Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: BEATRIZ PAZ DO NASCIMENTO SOARES

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : BEATRIZ PAZ DO NASCIMENTO SOARES
DATE: 06/04/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: sala 204, Departamento de Biologia, UFRPE
TITLE:

Evaluation of the immune response and transcriptional characterization of excretory system structures of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) experimentally infected with Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae)

KEY WORDS:

Dirofilariasis; Parasite-vector interaction; Malpighian tubules; Transcriptome.

PAGES: 76
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUMMARY:

Dirofilariasis is a globally distributed zoonotic vector-borne disease that primarily affects dogs and cats, although humans and other mammals may also become infected. Both the progression of the disease and its treatment can pose significant risks to canine health, highlighting the importance of preventive strategies. Among mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti is recognized as one of the principal species involved in the transmission of Dirofilaria immitis worldwide. In this regard, a deeper understanding of parasite–vector interactions are essential for the development of improved prevention and control approaches. The present study aimed to assess the immune response and to characterize gene expression in the excretory system structures of Ae. aegypti experimentally infected with D. immitis. Initially, a systematic review was conducted across six major databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, LILACS, SciELO, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) focusing on the immune response of Ae. aegypti to D. immitis. Of the studies analyzed, 65% focused on larval melanization; however, there is still no consensus regarding its origin in the context of Dirofilaria immitis infection, which occurs within the Malpighian tubules of female mosquitoes. Furthermore, the roles of hemocytes, the regulatory mechanisms of melanization, and the contribution of Malpighian tubule cells in this specific infection scenario remain insufficiently elucidated. Targeting Toll-like receptor signaling pathways may provide a promising strategy to enhance mosquito resistance to D. immitis microfilariae, thereby offering potential for the control of dirofilariasis. The second part of this study focuses on the transcriptomic analysis of Malpighian tubules from female Ae. aegypti infected with two strains of D. immitis. The resulting data are being analyzed to identify expressed genes and to quantitatively compare their expression profiles.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - GILCIA APARECIDA DE CARVALHO
Externa à Instituição - ZULMA MARIA DE MEDEIROS
Externa à Instituição - CARINA LUCENA MENDES MARQUES