Role of miRNAs on the regulation of juvenile hormone synthesis in mosquitoes

项目摘要 最近蚊子传播疾病的发病率急剧上升，如疟疾，寨卡， 基孔肯雅热和登革热，以及蚊子对杀虫剂的广泛抗药性 强调需要基于蚊子特异性药剂的昆虫控制新方法。 这种蚊子特异性控制剂的发现取决于对以下方面的持续基础研究： 蚊子的生物学microRNAs（miRNAs）是一类小分子非编码RNA， 在植物、动物、昆虫和病毒等多种生物体中表达。序列特异性 miRNA与mRNA上互补区域的结合可以下调或上调 调节编码蛋白的表达。越来越多的证据表明， 有助于控制蚊子的组织和阶段特异性基因表达;发挥关键作用 调节糖吸收、液体排泄、血液摄入和消化、卵子成熟的作用 生存在Ae。埃及人。另一方面，关于miRNAs在细胞凋亡中的作用知之甚少。 昆虫保幼激素（JH）生物合成的调控。在雌性蚊子中，JH信号 完成蜕皮到成虫阶段，并开始生殖过程。JH滴度为 基本上由咽侧体（CA）合成JH的速率决定。高- CA的高通量小RNA测序显示， 蛹（低JH合成）、糖食（高JH合成）和血食（低JH合成）CA 合成）成年雌性。我们现在打算进一步研究CA特异性和差异性的作用。 在JH生物发生的调节中表达miRNA。完成拟议的研究可以 导致确定目标，以制定新的、具体的和负担得起的战略， 来控制蚊子。

PROJECT SUMMARY Recent dramatic increases in the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases, like Malaria, Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue Fever, and the wide-spread resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides emphasizes the need for new approaches for insect control based on mosquito-specific agents. The discovery of such mosquito-specific control agents depends on continued basic research on the biology of mosquitoes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression in organisms as diverse as plants, animals, insects and viruses. Sequence specific binding of miRNAs to complementary regions on mRNAs can either down-regulate or up- regulate expression of the encoded protein. A growing body of evidence indicates that miRNAs contribute to the control of tissue- and stage-specific gene expression in mosquitoes; playing key roles modulating sugar absorption, fluid excretion, blood intake and digestion, egg maturation and survival in Ae. aegypti. On the other hand, little is known about the role of miRNAs on the regulation of juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis in insects. In the female mosquito, JH signals the completion of the ecdysis to the adult stage, and initiates reproductive processes. JH titer is essentially determined by the rate at which the corpora allata (CA) synthesizes JH. High- throughput small RNA sequencing of CA showed dramatic alterations of miRNA profiles among the CA of pupa (low JH synthesis), sugar-fed (high JH synthesis) and blood fed (low JH synthesis) adult females. We now intend to further study the role of CA-specific and differentially expressed miRNAs in the regulation of JH biogenesis. Completing the proposed research could lead to the identification of targets for designing new, specific and affordable strategies suitable for mosquito control.