The global emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) revealed the unprecedented ability for a mosquito-borne virus to cause congenital birth defects. A puzzling aspect of ZIKV emergence is that all human outbreaks and birth defects to date have been exclusively …
To assess *Ae. albopictus* vector potential for ZIKV and identify key virus outbreak predictors, we built a complete framework using the complementary combination of (i) dose-dependent experimental *Ae. albopictus* exposure to ZIKV followed by time-dependent assessment of infection and systemic infection rates, (ii) modeling of intra-human ZIKV viremia dynamics, and (iii) in silico epidemiological simulations using an Agent-Based Model. Our results reveal a low but existing epidemic potential of *Ae. albopictus* for ZIKV, that might explain the absence of large scale ZIKV epidemics so far in territories occupied only by *Ae. albopictus*. They nevertheless support active surveillance and eradication programs in these territories to maintain the risk of emergence to a low level.
Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are viral sequences integrated in host genomes. A large number of non-retroviral EVEs was recently detected in Aedes mosquito genomes, leading to the hypothesis that mosquito EVEs may control exogenous infections by …
Although specific interactions between host and pathogen genotypes have been well documented in invertebrates, the identification of host genes involved in discriminating pathogen genotypes remains a challenge. In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the main …
To identify potential sylvatic, urban and bridge-vectors that can be involved in current or future virus spillover from wild to more urbanised areas, entomological field surveys were conducted in rural, peri-urban and urban areas spanning the rainy …
We report that individual *Aedes aegypti* mosquitoes release large amounts of dengue virus (DENV) RNA in their excreta that can be non-sacrificially detected over time following oral virus exposure. Further, we demonstrate that detection of DENV RNA in excreta from individual mosquitoes is correlated to systemic viral dissemination.
We developed an innovative genetic mapping strategy to survey G×G interactions using outbred mosquito families that were experimentally exposed to genetically distinct isolates of two dengue virus serotypes derived from human patients. Genetic loci associated with vector competence indices were detected in multiple regions of the mosquito genome. Importantly, correlation between genotype and phenotype was virus isolate-specific at several of these loci, indicating G×G interactions.
We revealed that *Ae. geniculatus* is highly susceptible to CHIKV infection and could transmit the virus. By specifically exploring the vector competence dynamic in *Ae. geniculatus* and *Ae. albopictus* mosquito species, we revealed that the cumulative distribution of CHIKV incubation period in *Ae. geniculatus* was delayed by several days as compared to *Ae. albopictus*.
We participated to this study by illustrating the value of the new assembly (AaegL5) for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs). We used restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) markers to locate QTLs underlying dengue virus (DENV) vector competence.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology (MALDI-TOF MS) is an innovative tool that has been shown to be effective for the identification of numerous arthropod groups including mosquitoes. A critical step …