A conserved female-specific larval requirement for MtnB function facilitates sex separation in multiple species of disease vector mosquitoes

Parasites & Vectors

Joseph B. Roethele¹  Jessica Igiede¹  Joi K. Misenti¹  Molly Duman-Scheel¹  Keshava Mysore¹  Longhua Sun¹  Ping Li¹ 

[1] Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Raclin-Carmichael Hall, 1234 Notre Dame Ave., 46617, South Bend, IN, USA;University of Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, IN, USA;

关键词: Aedes aegypti;    Aedes albopictus;    Anopheles gambiae;    Culex quinquefasciatus;    Sex;    Larvae;    Methionine;    Saccharomyces cerevisiae;    Yeast;    Larvicide;    RNAi;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-021-04844-w

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundClusters of sex-specific loci are predicted to shape the boundaries of the M/m sex-determination locus of the dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti, but the identities of these genes are not known. Identification and characterization of these loci could promote a better understanding of mosquito sex chromosome evolution and lead to the elucidation of new strategies for male mosquito sex separation, a requirement for several emerging mosquito population control strategies that are dependent on the mass rearing and release of male mosquitoes. This investigation revealed that the methylthioribulose-1-phosphate dehydratase (MtnB) gene, which resides adjacent to the M/m locus and encodes an evolutionarily conserved component of the methionine salvage pathway, is required for survival of female larvae.ResultsLarval consumption of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) strains engineered to express interfering RNA corresponding to MtnB resulted in target gene silencing and significant female death, yet had no impact on A. aegypti male survival or fitness. Integration of the yeast larvicides into mass culturing protocols permitted scaled production of fit adult male mosquitoes. Moreover, silencing MtnB orthologs in Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus revealed a conserved female-specific larval requirement for MtnB among different species of mosquitoes.ConclusionsThe results of this investigation, which may have important implications for the study of mosquito sex chromosome evolution, indicate that silencing MtnB can facilitate sex separation in multiple species of disease vector insects.Graphical Abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY