Evolutionary Dynamics of Immune-Related Genes and Pathways in Disease-Vector Mosquitoes
Robert M. Waterhouse(University of California, Riverside), Evgenia V. Kriventseva(University of California, Riverside), Stephan Meister(University of California, Riverside), Zhiyong Xi(University of California, Riverside), Kanwal S. Alvarez(University of California, Riverside), Lyric C. Bartholomay(University of California, Riverside), Carolina Barillas‐Mury(University of California, Riverside), Guowu Bian(University of California, Riverside), Stéphanie Blandin(University of California, Riverside), Bruce M. Christensen(University of California, Riverside), Yuemei Dong(University of California, Riverside), Haobo Jiang(University of California, Riverside), Michael R. Kanost(University of California, Riverside), Anastasios C. Koutsos(University of California, Riverside), Elena A. Levashina(University of California, Riverside), Jianyong Li(University of California, Riverside), Petros Ligoxygakis(University of California, Riverside), Robert M. MacCallum(University of California, Riverside), George F. Mayhew(University of California, Riverside), António M. Mendes(University of California, Riverside), Kristin Michel(University of California, Riverside), Mike A. Osta(University of California, Riverside), Susan M. Paskewitz(University of California, Riverside), Sang Woon Shin(University of California, Riverside), Dina Vlachou(University of California, Riverside), Lihui Wang(University of California, Riverside), Weiqi Wei(University of California, Riverside), Liangbiao Zheng(University of California, Riverside), Zhen Zou(University of California, Riverside), David W. Severson(University of California, Riverside), Alexander S. Raikhel(University of California, Riverside), Fotis C. Kafatos(University of California, Riverside), George Dimopoulos(University of California, Riverside), Evgeny M. Zdobnov(University of California, Riverside), George K. Christophides(University of California, Riverside)
Cited by 704Open Access
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors of parasitic and viral diseases of immense importance for public health. The acquisition of the genome sequence of the yellow fever and Dengue vector, Aedes aegypti (Aa), has enabled a comparative phylogenomic analysis of the insect immune repertoire: in Aa, the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae (Ag), and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Dm). Analysis of immune signaling pathways and response modules reveals both conservative and rapidly evolving features associated with different functional gene categories and particular aspects of immune reactions. These dynamics reflect in part continuous readjustment between accommodation and rejection of pathogens and suggest how innate immunity may have evolved.