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Harrell RA. Mosquito Embryo Microinjection under Halocarbon Oil or in Aqueous Solution. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024; 2024:pdb.prot108203. [PMID: 37788868 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot108203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The process of genetically modifying mosquitoes requires skilled delivery of reagents for modification. Plasmids, RNA, DNA, and/or protein must be transported into the developing embryo during an appropriate time in development when these agents will have access to the genome. Embryo microinjection has been the main method by which such modifying agents have been delivered. Ideally the microinjection process will deliver these modifying agents in sufficient quantity to effect the genetic modification without severely damaging or killing the injected embryo in the process. As semiaquatic insects, mosquitoes have embryos that are susceptible to desiccation and the degree to which embryos are susceptible is based on species. Two microinjection methods are outlined here. The first method describes embryo microinjections performed under Halocarbon-27 oil. The oil is used to reduce desiccation during the injection process. A second method limits desiccation by injecting the mosquito embryos in water. In both procedures, the embryos are first aligned and then injected before the embryos cellularize, ∼1 h and 45 min after oviposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Harrell
- The Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland Insect Transformation Facility, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
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2
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Darby AM, Lazzaro BP. Interactions between innate immunity and insulin signaling affect resistance to infection in insects. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1276357. [PMID: 37915572 PMCID: PMC10616485 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1276357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
An active immune response is energetically demanding and requires reallocation of nutrients to support resistance to and tolerance of infection. Insulin signaling is a critical global regulator of metabolism and whole-body homeostasis in response to nutrient availability and energetic needs, including those required for mobilization of energy in support of the immune system. In this review, we share findings that demonstrate interactions between innate immune activity and insulin signaling primarily in the insect model Drosophila melanogaster as well as other insects like Bombyx mori and Anopheles mosquitos. These studies indicate that insulin signaling and innate immune activation have reciprocal effects on each other, but that those effects vary depending on the type of pathogen, route of infection, and nutritional status of the host. Future research will be required to further understand the detailed mechanisms by which innate immunity and insulin signaling activity impact each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Darby
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Brian P. Lazzaro
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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3
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Riske BF, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Starving the Beast: Limiting Coenzyme A Biosynthesis to Prevent Disease and Transmission in Malaria. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13915. [PMID: 37762222 PMCID: PMC10530615 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites must acquire all necessary nutrients from the vertebrate and mosquito hosts to successfully complete their life cycle. Failure to acquire these nutrients can limit or even block parasite development and presents a novel target for malaria control. One such essential nutrient is pantothenate, also known as vitamin B5, which the parasite cannot synthesize de novo and is required for the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) in the parasite. This review examines pantothenate and the CoA biosynthesis pathway in the human-mosquito-malaria parasite triad and explores possible approaches to leverage the CoA biosynthesis pathway to limit malaria parasite development in both human and mosquito hosts. This includes a discussion of sources for pantothenate for the mosquito, human, and parasite, examining the diverse strategies used by the parasite to acquire substrates for CoA synthesis across life stages and host resource pools and a discussion of drugs and alternative approaches being studied to disrupt CoA biosynthesis in the parasite. The latter includes antimalarial pantothenate analogs, known as pantothenamides, that have been developed to target this pathway during the human erythrocytic stages. In addition to these parasite-targeted drugs, we review studies of mosquito-targeted allosteric enzymatic regulators known as pantazines as an approach to limit pantothenate availability in the mosquito and subsequently deprive the parasite of this essential nutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan F. Riske
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA;
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
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4
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Thakre N, Simão Gurge RM, Isoe J, Kivi H, Strickland J, Delacruz LR, Rodriguez AM, Haney R, Sadeghi R, Joy T, Chen M, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Manipulation of pantothenate kinase in Anopheles stephensi suppresses pantothenate levels with minimal impacts on mosquito fitness. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 149:103834. [PMID: 36087890 PMCID: PMC9595603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pantothenate (Pan) is an essential nutrient required by both the mosquito vector and malaria parasite. We previously demonstrated that increasing pantothenate kinase (PanK) activity and co-enzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis led to significantly decreased parasite infection prevalence and intensity in the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi. In this study, we demonstrate that Pan stores in A. stephensi are a limited resource and that manipulation of PanK levels or activity, via small molecule modulators of PanK or transgenic mosquitoes, leads to the conversion of Pan to CoA and an overall reduction in Pan levels with minimal to no effects on mosquito fitness. Transgenic A. stephensi lines with repressed insulin signaling due to PTEN overexpression or repressed c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling due to MAPK phosphatase 4 (MKP4) overexpression exhibited enhanced PanK levels and significant reductions in Pan relative to non-transgenic controls, with the PTEN line also exhibiting significantly increased CoA levels. Provisioning of the PTEN line with the small molecule PanK modulator PZ-2891 increased CoA levels while provisioning Compound 7 decreased CoA levels, affirming chemical manipulation of mosquito PanK. We assessed effects of these small molecules on A. stephensi lifespan, reproduction and metabolism under optimized laboratory conditions. PZ-2891 and Compound 7 had no impact on A. stephensi survival when delivered via bloodmeal throughout mosquito lifespan. Further, PZ-2891 provisioning had no impact on egg production over the first two reproductive cycles. Finally, PanK manipulation with small molecules was associated with minimal impacts on nutritional stores in A. stephensi mosquitoes under optimized rearing conditions. Together with our previous data demonstrating that PanK activation was associated with significantly increased A. stephensi resistance to Plasmodium falciparum infection, the studies herein demonstrate a lack of fitness costs of mosquito Pan depletion as a basis for a feasible, novel strategy to control parasite infection of anopheline mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Thakre
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Raquel M Simão Gurge
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Jun Isoe
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Heather Kivi
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Jessica Strickland
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Anna M Rodriguez
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Reagan Haney
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Rohollah Sadeghi
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Teresa Joy
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Minhao Chen
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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5
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Hoermann A, Habtewold T, Selvaraj P, Del Corsano G, Capriotti P, Inghilterra MG, Kebede TM, Christophides GK, Windbichler N. Gene drive mosquitoes can aid malaria elimination by retarding Plasmodium sporogonic development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo1733. [PMID: 36129981 PMCID: PMC9491717 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo1733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Gene drives hold promise for the genetic control of malaria vectors. The development of vector population modification strategies hinges on the availability of effector mechanisms impeding parasite development in transgenic mosquitoes. We augmented a midgut gene of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae to secrete two exogenous antimicrobial peptides, magainin 2 and melittin. This small genetic modification, capable of efficient nonautonomous gene drive, hampers oocyst development in both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei. It delays the release of infectious sporozoites, while it simultaneously reduces the life span of homozygous female transgenic mosquitoes. Modeling the spread of this modification using a large-scale agent-based model of malaria epidemiology reveals that it can break the cycle of disease transmission across a range of transmission intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Prashanth Selvaraj
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Paolo Capriotti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Temesgen M. Kebede
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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Pascini TV, Jeong YJ, Huang W, Pala ZR, Sá JM, Wells MB, Kizito C, Sweeney B, Alves E Silva TL, Andrew DJ, Jacobs-Lorena M, Vega-Rodríguez J. Transgenic Anopheles mosquitoes expressing human PAI-1 impair malaria transmission. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2949. [PMID: 35618711 PMCID: PMC9135733 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30606-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the serine protease plasmin degrades extracellular proteins during blood clot removal, tissue remodeling, and cell migration. The zymogen plasminogen is activated into plasmin by two serine proteases: tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), a process regulated by plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), a serine protease inhibitor that specifically inhibits tPA and uPA. Plasmodium gametes and sporozoites use tPA and uPA to activate plasminogen and parasite-bound plasmin degrades extracellular matrices, facilitating parasite motility in the mosquito and the mammalian host. Furthermore, inhibition of plasminogen activation by PAI-1 strongly blocks infection in both hosts. To block parasite utilization of plasmin, we engineered Anopheles stephensi transgenic mosquitoes constitutively secreting human PAI-1 (huPAI-1) in the midgut lumen, in the saliva, or both. Mosquitoes expressing huPAI-1 strongly reduced rodent and human Plasmodium parasite transmission to mosquitoes, showing that co-opting plasmin for mosquito infection is a conserved mechanism among Plasmodium species. huPAI-1 expression in saliva induced salivary gland deformation which affects sporozoite invasion and P. berghei transmission to mice, resulting in significant levels of protection from malaria. Targeting the interaction of malaria parasites with the fibrinolytic system using genetically engineered mosquitoes could be developed as an intervention to control malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tales V Pascini
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Yeong Je Jeong
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Zarna R Pala
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Juliana M Sá
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Michael B Wells
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe Street, G10 Hunterian, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, ID, 83642, USA
| | - Christopher Kizito
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Brendan Sweeney
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Thiago L Alves E Silva
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Deborah J Andrew
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe Street, G10 Hunterian, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Joel Vega-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rm 2E20A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
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7
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Hun LV, Cheung KW, Brooks E, Zudekoff R, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Increased insulin signaling in the Anopheles stephensi fat body regulates metabolism and enhances the host response to both bacterial challenge and Plasmodium falciparum infection. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 139:103669. [PMID: 34666189 PMCID: PMC8647039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates and invertebrates, the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling (IIS) cascade is highly conserved and plays a vital role in many different physiological processes. Among the many tissues that respond to IIS in mosquitoes, the fat body has a central role in metabolism, lifespan, reproduction, and innate immunity. We previously demonstrated that fat body specific expression of active Akt, a key IIS signaling molecule, in adult Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti activated the IIS cascade and extended lifespan. Additionally, we found that transgenic females produced more vitellogenin (Vg) protein than non-transgenic mosquitoes, although this did not translate into increased fecundity. These results prompted us to further examine how IIS impacts immunity, metabolism, growth and development of these transgenic mosquitoes. We observed significant changes in glycogen, trehalose, triglycerides, glucose, and protein in young (3-5 d) transgenic mosquitoes relative to non-transgenic sibling controls, while only triglycerides were significantly changed in older (18 d) transgenic mosquitoes. More importantly, we demonstrated that enhanced fat body IIS decreased both the prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum infection in transgenic An. stephensi. Additionally, challenging transgenic An. stephensi with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria altered the expression of several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and two anti-Plasmodium genes, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and thioester complement-like protein (TEP1), relative to non-transgenic controls. Increased IIS in the fat body of adult female An. stephensi had little to no impact on body size, growth or development of progeny from transgenic mosquitoes relative to non-transgenic controls. This study both confirms and expands our understanding of the critical roles insulin signaling plays in regulating the diverse functions of the mosquito fat body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis V Hun
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kong Wai Cheung
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Brooks
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rissa Zudekoff
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Adelman ZN, Kojin BB. Malaria-Resistant Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae); The Principle is Proven, But Will the Effectors Be Effective? JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1997-2005. [PMID: 34018548 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, a substantial number of anti-malarial effector genes have been evaluated for their ability to block parasite infection in the mosquito vector. While many of these approaches have yielded significant effects on either parasite intensity or prevalence of infection, just a few have been able to completely block transmission. Additionally, many approaches, while effective against the parasite, also disrupt or alter important aspects of mosquito physiology, leading to corresponding changes in lifespan, reproduction, and immunity. As the most promising approaches move towards field-based evaluation, questions of effector gene robustness and durability move to the forefront. In this forum piece, we critically evaluate past effector gene approaches with an eye towards developing a deeper pipeline to augment the current best candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology and AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Bianca B Kojin
- Department of Entomology and AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Hoermann A, Tapanelli S, Capriotti P, Del Corsano G, Masters EK, Habtewold T, Christophides GK, Windbichler N. Converting endogenous genes of the malaria mosquito into simple non-autonomous gene drives for population replacement. eLife 2021; 10:58791. [PMID: 33845943 PMCID: PMC8043746 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene drives for mosquito population replacement are promising tools for malaria control. However, there is currently no clear pathway for safely testing such tools in endemic countries. The lack of well-characterized promoters for infection-relevant tissues and regulatory hurdles are further obstacles for their design and use. Here we explore how minimal genetic modifications of endogenous mosquito genes can convert them directly into non-autonomous gene drives without disrupting their expression. We co-opted the native regulatory sequences of three midgut-specific loci of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae to host a prototypical antimalarial molecule and guide-RNAs encoded within artificial introns that support efficient gene drive. We assess the propensity of these modifications to interfere with the development of Plasmodium falciparum and their effect on fitness. Because of their inherent simplicity and passive mode of drive such traits could form part of an acceptable testing pathway of gene drives for malaria eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Tapanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Capriotti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ellen Kg Masters
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Oringanje C, Delacruz LR, Han Y, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Overexpression of Activated AMPK in the Anopheles stephensi Midgut Impacts Mosquito Metabolism, Reproduction and Plasmodium Resistance. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12010119. [PMID: 33478058 PMCID: PMC7835765 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial integrity and homeostasis in the midgut are key factors controlling mosquito fitness and anti-pathogen resistance. Targeting genes that regulate mitochondrial dynamics represents a potential strategy for limiting mosquito-borne diseases. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key cellular energy sensor found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. When activated, AMPK inhibits anabolic pathways that consume ATP and activates catabolic processes that synthesize ATP. In this study, we overexpressed a truncated and constitutively active α-subunit of AMPK under the control of the midgut-specific carboxypeptidase promotor in the midgut of female Anopheles stephensi. As expected, AMPK overexpression in homozygous transgenic mosquitoes was associated with changes in nutrient storage and metabolism, decreasing glycogen levels at 24 h post-blood feeding when transgene expression was maximal, and concurrently increasing circulating trehalose at the same time point. When transgenic lines were challenged with Plasmodium falciparum, we observed a significant decrease in the prevalence and intensity of infection relative to wild type controls. Surprisingly, we did not observe a significant difference in the survival of adult mosquitoes fed either sugar only or both sugar and bloodmeals throughout adult life. This may be due to the limited period that the transgene was activated before homeostasis was restored. However, we did observe a significant decrease in egg production, suggesting that manipulation of AMPK activity in the mosquito midgut resulted in the re-allocation of resources away from egg production. In summary, this work identifies midgut AMPK activity as an important regulator of metabolism, reproduction, and innate immunity in An. stephensi, a highly invasive and important malaria vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yunan Han
- Department of Health Sciences, ECPI University, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA;
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-520-626-8500
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11
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Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Midgut Mitochondrial Function as a Gatekeeper for Malaria Parasite Infection and Development in the Mosquito Host. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:593159. [PMID: 33363053 PMCID: PMC7759495 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.593159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Across diverse organisms, various physiologies are profoundly regulated by mitochondrial function, which is defined by mitochondrial fusion, biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and mitophagy. Based on our data and significant published studies from Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and mammals, we propose that midgut mitochondria control midgut health and the health of other tissues in vector mosquitoes. Specifically, we argue that trade-offs among resistance to infection, metabolism, lifespan, and reproduction in vector mosquitoes are fundamentally controlled both locally and systemically by midgut mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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12
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Ararat-Sarria M, Prado CC, Camargo M, Ospina LT, Camargo PA, Curtidor H, Patarroyo MA. Sexual forms obtained in a continuous in vitro cultured Colombian strain of Plasmodium falciparum (FCB2). Malar J 2020; 19:57. [PMID: 32014000 PMCID: PMC6998264 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-3142-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The epidemiological control of malaria has been hampered by the appearance of parasite resistance to anti-malarial drugs and by the resistance of mosquito vectors to control measures. This has also been associated with weak transmission control, mostly due to poor control of asymptomatic patients associated with host-vector transmission. This highlights the importance of studying the parasite’s sexual forms (gametocytes) which are involved in this phase of the parasite’s life-cycle. Some African and Asian strains of Plasmodium falciparum have been fully characterized regarding sexual forms’ production; however, few Latin-American strains have been so characterized. This study was aimed at characterizing the Colombian FCB2 strain as a gametocyte producer able to infect mosquitoes. Methods Gametocyte production was induced in in vitro cultured P. falciparum FCB2 and 3D7 strains. Pfap2g and Pfs25 gene expression was detected in FCB2 strain gametocyte culture by RT-PCR. Comparative analysis of gametocytes obtained from both strains was made (counts and morphological changes). In vitro zygote formation from FCB2 gametocytes was induced by incubating a gametocyte culture sample at 27 °C for 20 min. A controlled Anopheles albimanus infection was made using an artificial feed system with cultured FCB2 gametocytes (14–15 days old). Mosquito midgut dissection was then carried out for analyzing oocysts. Results The FCB2 strain expressed Pfap2g, Pfs16, Pfg27/25 and Pfs25 sexual differentiation-related genes after in vitro sexual differentiation induction, producing gametocytes that conserved the expected morphological features. The amount of FCB2 gametocytes produced was similar to that from the 3D7 strain. FCB2 gametocytes were differentiated into zygotes and ookinetes after an in vitro low-temperature stimulus and infected An. albimanus mosquitoes, developing to oocyst stage. Conclusions Even with the history of long-term FCB2 strain in vitro culture maintenance, it has retained its sexual differentiation ability. The gametocytes produced here preserved these parasite forms’ usual characteristics and An. albimanus infection capability, thus enabling its use as a tool for studying sexual form biology, An. albimanus infection comparative analysis and anti-malarial drug and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Ararat-Sarria
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Cesar Camilo Prado
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Milena Camargo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura Tatiana Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paola Andrea Camargo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Hernando Curtidor
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Animal Science Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia. .,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Sharma A, Nuss AB, Gulia-Nuss M. Insulin-Like Peptide Signaling in Mosquitoes: The Road Behind and the Road Ahead. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:166. [PMID: 30984106 PMCID: PMC6448002 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin signaling is a conserved pathway in all metazoans. This pathway contributed toward primordial metazoans responding to a greater diversity of environmental signals by modulating nutritional storage, reproduction, and longevity. Most of our knowledge of insulin signaling in insects comes from the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, where it has been extensively studied and shown to control several physiological processes. Mosquitoes are the most important vectors of human disease in the world and their control constitutes a significant area of research. Recent studies have shown the importance of insulin signaling in multiple physiological processes such as reproduction, innate immunity, lifespan, and vectorial capacity in mosquitoes. Although insulin-like peptides have been identified and functionally characterized from many mosquito species, a comprehensive review of this pathway in mosquitoes is needed. To fill this gap, our review provides up-to-date knowledge of this subfield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Andrew B. Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrew B. Nuss
| | - Monika Gulia-Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- Monika Gulia-Nuss
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Souvannaseng L, Hun LV, Baker H, Klyver JM, Wang B, Pakpour N, Bridgewater JM, Napoli E, Giulivi C, Riehle MA, Luckhart S. Inhibition of JNK signaling in the Asian malaria vector Anopheles stephensi extends mosquito longevity and improves resistance to Plasmodium falciparum infection. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007418. [PMID: 30496310 PMCID: PMC6264519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a global health concern caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites. With rising insecticide and drug resistance, there is a critical need to develop novel control strategies, including strategies to block parasite sporogony in key mosquito vector species. MAPK signaling pathways regulated by extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38 MAPKs are highly conserved across eukaryotes, including mosquito vectors of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Some of these pathways in mosquitoes have been investigated in detail, but the mechanisms of integration of parasite development and mosquito fitness by JNK signaling have not been elucidated. To this end, we engineered midgut-specific overexpression of MAPK phosphatase 4 (MKP4), which targets the SAPKs, and used two potent and specific JNK small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) to assess the effects of JNK signaling manipulations on Anopheles stephensi fecundity, lifespan, intermediary metabolism, and P. falciparum development. MKP4 overexpression and SMI treatment reduced the proportion of P. falciparum-infected mosquitoes and decreased oocyst loads relative to controls. SMI-treated mosquitoes exhibited no difference in lifespan compared to controls, whereas genetically manipulated mosquitoes exhibited extended longevity. Metabolomics analyses of SMI-treated mosquitoes revealed insights into putative resistance mechanisms and the physiology behind lifespan extension, suggesting for the first time that P. falciparum-induced JNK signaling reduces mosquito longevity and increases susceptibility to infection, in contrast to previously published reports, likely via a critical interplay between the invertebrate host and parasite for nutrients that play essential roles during sporogonic development. Malaria is a global health concern caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites. With rising insecticide and drug resistance, there is a critical need to develop novel control strategies. One strategy is to develop a Plasmodium-resistant mosquito through the manipulation of key signaling pathways and processes in the mosquito midgut, a critical tissue for parasite development. MAPK signaling pathways are highly conserved among eukaryotes and regulate development of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in the mosquito vector. Here, we investigated how manipulation of Anopheles stephensi JNK signaling affects development of P. falciparum and key mosquito life history traits. We used multiple, complementary approaches to demonstrate that malaria parasite infection activates mosquito JNK signaling for its own benefit at a cost to host lifespan. Notably, these combined effects derive from networked signaling with other transduction pathways and alterations to intermediary metabolism in the mosquito host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lattha Souvannaseng
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George's University, School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, St. George, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Lewis Vibul Hun
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Heather Baker
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - John M. Klyver
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Jordan M. Bridgewater
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Eleonora Napoli
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Cecilia Giulivi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
- M.I.N.D. Institute, Sacramento, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Bartholomay LC, Michel K. Mosquito Immunobiology: The Intersection of Vector Health and Vector Competence. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 63:145-167. [PMID: 29324042 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
As holometabolous insects that occupy distinct aquatic and terrestrial environments in larval and adult stages and utilize hematophagy for nutrient acquisition, mosquitoes are subjected to a wide variety of symbiotic interactions. Indeed, mosquitoes play host to endosymbiotic, entomopathogenic, and mosquito-borne organisms, including protozoa, viruses, bacteria, fungi, fungal-like organisms, and metazoans, all of which trigger and shape innate infection-response capacity. Depending on the infection or interaction, the mosquito may employ, for example, cellular and humoral immune effectors for septic infections in the hemocoel, humoral infection responses in the midgut lumen, and RNA interference and programmed cell death for intracellular pathogens. These responses often function in concert, regardless of the infection type, and provide a robust front to combat infection. Mosquito-borne pathogens and entomopathogens overcome these immune responses, employing avoidance or suppression strategies. Burgeoning methodologies are capitalizing on this concerted deployment of immune responses to control mosquito-borne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyric C Bartholomay
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706;
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506;
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16
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Macias VM, Ohm JR, Rasgon JL. Gene Drive for Mosquito Control: Where Did It Come from and Where Are We Headed? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14091006. [PMID: 28869513 PMCID: PMC5615543 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14091006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne pathogens place an enormous burden on human health. The existing toolkit is insufficient to support ongoing vector-control efforts towards meeting disease elimination and eradication goals. The perspective that genetic approaches can potentially add a significant set of tools toward mosquito control is not new, but the recent improvements in site-specific gene editing with CRISPR/Cas9 systems have enhanced our ability to both study mosquito biology using reverse genetics and produce genetics-based tools. Cas9-mediated gene-editing is an efficient and adaptable platform for gene drive strategies, which have advantages over innundative release strategies for introgressing desirable suppression and pathogen-blocking genotypes into wild mosquito populations; until recently, an effective gene drive has been largely out of reach. Many considerations will inform the effective use of new genetic tools, including gene drives. Here we review the lengthy history of genetic advances in mosquito biology and discuss both the impact of efficient site-specific gene editing on vector biology and the resulting potential to deploy new genetic tools for the abatement of mosquito-borne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa M Macias
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Johanna R Ohm
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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17
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Glennon EKK, Torrevillas BK, Morrissey SF, Ejercito JM, Luckhart S. Abscisic acid induces a transient shift in signaling that enhances NF-κB-mediated parasite killing in the midgut of Anopheles stephensi without reducing lifespan or fecundity. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:333. [PMID: 28705245 PMCID: PMC5508651 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2276-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Abscisic acid (ABA) is naturally present in mammalian blood and circulating levels can be increased by oral supplementation. We showed previously that oral ABA supplementation in a mouse model of Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL infection reduced parasitemia and gametocytemia, spleen and liver pathology, and parasite transmission to the mosquito Anopheles stephensi fed on these mice. Treatment of cultured Plasmodium falciparum with ABA at levels detected in our model had no effects on asexual growth or gametocyte formation in vitro. However, ABA treatment of cultured P. falciparum immediately prior to mosquito feeding significantly reduced oocyst development in A. stephensi via ABA-dependent synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) in the mosquito midgut. Results Here we describe the mechanisms of effects of ABA on mosquito physiology, which are dependent on phosphorylation of TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and associated with changes in homeostatic gene expression and activity of kinases that are central to metabolic regulation in the midgut epithelium. Collectively, the timing of these effects suggests a transient physiological shift that enhances NF-κB-dependent innate immunity without significantly altering mosquito lifespan or fecundity. Conclusions ABA is a highly conserved regulator of immune and metabolic homeostasis within the malaria vector A. stephensi with potential as a transmission-blocking supplemental treatment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2276-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K K Glennon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brandi K Torrevillas
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Shannon F Morrissey
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jadrian M Ejercito
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Entomology, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
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18
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Alvarado-Delgado A, Perales Ortiz G, Tello-López ÁT, Encarnación S, Conde R, Martínez-Batallar ÁG, Moran-Francia K, Lanz-Mendoza H. Infection with Plasmodium berghei ookinetes alters protein expression in the brain of Anopheles albimanus mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:542. [PMID: 27724938 PMCID: PMC5057407 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1830-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The behaviour of Anopheles spp. mosquitoes, vectors for Plasmodium parasites, plays a crucial role in the propagation of malaria to humans. Consequently, it is important to understand how the behaviour of these mosquitoes is influenced by the interaction between the brain and immunological status. The nervous system is intimately linked to the immune and endocrine systems. There is evidence that the malaria parasite alters the function of these systems upon infecting the mosquito. Although there is a complex molecular interplay between the Plasmodium parasite and Anopheles mosquito, little is known about the neuronal alteration triggered by the parasite invasion. The aim of this study was to analyse the modification of the proteomic profile in the An. albimanus brain during the early phase of the Plasmodium berghei invasion. Results At 24 hours of the P. berghei invasion, the mosquito brain showed an increase in the concentration of proteins involved in the cellular metabolic pathway, such as ATP synthase complex alpha and beta, malate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, enolase and vacuolar ATP synthase. There was also a rise in the levels of proteins with neuronal function, such as calreticulin, mitofilin and creatine kinase. Concomitantly, the parasite invasion repressed the expression of synapse-associated proteins, including enolyl CoA hydratase, HSP70 and ribosomal S60 proteins. Conclusions Identification of upregulated and downregulated protein expression in the mosquito brain 24 hours after Plasmodium invaded the insect midgut paves the way to better understanding the regulation of the neuro-endocrine-immune system in an insect model during parasite infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1830-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Alvarado-Delgado
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Guillermo Perales Ortiz
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Ángel T Tello-López
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Sergio Encarnación
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Renaud Conde
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | | | - Ken Moran-Francia
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
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19
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Two insulin-like peptides differentially regulate malaria parasite infection in the mosquito through effects on intermediary metabolism. Biochem J 2016; 473:3487-3503. [PMID: 27496548 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) play important roles in growth and metabolic homeostasis, but have also emerged as key regulators of stress responses and immunity in a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates. Furthermore, a growing literature suggests that insulin signaling-dependent metabolic provisioning can influence host responses to infection and affect infection outcomes. In line with these studies, we previously showed that knockdown of either of two closely related, infection-induced ILPs, ILP3 and ILP4, in the mosquito Anopheles stephensi decreased infection with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum through kinetically distinct effects on parasite death. However, the precise mechanisms by which ILP3 and ILP4 control the response to infection remained unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we used a complementary approach of direct ILP supplementation into the blood meal to further define ILP-specific effects on mosquito biology and parasite infection. Notably, we observed that feeding resulted in differential effects of ILP3 and ILP4 on blood-feeding behavior and P. falciparum development. These effects depended on ILP-specific regulation of intermediary metabolism in the mosquito midgut, suggesting a major contribution of ILP-dependent metabolic shifts to the regulation of infection resistance and parasite transmission. Accordingly, our data implicate endogenous ILP signaling in balancing intermediary metabolism for the host response to infection, affirming this emerging tenet in host-pathogen interactions with novel insights from a system of significant public health importance.
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20
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Glennon EKK, Adams LG, Hicks DR, Dehesh K, Luckhart S. Supplementation with Abscisic Acid Reduces Malaria Disease Severity and Parasite Transmission. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 94:1266-75. [PMID: 27001761 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Nearly half of the world's population is at risk for malaria. Increasing drug resistance has intensified the need for novel therapeutics, including treatments with intrinsic transmission-blocking properties. In this study, we demonstrate that the isoprenoid abscisic acid (ABA) modulates signaling in the mammalian host to reduce parasitemia and the formation of transmissible gametocytes and in the mosquito host to reduce parasite infection. Oral ABA supplementation in a mouse model of malaria was well tolerated and led to reduced pathology and enhanced gene expression in the liver and spleen consistent with infection recovery. Oral ABA supplementation also increased mouse plasma ABA to levels that can signal in the mosquito midgut upon blood ingestion. Accordingly, we showed that supplementation of a Plasmodium falciparum-infected blood meal with ABA increased expression of mosquito nitric oxide synthase and reduced infection prevalence in a nitric oxide-dependent manner. Identification of the mechanisms whereby ABA reduces parasite growth in mammals and mosquitoes could shed light on the balance of immunity and metabolism across eukaryotes and provide a strong foundation for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K K Glennon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - L Garry Adams
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Derrick R Hicks
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Katayoon Dehesh
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
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21
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Pietri JE, Pietri EJ, Potts R, Riehle MA, Luckhart S. Plasmodium falciparum suppresses the host immune response by inducing the synthesis of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in the mosquito Anopheles stephensi. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 53:134-44. [PMID: 26165161 PMCID: PMC4536081 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and their respective signaling and regulatory pathways are highly conserved across phyla. In invertebrates, ILPs regulate diverse physiological processes, including metabolism, reproduction, behavior, and immunity. We previously reported that blood feeding alone induced minimal changes in ILP expression in Anopheles stephensi. However, ingestion of a blood meal containing human insulin or Plasmodium falciparum, which can mimic insulin signaling, leads to significant increases in ILP expression in the head and midgut, suggesting a potential role for AsILPs in the regulation of P. falciparum sporogonic development. Here, we show that soluble P. falciparum products, but not LPS or zymosan, directly induced AsILP expression in immortalized A. stephensi cells in vitro. Further, AsILP expression is dependent on signaling by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt branches of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway. Inhibition of P. falciparum-induced ILPs in vivo decreased parasite development through kinetically distinct effects on mosquito innate immune responses. Specifically, knockdown of AsILP4 induced early expression of immune effector genes (1-6 h after infection), a pattern associated with significantly reduced parasite abundance prior to invasion of the midgut epithelium. In contrast, knockdown of AsILP3 increased later expression of the same genes (24 h after infection), a pattern that was associated with significantly reduced oocyst development. These data suggest that P. falciparum parasites alter the expression of mosquito AsILPs to dampen the immune response and facilitate their development in the mosquito vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose E Pietri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Eduardo J Pietri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Rashaun Potts
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, 410 Forbes, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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22
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Johnson AA, Riehle MA. Resveratrol Fails to Extend Life Span in the MosquitoAnopheles stephensi. Rejuvenation Res 2015; 18:473-8. [DOI: 10.1089/rej.2015.1670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adiv A. Johnson
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
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23
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Wang B, Pakpour N, Napoli E, Drexler A, Glennon EKK, Surachetpong W, Cheung K, Aguirre A, Klyver JM, Lewis EE, Eigenheer R, Phinney BS, Giulivi C, Luckhart S. Anopheles stephensi p38 MAPK signaling regulates innate immunity and bioenergetics during Plasmodium falciparum infection. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:424. [PMID: 26283222 PMCID: PMC4539710 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1016-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fruit flies and mammals protect themselves against infection by mounting immune and metabolic responses that must be balanced against the metabolic needs of the pathogens. In this context, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent signaling is critical to regulating both innate immunity and metabolism during infection. Accordingly, we asked to what extent the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi utilizes p38 MAPK signaling during infection with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Methods A. stephensi p38 MAPK (AsP38 MAPK) was identified and patterns of signaling in vitro and in vivo (midgut) were analyzed using phospho-specific antibodies and small molecule inhibitors. Functional effects of AsP38 MAPK inhibition were assessed using P. falciparum infection, quantitative real-time PCR, assays for reactive oxygen species and survivorship under oxidative stress, proteomics, and biochemical analyses. Results The genome of A. stephensi encodes a single p38 MAPK that is activated in the midgut in response to parasite infection. Inhibition of AsP38 MAPK signaling significantly reduced P. falciparum sporogonic development. This phenotype was associated with AsP38 MAPK regulation of mitochondrial physiology and stress responses in the midgut epithelium, a tissue critical for parasite development. Specifically, inhibition of AsP38 MAPK resulted in reduction in mosquito protein synthesis machinery, a shift in glucose metabolism, reduced mitochondrial metabolism, enhanced production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, induction of an array of anti-parasite effector genes, and decreased resistance to oxidative stress-mediated damage. Hence, P. falciparum-induced activation of AsP38 MAPK in the midgut facilitates parasite infection through a combination of reduced anti-parasite immune defenses and enhanced host protein synthesis and bioenergetics to minimize the impact of infection on the host and to maximize parasite survival, and ultimately, transmission. Conclusions These observations suggest that, as in mammals, innate immunity and mitochondrial responses are integrated in mosquitoes and that AsP38 MAPK-dependent signaling facilitates mosquito survival during parasite infection, a fact that may attest to the relatively longer evolutionary relationship of these parasites with their invertebrate compared to their vertebrate hosts. On a practical level, improved understanding of the balances and trade-offs between resistance and metabolism could be leveraged to generate fit, resistant mosquitoes for malaria control. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1016-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Eleonora Napoli
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Anna Drexler
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Elizabeth K K Glennon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Win Surachetpong
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Kong Cheung
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Alejandro Aguirre
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - John M Klyver
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Edwin E Lewis
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Richard Eigenheer
- Genome and Biomedical Sciences Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Brett S Phinney
- Genome and Biomedical Sciences Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Cecilia Giulivi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA. .,Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 3437 Tupper Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Luckhart S, Pakpour N, Giulivi C. Host-pathogen interactions in malaria: cross-kingdom signaling and mitochondrial regulation. Curr Opin Immunol 2015. [PMID: 26210301 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Malaria parasite-host interactions are complex and have confounded available drugs and the development of vaccines. Further, we now appreciate that interventions for malaria elimination and eradication must include therapeutics with intrinsic transmission blocking activity to treat the patient and prevent disease spread. Studies over the past 15 years have revealed significant conservation in the response to infection in mosquito and human hosts. More recently, we have recognized that conserved cell signaling cascades in mosquitoes and humans dictate infection outcome through the regulation of mitochondrial function and biogenesis, which feed back to host immunity, basic intermediary metabolism, and stress responses. These responses - reflected clearly in the primeval insect host - provide fertile ground for innovative strategies for both treatment and transmission blocking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis CA 95616, United States.
| | - Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis CA 95616, United States
| | - Cecilia Giulivi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis CA 95616, United States
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25
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Cator LJ, Pietri JE, Murdock CC, Ohm JR, Lewis EE, Read AF, Luckhart S, Thomas MB. Immune response and insulin signalling alter mosquito feeding behaviour to enhance malaria transmission potential. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11947. [PMID: 26153094 PMCID: PMC4495552 DOI: 10.1038/srep11947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites alter mosquito feeding behaviour in a way that enhances parasite transmission. This is widely considered a prime example of manipulation of host behaviour to increase onward transmission, but transient immune challenge in the absence of parasites can induce the same behavioural phenotype. Here, we show that alterations in feeding behaviour depend on the timing and dose of immune challenge relative to blood ingestion and that these changes are functionally linked to changes in insulin signalling in the mosquito gut. These results suggest that altered phenotypes derive from insulin signalling-dependent host resource allocation among immunity, blood feeding, and reproduction in a manner that is not specific to malaria parasite infection. We measured large increases in mosquito survival and subsequent transmission potential when feeding patterns are altered. Leveraging these changes in physiology, behaviour and life history could promote effective and sustainable control of female mosquitoes responsible for transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J Cator
- Grand Challenges in Ecosystem and Environment, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park
| | - Jose E Pietri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis
| | - Courtney C Murdock
- Department of Infectious Disease in College of Veterinary Medicine and Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
| | - Johanna R Ohm
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University
| | - Edwin E Lewis
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis
| | - Andrew F Read
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis
| | - Matthew B Thomas
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University
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Arik AJ, Hun LV, Quicke K, Piatt M, Ziegler R, Scaraffia PY, Badgandi H, Riehle MA. Increased Akt signaling in the mosquito fat body increases adult survivorship. FASEB J 2014; 29:1404-13. [PMID: 25550465 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-261479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Akt signaling regulates diverse physiologies in a wide range of organisms. We examine the impact of increased Akt signaling in the fat body of 2 mosquito species, the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi and the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. Overexpression of a myristoylated and active form of A. stephensi and Ae. aegypti Akt in the fat body of transgenic mosquitoes led to activation of the downstream signaling molecules forkhead box O (FOXO) and p70 S6 kinase in a tissue and blood meal-specific manner. In both species, increased Akt signaling in the fat body after blood feeding significantly increased adult survivorship relative to nontransgenic sibling controls. In A. stephensi, survivorship was increased by 15% to 45%, while in Ae. aegypti, it increased 14% to 47%. Transgenic mosquitoes fed only sugar, and thus not expressing active Akt, had no significant difference in survivorship relative to nontransgenic siblings. Expression of active Akt also increased expression of fat body vitellogenin, but the number of viable eggs did not differ significantly between transgenic and nontransgenic controls. This work demonstrates a novel mechanism of enhanced survivorship through increased Akt signaling in the fat bodies of multiple mosquito genera and provides new tools to unlock the molecular underpinnings of aging in eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anam J Arik
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lewis V Hun
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kendra Quicke
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Michael Piatt
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Rolf Ziegler
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Patricia Y Scaraffia
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Hemant Badgandi
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Michael A Riehle
- *Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
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27
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Abstract
Recent advances in genetic engineering are bringing new promise for controlling mosquito populations that transmit deadly pathogens. Here we discuss past and current efforts to engineer mosquito strains that are refractory to disease transmission or are suitable for suppressing wild disease-transmitting populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Smidler
- />Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 021155 USA
- />Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- />Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 021155 USA
- />Department of Microbiology, Perugia University, Perugia, 06100 Italy
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28
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Pietri JE, Cheung KW, Luckhart S. Knockdown of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in the midgut of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes using antisense morpholinos. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 23:558-65. [PMID: 24866718 PMCID: PMC4159403 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne infectious diseases are responsible for nearly 1.5 million deaths annually across the globe, with malaria responsible for >50% of these deaths. Recent efforts to enhance malaria control have focused on developing genetically modified Anopheles mosquitoes that are resistant to malaria parasite infection by manipulating proteins that are essential to the immune response. Although this approach has shown promise, the lack of efficient genetic tools in the mosquito makes it difficult to investigate innate immunity using reverse genetics. Current gene knockdown strategies based on small interfering RNA are typically labourious, inefficient, and require extensive training. In the present study, we describe the use of morpholino antisense oligomers to knockdown MEK-ERK signalling in the midgut of Anopheles stephensi through a simple feeding protocol. Anti-MEK morpholino provided in a saline meal was readily ingested by female mosquitoes with minimal toxicity and resulted in knockdown of total MEK protein levels 3-4 days after morpholino feeding. Further, anti-MEK morpholino feeding attenuated inducible phosphorylation of the downstream kinase ERK and, as predicted by previous work, reduced parasite burden in mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium falciparum. To our knowledge, this is the first example of morpholino use for target protein knockdown via feeding in an insect vector. Our results suggest this method is not only efficient for studies of individual proteins, but also for studies of phenotypic control by complex cell signalling networks. As such, our protocol is an effective alternative to current methods for gene knockdown in arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose E. Pietri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Kong W. Cheung
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
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29
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Pakpour N, Riehle MA, Luckhart S. Effects of ingested vertebrate-derived factors on insect immune responses. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2014; 3:1-5. [PMID: 25401083 PMCID: PMC4228800 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2014.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
During the process of blood feeding insect vectors are exposed to an array of vertebrate-derived blood factors ranging from byproducts of blood meal digestion to naturally occurring products in the blood including growth hormones, cytokines and factors derived from blood-borne pathogens themselves. In this review, we examine the ability of these ingested vertebrate blood factors to alter the innate pathogen defenses of insect vectors. The ability of these factors to modify the immune responses of insect vectors offers new intriguing targets for blocking or reducing transmission of human disease-causing pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, 95616
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30
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Moretti DM, Ahuja LG, Nunes RD, Cudischevitch CO, Daumas-Filho CRO, Medeiros-Castro P, Ventura-Martins G, Jablonka W, Gazos-Lopes F, Senna R, Sorgine MHF, Hartfelder K, Capurro M, Atella GC, Mesquita RD, Silva-Neto MAC. Molecular analysis of Aedes aegypti classical protein tyrosine phosphatases uncovers an ortholog of mammalian PTP-1B implicated in the control of egg production in mosquitoes. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104878. [PMID: 25137153 PMCID: PMC4138107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs) are enzymes that catalyze phosphotyrosine dephosphorylation and modulate cell differentiation, growth and metabolism. In mammals, PTPs play a key role in the modulation of canonical pathways involved in metabolism and immunity. PTP1B is the prototype member of classical PTPs and a major target for treating human diseases, such as cancer, obesity and diabetes. These signaling enzymes are, hence, targets of a wide array of inhibitors. Anautogenous mosquitoes rely on blood meals to lay eggs and are vectors of the most prevalent human diseases. Identifying the mosquito ortholog of PTP1B and determining its involvement in egg production is, therefore, important in the search for a novel and crucial target for vector control. Methodology/Principal Findings We conducted an analysis to identify the ortholog of mammalian PTP1B in the Aedes aegypti genome. We identified eight genes coding for classical PTPs. In silico structural and functional analyses of proteins coded by such genes revealed that four of these code for catalytically active enzymes. Among the four genes coding for active PTPs, AAEL001919 exhibits the greatest degree of homology with the mammalian PTP1B. Next, we evaluated the role of this enzyme in egg formation. Blood feeding largely affects AAEL001919 expression, especially in the fat body and ovaries. These tissues are critically involved in the synthesis and storage of vitellogenin, the major yolk protein. Including the classical PTP inhibitor sodium orthovanadate or the PTP substrate DiFMUP in the blood meal decreased vitellogenin synthesis and egg production. Similarly, silencing AAEL001919 using RNA interference (RNAi) assays resulted in 30% suppression of egg production. Conclusions/Significance The data reported herein implicate, for the first time, a gene that codes for a classical PTP in mosquito egg formation. These findings raise the possibility that this class of enzymes may be used as novel targets to block egg formation in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Monteiro Moretti
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lalima Gagan Ahuja
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Rodrigo Dutra Nunes
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cecília Oliveira Cudischevitch
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Renato Oliveira Daumas-Filho
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Medeiros-Castro
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Ventura-Martins
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Willy Jablonka
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Felipe Gazos-Lopes
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raquel Senna
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcos Henrique Ferreira Sorgine
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Klaus Hartfelder
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Margareth Capurro
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Georgia Correa Atella
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafael Dias Mesquita
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mário Alberto Cardoso Silva-Neto
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel), Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Brenton AA, Souvannaseng L, Cheung K, Anishchenko M, Brault AC, Luckhart S. Engineered single nucleotide polymorphisms in the mosquito MEK docking site alter Plasmodium berghei development in Anopheles gambiae. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:287. [PMID: 24957684 PMCID: PMC4077580 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Susceptibility to Plasmodium infection in Anopheles gambiae has been proposed to result from naturally occurring polymorphisms that alter the strength of endogenous innate defenses. Despite the fact that some of these mutations are known to introduce non-synonymous substitutions in coding sequences, these mutations have largely been used to rationalize knockdown of associated target proteins to query the effects on parasite development in the mosquito host. Here, we assay the effects of engineered mutations on an immune signaling protein target that is known to control parasite sporogonic development. By this proof-of-principle work, we have established that naturally occurring mutations can be queried for their effects on mosquito protein function and on parasite development and that this important signaling pathway can be genetically manipulated to enhance mosquito resistance. METHODS We introduced SNPs into the A. gambiae MAPK kinase MEK to alter key residues in the N-terminal docking site (D-site), thus interfering with its ability to interact with the downstream kinase target ERK. ERK phosphorylation levels in vitro and in vivo were evaluated to confirm the effects of MEK D-site mutations. In addition, overexpression of various MEK D-site alleles was used to assess P. berghei infection in A. gambiae. RESULTS The MEK D-site contains conserved lysine residues predicted to mediate protein-protein interaction with ERK. As anticipated, each of the D-site mutations (K3M, K6M) suppressed ERK phosphorylation and this inhibition was significant when both mutations were present. Tissue-targeted overexpression of alleles encoding MEK D-site polymorphisms resulted in reduced ERK phosphorylation in the midgut of A. gambiae. Furthermore, as expected, inhibition of MEK-ERK signaling due to D-site mutations resulted in reduction in P. berghei development relative to infection in the presence of overexpressed catalytically active MEK. CONCLUSION MEK-ERK signaling in A. gambiae, as in model organisms and humans, depends on the integrity of conserved key residues within the MEK D-site. Disruption of signal transmission via engineered SNPs provides a purposeful proof-of-principle model for the study of naturally occurring mutations that may be associated with mosquito resistance to parasite infection as well as an alternative genetic basis for manipulation of this important immune signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A Brenton
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 95616 Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lattha Souvannaseng
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 95616 Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kong Cheung
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 95616 Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael Anishchenko
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd, 80521 Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Aaron C Brault
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd, 80521 Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 95616 Davis, CA, USA
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32
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Drexler AL, Pietri JE, Pakpour N, Hauck E, Wang B, Glennon EKK, Georgis M, Riehle MA, Luckhart S. Human IGF1 regulates midgut oxidative stress and epithelial homeostasis to balance lifespan and Plasmodium falciparum resistance in Anopheles stephensi. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004231. [PMID: 24968248 PMCID: PMC4072789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) regulates cell death, repair, autophagy, and renewal in response to stress, damage, and pathogen challenge. Therefore, IIS is fundamental to lifespan and disease resistance. Previously, we showed that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) within a physiologically relevant range (0.013-0.13 µM) in human blood reduced development of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum in the Indian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi. Low IGF1 (0.013 µM) induced FOXO and p70S6K activation in the midgut and extended mosquito lifespan, whereas high IGF1 (0.13 µM) did not. In this study the physiological effects of low and high IGF1 were examined in detail to infer mechanisms for their dichotomous effects on mosquito resistance and lifespan. Following ingestion, low IGF1 induced phosphorylation of midgut c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), a critical regulator of epithelial homeostasis, but high IGF1 did not. Low and high IGF1 induced midgut mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis and nitric oxide (NO) synthase gene expression, responses which were necessary and sufficient to mediate IGF1 inhibition of P. falciparum development. However, increased ROS and apoptosis-associated caspase-3 activity returned to baseline levels following low IGF1 treatment, but were sustained with high IGF1 treatment and accompanied by aberrant expression of biomarkers for mitophagy, stem cell division and proliferation. Low IGF1-induced ROS are likely moderated by JNK-induced epithelial cytoprotection as well as p70S6K-mediated growth and inhibition of apoptosis over the lifetime of A. stephensi to facilitate midgut homeostasis and enhanced survivorship. Hence, mitochondrial integrity and homeostasis in the midgut, a key signaling center for IIS, can be targeted to coordinately optimize mosquito fitness and anti-pathogen resistance for improved control strategies for malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. Drexler
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jose E. Pietri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Eric Hauck
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth K. K. Glennon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Martha Georgis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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33
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Pakpour N, Camp L, Smithers HM, Wang B, Tu Z, Nadler SA, Luckhart S. Protein kinase C-dependent signaling controls the midgut epithelial barrier to malaria parasite infection in anopheline mosquitoes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76535. [PMID: 24146884 PMCID: PMC3795702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Anopheline mosquitoes are the primary vectors of parasites in the genus Plasmodium, the causative agents of malaria. Malaria parasites undergo a series of complex transformations upon ingestion by the mosquito host. During this process, the physical barrier of the midgut epithelium, along with innate immune defenses, functionally restrict parasite development. Although these defenses have been studied for some time, the regulatory factors that control them are poorly understood. The protein kinase C (PKC) gene family consists of serine/threonine kinases that serve as central signaling molecules and regulators of a broad spectrum of cellular processes including epithelial barrier function and immunity. Indeed, PKCs are highly conserved, ranging from 7 isoforms in Drosophila to 16 isoforms in mammals, yet none have been identified in mosquitoes. Despite conservation of the PKC gene family and their potential as targets for transmission-blocking strategies for malaria, no direct connections between PKCs, the mosquito immune response or epithelial barrier integrity are known. Here, we identify and characterize six PKC gene family members--PKCδ, PKCε, PKCζ, PKD, PKN, and an indeterminate conventional PKC--in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the anopheline PKCs support most subfamily assignments. All six PKCs are expressed in the midgut epithelia of A. gambiae and A. stephensi post-blood feeding, indicating availability for signaling in a tissue that is critical for malaria parasite development. Although inhibition of PKC enzymatic activity decreased NF-κB-regulated anti-microbial peptide expression in mosquito cells in vitro, PKC inhibition had no effect on expression of a panel of immune genes in the midgut epithelium in vivo. PKC inhibition did, however, significantly increase midgut barrier integrity and decrease development of P. falciparum oocysts in A. stephensi, suggesting that PKC-dependent signaling is a negative regulator of epithelial barrier function and a potential new target for transmission-blocking strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lauren Camp
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Hannah M. Smithers
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Nadler
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Häfner S, Luckhart S. Dope or die. Microbes Infect 2013; 15:755-8. [PMID: 23911842 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Häfner
- Univ. Paris Diderot, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, UMR 7216 CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75013 Paris, France.
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