Taming the mosquito siRNA pathway for arbovirus control

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

2:54 PM – 3:06 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 220

Presenting Author(s)

George Dimopoulos

Professor
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

Co-Author(s)

SD

Shengzhang Dong

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
YD

Yuemei Dong

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

The Aedes aegypti siRNA pathway is a major pan-antiviral defense system that can be engineered to significantly reduce vector competence for multiple human pathogens. We have shown that transgenic over-expression of key siRNA pathway factors results in suppression of dengue, Zika and chickungunya virus in the midgut tissue. Here we present the the tissue-specific action of the siRNA pathway in the mosquito salivary gland which represents the final tissue of interaction between virus and vector prior to transmission to the host. We discuss the significance of this knowledge for the development of novel arbovirus control strategies.