Neofunctionalization driven by positive selection led to the retention of the loqs2 gene encoding an Aedes specific dsRNA binding protein.

Background: Mosquito borne viruses, such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever and Chikungunya, cause millions of infections every year. These viruses are mostly transmitted by two urban-adapted mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Although mechanistic understanding remains largely unknown, Aedes mosquitoes may have unique adaptations that lower the impact of viral infection.

High capacity of Brazilian populations to transmit a locally circulating lineage of Chikungunya virus.

The global incidence of chikungunya has surged in recent decades, with South America, particularly Brazil, experiencing devastating outbreaks. The primary vector for transmitting CHIKV in urban areas is the mosquito species , which is very abundant in Brazil. However, little is known about the impact of locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of mosquito populations on vector competence.

Mosquito vector competence for dengue is modulated by insect-specific viruses.

Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes are the main vectors for dengue virus (DENV) and other arboviruses, including Zika virus (ZIKV). Understanding the factors that affect transmission of arboviruses from mosquitoes to humans is a priority because it could inform public health and targeted interventions.

AG129 Mice as a Comprehensive Model for the Experimental Assessment of Mosquito Vector Competence for Arboviruses.

Arboviruses (an acronym for "arthropod-borne virus"), such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya, are important human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. These viruses impose a growing burden on public health. Despite laboratory mice having been used for decades for understanding the basic biological phenomena of these viruses, it was only recently that researchers started to develop immunocompromised animals to study the pathogenesis of arboviruses and their transmission in a way that parallels natural cycles.

L-Glutamine-, peptidyl- and protein-glutaminases: structural features and applications in the food industry.

L-Glutaminases are enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of the gamma-amido bond of L-glutamine residues, producing ammonia and L-glutamate. These enzymes have several applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. However, the L-glutaminases that hydrolyze free L-glutamine (L-glutamine glutaminases, EC 3.

Mycofumigation of postharvest blueberries with volatile compounds from Trichoderma atroviride IC-11 is a promising tool to control rots caused by Botrytis cinerea.

Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of the gray mold, is a filamentous fungus that infects blueberries and can cause important production losses in postharvest storage. Considering that the use of synthetic fungicides is not allowed on blueberries in postharvest conditions, alternative and natural strategies are needed to control gray mold. The objective of this work was to evaluate the capability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Trichoderma atroviride IC-11 to control B.

Characteristics of a Cold-Adapted L-glutaminase with Potential Applications in the Food Industry.

L-glutaminases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of L-glutamine, producing L-glutamate and ammonium, and they have promising applications in pharmaceutical and food industries. Several investigations have focused on thermo-tolerant L-glutaminases; however, studies on cold-adapted L-glutaminases have not been reported. These enzymes could be useful in the food industry because they display high catalytic activity at low and room temperatures, a valuable feature in processes aimed to save energy.

Evaluation of , , and Mosquitoes Competence to Infection.

The emergence of new human viral pathogens and re-emergence of several diseases are of particular concern in the last decades. (OROV) is an arbovirus endemic to South and Central America tropical regions, responsible to several epidemic events in the last decades. There is little information regarding the ability of OROV to be transmitted by urban/peri-urban mosquitoes, which has limited the predictability of the emergence of permanent urban transmission cycles.

Trichoderma as biological control agent: scope and prospects to improve efficacy.

A major current challenge is to increase the food production while preserving natural resources. Agricultural practices that enhance the productivity and progressively improve the soil quality are relevant to face this challenge. Trichoderma species are widely used in agriculture to stimulate the plant growth and to control different pathogens affecting crops, representing useful tools for sustainable food production.

The RNAi Pathway Is Important to Control Mayaro Virus Infection in but not for -Mediated Protection.

Mayaro virus (MAYV), a sylvatic arbovirus belonging to the family and genus, is responsible for an increasing number of outbreaks in several countries of Central and South America. Despite being identified as the main vector of MAYV, laboratory studies have already demonstrated the competence of to transmit MAYV. It has also been demonstrated that the Mel strain is able to impair the replication and transmission of MAYV in .

The small non-coding RNA response to virus infection in the Leishmania vector Lutzomyia longipalpis.

Sandflies are well known vectors for Leishmania but also transmit a number of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Few studies have addressed the interaction between sandflies and arboviruses. RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms utilize small non-coding RNAs to regulate different aspects of host-pathogen interactions.

Sequence-independent characterization of viruses based on the pattern of viral small RNAs produced by the host.

Virus surveillance in vector insects is potentially of great benefit to public health. Large-scale sequencing of small and long RNAs has previously been used to detect viruses, but without any formal comparison of different strategies. Furthermore, the identification of viral sequences largely depends on similarity searches against reference databases.