Catalase protects Aedes aegypti from oxidative stress and increases midgut infection prevalence of Dengue but not Zika.

Background: Digestion of blood in the midgut of Aedes aegypti results in the release of pro-oxidant molecules that can be toxic to the mosquito. We hypothesized that after a blood meal, the antioxidant capacity of the midgut is increased to protect cells against oxidative stress. Concomitantly, pathogens present in the blood ingested by mosquitoes, such as the arboviruses Dengue and Zika, also have to overcome the same oxidative challenge, and the antioxidant program induced by the insect is likely to influence infection status of the mosquito and its vectorial competence.

Microbiota activates IMD pathway and limits Sindbis infection in Aedes aegypti.

Background: Aedes aegypti is the main vector of important arboviruses such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya. During infections mosquitoes can activate the immune pathways Toll, IMD and JAK/STAT to limit pathogen replication.

Results: Here, we evaluate the immune response profile of Ae.

Effect of GSK-3 activity, enzymatic inhibition and gene silencing by RNAi on tick oviposition and egg hatching.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is classically described as a key enzyme involved in glycogen metabolism in mammals. It has been shown to be highly conserved among several organisms, mainly in the catalytic domain region. This enzyme has already been described in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and the ovaries of females appeared to be the major site of GSK-3 transcription.

An extraovarian aspartic protease accumulated in tick oocytes with vitellin-degradation activity.

An aspartic endopeptidase named THAP, from the eggs of the tick Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, has been suggested to be involved in vitellin-degradation. Here we characterized this enzyme further, showing that THAP mRNA is present in the fat body, midgut and ovary of ticks, in two developmental stages (partially and fully engorged females). However, higher transcription levels were found in fully engorged vitellogenic females.

BYC, an atypical aspartic endopeptidase from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus eggs.

An aspartic endopeptidase was purified in our laboratory from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus eggs [Logullo, C., Vaz, I.S.