Anopheles albimanus lola knockdown immune response differential transcriptome: effect of Anopheles albimanus lola knockdown on the gene expression profile of the midgut in mosquitoes treated with an immune challenge

We applied an efficient method for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated silencing of this gene expression in vivo as assessed by RT-qPCR. A transcriptome analysis was conducted to investigate the potential involvement of the Lola transcription factor in regulating gene expression. We combined RNAseq with reverse genetics, and our transcriptome analysis revealed that Lola participates in mosquito defense mechanisms.

The knockdown of lola showed that it regulates the expression of genes associated with multiple functions, especially those related to detoxification and immunity. Here, we show for the first time a list of mosquito immunity genes that require Lola expression. These lola-dependent genes include antimicrobial peptides, C-lectins, pattern recognition receptors, Clip-domain serine proteases, ML-domain-containing proteins, enzymes that catalyze the generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and components of the JNK immune signaling pathways in the midgut of An. albimanus.

Our studies provide direct evidence of a functional link between JNK signaling and Lola factor in the mosquito midgut. Dysregulation of this pathway may contribute to increased pathogen invasion.