A Highly Efficient Computational Strategy for Unraveling MicroRNA Profiles in the Aquatic Larvae of the Mosquito Disease Vector Culex quinquefasciatus

In the intricate life cycle of Culex quinquefasciatus, characterized by an aquatic phase, the mosquito undergoes key developmental stages in water bodies. The study emphasizes the significance of this aquatic environment, shedding light on the molecular intricacies of the mosquito's larvae, a pivotal aspect in the broader context of its life cycle and ecological interactions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the small non-coding RNA sequences, play critical roles in cell differentiation and development in insects, including processes such as moulting, behaviour, metamorphosis, embryogenesis, and insect vector-pathogen interactions. Mosquitoes are implicated as vectors of many serious diseases, including malaria, Dengue fever, and other neglected tropical diseases. One of the most notable characteristics of miRNAs is their high conservation across highly divergent species. In this study, we employed two homology search methods to identify new miRNAs in the genome of the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito. By using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster known miRNAs as reference sequences, we successfully identified 51 candidate miRNAs, along with their corresponding pre-miRNAs in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Among these candidates, 29 predicted pre-miRNAs exhibited similarity to pre-miRNAs already known in other insect species, ranging from 80% to 100% in similarity. Additionally, our homology search approach led to the novel discovery of three new pre-mirs (mir-263b, mir-9c, mir-307) and their respective positions in the entire genome of Cx. quinquefasciatus. The identification of these newly discovered miRNAs in Cx. quinquefasciatus, opens possibilities for utilizing these small molecules in the development of novel control approaches. By expanding our knowledge of miRNAs repertoire in this mosquito species, we can potentially target these molecules to develop more effective strategies for mosquito-borne disease control.