Figure 2

Molecular characterization of Carb/dcr16 mosquitoes. A) Genomic DNA sequences flanking the left and right arms of the modified Mariner Mos1 TE after its integration into the genome of Carb/dcr16 mosquitoes. In bold: duplicated endogenous Mos1 target site; green letters: partial DNA sequence of the right arm of the Mos1 TE; blue letters: partial DNA sequence of the left arm of the Mos1 TE. B) Northern blot analysis of Aa-dcr2 mRNA and transgene expression levels in midguts of Carb/dcr16 and HWE control females at 18, 30, and 72 h pbm (SF = midgut RNA of sugarfed females). C) Levels of midgut-specific Aa-dcr2 silencing among bloodfed or SINV-TR339EGFP infected Carb/dcr16 and HWE females at 1-7 days pbm. Aa-dcr2 expression levels in midguts of bloodfed females were normalized for gene expression levels of sugarfed females at similar time points. Mosquitoes obtained artificial bloodmeals consisting of defibrinated sheep blood. Values below zero indicate silencing of Aa-dcr2 and values above zero indicate up-regulation of the gene. Wave-shaped lines represent the Aa-dcr2 expression profiles in midguts of Carb/dcr16 and HWE females. Bars represent mean values of three replicates for HWE and two replicates for Carb/dcr16 mosquitoes. Each replicate consisted of total RNA from a pool of 20 midguts (error bars = SEM).