
There is a more recent version of this eprint available. Click here to view it.
Lefteri, D.A. orcid.org/0000-0002-9985-4254, Bryden, S.R. orcid.org/0000-0001-5408-6047, Pingen, M. orcid.org/0000-0001-5689-9076 et al. (14 more authors) (2021) Mosquito saliva sialokinin-dependent enhancement of arbovirus infection through endothelial barrier leakage. [Preprint]
Abstract
Viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes constitute an increasingly important global health burden. Defining common determinants of host susceptibility to this large group of heterogenous pathogens are key for informing the rational design of new pan-viral medicines. Infection of the vertebrate host with these viruses is enhanced by the presence of mosquito saliva, a complex mixture of salivary gland-derived factors and microbiota. We show that enhancement of infection by saliva was dependent on vascular function and was independent of most anti-saliva immune responses, including to salivary microbiota. Instead, the Aedes gene product sialokinin mediated enhancement of virus infection through a rapid reduction in endothelial barrier integrity. Sialokinin is unique within the insect world as having vertebrate-like tachykinin sequence and is absent from non-vector competent Anopheles mosquitoes, whose saliva was not pro-viral and did not induce similar vascular permeability. Therapeutic strategies targeting sialokinin have potential to limit disease severity following infection with Aedes mosquito-borne viruses.
Metadata
Available Versions of this Item
- Mosquito saliva sialokinin-dependent enhancement of arbovirus infection through endothelial barrier leakage. (deposited 21 Dec 2023 14:17) [Currently Displayed]