Adaptive genomic signatures of globally invasive populations of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

In the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti, adaptation to anthropogenic environments has led to a major evolutionary shift separating the domestic Aedes aegypti aegypti (Aaa) ecotype from the wild Aedes aegypti formosus (Aaf) ecotype. Aaa mosquitoes are distributed globally and have higher vectorial capacity than Aaf, which remained in Africa. Despite the evolutionary and epidemiological relevance of this separation, inconsistent morphological data and a complex population structure have hindered the identification of genomic signals distinguishing the two ecotypes. Here we assessed the correspondence between the geographic distribution, population structure and genome-wide selection of 511 Aaf and 123 Aaa specimens and report adaptive signals in 186 genes that we call Aaa molecular signatures. Our results indicate that Aaa molecular signatures arose from standing variation associated with extensive ancestral polymorphisms in Aaf populations and have been co-opted for self-domestication through genomic and functional redundancy and local adaptation. Overall, we show that the behavioural shift of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to live in association with humans relied on the fine regulation of chemosensory, neuronal and metabolic functions, as seen in the domestication processes of rabbits and silkworms. Our results also provide a foundation for the investigation of new genic targets for the control of Ae. aegypti populations.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Published
2025-03-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02643-5
Citations
13
Primary Topic
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
24.42
Controls
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article

Adaptive genomic signatures of globally invasive populations of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

Niccolò Alfano, Jayme A. Souza‐Neto, Rebeca Carballar‐Lejarazú, Maria V. Sharakhova et al.
13 citations
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
24.42
article

Adaptive genomic signatures of globally invasive populations of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

Niccolò Alfano, Jayme A. Souza‐Neto, Rebeca Carballar‐Lejarazú, Maria V. Sharakhova, Irma Lozada-Chávez, Samia Elfékih, Umberto Palatini, Athanase Badolo, Teshome Degefa, Alejandro Nabor Lozada‐Chávez, Patchara Sriwichai, Louis Lambrechts, Mauricio Casas‐Martínez, Davide Sogliani, Mariangela Bonizzoni, Bianca C. Carlos
article en
13 citations

Abstract

In the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti, adaptation to anthropogenic environments has led to a major evolutionary shift separating the domestic Aedes aegypti aegypti (Aaa) ecotype from the wild Aedes aegypti formosus (Aaf) ecotype. Aaa mosquitoes are distributed globally and have higher vectorial capacity than Aaf, which remained in Africa. Despite the evolutionary and epidemiological relevance of this separation, inconsistent morphological data and a complex population structure have hindered the identification of genomic signals distinguishing the two ecotypes. Here we assessed the correspondence between the geographic distribution, population structure and genome-wide selection of 511 Aaf and 123 Aaa specimens and report adaptive signals in 186 genes that we call Aaa molecular signatures. Our results indicate that Aaa molecular signatures arose from standing variation associated with extensive ancestral polymorphisms in Aaf populations and have been co-opted for self-domestication through genomic and functional redundancy and local adaptation. Overall, we show that the behavioural shift of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to live in association with humans relied on the fine regulation of chemosensory, neuronal and metabolic functions, as seen in the domestication processes of rabbits and silkworms. Our results also provide a foundation for the investigation of new genic targets for the control of Ae. aegypti populations.

Nature Ecology & EvolutionVol. 9(4)
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (BF), Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (AU), Jimma University (ET), Institut Pasteur (FR), The University of Melbourne (AU), Kansas State University (US), University of California, Irvine (US), Université Paris Cité (FR), University of Pavia (IT), Mahidol University (TH), Human Technopole (IT), Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (TH), Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (MX), Rockefeller University (US), Virginia Tech (US), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR), Leipzig University (DE)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
24.42
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