A deep insight into the sialome of the housefly, Musca domestica, infected with the salivary gland hypertrophy virus (MdSGHV)

Authors: LU, STEPHEN - Nih, National Institutes Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases; Geden, Christopher; STOFFOLANO, JOHN - University Of Massachusetts; RIBIERO, JOSE - Nih, National Institutes Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/28/2025
Publication Date: 3/7/2025
Citation: Lu, S., Geden, C.J., Stoffolano, J., Ribiero, J. 2025. A deep insight into the sialome of the housefly, Musca domestica, infected with the salivary gland hypertrophy virus (MdSGHV). BMC Genomics. 15(8047). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92569-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92569-6

Interpretive Summary: House flies are pests of humans and their associated animals throughout the world. One of the natural enemies of the fly is a virus (MdSGHV) that infects the salivary glands and causes sterility in the adult fly. It is well established that arthropod salivary glands play an important role not only in acquiring food but also in transmitting pathogens. Therefore, understanding the composition of vector salivary glands and the interactions between vector and pathogen components is essential for developing future control strategies. This study, conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Bethesda, MD). the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA), and USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE, Gainesville, FL) examined gene expression in salivary glands of healthy and virus-infected flies. RNA transcripts of over 6000 genes were identified, and the virus had profound effects on the expression of nearly half of them. These findings not only deepen our understand of the composition of house fly salivary glands but also provide valuable insight into the virus-vector interaction, which could serve as a model to understand other medically relevant interactions.

Technical Abstract: The house fly, Musca domestica, serves as a mechanical vector for numerous pathogens, posing a significant risk to human and animal health. More than two decades ago, the Musca domestica salivary gland hypertrophy virus (MdSGHV) was discovered, infecting both males and females flies and disrupting mating and the reproductive process. While MdSGHV can infect various tissues, its primary replication site is the housefly salivary gland. It is well established that arthropod salivary glands play an important role not only in acquiring food but also in transmitting pathogens. Therefore, understanding the composition of vector salivary glands and the interactions between vector and pathogen components is essential for developing future control strategies. To this end, we conducted a comprehensive RNA-sequencing of salivary glands from both infected and non-infected house flies. Our analysis identified a total of 6,410 putative sequences, with 6,309 originating from M. domestica and 101 from the MdSGHV, categorized into 25 functional groups. Furthermore, differential expression analysis between infected and non-infected salivary glands revealed 2,852 significantly modulated transcripts, highlighting profound transcriptional changes triggered by MdSGHV infection. Overall, these findings not only deepen our understand of the composition of M. domestica salivary glands but also provide valuable insight into the virus-vector interaction, which could serve as a model to understand other medically relevant interactions.