In Silico Analysis of C-Type Lectins as Co-Infection Receptors of Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses in Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti is a primer vector of dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The susceptibility of
mosquitoes to DENV and CHIKV depends on their recognition receptor of pathogens. C-type lectins (CTLs) are an
important mediator of virus infection in A. aegypti. This study aims to identify potential receptors and determine the
binding affinity between ligand–receptor interaction, CTLs and virus envelopes (DENV-1, 2, 3, and 4 and CHIKV)
interaction based on in silico analysis. Sample sequences were obtained from GenBank (NCBI), and 10 CTLs were
acquired from VectorBase. Homology modeling based on a minimum standard of 20% was processed using the SWISSMODEL server. Molecule interaction was visualized as tertiary protein structure in PyMol V1.7.4. Homology modeling
revealed all 3D protein model scores to be at 20%. The highest homology modeling score of 98.72% is obtained for
CHIKV envelope protein (KF925315.1). The CTL GenBank ID: AAEL014382-PA has the lowest score at −1407.20
kcal/mol. The predicted mechanism of DENV-1, 2, 3, and 4 co-infections with CHIKV-1 is through the binding of the
viral envelope to the CTL. Interaction analysis showed that the viruses enter through an endocytic mechanism. The results
of homology modeling and lowest interaction energy could serve as the basis for in vivo studies on virus co-infection in
A. aegypti. This information illustrates that CTL receptors facilitate DENV and CHIKV co-infection in A. aegypti.