Single-cell transcriptional landscapes of Aedes aegypti midgut and fat body after a bloodmeal

Abstract

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit arboviruses that pose a growing global health threat. After a bloodmeal, mosquitoes experience complex physiological changes orchestrated by the midgut and fat body, beginning with digestion and culminating in egg production. Our study provides comprehensive midgut and fat-body cell atlases using single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolomics. Our analyses reveal highly diverse cell populations specialized in digestion, metabolism, immunity, and reproduction. The midgut primarily comprises enterocytes, enteroendocrine, and intestinal stem cells, while the fat body features trophocytes and oenocytes but also a substantial hemocyte population and a newly found fat-body-yolk cell population. Additionally, Phasi Charoen-like virus was detected in midgut cells 7 days post bloodmeal. These findings highlight the complexity of mosquito abdominal tissues and inform the development of refined vector-control strategies, focusing on specific cell populations and metabolic pathways essential for mosquito reproductive success.