Comparison of innate immune responses against arboviruses in mammalian hosts and mosquito vectors

Abstract

Mosquito-borne arboviruses significantly threaten global health, affecting millions of people worldwide. The innate immune system is the primary line of defense against arboviruses in both mammalian hosts and mosquito vectors, although the innate immune responses of these organisms involve distinct mechanisms. This review compares the innate immune responses of mammals with those of mosquitoes, focusing on their shared reliance on pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), immune signaling pathways, and cellular innate immunity. While mosquitoes utilize RNA interference (RNAi) and melanization to control arboviral replication without inflammation, mammals depend on complement systems, complex interferon (IFN) responses, and cytokine production to rapidly clear arboviral infections. This review provides a comparative analysis of the innate immune responses of mammalian hosts and mosquito vectors, highlighting key differences in the strategies by which these organisms manage arboviral infections. Understanding these distinctions may inform the development of novel interventions to disrupt arboviral transmission and improve disease control.