At the Intersection of Vector Competence and Thermal Eco-Physiology: Molecular Determinants of Arboviral Adaptation and Transmission in Rift Valley Fever Vectors
At the Intersection of Vector Competence and Thermal Eco-Physiology of RVFV
Keywords:
Rift Valley Fever Virus, Vector Competence, Thermal Eco-Physiology, Extrinsic Incubation Period, RNA Interference, Tissue Tropism, Climate Change, One HealthAbstract
Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV; family Phenuiviridae, genus Phlebovirus) presents a severe global biosecurity threat due to its high zoonotic burden, capacity for multi-species livestock epizootics, and potential for rapid transboundary dissemination driven by climate anomalies. Traditional epidemiological paradigms have categorized RVFV dynamics into distinct floodwater Aedes reservoir cycles and secondary Culex amplification cascades. However, emerging evidence highlights a far more complex, multi-vector landscape encompassing diverse Culicidae guilds (Anopheles, Mansonia, Eretmapodites, and Coquillettidia) across expanding non-endemic boundaries. This review synthesizes recent advances at the convergence of molecular vector biology and thermal eco-physiology to evaluate how shifting environmental baselines alter host-pathogen interactions within the mosquito vector. We examine the molecular architecture of intra-vector anatomical barriers—specifically the Midgut Infection Barrier (MIB), Midgut Escape Barrier (MEB), Salivary Gland Infection Barrier (SGIB), and Salivary Gland Escape Barrier (SGEB)—and detail how host innate immune cascades, including exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathways, restrict viral dissemination. Crucially, we evaluate how microclimatic temperature elevations modulate these molecular checkpoints. Thermal performance curves demonstrate that ambient warming accelerates viral replication kinetics and shortens the Extrinsic Incubation Period (EIP), while acute thermal stress compromises midgut basal lamina integrity and dampens antiviral immune signaling. By bridging molecular tissue tropism, vector innate immunity, and thermal performance kinetics with high-throughput field xenomonitoring, this synthesis provides an integrated framework for predicting, mapping, and mitigating climate-driven RVFV spillover into vulnerable Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and European basins.
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