The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana activate toll and JAK-STAT pathway-controlled effector genes and anti-dengue activity in Aedes aegypti

• Published in: Insect biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 126 - 132
• Main Authors: Dong, Yuemei, Morton, James C. Jr, Ramirez, Jose Luis, Souza-Neto, Jayme A, Dimopoulos, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2012
• Subjects: Aedes - enzymology; Aedes - microbiology; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Beauveria - physiology; Beauveria bassiana; Dengue - transmission; Dengue virus; Dengue Virus - physiology; entomopathogenic fungi; Female; genes; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Innate immunity; Insect Vectors - enzymology; Insect Vectors - microbiology; Janus Kinases - metabolism; Longevity; Pest Control, Biological; STAT Transcription Factors - metabolism; virus replication; Beauveria bassiana; Innate immunity; Aedes aegypti; Dengue virus
• ISSN: 0965-1748; 1879-0240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.11.005

Here we investigated the effect of Beauveria bassiana infection on the survival of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the modulation of their susceptibility to dengue virus infection. Application of B. bassiana caused a reduction in the life span of A. aegypti and hindered dengue virus replication in the mosquito midgut. Fungus infection induced the expression a variety anti-microbial and dengue virus restriction factor genes. Transient reverse genetic analyses showed that the JAK-STAT pathway is implicated anti-fungal defense of Aedes mosquitoes. Our data suggest that this B. bassiana-mediated anti-dengue activity is likely to be at least partly indirectly mediated through the activation of the mosquito’s anti-dengue Toll and JAK-STAT pathways.