AUTHOR=Ramirez José L. , Muturi Ephantus J. , Flor-Weiler Lina B. , Vermillion Karl , Rooney Alejandro P. 

TITLE=Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (PGRPs) Modulates Mosquito Resistance to Fungal Entomopathogens in a Fungal-Strain Specific Manner

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00465

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00465

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Fungal entomopathogens are potential tools for the control of mosquito vectors that transmit infectious agents that cause disease in humans and animals. During the infection process, effective recognition of the invading fungi by the mosquito, is a crucial step in mounting an appropriate anti-fungal response. In this study, we investigated the role of peptidoglycan recognition receptors (PGRPs) in host resistance to fungal entomopathogens at the early stages of infection. Our study identified the induction of <italic>PGRP-LA, -LB, -LD, -LE</italic>, and <italic>-S1</italic> during infection with two different fungal entomopathogenic strains. Furthermore, our data shows temporal differences in PGRP elicitation, with most PGRPs displaying significant upregulation at 60 h post-infection. Depletion of certain PGRPs via RNAi silencing resulted in a significant increase in fungal proliferation and a reduction in mosquito survival that was fungal strain-specific. Our data indicates that PGRPs play an important role in the antifungal response and expands our understanding of the factors that determine host susceptibility to fungal entomopathogens.</p>