Heme signaling impacts global gene expression, immunity and dengue virus infectivity in Aedes aegypti

Vanessa Bottino-Rojas, Octávio A.C. Talyuli, Natapong Jupatanakul, Shuzhen Sim, George Dimopoulos, Thiago M. Venancio, Ana C. Bahia, Marcos H. Sorgine, Pedro L. Oliveira, Gabriela O. Paiva-Silva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blood-feeding mosquitoes are exposed to high levels of heme, the product of hemoglobin degradation. Heme is a pro-oxidant that influences a variety of cellular processes. We performed a global analysis of heme-regulated Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) transcriptional changes to better understand influence on mosquito physiology at the molecular level. We observed an iron- and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-independent signaling induced by heme that comprised genes related to redox metabolism. By modulating the abundance of these transcripts, heme possibly acts as a danger signaling molecule. Furthermore, heme triggered critical changes in the expression of energy metabolism and immune response genes, altering the susceptibility towards bacteria and dengue virus. These findings seem to have implications on the adaptation of mosquitoes to hematophagy and consequently on their ability to transmit diseases. Altogether, these results may also contribute to the understanding of heme cell biology in eukaryotic cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0135985
JournalPloS one
Volume10
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 14 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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