Lectin Microarray Analysis of Salivary Gland Glycoproteins from the Arboviral VectorAedes aegyptiand the Malaria VectorAnopheles stephensi

Abstract

AbstractSalivary gland glycoconjugates in human-feeding insects and arachnids can elicit hypersensitivity reactions. Glycoproteins introduced during blood feeding by arachnid ticks are responsible for red meat allergy or the α-gal syndrome. Dengue virus transmitted byAedesmosquitoes incorporates mosquito glycoproteins into its envelope and malaria parasites transmitted byAnophelesmosquitoes reportedly express α-gal epitopes that are potentially derived from mosquito salivary glands. Tick salivary gland glycoproteins possess α-gal epitopes. We used microarrays containing forty different lectins to analyse salivary gland protein glycoconjugates from the principal arboviral vectorAedes aegyptiand the rapidly spreading malaria vectorAnopheles stephensi. Salivary gland glycoproteins of both mosquitoes possessed very similar lectin-binding specificities. Lectin-binding profiles showed the significant presence of oligomannose N-glycans and O-glycans, a limited presence of glycan structures capped with terminal GalNAc, GlcNAc, β linked Gal, α1-6 linked fucose, and no detectable sialic acids or terminal α-linked Gal in salivary gland glycoproteins.