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Mohammad N, Naudion P, Dia AK, Boëlle PY, Konaté A, Konaté L, Niang EHA, Piarroux R, Tannier X, Nabet C. Predicting the age of field Anopheles mosquitoes using mass spectrometry and deep learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj6990. [PMID: 38728404 PMCID: PMC11086620 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases like malaria are rising globally, and improved mosquito vector surveillance is needed. Survival of Anopheles mosquitoes is key for epidemiological monitoring of malaria transmission and evaluation of vector control strategies targeting mosquito longevity, as the risk of pathogen transmission increases with mosquito age. However, the available tools to estimate field mosquito age are often approximate and time-consuming. Here, we show a rapid method that combines matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry with deep learning for mosquito age prediction. Using 2763 mass spectra from the head, legs, and thorax of 251 field-collected Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes, we developed deep learning models that achieved a best mean absolute error of 1.74 days. We also demonstrate consistent performance at two ecological sites in Senegal, supported by age-related protein changes. Our approach is promising for malaria control and the field of vector biology, benefiting other disease vectors like Aedes mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noshine Mohammad
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Pauline Naudion
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Abdoulaye Kane Dia
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Vectorielle et Parasitaire (LEVP), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 5005 Dakar, Senegal
| | - Pierre-Yves Boëlle
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Abdoulaye Konaté
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Vectorielle et Parasitaire (LEVP), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 5005 Dakar, Senegal
| | - Lassana Konaté
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Vectorielle et Parasitaire (LEVP), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 5005 Dakar, Senegal
| | - El Hadji Amadou Niang
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Vectorielle et Parasitaire (LEVP), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 5005 Dakar, Senegal
| | - Renaud Piarroux
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Xavier Tannier
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Laboratoire d’Informatique Médicale et d’Ingénierie des Connaissances pour la e-Santé, LIMICS, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Nabet
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, 75013 Paris, France
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Pazmiño-Betancourth M, Ochoa-Gutiérrez V, Ferguson HM, González-Jiménez M, Wynne K, Baldini F, Childs D. Evaluation of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for predicting age, species, and cuticular resistance of Anopheles gambiae s.l under laboratory conditions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18499. [PMID: 37898634 PMCID: PMC10613238 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45696-x] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) combined with machine learning analysis has shown potential for quick and efficient identification of mosquito species and age groups. However, current technology to collect spectra is destructive to the sample and does not allow targeting specific tissues of the mosquito, limiting the identification of other important biological traits such as insecticide resistance. Here, we assessed the use of a non-destructive approach of MIRS for vector surveillance, micro diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (µDRIFT) using mosquito legs to identify species, age and cuticular insecticide resistance within the Anopheles gambiae s.l. complex. These mosquitoes are the major vectors of malaria in Africa and the focus on surveillance in malaria control programs. Legs required significantly less scanning time and showed more spectral consistence compared to other mosquito tissues. Machine learning models were able to identify An. gambiae and An. coluzzii with an accuracy of 0.73, two ages groups (3 and 10 days old) with 0.77 accuracy and we obtained accuracy of 0.75 when identifying cuticular insecticide resistance. Our results highlight the potential of different mosquito tissues and µDRIFT as tools for biological trait identification on mosquitoes that transmit malaria. These results can guide new ways of identifying mosquito traits which can help the creation of innovative surveillance programs by adapting new technology into mosquito surveillance and control tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Pazmiño-Betancourth
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - Victor Ochoa-Gutiérrez
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Heather M Ferguson
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | - Klaas Wynne
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Francesco Baldini
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - David Childs
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
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Hjelmen CE, Yuan Y, Parrott JJ, McGuane AS, Srivastav SP, Purcell AC, Pimsler ML, Sze SH, Tarone AM. Identification and Characterization of Small RNA Markers of Age in the Blow Fly Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). INSECTS 2022; 13:948. [PMID: 36292896 PMCID: PMC9603907 DOI: 10.3390/insects13100948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Blow fly development is important in decomposition ecology, agriculture, and forensics. Much of the impact of these species is from immature samples, thus knowledge of their development is important to enhance or ameliorate their effects. One application of this information is the estimation of immature insect age to provide temporal information for death investigations. While traditional markers of age such as stage and size are generally accurate, they lack precision in later developmental stages. We used miRNA sequencing to measure miRNA expression, throughout development, of the secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and identified 217 miRNAs present across the samples. Ten were identified to be significantly differentially expressed in larval samples and seventeen were found to be significantly differentially expressed in intrapuparial samples. Twenty-eight miRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed between sexes. Expression patterns of two miRNAs, miR-92b and bantam, were qPCR-validated in intrapuparial samples; these and likely food-derived miRNAs appear to be stable markers of age in C. macellaria. Our results support the use of miRNAs for developmental markers of age and suggest further investigations across species and under a range of abiotic and biotic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl E. Hjelmen
- Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ye Yuan
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jonathan J. Parrott
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306, USA
| | | | - Satyam P. Srivastav
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Amanda C. Purcell
- Centre for Forensic Science, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK
| | - Meaghan L. Pimsler
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Sing-Hoi Sze
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Aaron M. Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Gray L, Asay BC, Hephaestus B, McCabe R, Pugh G, Markle ED, Churcher TS, Foy BD. Back to the Future: Quantifying Wing Wear as a Method to Measure Mosquito Age. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:tpmd211173. [PMID: 35895347 PMCID: PMC9490652 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector biologists have long sought the ability to accurately quantify the age of wild mosquito populations, a metric used to measure vector control efficiency. This has proven difficult due to the difficulties of working in the field and the biological complexities of wild mosquitoes. Ideal age grading techniques must overcome both challenges while also providing epidemiologically relevant age measurements. Given these requirements, the Detinova parity technique, which estimates age from the mosquito ovary and tracheole skein morphology, has been most often used for mosquito age grading despite significant limitations, including being based solely on the physiology of ovarian development. Here, we have developed a modernized version of the original mosquito aging method that evaluated wing wear, expanding it to estimate mosquito chronological age from wing scale loss. We conducted laboratory experiments using adult Anopheles gambiae held in insectary cages or mesocosms, the latter of which also featured ivermectin bloodmeal treatments to change the population age structure. Mosquitoes were age graded by parity assessments and both human- and computational-based wing evaluations. Although the Detinova technique was not able to detect differences in age population structure between treated and control mesocosms, significant differences were apparent using the wing scale technique. Analysis of wing images using averaged left- and right-wing pixel intensity scores predicted mosquito age at high accuracy (overall test accuracy: 83.4%, average training accuracy: 89.7%). This suggests that this technique could be an accurate and practical tool for mosquito age grading though further evaluation in wild mosquito populations is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsey Gray
- Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | | | | | - Ruth McCabe
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Greg Pugh
- Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Erin D. Markle
- Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Thomas S. Churcher
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D. Foy
- Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Joy T, Chen M, Arnbrister J, Williamson D, Li S, Nair S, Brophy M, Garcia VM, Walker K, Ernst K, Gouge DH, Carrière Y, Riehle MA. Assessing Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for Evaluation of Aedes aegypti Population Age Structure. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13040360. [PMID: 35447802 PMCID: PMC9029691 DOI: 10.3390/insects13040360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Given that older Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes typically pose the greatest risk of pathogen transmission, the capacity to age grade wild Ae. aegypti mosquito populations would be a valuable tool in monitoring the potential risk of arboviral transmission. Here, we compared the effectiveness of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to age grade field-collected Ae. aegypti with two alternative techniques—parity analysis and transcript abundance of the age-associated gene SCP1. Using lab-reared mosquitoes of known ages from three distinct populations maintained as adults under laboratory or semi-field conditions, we developed and validated four NIRS models for predicting the age of field-collected Ae. aegypti. To assess the accuracy of these models, female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected from Maricopa County, AZ, during the 2017 and 2018 monsoon season, and a subset were age graded using the three different age-grading techniques. For both years, each of the four NIRS models consistently graded parous mosquitoes as significantly older than nulliparous mosquitoes. Furthermore, a significant positive linear association occurred between SCP1 and NIRS age predictions in seven of the eight year/model combinations, although considerable variation in the predicted age of individual mosquitoes was observed. Our results suggest that although the NIRS models were not adequate in determining the age of individual field-collected mosquitoes, they have the potential to quickly and cost effectively track changes in the age structure of Ae. aegypti populations across locations and over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Joy
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Minhao Chen
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Joshua Arnbrister
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Daniel Williamson
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Shujuan Li
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Shakunthala Nair
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Maureen Brophy
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Valerie Madera Garcia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; (V.M.G.); (K.E.)
| | - Kathleen Walker
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Kacey Ernst
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; (V.M.G.); (K.E.)
| | - Dawn H. Gouge
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yves Carrière
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (T.J.); (M.C.); (J.A.); (D.W.); (S.L.); (S.N.); (M.B.); (K.W.); (D.H.G.); (Y.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-520-626-8500
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Weeraratne TC, Karunaratne SHPP, Reimer L, de Silva WAPP, Wondji CS. Use of transcriptional age grading technique to determine the chronological age of Sri Lankan Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus females. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:493. [PMID: 34565445 PMCID: PMC8474866 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04994-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are important vectors of human diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and zika. In Sri Lanka, they have been responsible for transmitting dengue virus. One of the most important parameters influencing the likelihood of arbovirus transmission is the age structure of the mosquito population. However, mosquito age is difficult to measure with accuracy. This study aims to construct multivariate calibration models using the transcriptional abundance of three age-responsive genes: Ae15848 (calcium-binding protein), Ae8505 (structural component of cuticle), and Ae4274 (fizzy cell cycle/cell division cycle 20). METHODS The transcriptional age-grading technique was applied to determine the chronological age of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus female mosquito populations from Sri Lanka using the age-responsive genes Ae15848, Ae8505, and Ae4274. Furthermore, Ae. aegypti samples obtained from colonies reared at two temperatures (23 and 27 °C) were used to investigate the influence of temperature on this age-grading technique. Expression levels of these three genes were quantified using reverse transcription qualitative PCR (qRT-PCR), and results were normalized against the housekeeping gene ribosomal gene S17 (RpS17). RESULTS The expression of Ae15848 and Ae8505 decreased with the age of mosquitoes and showed the most significant and consistent change while expression of Ae4274 increased with age. The multivariate calibration models showed > 80% correlation between expression of these age-responsive genes and the age of female mosquitoes at both temperatures. At 27 °C the accuracy of age predictions using the models was 2.19 (± 1.66) days and 2.58 (± 2.06) days for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus females, respectively. The accuracy of the model for Ae. aegypti at 23 °C was 3.42 (± 2.74) days. CONCLUSIONS An adult rearing temperature difference of 4 °C (23-27 °C) did not significantly affect the age predictions. The calibration models created during this study could be successfully used to estimate the age of wild Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from Sri Lanka.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lisa Reimer
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | | | - Charles S Wondji
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.,Medical Entomology Department, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Mosquito Age Grading and Vector-Control Programmes. Trends Parasitol 2019; 36:39-51. [PMID: 31836285 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
An ability to characterize the age of mosquito populations could provide cost-effective and compelling entomological evidence for the potential epidemiological impacts of vector control. The average age of a mosquito population is the most important determinant of vectorial capacity and the likelihood of disease transmission. Yet, despite decades of research, defining the age of a wild-caught mosquito remains a challenging, impractical, and unreliable process. Emerging chemometric and existing transcriptional approaches may overcome many of the limitations of current morphological techniques, but their utility in terms of field-based monitoring programmes remains largely untested. Herein, we review the potential advantages and disadvantages of new and existing age-grading tools in an operational context.
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Zajitschek F, Zajitschek S, Bonduriansky R. Senescence in wild insects: Key questions and challenges. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Zajitschek
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Susanne Zajitschek
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
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Analysis of natural female post-mating responses of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii unravels similarities and differences in their reproductive ecology. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6594. [PMID: 29700344 PMCID: PMC5920108 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24923-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anopheles gambiae and An. coluzzii, the two most important malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa, are recently radiated sibling species that are reproductively isolated even in areas of sympatry. In females from these species, sexual transfer of male accessory gland products, including the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), induces vast behavioral, physiological, and transcriptional changes that profoundly shape their post-mating ecology, and that may have contributed to the insurgence of post-mating, prezygotic reproductive barriers. As these barriers can be detected by studying transcriptional changes induced by mating, we set out to analyze the post-mating response of An. gambiae and An. coluzzii females captured in natural mating swarms in Burkina Faso. While the molecular pathways shaping short- and long-term mating-induced changes are largely conserved in females from the two species, we unravel significant inter-specific differences that suggest divergent regulation of key reproductive processes such as egg development, processing of seminal secretion, and mating behavior, that may have played a role in reproductive isolation. Interestingly, a number of these changes occur in genes previously shown to be regulated by the sexual transfer of 20E and may be due to divergent utilization of this steroid hormone in the two species.
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Liew JW, Fong MY, Lau YL. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Anopheles dirus TEP1 and NOS during Plasmodium berghei infection, using three reference genes. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3577. [PMID: 28761783 PMCID: PMC5533154 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) has been an integral part of characterizing the immunity of Anopheles mosquitoes towards Plasmodium invasion. Two anti-Plasmodium factors of Anopheles, thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), play a role in the refractoriness of Anopheles towards Plasmodium infection and are generally expressed during infection. However, these are less studied in Anopheles dirus, a dominant malaria vector in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, most studies used a single reference gene for normalization during gene expression analysis without proper validation. This may lead to erroneous quantification of expression levels. Therefore, the present study characterized and investigated the expression profiles of TEP1 and NOS of Anopheles dirus during P. berghei infection. Prior to that, the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1), actin 1 (Act) and ribosomal protein S7 (S7) genes were validated for their suitability as a set of reference genes. TEP1 and NOS expressions in An. dirus were found to be significantly induced after P. berghei infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W.K. Liew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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11
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Kapranas A, Snart CJP, Williams H, Hardy ICW, Barrett DA. Metabolomics of aging assessed in individual parasitoid wasps. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34848. [PMID: 27713504 PMCID: PMC5054366 DOI: 10.1038/srep34848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolomics studies of low-biomass organisms, such as small insects, have previously relied on the pooling of biological samples to overcome detection limits, particularly using NMR. We show that the differentiation of metabolite profiles of individual 1 mg parasitoid wasps of different ages is possible when using a modified sample preparation and a combination of untargeted NMR and LC-MS based metabolomics. Changes were observed between newly emerged and older wasps in glycerolipids, amino acids and circulatory sugars. This advance in chemical profiling has important implications for the study of the behaviour and ecology of parasitoids and many other species of small organisms because predictions and observations are typically made at the level of the individual. Thus, the metabolomic state of low-biomass individuals can now be related to their behaviour and ecological performance. We discuss specifically the utility of age-related metabolomic profiling but our new approach can be applied to a wide range of biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles J. P. Snart
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Huw Williams
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Ian C. W. Hardy
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - David A. Barrett
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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12
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Reiner RC, Guerra C, Donnelly MJ, Bousema T, Drakeley C, Smith DL. Estimating malaria transmission from humans to mosquitoes in a noisy landscape. J R Soc Interface 2016; 12:20150478. [PMID: 26400195 PMCID: PMC4614487 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A basic quantitative understanding of malaria transmission requires measuring the probability a mosquito becomes infected after feeding on a human. Parasite prevalence in mosquitoes is highly age-dependent, and the unknown age-structure of fluctuating mosquito populations impedes estimation. Here, we simulate mosquito infection dynamics, where mosquito recruitment is modelled seasonally with fractional Brownian noise, and we develop methods for estimating mosquito infection rates. We find that noise introduces bias, but the magnitude of the bias depends on the ‘colour' of the noise. Some of these problems can be overcome by increasing the sampling frequency, but estimates of transmission rates (and estimated reductions in transmission) are most accurate and precise if they combine parity, oocyst rates and sporozoite rates. These studies provide a basis for evaluating the adequacy of various entomological sampling procedures for measuring malaria parasite transmission from humans to mosquitoes and for evaluating the direct transmission-blocking effects of a vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Reiner
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Carlos Guerra
- Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David L Smith
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Sanaria Institute for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Rockville, MD, USA Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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13
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Papadopoulos NT, Carey JR, Ioannou CS, Ji H, Müller HG, Wang JL, Luckhart S, Lewis EE. Seasonality of Post-capture Longevity in a Medically-Important Mosquito (Culex pipiens). Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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14
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Jarman SN, Polanowski AM, Faux CE, Robbins J, De Paoli-Iseppi R, Bravington M, Deagle BE. Molecular biomarkers for chronological age in animal ecology. Mol Ecol 2016; 24:4826-47. [PMID: 26308242 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The chronological age of an individual animal predicts many of its biological characteristics, and these in turn influence population-level ecological processes. Animal age information can therefore be valuable in ecological research, but many species have no external features that allow age to be reliably determined. Molecular age biomarkers provide a potential solution to this problem. Research in this area of molecular ecology has so far focused on a limited range of age biomarkers. The most commonly tested molecular age biomarker is change in average telomere length, which predicts age well in a small number of species and tissues, but performs poorly in many other situations. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has recently been shown to cause age-related modifications to DNA and to cause changes in abundance of several RNA types throughout animal lifespans. Age biomarkers based on these epigenetic changes, and other new DNA-based assays, have already been applied to model organisms, humans and a limited number of wild animals. There is clear potential to apply these marker types more widely in ecological studies. For many species, these new approaches will produce age estimates where this was previously impractical. They will also enable age information to be gathered in cross-sectional studies and expand the range of demographic characteristics that can be quantified with molecular methods. We describe the range of molecular age biomarkers that have been investigated to date and suggest approaches for developing the newer marker types as age assays in nonmodel animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon N Jarman
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas., 7050, Australia
| | - Andrea M Polanowski
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas., 7050, Australia
| | - Cassandra E Faux
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas., 7050, Australia
| | - Jooke Robbins
- Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
| | - Ricardo De Paoli-Iseppi
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas., 7050, Australia.,Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tas., 7000, Australia
| | - Mark Bravington
- Marine Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tas., 7000, Australia
| | - Bruce E Deagle
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas., 7050, Australia
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15
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Iovinella I, Caputo B, Michelucci E, Dani FR, della Torre A. Candidate biomarkers for mosquito age-grading identified by label-free quantitative analysis of protein expression in Aedes albopictus females. J Proteomics 2015; 128:272-9. [PMID: 26271156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We applied a "shotgun" approach based on nanoliquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry associated to label free quantification (LFQ) to identify proteins varying with age, independently from the physiological state, in Aedes albopictus, a mosquito species which in the last decades invaded temperate regions in North America and Europe, creating concerns for associated high nuisance and risk of arbovirus transmission. The combined "shotgun" and LFQ approach was shown to be highly suitable to simultaneously compare several biological samples, as needed in a study aimed to analyze different age-groups and physiological states of adult mosquito females. The results obtained represent the first wide-scale analysis of protein expression in Ae. albopictus females: >1000 and 665 proteins were identified from few micrograms of crude protein extracts of mosquito heads and thoraxes, respectively. Six of these proteins were shown to significantly vary from 2- to 16-day-old females, independently from their physiological state (i.e. virgin, mated, host-seeking, blood-fed, and gravid). BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and other arboviroses, are a persistent cause of global mortality and morbidity, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Billions of people living in tropical areas are at risk of being bitten every day by an infective mosquito female and the spread of tropical species such as Aedes albopictus to temperate areas is creating alarm in the northern hemisphere. Mosquito longevity is a critical factor affecting mosquito-borne pathogen transmission cycles and the mosquito capacity to transmit pathogens. However, large scale analyses of the age structure of mosquito field populations is hampered by the lack of optimal age-grading approaches. Our findings open new perspectives for the development of reliable, simple and cheap protein-based assays to age-grade Ae. albopictus females and, most likely, other mosquito species of higher medical relevance, such as the main dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, and the major Afrotropical malaria vectors. These assays would greatly contribute to epidemiological studies aimed at defining the actual vectorial capacity of a given mosquito species. Moreover, they would be very valuable in assessing the effectiveness of mosquito control interventions based on the relative ratio between young and old individuals before and after the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Iovinella
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy; Biology Department, Università di Firenze, Italy
| | - B Caputo
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - E Michelucci
- CISM, Mass Spectrometry Centre, Università di Firenze, Italy
| | - F R Dani
- CISM, Mass Spectrometry Centre, Università di Firenze, Italy; Biology Department, Università di Firenze, Italy.
| | - A della Torre
- Department of Public Health & Infectious Diseases, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
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16
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Sikulu MT, Monkman J, Dave KA, Hastie ML, Dale PE, Kitching RL, Killeen GF, Kay BH, Gorman JJ, Hugo LE. Proteomic changes occurring in the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi during aging. J Proteomics 2015; 126:234-44. [PMID: 26100052 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The age of mosquitoes is a crucial determinant of their ability to transmit pathogens and their resistance to insecticides. We investigated changes to the abundance of proteins found in heads and thoraces of the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi as they aged. Protein expression changes were assessed using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and the identity of differentially expressed proteins was determined by using either matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry or capillary high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a linear ion-trap (LTQ)-Orbitrap XL hybrid mass spectrometer. Protein biomarkers were validated by semi quantitative Western blot analysis. Nineteen and nine age dependent protein spots were identified for A. stephensi and A. gambiae, respectively. Among the proteins down-regulated with age were homologs of ADF/Cofilin, cytochome c1, heat shock protein-70 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5a). Proteins up-regulated with age included probable methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, voltage-dependent anion-selective channel and fructose bisphosphate aldolase. Semi quantitative Western blot analysis confirmed expression patterns observed by 2-D DIGE for eIF5a and ADF/Cofilin. Further work is recommended to determine whether these biomarkers are robust to infection, blood feeding and insecticide resistance. Robust biomarkers could then be incorporated into rapid diagnostic assays for ecological and epidemiological studies. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE In this study, we have identified several proteins with characteristic changes in abundance in both A. gambiae and A. stephensi during their aging process. These changes may highlight underlying mechanisms beneath the relationship between mosquito age and factors affecting Plasmodium transmission and mosquito control. The similarity of changes in protein abundance between these species and the primary dengue vector Aedes aegypti, has revealed conserved patterns of aging-specific protein regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggy T Sikulu
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - James Monkman
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Keyur A Dave
- The Protein Discovery Centre, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Marcus L Hastie
- The Protein Discovery Centre, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Patricia E Dale
- Environmental Research Institute and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Roger L Kitching
- Environmental Research Institute and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Gerry F Killeen
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Thematic Group, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, United Republic of Tanzania; Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Brian H Kay
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Jeffery J Gorman
- The Protein Discovery Centre, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Leon E Hugo
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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17
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Sikulu MT, Majambere S, Khatib BO, Ali AS, Hugo LE, Dowell FE. Using a near-infrared spectrometer to estimate the age of anopheles mosquitoes exposed to pyrethroids. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90657. [PMID: 24594705 PMCID: PMC3942457 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We report on the accuracy of using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict the age of Anopheles mosquitoes reared from wild larvae and a mixed age-wild adult population collected from pit traps after exposure to pyrethroids. The mosquitoes reared from wild larvae were estimated as <7 or ≥7 d old with an overall accuracy of 79%. The age categories of Anopheles mosquitoes that were not exposed to the insecticide papers were predicted with 78% accuracy whereas the age categories of resistant, susceptible and mosquitoes exposed to control papers were predicted with 82%, 78% and 79% accuracy, respectively. The ages of 85% of the wild-collected mixed-age Anopheles were predicted by NIRS as ≤8 d for both susceptible and resistant groups. The age structure of wild-collected mosquitoes was not significantly different for the pyrethroid-susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes (P = 0.210). Based on these findings, NIRS chronological age estimation technique for Anopheles mosquitoes may be independent of insecticide exposure and the environmental conditions to which the mosquitoes are exposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggy T. Sikulu
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Environmental Futures Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Thematic Group, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, United Republic of Tanzania
- * E-mail:
| | - Silas Majambere
- Vector Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Zanzibar Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Bakar O. Khatib
- Zanzibar Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Abdullah S. Ali
- Zanzibar Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Leon E. Hugo
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Floyd E. Dowell
- Engineering and Wind Erosion Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Services, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
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