A mosquito juvenile hormone binding protein (mJHBP) regulates the activation of innate immune defenses and hemocyte development.

ABSTRACT: Insects rely on the innate immune system for defense against pathogens, some aspects of which are under hormonal control. Here we provide direct experimental evidence showing that the juvenile hormone-binding protein (mJHBP) of Aedes aegypti is required for the regulation of innate immune responses and the development of mosquito blood cells (hemocytes). Using an mJHBP-deficient mosquito line generated by means of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology we uncovered a mutant phenotype characterized by immunosuppression at the humoral and cellular levels, which profoundly affected susceptibility to bacterial infection. Bacteria-challenged mosquitoes exhibited significantly higher levels of septicemia and mortality relative to the wild type (WT) strain, delayed expression of antimicrobial peptid

SUBMITTER: Kim IH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6994123 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature