Host pro-viral factors in Aedes aegypti

Host pro-viral factors in Aedes aegypti are a diverse group of mosquito-encoded proteins and cellular pathways that are essential for the replication and transmission of human-pathogenic arboviruses, including Dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), and Chikungunya (CHIKV) [Sessions et al., 2009, Nature]. These factors are exploited by viruses at various stages of the infection cycle, such as the Vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) which facilitates endosomal acidification for viral entry, and Exportin-1 (XPO1) which mediates the nucleocytoplasmic transport of viral components [Angleró-Rodríguez et al., 2017, PLoS NTD; Botting et al., 2021, Antiviral Res.]. Other critical factors include ribosomal proteins like RACK1, which are necessary for the translation of the viral polyprotein, and RNA-binding proteins like Loquacious that support viral RNA synthesis [Lin et al., 2015, J. Virol.; Haac et al., 2015, J. Virol.]. Targeting these host factors, either through small-molecule inhibitors or genetic engineering (e.g., CRISPR-based gene drives), aims to reduce vector competence and block the transmission of diseases to human populations [Gantz et al., 2015, PNAS]. However, this strategy faces significant hurdles, including the potential for reduced mosquito fitness and the ecological consequences of altering mosquito populations. Furthermore, the diversity of host factors utilized by different viruses necessitates the identification of conserved hub factors to ensure broad-spectrum efficacy against multiple circulating arboviruses.

Other names

Aedes aegypti host factorsMosquito proviral factorsArbovirus host factors in Aedes aegyptiVector host factors

Inhibition of mosquito cellular machinery and pathways required for the viral life cycle, including entry, replication, and assembly, to block transmission.