Evolution of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula, China

Background Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important vectors of human arboviruses, transmitting arboviral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These two mosquitoes coexist on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula in China. Over the past 40 years, the distribution of Ae. albopictus has gradually expanded in these areas, while the distribution of Ae. aegypti has declined dramatically mainly due to the ecological changes and some other factors such as heavy use of insecticide indoor based on endophagic bloodfeeding of the species.Methods This study focused on the knockdown resistance (kdr) genes of both mosquitoes, investigated their mutations, and analyzed their haplotype and evolutionary diversity combined with population genetic features based on the ND4/ND5 genes to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of insecticide resistance in both mosquitoes.Results Three mutations, S989P, V1016G and F1534C, were found to be present in Ae. aegypti populations, and the three mutations occurred synergistically. Multiple mutation types (F1534C/S/L/W) of the F1534 locus are found in Ae. albopictus populations, with the three common mutations F1534C, F1534S and F1534L all having multiple independent origins. The F1534W (TTC/TGG) mutation is thought to have evolved from the F1534L (TTC/TTG) mutation. The F1534S (TTC/TCG) mutation has evolved from the F1534S (TTC/TCC) mutation. The most common form of mutation at the F1534 locus found in this study was S1534C, accounting for 20.97%, which may have evolved from the F1534C mutation. In addition, a new non-synonymous mutation M1524I and 28 synonymous mutations were identified in Ae. albopictus populations. Correlation analysis showed that the genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus populations did not correlate with their kdr haplotype diversity (P>0.05), but strong gene flow between populations may have contributed to the evolution of the kdr gene.Conclusion The study of kdr gene evolution in the two mosquito species may help to identify the evolutionary trend of insecticide resistance at an early stage and provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficiency of biological vector control and subsequent research into new insecticides.