Journal Article

Identification of Aedes aegypti salivary gland proteins interacting with human immune receptor proteins

Choong, Yeu Khai, Pompon, Julien, Sivaraman, J., Gavor, Edem, Ooi, Eng Eong, Liu, Haiyan, Mok, Yu Keung, Liu, Yonghao, Kini, R Manjunatha

2022

Overview

Mosquito saliva proteins modulate the human immune and hemostatic systems and control mosquito-borne pathogenic infections. One mechanism through which mosquito proteins may influence host immunity and hemostasis is their interactions with key human receptor proteins that may act as receptors for or coordinate attacks against invading pathogens. Here, using pull-down assays and proteomics-based mass spectrometry, we identified 11 Ae . aegypti salivary gland proteins (SGPs) (e.g., apyrase, Ae . aegypti venom allergen-1 [AaVA-1], neutrophil stimulating protein 1 [NeSt1], and D7 proteins), that interact with one or more of five human receptor proteins (cluster of differentiation 4 [CD4], CD14, CD86, dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin [DC-SIGN], and Toll-like receptor 4 [TLR4]). We focused on CD4- and DC-SIGN-interacting proteins and confirmed that CD4 directly interacts with AaVA-1, D7, and NeST1 recombinant proteins and that AaVA-1 showed a moderate interaction with DC-SIGN using ELISA. Bacteria responsive protein 1 (AgBR1), an Ae . aegypti saliva protein reported to enhance ZIKV infection in humans but that was not identified in our pull-down assay moderately interacts with CD4 in the ELISA assay. Functionally, we showed that AaVA-1 and NeST1 proteins promoted activation of CD4 + T cells. We propose the possible impact of these interactions and effects on mosquito-borne viral infections such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Overall, this study provides key insight into the vector-host (protein-protein) interaction network and suggests roles for these interactions in mosquito-borne viral infections.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Aedes aegypti / Allergens / Apyrase / Aquatic insects / Arachnids / Assaying / Bacterial infections / Biology and Life Sciences / CD14 antigen / CD4 antigen / CD86 antigen / Cell activation / Cell adhesion / DC-SIGN protein / Dehydrogenases / Dendritic cells / Dengue / Dengue fever / Disease / Disease transmission / ELISA / Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay / Exocrine glands / Health aspects / Hemostasis / Hemostatics / Human diseases / Identification / Immunity / Infections / Leukocytes (neutrophilic) / Life Sciences / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Malaria / Mass spectrometry / Mass spectroscopy / Medicine and Health Sciences / Molecular weight / Mosquitoes / Pathogens / Peptides / Protein-protein interactions / Proteins / Proteomics / Receptors / Recombinants / Risk factors / Saliva / Salivary gland / Salivary glands / Santé publique et épidémiologie / TLR4 protein / Toll-like receptors / Tropical diseases / Vector-borne diseases / Venom / Viruses