The main objective of this study was to compare protein profiles of whole
mosquitoes of Malaysian Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus after infection with virus and to investigate whether dengue virus would induce protein secretion in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Using SDS -PAGE, it was shown that in uninfected Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, the protein bands were within the range of 14 - 80 kDa with most of the bands overlapping for the two species. Comparison of the protein profile of infected and uninfected Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus showed five distinct molecular weight grouping at 73 - 76 kDa (Group 1), 44 - 50 kDa (Group 2), 28 - 31 kDa (Group 3), 20 – 25 kDa (Group 4) and 14 - 17 kDa (Group 5). Predominant bands for both species (infected and uninfected) were between 21 - 25 kDa and 44 - 50 kDa. Protein bands having a molecular weight of 70 kDa were only present in infected Ae. albopictus and those bands having molecular weight of 21 kDa were observed only in infected Ae. aegypti. The rate of digestion of blood meals was more rapid in Ae. albopictus than Ae. aegypti. Uninfected Ae. albopictus completed the blood digestion 2 days after ingestion of a blood meal whereas Ae. aegypti needed 3 days to complete the digestion. The rate of digestion for blood meals was slower for both mosquito species when fed with dengue virus infected blood. The digestion processes were completed 3 and 4 days after blood ingestion for Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, respectively. This could be due to the presence of dengue virus in the blood, which slow down the digestion process. Appearance and disappearance of new protein bands was also observed even after the digestion has completed
for both infected mosquito species. In conclusion, dengue virus was shown to induce specific proteins in both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. INTRODUCTION
Dengue is a notorious mosquito-borne disease in the world and is transmitted in
cities as well as in densely populated areas. This viral disease was said to occur
more frequently compared to malaria (Scott, 1993). In Malaysia, dengue was
first documented in 1902 (Skae, 1902). In 1990, the number of cases increased
dramatically (Lam, 1993). Therefore, to date dengue is the most important human
mosquito-borne viral pathogen. The appearance of dengue is caused by the presence of dengue virus in the blood, which slow down the digestion process. Appearance and
disappearance of new protein bands was also observed even after the digestion has completed for both infected mosquito species. In conclusion, dengue virus was shown to induce specific proteins in both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus.