation ofAe. aegyptiand discuss how this technology can be used to investigate vector transmission of DENV at the molecular level and to control transmission of the virus in the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, 303 Connaway Hall, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander W E
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.affiliation: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, Division of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Rollie J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Clem
authors.affiliation: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, Division of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: A Lorena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Passarelli
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus; JAK-STAT; RIDL; RNA interference; TALEN; Toll; Wolbachia; apoptosis; dengue virus; effector gene; gene expression; gene-knockout; homing endonuclease; innate immunity; mosquito; population replacement; promoter; site-specific recombination; transgenesis; transposon; viral tropical medicine; virus transmission; zinc finger nuclease