Biology subjects

Lopez-Maestre, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Lopez-Maestre, H..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Limited impact of the siRNA pathway on transposable element expression in Aedes aegypti

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that can change their position within a genome. In the germline of arthropods, post-transcriptional regulation of TE expression is mainly mediated by the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. piRNAs are small RNAs of 24-30 nucleotides (nt) in length produced from genomic precursor transcripts as well as through a ping-pong amplification cycle. In somatic tissues, certain insects, such as Drosophila, instead rely on the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway as a key regulator of TE expression. siRNAs are 21nt small RNAs produced from double-stranded RNA by the endonuclease Dicer2, which guides an RNA-induced silencing complex to degrade a complementary RNA. However, whether the siRNA pathway also regulates TE expression in the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a medically significant vector species with abundant somatic piRNAs, is unknown. To address this question, we investigated the expression of TEs and small RNAs in both somatic and gonadal tissues of a Dicer2 mutant line of Ae. aegypti and its wild-type counterpart. Our results show a modified pattern of TE expression and a decrease in TE-derived 21nt small RNAs in the Dicer2 mutant, but no major shift of TE transcript abundance. The lack of a functional siRNA pathway also causes perturbations in piRNA ping-pong signatures and the expression of certain piRNA-associated genes, but without clear evidence for compensation by increased piRNA pathway activity. We conclude that the mosquito Ae. aegypti produces siRNAs targeting TEs but these lack a critical role in the regulation of TE expression both in somatic and in gonadal tissues.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

Single-cell transcriptional landscapes of Aedes aegypti midgut and fat body after a bloodmeal

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors for numerous arboviruses that have an increasingly substantial global health burden. Following a bloodmeal, mosquitoes experience significant physiological changes, primarily orchestrated by the midgut and fat body tissues. These changes begin with digestion and culminate in egg production. However, our understanding of those key processes at the cellular and molecular level remains limited. We have created a comprehensive cell atlas of the mosquito midgut and fat body by employing single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolomics techniques. This atlas unveils the dynamic cellular composition and metabolic adaptations that occur following a bloodmeal. Our analyses reveal highly diverse cell populations, specialized in digestion, metabolism, immunity, and reproduction. While the midgut primarily comprises enterocytes, enteroendocrine and intestinal stem cells, the fat body consists not only of trophocytes and oenocytes, but also harbors a substantial hemocyte population and a newly found fat body-yolk cell population. The fat body exhibits a complex cellular and metabolomic profile and exerts a central role in coordinating immune and metabolic processes. Additionally, an insect-specific virus, PCLV (Phasi Charoen-Like Virus) was detected in single cells, mainly in the midgut a week after the bloodmeal. These findings highlight the complexity of the mosquitos abdominal tissues, and pave the way towards the development of exquisitely refined vector control strategies consisting of genetically targeting specific cell populations and metabolic pathways necessary for egg development after a bloodmeal.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

IL-23 tunes inflammatory functions of human mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells

IL-23 signaling plays a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases, yet the cellular targets and signaling pathways affected by this cytokine remain poorly understood. We show that IL-23 receptors are expressed on the large majority of human MAIT, but not of conventional T cells. Protein and transcriptional profiling at the population and single cell level demonstrates that stimulation with IL-23 or the structurally related cytokine IL-12 drives distinct functional profiles, revealing a high level of plasticity of MAIT cells. IL-23, in particular, affects key molecules and pathways related to autoimmunity and cytotoxic functions. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility, supported by CRISPR/Cas9 mediated deletion, shows that AP-1 transcription factors constitute a key regulatory node of the IL-23 pathway in MAIT cells. In conclusion, our findings indicate that MAIT cells are key mediators of IL-23 functions in immunity to infections and chronic inflammatory diseases.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Atypical landscape of transposable elements in the large genome of Aedes aegypti

Transposable elements (TEs) contribute significantly to variation in genome size among eukaryotic species, but the factors influencing TE accumulation and diversification are only partially understood. Most of our current knowledge about TE organization, dynamics and evolution derives from investigations in model organisms with a relatively small genome size such as Drosophila melanogaster or Arabidopsis thaliana. Whether the observed patterns hold true in larger genomes remains to be determined. The Diptera order is an ideal taxon to address this question, because it includes a forty-year model of TE biology (D. melanogaster) as well as mosquito species with significantly larger genomes. Here, we use a comparative genomics approach to characterize the genomic forces that have shaped the TE content of the Aedes aegypti genome (1.3 Gb) relative to the Anopheles coluzzii genome (300 Mb) and the D. melanogaster genome (180 Mb). Leveraging a newly developed high-quality TE library for Ae. aegypti, our results reveal a contrasted pattern of TE organization in Ae. aegypti compared to An. coluzzii and D. melanogaster. Our analyses suggest that the substantial TE fraction observed in the Ae. aegypti genome reflect both a high rate of TE transposition and a low rate of TE elimination. Together, our results indicate that TE organization and evolutionary dynamics in the large genome of Ae. aegypti are distinct from those of other dipterans with smaller genomes.

evolutionary biology↗