Repository logo
 

Unbiased classification of mosquito blood cells by single-cell genomics and high-content imaging.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Severo, Maiara S 
Landry, Jonathan JM 
Lindquist, Randall L 
Goosmann, Christian 
Brinkmann, Volker 

Abstract

Mosquito blood cells are immune cells that help control infection by vector-borne pathogens. Despite their importance, little is known about mosquito blood cell biology beyond morphological and functional criteria used for their classification. Here, we combined the power of single-cell RNA sequencing, high-content imaging flow cytometry, and single-molecule RNA hybridization to analyze a subset of blood cells of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae By demonstrating that blood cells express nearly half of the mosquito transcriptome, our dataset represents an unprecedented view into their transcriptional program. Analyses of differentially expressed genes identified transcriptional signatures of two cell types and provide insights into the current classification of these cells. We further demonstrate the active transfer of a cellular marker between blood cells that may confound their identification. We propose that cell-to-cell exchange may contribute to cellular diversity and functional plasticity seen across biological systems.

Description

Keywords

blood cells, entomology, insect immunity, malaria, single-cell sequencing, Animals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Anopheles, Blood Cells, Cell Communication, Cell Plasticity, Datasets as Topic, Female, Genomics, Malaria, Mosquito Vectors, RNA, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Single-Cell Analysis, Transcriptome

Journal Title

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

115

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences