Project description:Small RNAs of the Piwi-interacting RNA class (piRNA) play a key role in controlling the activity of transposable elements (TEs) in the animal germ line. In some arthropod species, including mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria and other pathogens, the piRNA pathway is active not only in the gonads, where it controls TE activity, but also in somatic tissues, where its targets and functions are less clear. It is thought that the piRNA pathway in somatic tissues is involved in the antiviral response and the modulation of TE activity. Here, we studied the features of small RNA production in head and thorax somatic tissues of Anopheles coluzzii focusing on the small RNAs processed from protein-coding gene mRNAs. We revealed tissue and sex specificity in the production of small RNAs derived from the genic transcripts. Genic small RNAs of 24-30 nt in length are atypical RNAs that lack the hallmarks of piRNAs. The majority of these short RNAs are derived from mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in energy metabolism. We discuss the peculiarities of the piRNA biogenesis in Anopheles species which may result in the production of genic small RNAs in the somatic tissues.
Project description:Proteomic analysis of Anopheles gambiae brain tissue after in-gel trypsin digestion. To gain insights into neurobiology of the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, we carried out a proteomic analysis of its brain using a comprehensive proteomic approach.
Project description:BackgroundMalaria is an important mosquito-borne disease, transmitted to humans by Anopheles mosquitoes. The aim of this study was to gather all records of three main malaria vectors in Iran during the last decades, and to predict the current distribution and the environmental suitability for these species across the country.MethodsAll published documents on An. superpictus Grassi (s.l.), An. maculipennis Meigen (s.l.) and An. sacharovi Favre during 1970-2016 in Iran were obtained from different online data bases and academic libraries. A database was created in ArcMap 10.3. Ecology of these species was analyzed and the ecological niches were predicted using MaxEnt model.ResultsAnopheles superpictus (s.l.) is the most widespread malaria vector in Iran, and exists in both malaria endemic and non-endemic areas. Whereas An. maculipennis (s.l.) is reported from the northern and northwestern parts, Anopheles sacharovi is mostly found in the northwestern Iran, although there are some reports of this species in the western, southwestern and eastern parts. The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for training and testing data was calculated as 0.869 and 0.828, 0.939 and 0.915, and 0.921 and 0.979, for An. superpictus (s.l.), An. maculipennis (s.l.) and An. sacharovi, respectively. Jackknife test showed the environmental variable with highest gain in the predicting power of the model when used in isolation was annual precipitation for An. superpictus (s.l.) and An. maculipennis (s.l.), and precipitation of the driest quarter for An. sacharovi.ConclusionsDespite this range, global warming may increase the potential risk for malaria transmission in some cleared-up areas, where these proven vectors are active. Mapping and prediction of spatial/temporal distribution of these vectors will be beneficial for decision makers to be aware of malaria transmission risk, especially in the western parts of the country.