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CHS-2 Is Involved in the Response of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Larvae to Cadmium Stress by Mediating the Formation of the Peritrophic Membrane

Chen Zhang,Yanjuan Ding,Ruoyun Lan,Min Zhou,Yanrong Chen,Bin Tang,Gexia Qiao,Shigui Wang

Published 2025 in Insects

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary The exposure of Aedes albopictus larvae to cadmium-contaminated water may lead to an increased resistance, thereby complicating vector control efforts. The CHS-2 gene plays a critical role in the formation of the peritrophic membrane, an essential tissue involved in the larval stress response of Ae. albopictus. However, the function of CHS-2 in mediating the response to cadmium stress remains unclear. In this study, we first exposed Ae. albopictus larvae to cadmium and examined CHS-2 expression levels alongside morphological changes in the peritrophic membrane. Subsequently, RNA interference was employed to silence the CHS-2 gene, followed by cadmium exposure to assess alterations in larval resistance in the absence of CHS-2. Our results elucidate the adaptive responses and underlying mechanisms of Ae. albopictus larvae to cadmium exposure, providing a theoretical basis for the utilization of this species in monitoring aquatic environmental contamination. Abstract Pollution with heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), can significantly affect insect growth, development, and behavior. The midgut is an essential organ for stress response. Chitin synthase-2 (CHS-2) is closely associated with forming the peritrophic membrane (PM). The fourth-instar larvae of Aedes albopictus were exposed to varying concentrations of Cd. The results showed that Cd inhibited chitin synthesis and metabolism-related genes, but thickened the midgut PM, indicating that the larvae could respond to Cd stress through the midgut PM. Silencing CHS-2 by RNA interference resulted more severe vacuolization and malformation of midgut epithelial cells without midgut PM protection. Additionally, there was an intensified redox reaction, upregulated expression of metallothionein (MT) and heat shock proteins 70 (HSP70), and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes at some scattered time points. This study confirms that CHS-2 is involved in oxidative stress induced by Cd exposure by regulating PM formation. This study also contributes to further understanding the resistance mechanism of Ae. albopictus under Cd stress, thereby establishing a theoretical foundation for the future studies of them, which is concerned with the possibility of Ae. albopictus as a water environment detection and the control of Ae. albopictus based on resistance mechanism.

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