A cell atlas of the adult Aedes aegypti midgut revealed by single nucleus RNA-Seq

Mosquitoes are the most notorious hematophagous insects and due to their blood feeding behavior and genetic compatibility, numerous mosquito species are highly efficient vectors for certain human pathogenic parasites and viruses. The mosquito midgut is the principal organ of blood meal digestion and nutrient absorption. It is also the initial site of infection with blood meal acquired parasites and viruses. We conducted an analysis based on single-nucleus RNA sequencing(snRNA-Seq) to assess the cellular diversity of the midgut and how individual cells respond to blood meal ingestion to facilitate its digestion. Overall design: We dissected about 30 midguts from unfed and blood-fed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and isolated single nuclei, constructed two libraries, we analyzed the data with R package Seurat, the formed clusters were annotated. We further compared the cellular composition and gene expression between midguts from unfed and blood-fed mosquitoes.