D3006: Assessing the impact of reproductive stress on the immunity of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Aedes aegypti is a key vector of numerous viruses around the globe. During the course of infection with these viruses, female mosquitoes mount a robust immune response. Therefore, developing our understanding of the factors that influence their immune physiology is crucial. We are particularly interested in the effects of mating and reproductive stress on mosquito immunity. The effects of mating on immune competence can be variable. In some systems, mating may lead to an increase in female resistance to an immune challenge while in others, mating may lead to a decrease in immune competence. Currently, we are investigating the role of mating and blood feeding in such post-mating immune physiology of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. By rearing mosquitoes under a controlled mating and blood feeding regimen we are producing a bifactorial set of four treatments: unmated/unfed, unmated/bloodfed, mated/unfed, and mated/bloodfed. From here, we are infecting females with Serratia marcescens, a common bacterial insect pathogen. After infection, we are monitoring survival over the course of seven days, as well as measuring bacterial load. Together, these data will reveal both the singular roles of mating and blood feeding, as well as a possible interaction between the two factors, in the modulation of female immunity. These results will help us to better understand the role that mating may play in disease transmission systems.