1
|
Ambrose L, Allen SL, Iro'ofa C, Butafa C, Beebe NW. Genetic and geographic population structure in the malaria vector, Anopheles farauti, provides a candidate system for pioneering confinable gene-drive releases. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:232-246. [PMID: 38494530 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00677-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Indoor insecticide applications are the primary tool for reducing malaria transmission in the Solomon Archipelago, a region where Anopheles farauti is the only common malaria vector. Due to the evolution of behavioural resistance in some An. farauti populations, these applications have become less effective. New malaria control interventions are therefore needed in this region, and gene-drives provide a promising new technology. In considering developing a population-specific (local) gene-drive in An. farauti, we detail the species' population genetic structure using microsatellites and whole mitogenomes, finding many spatially confined populations both within and between landmasses. This strong population structure suggests that An. farauti would be a useful system for developing a population-specific, confinable gene-drive for field release, where private alleles can be used as Cas9 targets. Previous work on Anopheles gambiae has used the Cardinal gene for the development of a global population replacement gene-drive. We therefore also analyse the Cardinal gene to assess whether it may be a suitable target to engineer a gene-drive for the modification of local An. farauti populations. Despite the extensive population structure observed in An. farauti for microsatellites, only one remote island population from Vanuatu contained fixed and private alleles at the Cardinal locus. Nonetheless, this study provides an initial framework for further population genomic investigations to discover high-frequency private allele targets in localized An. farauti populations. This would enable the development of gene-drive strains for modifying localised populations with minimal chance of escape and may provide a low-risk route to field trial evaluations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Ambrose
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Scott L Allen
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Charlie Iro'ofa
- Solomon Islands Ministry of Health, Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
| | - Charles Butafa
- Solomon Islands Ministry of Health, Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
| | - Nigel W Beebe
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Duffield GE, Acri DJ, George GF, Sheppard AD, Beebe NW, Ritchie SA, Burkot TR. Diel flight activity of wild-caught Anopheles farauti (s.s.) and An. hinesorum malaria mosquitoes from northern Queensland, Australia. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:48. [PMID: 30670073 PMCID: PMC6341630 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3271-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Species in the Anopheles farauti complex are major malaria vectors in the Asia Pacific region. Anopheline mosquitoes exhibit circadian and diel rhythms in sugar- and blood-feeding (biting), flight activity, oviposition, and in some species, a short-lived dusk/early night associated swarming behaviour during which mating occurs. A behavioural study of wild-caught mosquitoes from Queensland, Australia was conducted to investigate the differences in diel rhythmic flight activity between two cryptic species in several reproductive states. RESULTS The 24-hour flight activity of individual adult female mosquitoes under light:dark cycle conditions were monitored with a minute-to-minute time resolution using an infrared beam break method. Mosquitoes were analyzed for reproductive state (insemination and parity) and identified to species [An. farauti (s.s.) Laveran and An. hinesorum Schmidt] by PCR analysis. We compared daily total flight activity, timing of activity onset, the peak in early nocturnal activity, and patterns of activity during the scotophase (night). Species-specific differences between An. farauti and An. hinesorum were observed. Compared to An. farauti, An. hinesorum had an earlier onset of dusk activity, an earlier peak in nocturnal activity, and a higher level of activity at the onset of darkness. Small differences between species were also observed in the pattern of the dusk/early-night bouts of activity. A second nocturnal peak in inseminated nulliparous An. hinesorum was also observed during the middle of the scotophase. CONCLUSIONS The behavioural differences between these two sympatric species of the An. farauti complex might contribute to subtle differences in habitat adaptation, the timing of host-seeking and/or sugar-feeding activity. This study provides baseline data for analysis of populations of mosquitoes from other geographical regions where these species are malaria vectors, such as in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. This is important as selective pressures due to long-term use of indoor residual spraying of insecticides and insecticide-treated bed nets are shifting the nocturnal profile of biting behaviour of these vectors to earlier in the night.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giles E Duffield
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, Galvin Life Science Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
| | - Dominic J Acri
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, Galvin Life Science Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Gary F George
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, Galvin Life Science Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Aaron D Sheppard
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, Galvin Life Science Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Nigel W Beebe
- University of Queensland, School of Biology, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,CSIRO, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott A Ritchie
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas R Burkot
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hao YJ, Zou YL, Ding YR, Xu WY, Yan ZT, Li XD, Fu WB, Li TJ, Chen B. Complete mitochondrial genomes of Anopheles stephensi and An. dirus and comparative evolutionary mitochondriomics of 50 mosquitoes. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7666. [PMID: 28794438 PMCID: PMC5550476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07977-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
To better understand the phylogeny and evolution of mosquitoes, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Anopheles stephensi and An. dirus were sequenced and annotated, and a total of 50 mosquito mitogenomes were comparatively analyzed. The complete mitogenome of An. stephensi and An. dirus is 1,5371 bp and 1,5406 bp long, respectively. The main features of the 50 mosquito mitogenomes are conservative: 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, positive AT-skew and negative GC-skew. The gene order trnA-trnR in ancestral insects is rearranged. All tRNA genes have the typical clover leaf secondary structure but tRNA Ser . The control regions are highly variable in size. PCGs show signals of purifying selection, but evidence for positive selection in ND2, ND4 and ND6 is found. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses based on all PCG nucleotides produce an identical tree topology and strongly support the monophyly of subgenera Cellia, Anopheles, Keterszia and Nyssorhynchus, the sister relationship of the subgenera Nyssorhynchus and Keterszia, and Cellia and Anopheles. The most recent ancestor of the genus Anopheles and Culicini + Aedini exited ~145 Mya ago. This is the first comprehensive study of mosquito mitogenomes, which are effective for mosquito phylogeny at various taxonomic levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You-Jin Hao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Yi-Lin Zou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Yi-Ran Ding
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Wen-Yue Xu
- The Department of Pathogenic Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Zhen-Tian Yan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Xu-Dong Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Wen-Bo Fu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Ting-Jing Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects; Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
St Laurent B, Supratman S, Asih PBS, Bretz D, Mueller J, Miller HC, Baharuddin A, Shinta, Surya A, Ngai M, Laihad F, Syafruddin D, Hawley WA, Collins FH, Lobo NF. Behaviour and molecular identification of Anopheles malaria vectors in Jayapura district, Papua province, Indonesia. Malar J 2016; 15:192. [PMID: 27060058 PMCID: PMC4826537 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1234-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the Anopheles punctulatus group dominate Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), with a geographic range that extends south through Vanuatu. An. farauti and An. punctulatus are the presumed major vectors in this region. Although this group of species has been extensively studied in PNG and the southern archipelagoes within their range, their distribution, ecology and vector behaviours have not been well characterized in eastern Indonesia. METHODS Mosquitoes were collected in five villages in Jayapura province, Papua, Indonesia using human-landing collections, animal-baited tents and backpack aspirators. Mosquitoes were morphologically typed and then molecularly distinguished based on ribosomal ITS2 sequences and tested for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infection using circumsporozoite ELISA and PCR. RESULTS The presence and vector status of An. farauti 4 in Papua, Indonesia is confirmed here for the first time. The data indicate that this species is entering houses at a rate that increases its potential to come into contact with humans and act as a major malaria vector. An. farauti 4 was also abundant outdoors and biting humans during early evening hours. Other species collected in this area include An. farauti 1, An. hinesorum, An. koliensis, An. punctulatus, and An. tessellatus. Proboscis morphology was highly variable within each species, lending support to the notion that this characteristic is not a reliable indicator to distinguish species within the An. punctulatus group. CONCLUSIONS The vector composition in Papua, Indonesia is consistent with certain northern areas of PNG, but the behaviours of anophelines sampled in this region, such as early and indoor human biting of An. farauti 4, may enable them to act as major vectors of malaria. Presumed major vectors An. farauti and An. punctulatus were not abundant among these samples. Morphological identification of anophelines in this sample was often inaccurate, highlighting the importance of using molecular analysis in conjunction with morphological investigations to update keys and training tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandy St Laurent
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
| | - Sukowati Supratman
- National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - David Bretz
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - John Mueller
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Shinta
- National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Asik Surya
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makasaar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Michelle Ngai
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Ferdinand Laihad
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Din Syafruddin
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makasaar, 90245, Indonesia
| | | | - Frank H Collins
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Neil F Lobo
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|