IgG Antibody Responses to the Aedes albopictus 34k2 Salivary Protein as Novel Candidate Marker of Human Exposure to the Tiger Mosquito

Abstract

Buezo Montero et al. Aedes Albopictus Marker of Exposure indication that antibody responses to al34k2 may be regarded as a reliable candidate marker to detect temporal and/or spatial variation of human exposure to Ae. albopictus; a serological tool of this kind may prove useful both for epidemiological studies and to estimate the effectiveness of anti-vectorial measures.

Demographic patterns of human antibody levels to Simulium damnosum s.l. saliva in onchocerciasis-endemic areas: An indicator of exposure to vector bites

“…Both IgG and IgM antibody levels were high in children and gradually declined with increasing age. Similar trends have been observed in human antibody responses to the saliva of several mosquito species [53][54][55][56][57][58], posing the question of whether these patterns indicate decreasing exposure to vector bites with age, or increasing immune tolerance and desensitization with persistent or cumulative saliva exposure [59][60][61][62]. Investigation of human IgG PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES responses to sand fly saliva supports the latter proposition, with higher anti-saliva antibody responses observed in new compared to long-term residents of a sand fly-endemic region [63].…”

“…Investigation of human IgG responses to sand fly saliva supports the latter proposition, with higher anti-saliva antibody responses observed in new compared to long-term residents of a sand fly-endemic region [ 63 ]. Similarly, desensitization to salivary antigens was detected in an area colonized for more than 25 years by Aedes mosquitoes, compared to an area where individuals had been exposed for no longer than 5 years [ 54 ]. Following that pattern, median IgG antibody responses also tended to be lower in the current study villages where higher S .…”

“…biting rates were previously reported [ 30 , 42 ]. Antibody responses to Anopheles mosquito bites measured after the summer season of high vector abundance were considerably higher than those before the summer season; notwithstanding they consistently declined with increasing host age [ 54 , 55 ]. Interestingly, in that study the decline appeared to be antigen-dependent, as the trend was not detected in antibody responses to a specific recombinantly-expressed protein as opposed to the whole salivary gland homogenate [ 64 – 66 ].…”

“…Future studies would benefit from quantifying short- and long-term kinetics in individual anti-saliva Ig responses in the context of seasonal fluctuations in vector abundance and distance to vector breeding habitats, to refine our understanding of the link between biting rates and the Ig responses [ 16 , 53 , 54 ]. In fact, it would be very informative if antibody data generated using our immunoassays could be used in spatial analyses to better understand patterns of vector–human contact with increasing distance from breeding sites.…”

Vertebrate Responses against Arthropod Salivary Proteins and Their Therapeutic Potential

“…The salivary protein 34k2 from Ae. albopictus has also presented a significant correlation with exposure to mosquito bites [ 93 ].…”