Name of Research Group:Research on the Mechanisms of Vector–Mammalian Host Interactions

Name of Research Group:Research Team on Vector-Borne Viral Infection, Transmission, Pathogenic Mechanisms, and Control Stra

Description of Research Group:Vector-borne viral diseases represent a significant and shared public health challenge for China and numerous countries and regions worldwide. For the vast majority of arboviruses, neither preventive vaccines nor specific therapeutic interventions are currently available. Traditional vector control strategies have demonstrated limited efficacy, underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches to arbovirus prevention and control. Our research group has been dedicated to investigating the infection, transmission, and pathogenic mechanisms of mosquito-borne viruses. We have established multiple arbovirus research platforms and systematically characterized the interactions between mosquito salivary proteins and mammalian hosts, as well as their impact on arbovirus infection, transmission, and pathogenicity. These efforts have resulted in a series of pioneering publications.
Building upon our previous work, the research group will pursue the following research directions: (1) Using mosquitoes and ticks as arthropod vectors, we will identify key vector salivary proteins that significantly influence arbovirus transmission and elucidate their mechanisms of action, with the goal of developing transmission-blocking strategies targeting these salivary proteins. (2) We will investigate vector salivary protein-host interactions to identify salivary proteins with anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, elucidate their mechanisms, and explore their therapeutic potential in disease treatment. (3) Employing multi-omics sequencing and high-throughput screening approaches, we will systematically identify critical host factors mediating arbovirus infection and elucidate their mechanisms, thereby providing targets for antiviral drug development. (4) We will identify key immune cells and molecules that mediate immunopathological damage induced by mosquito-borne viral infections, offering innovative therapeutic strategies for arboviral diseases. (5) Our preliminary studies have revealed that Ackr1+ meningeal endothelial cells, Ly6c2+ monocytes, and Ccl12+ microglia play pivotal roles in blood-brain barrier disruption, viral invasion, and orchestration of neuroinflammatory responses during Japanese encephalitis pathogenesis. We will conduct more in-depth investigations into the roles of these cell populations in Japanese encephalitis and other flavivirus-associated encephalitides. (6) We will investigate the antiviral activities and mechanisms of phytochemicals against mosquito-borne viruses. Through systematic screening of various dietary phytochemicals for their anti-arboviral activities, we aim to identify compounds that significantly inhibit arbovirus infection, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and provide safe and effective drug candidates for arbovirus prevention and treatment.
Through these research directions, our group aims to comprehensively elucidate vector-host interactions, the impact of vector salivary proteins on arbovirus transmission, and arboviral pathogenic mechanisms. We seek to develop efficient transmission-blocking strategies that target multiple stages and components of the arbovirus infection-transmission cycle, thereby contributing Central South University’s expertise to safeguarding public health.