Multiple Salivary Proteins from Aedes aegypti Mosquito Bind to the Zika Virus Envelope Protein |
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| Authors: | Paola Carolina Valenzuela-Leon Gaurav Shrivastava Ines Martin-Martin Jenny C. Cardenas Berlin Londono-Renteria Eric Calvo |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; (P.C.V.-L.); (G.S.); (I.M.-M.);2.Arbovirology Laboratory, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (J.C.C.); (B.L.-R.) |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are important vectors of several debilitating and deadly arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses, including Yellow Fever virus, Dengue virus, West Nile virus and Zika virus (ZIKV). Arbovirus transmission occurs when an infected mosquito probes the host’s skin in search of a blood meal. Salivary proteins from mosquitoes help to acquire blood and have also been shown to enhance pathogen transmission in vivo and in vitro. Here, we evaluated the interaction of mosquito salivary proteins with ZIKV by surface plasmon resonance and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that three salivary proteins AAEL000793, AAEL007420, and AAEL006347 bind to the envelope protein of ZIKV with nanomolar affinities. Similar results were obtained using virus-like particles in binding assays. These interactions have no effect on viral replication in cultured endothelial cells and keratinocytes. Additionally, we found detectable antibody levels in ZIKV and DENV serum samples against the recombinant proteins that interact with ZIKV. These results highlight complex interactions between viruses, salivary proteins and antibodies that could be present during viral transmissions. |
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| Keywords: | arboviruses blood feeding saliva arthropod salivary glands vector borne diseases antibody-dependent enhancement |
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