High throughput sequence analysis of vgsc gene of West-Nile virus vector Culex pipiens
The northern house mosquito Culex pipiens is one of the most abundant mosquito species in Europe and Italy. C. pipiens plays a critical role in the transmission of at least three viruses circulating at present in Europe: West Nile, Usutu, and Sindbis Virus, with West Nile having the largest epidemiological impact. In Europe only pyrethroids - which target the voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) and interfere with normal nervous signal transmission - are allowed for adulticidal treatments. Some amino-acid substitutions on VGSC, known as knock-down resistance (kdr) mutations, alter the binding and interaction of the pyrethroid with the VGSC, resulting thus in reduced susceptibility of the mosquito. Here we take advantage of the targeted NGS approach which allows a high coverage sequencing of the whole vgsc gene to detect kdr mutations in C. pipiens in Italy and Europe.