Transmission blocking immunity in the malaria non-vector mosquito Anopheles quadriannulatus species A.

ABSTRACT: Despite being phylogenetically very close to Anopheles gambiae, the major mosquito vector of human malaria in Africa, Anopheles quadriannulatus is thought to be a non-vector. Understanding the difference between vector and non-vector mosquitoes can facilitate development of novel malaria control strategies. We demonstrate that An. quadriannulatus is largely resistant to infections by the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum, as well as by the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. By using genetics and reverse genetics, we show that resistance is controlled by quantitative heritable traits and manifested by lysis or melanization of ookinetes in the mosquito midgut, as well as by killing of parasites at subsequent stages of their development in the mosquito. Genes encoding two leucine-rich rep

SUBMITTER: Habtewold T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2374904 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature