title: Epigenetic alterations and decreasing insecticide sensitivity of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus.
abstract: A range of environmental factors, including chemicals, can affect epigenetic processes in organisms leading to variations in phenotype. Thus, epigenetics displays an important environmentally responsive element. The transgenerational impact of environmental stressors on DNA methylation and phenotype was the focus of this study. The influence of two known DNA methylation-changing agents, the phytoestrogen genistein and the fungicide vinclozolin, on the overall DNA methylation level in the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus was investigated. The experiment comprised four generations in a full life-cycle design with an exposed parental generation and three consecutive non-exposed offspring generations. Application of the methylation agents to the parental generation of the study led to an alteration of the global DNA methylation level of the exposed individuals and those in two subsequent generations. The phenotypic variability of the offspring generations was assessed by examining their insecticide sensitivity. Here, a significant decrease in sensitivity (p<0.01) towards the model insecticide imidacloprid revealed alterations of the mosquito's phenotype in two subsequent generations. Thus, the evaluation of A. albopictus from an epigenetic perspective can contribute important information to the study of the high adaptability of this invasive disease vector to new environments, and its underlying mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiKF), Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Electronic address: Ann-Marie.Oppold@senckenberg.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oppold
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiKF), Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreß
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanden Bussche
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiKF), Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Diogo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Haus 9b, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kuch
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiKF), Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oehlmann
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology (GhEnToxLab), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Vandegehuchte
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Haus 9b, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D019833:Genistein / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000633:toxicity; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D010080:Oxazoles; C082359:imidacloprid; D019833:Genistein; C025643:vinclozolin
keywords: Ecotoxicology; Insects; Invasive species; Stegomyia albopicta; Toxicity; Transgenerational study