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Cai JA, Christophides GK. Immune interactions between mosquitoes and microbes during midgut colonization. Curr Opin Insect Sci 2024; 63:101195. [PMID: 38552792 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes encounter diverse microbes during their lifetime, including symbiotic bacteria, shaping their midgut ecosystem. The organization of the midgut supports microbiota persistence while defending against potential pathogens. The influx of nutrients during blood feeding triggers bacterial proliferation, challenging host homeostasis. Immune responses, aimed at controlling bacterial overgrowth, impact blood-borne pathogens such as malaria parasites. However, parasites deploy evasion strategies against mosquito immunity. Leveraging these mechanisms could help engineer malaria-resistant mosquitoes, offering a transformative tool for malaria elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom.
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2
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Alvarez-Jarreta J, Amos B, Aurrecoechea C, Bah S, Barba M, Barreto A, Basenko EY, Belnap R, Blevins A, Böhme U, Brestelli J, Brown S, Callan D, Campbell LI, Christophides GK, Crouch K, Davison HR, DeBarry JD, Demko R, Doherty R, Duan Y, Dundore W, Dyer S, Falke D, Fischer S, Gajria B, Galdi D, Giraldo-Calderón GI, Harb OS, Harper E, Helb D, Howington C, Hu S, Humphrey J, Iodice J, Jones A, Judkins J, Kelly SA, Kissinger JC, Kittur N, Kwon DK, Lamoureux K, Li W, Lodha D, MacCallum RM, Maslen G, McDowell MA, Myers J, Nural MV, Roos DS, Rund SSC, Shanmugasundram A, Sitnik V, Spruill D, Starns D, Tomko SS, Wang H, Warrenfeltz S, Wieck R, Wilkinson PA, Zheng J. VEuPathDB: the eukaryotic pathogen, vector and host bioinformatics resource center in 2023. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D808-D816. [PMID: 37953350 PMCID: PMC10767879 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eukaryotic Pathogen, Vector and Host Informatics Resource (VEuPathDB, https://veupathdb.org) is a Bioinformatics Resource Center funded by the National Institutes of Health with additional funding from the Wellcome Trust. VEuPathDB supports >600 organisms that comprise invertebrate vectors, eukaryotic pathogens (protists and fungi) and relevant free-living or non-pathogenic species or hosts. Since 2004, VEuPathDB has analyzed omics data from the public domain using contemporary bioinformatic workflows, including orthology predictions via OrthoMCL, and integrated the analysis results with analysis tools, visualizations, and advanced search capabilities. The unique data mining platform coupled with >3000 pre-analyzed data sets facilitates the exploration of pertinent omics data in support of hypothesis driven research. Comparisons are easily made across data sets, data types and organisms. A Galaxy workspace offers the opportunity for the analysis of private large-scale datasets and for porting to VEuPathDB for comparisons with integrated data. The MapVEu tool provides a platform for exploration of spatially resolved data such as vector surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring. To address the growing body of omics data and advances in laboratory techniques, VEuPathDB has added several new data types, searches and features, improved the Galaxy workspace environment, redesigned the MapVEu interface and updated the infrastructure to accommodate these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beatrice Amos
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | | | - Saikou Bah
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Ana Barreto
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Evelina Y Basenko
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | | | - Ann Blevins
- University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | - Stuart Brown
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kathryn Crouch
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Helen R Davison
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | | | - Richard Demko
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ryan Doherty
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yikun Duan
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Sarah Dyer
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Dave Falke
- University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Steve Fischer
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bindu Gajria
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel Galdi
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Omar S Harb
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Danica Helb
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Sufen Hu
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - John Iodice
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Andrew Jones
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - John Judkins
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sarah A Kelly
- Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2BU, UK
| | | | | | - Dae Kun Kwon
- University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | | | - Wei Li
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Disha Lodha
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Gareth Maslen
- Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2BU, UK
| | | | - Jeremy Myers
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - David S Roos
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Achchuthan Shanmugasundram
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Genomics England Limited, London E14 5AB, UK
| | - Vasily Sitnik
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - David Starns
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | | | | | | | - Robert Wieck
- University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Paul A Wilkinson
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Jie Zheng
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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3
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Bailey AJ, Ukegbu CV, Giorgalli M, Besson TRB, Christophides GK, Vlachou D. Intracellular Plasmodium aquaporin 2 is important for sporozoite production in the mosquito vector and malaria transmission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304339120. [PMID: 37883438 PMCID: PMC10622946 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304339120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a devastating disease and, with current measures failing to control its transmission, there is a need for novel interventions. A family of proteins that have long been pursued as potential intervention targets are aquaporins, which are channels facilitating the movement of water and other solutes across membranes. We identify an aquaporin in malaria parasites and demonstrate that it is important for completion of Plasmodium development in the mosquito vector. Disruption of AQP2 in the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei blocks sporozoite production inside oocysts established on mosquito midguts, greatly limiting parasite infection of salivary glands and transmission to a new host. In vivo epitope tagging of AQP2 in P. berghei, combined with immunofluorescence assays, reveals that the protein is localized in vesicle-like organelles found in the cytoplasm of gametocytes, ookinetes, and sporozoites. The number of these organelles varies between individual parasites and lifecycle stages suggesting that they are likely part of a dynamic endomembrane system. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that AQP2 is unique to malaria and closely related parasites and most closely resembles intracellular aquaporins. Structure prediction analyses identify several unusual features, including a large accessory extracellular loop and an arginine-to-phenylalanine substitution in the selectivity filter principally determining pore function, a unique feature among known aquaporins. This in conjunction with the importance of AQP2 for malaria transmission suggests that AQP2 may be a fruitful target of antimalarial interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Bailey
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Maria Giorgalli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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4
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Ukegbu CV, Gomes AR, Giorgalli M, Campos M, Bailey AJ, Besson TRB, Billker O, Vlachou D, Christophides GK. Identification of genes required for Plasmodium gametocyte-to-sporozoite development in the mosquito vector. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1539-1551.e6. [PMID: 37708854 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the most devastating infectious diseases. Reverse genetic screens offer a powerful approach to identify genes and molecular processes governing malaria parasite biology. However, the complex regulation of gene expression and genotype-phenotype associations in the mosquito vector, along with sexual reproduction, have hindered the development of screens in this critical part of the parasite life cycle. To address this, we developed a genetic approach in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei that, in combination with barcode sequencing, circumvents the fertilization roadblock and enables screening for gametocyte-expressed genes required for parasite infection of the mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. Our results confirm previous findings, validating our approach for scaling up, and identify genes necessary for mosquito midgut infection, oocyst development, and salivary gland infection. These findings can aid efforts to study malaria transmission biology and to develop interventions for controlling disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Rita Gomes
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Maria Giorgalli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Melina Campos
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Alexander J Bailey
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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5
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Habtewold T, Tapanelli S, Masters EKG, Windbichler N, Christophides GK. The circadian clock modulates Anopheles gambiae infection with Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278484. [PMID: 36454885 PMCID: PMC9714873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Key behaviours, physiologies and gene expressions in Anopheles mosquitoes impact the transmission of Plasmodium. Such mosquito factors are rhythmic to closely follow diel rhythms. Here, we set to explore the impact of the mosquito circadian rhythm on the tripartite interaction between the vector, the parasite and the midgut microbiota, and investigate how this may affect the parasite infection outcomes. We assess Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence and intensity, as a proxy for gametocyte infectivity, in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes that received a gametocyte-containing bloodfeed and measure the abundance of the midgut microbiota at different times of the mosquito rearing light-dark cycle. Gametocyte infectivity is also compared in mosquitoes reared and maintained under a reversed light-dark regime. The effect of the circadian clock on the infection outcome is also investigated through silencing of the CLOCK gene that is central in the regulation of animal circadian rhythms. The results reveal that the A. gambiae circadian cycle plays a key role in the intensity of infection of P. falciparum gametocytes. We show that parasite gametocytes are more infectious during the night-time, where standard membrane feeding assays (SMFAs) at different time points in the mosquito natural circadian rhythm demonstrate that gametocytes are more infectious when ingested at midnight than midday. When mosquitoes were cultured under a reversed light/dark regime, disrupting their natural physiological homeostasis, and infected with P. falciparum at evening hours, the infection intensity and prevalence were significantly decreased. Similar results were obtained in mosquitoes reared under the standard light/dark regime upon silencing of CLOCK, a key regulator of the circadian rhythm, highlighting the importance of the circadian rhythm for the mosquito vectorial capacity. At that time, the mosquito midgut microbiota load is significantly reduced, while the expression of lysozyme C-1 (LYSC-1) is elevated, which is involved in both the immune response and microbiota digestion. We conclude that the tripartite interactions between the mosquito vector, the malaria parasite and the mosquito gut microbiota are finely tuned to support and maintain malaria transmission. Our data add to the knowledge framework required for designing appropriate and biologically relevant SMFA protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Sofia Tapanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen K. G. Masters
- 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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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. Sci Adv 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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7
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Ellis DA, Avraam G, Hoermann A, Wyer CAS, Ong YX, Christophides GK, Windbichler N. Testing non-autonomous antimalarial gene drive effectors using self-eliminating drivers in the African mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010244. [PMID: 35653396 PMCID: PMC9197043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene drives for mosquito population modification are novel tools for malaria control. Strategies to safely test antimalarial effectors in the field are required. Here, we modified the Anopheles gambiae zpg locus to host a CRISPR/Cas9 integral gene drive allele (zpgD) and characterized its behaviour and resistance profile. We found that zpgD dominantly sterilizes females but can induce efficient drive at other loci when it itself encounters resistance. We combined zpgD with multiple previously characterized non-autonomous payload drives and found that, as zpgD self-eliminates, it leads to conversion of mosquito cage populations at these loci. Our results demonstrate how self-eliminating drivers could allow safe testing of non-autonomous effector-traits by local population modification. They also suggest that after engendering resistance, gene drives intended for population suppression could nevertheless serve to propagate subsequently released non-autonomous payload genes, allowing modification of vector populations initially targeted for suppression. Gene drive is a method that allows the genetic modification of entire populations of harmful organisms. Their application to tackle invasive species, agricultural pests or insect disease vectors has been suggested. For example, they could reduce the capacity of malaria mosquitoes to transmit this deadly disease to humans by producing effector molecules inhibiting the development of the Plasmodium parasite in the mosquito vector. We describe a strategy to modularize and test multiple transgenes destined for release, and to introduce only the minimal set of modifications needed into a mosquito population. We show how some elements, once no longer needed, can be made to self-eliminate from populations and we also study how several independent gene drive traits, located in different parts of the genome, can interact and propagate at the level of mosquito cage populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Ellis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George Avraam
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A. S. Wyer
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Xin Ong
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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8
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Paz S, Majeed A, Christophides GK. Climate change impacts on infectious diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East (EMME)-risks and recommendations. Clim Change 2021; 169:40. [PMID: 34980932 PMCID: PMC8716574 DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03300-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region has rapid population growth, large differences in socio-economic levels between developed and developing countries, migration, increased water demand, and ecosystems degradation. The region is experiencing a significant warming trend with longer and warmer summers, increased frequency and severity of heat waves, and a drier climate. While climate change plays an important role in contributing to political instability in the region through displacement of people, food insecurity, and increased violence, it also increases the risks of vector-, water-, and food-borne diseases. Poorer and less educated people, young children and the elderly, migrants, and those with long-term health problems are at highest risk. A result of the inequalities among EMME countries is an inconsistency in the availability of reliable evidence about the impacts on infectious diseases. To help address this gap, a search of the literature was conducted as a basis for related recommended responses and suggested actions for preparedness and prevention. Since climate change already impacts the health of vulnerable populations in the EMME and will have a greater impact in future years, risk assessment and timely design and implementation of health preparedness and adaptation strategies are essential. Joint national and cross-border infectious diseases management systems for more effective preparedness and prevention are needed, supported by interventions that improve the environment. Without such cooperation and effective interventions, climate change will lead to an increasing morbidity and mortality in the EMME from infectious diseases, with a higher risk for the most vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlomit Paz
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Azeem Majeed
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - George K. Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre,, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
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9
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Tapanelli S, Inghilterra MG, Cai J, Philpott J, Capriotti P, Windbichler N, Christophides GK. Assessment of Plasmodium falciparum Infection and Fitness of Genetically Modified Anopheles gambiae Aimed at Mosquito Population Replacement. Front Trop Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2021.806880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes expressing anti-plasmodial effectors propagating through wild mosquito populations by means of gene drive is a promising tool to support current malaria control strategies. The process of generating GM mosquitoes involves genetic transformation of mosquitoes from a laboratory colony and, often, interbreeding with other GM lines to cross in auxiliary traits. These mosquito colonies and GM lines thus often have different genetic backgrounds and GM lines are invariably highly inbred, which in conjunction with their independent rearing in the laboratory may translate to differences in their susceptibility to malaria parasite infection and life history traits. Here, we show that laboratory Anopheles gambiae colonies and GM lines expressing Cas9 and Cre recombinase vary greatly in their susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum NF54 infection. Therefore, the choice of mosquitoes to be used as a reference when conducting infection or life history trait assays requires careful consideration. To address these issues, we established an experimental pipeline involving genetic crosses and genotyping of mosquitoes reared in shared containers throughout their lifecycle. We used this protocol to examine whether GM lines expressing the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) Scorpine in the mosquito midgut interfere with parasite infection and mosquito survival. We demonstrate that Scorpine expression in the Peritrophin 1 (Aper1) genomic locus reduces both P. falciparum sporozoite prevalence and mosquito lifespan; both these phenotypes are likely to be associated with the disturbance of the midgut microbiota homeostasis. These data lead us to conclude that the Aper1-Sco GM line could be used in proof-of-concept experiments aimed at mosquito population replacement, although the impact of its reduced fitness on the spread of the transgene through wild populations requires further investigation.
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10
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Campos M, Rona LDP, Willis K, Christophides GK, MacCallum RM. Unravelling population structure heterogeneity within the genome of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:422. [PMID: 34103015 PMCID: PMC8185951 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07722-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Whole genome re-sequencing provides powerful data for population genomic studies, allowing robust inferences of population structure, gene flow and evolutionary history. For the major malaria vector in Africa, Anopheles gambiae, other genetic aspects such as selection and adaptation are also important. In the present study, we explore population genetic variation from genome-wide sequencing of 765 An. gambiae and An. coluzzii specimens collected from across Africa. We used t-SNE, a recently popularized dimensionality reduction method, to create a 2D-map of An. gambiae and An. coluzzii genes that reflect their population structure similarities. Results The map allows intuitive navigation among genes distributed throughout the so-called “mainland” and numerous surrounding “island-like” gene clusters. These gene clusters of various sizes correspond predominantly to low recombination genomic regions such as inversions and centromeres, and also to recent selective sweeps. Because this mosquito species complex has been studied extensively, we were able to support our interpretations with previously published findings. Several novel observations and hypotheses are also made, including selective sweeps and a multi-locus selection event in Guinea-Bissau, a known intense hybridization zone between An. gambiae and An. coluzzii. Conclusions Our results present a rich dataset that could be utilized in functional investigations aiming to shed light onto An. gambiae s.l genome evolution and eventual speciation. In addition, the methodology presented here can be used to further characterize other species not so well studied as An. gambiae, shortening the time required to progress from field sampling to the identification of genes and genomic regions under unique evolutionary processes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07722-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Campos
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Luisa D P Rona
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Entomology, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (INCT-EM, CNPq), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Katie Willis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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11
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Ferdous Z, Fuchs S, Behrends V, Trasanidis N, Waterhouse RM, Vlachou D, Christophides GK. Anopheles coluzzii stearoyl-CoA desaturase is essential for adult female survival and reproduction upon blood feeding. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009486. [PMID: 34015060 PMCID: PMC8171932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation require anautogenous female Anopheles mosquitoes to obtain a bloodmeal from a vertebrate host. The bloodmeal is rich in proteins that are readily broken down into amino acids in the midgut lumen and absorbed by the midgut epithelial cells where they are converted into lipids and then transported to other tissues including ovaries. The stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) plays a pivotal role in this process by converting saturated (SFAs) to unsaturated (UFAs) fatty acids; the latter being essential for maintaining cell membrane fluidity amongst other housekeeping functions. Here, we report the functional and phenotypic characterization of SCD1 in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. We show that RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of SCD1 and administration of sterculic acid (SA), a small molecule inhibitor of SCD1, significantly impact on the survival and reproduction of female mosquitoes following blood feeding. Microscopic observations reveal that the mosquito thorax is quickly filled with blood, a phenomenon likely caused by the collapse of midgut epithelial cell membranes, and that epithelial cells are depleted of lipid droplets and oocytes fail to mature. Transcriptional profiling shows that genes involved in protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and immunity-related genes are the most affected by SCD1 knock down (KD) in blood-fed mosquitoes. Metabolic profiling reveals that these mosquitoes exhibit increased amounts of saturated fatty acids and TCA cycle intermediates, highlighting the biochemical framework by which the SCD1 KD phenotype manifests as a result of a detrimental metabolic syndrome. Accumulation of SFAs is also the likely cause of the potent immune response observed in the absence of infection, which resembles an auto-inflammatory condition. These data provide insights into mosquito bloodmeal metabolism and lipid homeostasis and could inform efforts to develop novel interventions against mosquito-borne diseases. Female mosquitoes can become infected with malaria parasites upon ingestion of blood from an infected person and can transmit the disease when they bite another person some days later. The bloodmeal is rich in proteins which female mosquitoes use to develop their eggs after converting them first to saturated and then to unsaturated fatty acids inside their gut cells. Here, we present the characterization of the enzyme that mosquitoes use to convert saturated to unsaturated fatty acids and show that when this enzyme is eliminated or inhibited mosquitoes cannot produce eggs and die soon after they feed on blood. The mosquito death appears to be primarily associated with the collapse of their gut epithelial barrier due to the loss of cell membrane integrity, leading to their inner body cavity being filled with the ingested blood. These mosquitoes also suffer from an acute and detrimental auto-inflammatory condition due to mounting of a potent immune response in the absence of any infection. We conclude that this enzyme and the mechanism of converting blood-derived proteins to unsaturated fatty acids as a whole can be a good target of interventions aiming at limiting the mosquito abundance and blocking malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zannatul Ferdous
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silke Fuchs
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Volker Behrends
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Health Science Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nikolaos Trasanidis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert M. Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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12
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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13
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Eba K, Habtewold T, Yewhalaw D, Christophides GK, Duchateau L. Anopheles arabiensis hotspots along intermittent rivers drive malaria dynamics in semi-arid areas of Central Ethiopia. Malar J 2021; 20:154. [PMID: 33731115 PMCID: PMC7971958 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03697-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding malaria vector’s population dynamics and their spatial distribution is important to define when and where the largest infection risks occur and implement appropriate control strategies. In this study, the seasonal spatio-temporal dynamics of the malaria vector population and transmission intensity along intermittent rivers in a semi-arid area of central Ethiopia were investigated. Methods Mosquitoes were collected monthly from five clusters, 2 close to a river and 3 away from a river, using pyrethrum spray catches from November 2014 to July 2016. Mosquito abundance was analysed by the mixed Poisson regression model. The human blood index and sporozoite rate was compared between seasons by a logistic regression model. Results A total of 2784 adult female Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) were collected during the data collection period. All tested mosquitoes (n = 696) were identified as Anopheles arabiensis by polymerase chain reaction. The average daily household count was significantly higher (P = 0.037) in the clusters close to the river at 5.35 (95% CI 2.41–11.85) compared to the clusters away from the river at 0.033 (95% CI 0.02–0.05). Comparing the effect of vicinity of the river by season, a significant effect of closeness to the river was found during the dry season (P = 0.027) and transition from dry to wet season (P = 0.032). Overall, An. arabiensis had higher bovine blood index (62.8%) as compared to human blood index (23.8%), ovine blood index (9.2%) and canine blood index (0.1%). The overall sporozoite rate was 3.9% and 0% for clusters close to and away from the river, respectively. The overall Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax entomologic inoculation rates for An. arabiensis in clusters close to the river were 0.8 and 2.2 infective bites per person/year, respectively. Conclusion Mosquito abundance and malaria transmission intensity in clusters close to the river were higher which could be attributed to the riverine breeding sites. Thus, vector control interventions including targeted larval source management should be implemented to reduce the risk of malaria infection in the area. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-021-03697-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasahun Eba
- Biometrics Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.,Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma University, P.O.Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.,Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jimma University, P.O.Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | - Luc Duchateau
- Biometrics Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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14
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Ukegbu CV, Christophides GK, Vlachou D. Identification of Three Novel Plasmodium Factors Involved in Ookinete to Oocyst Developmental Transition. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:634273. [PMID: 33791240 PMCID: PMC8005625 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.634273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers of new malaria cases and deaths have been stable in the last years despite intense efforts for disease elimination, highlighting the need for new approaches to stop disease transmission. Further understanding of the parasite transmission biology could provide a framework for the development of such approaches. We phenotypically and functionally characterized three novel genes, PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22, using targeted disruption of their orthologs in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. PIMMS01 and PIMMS57 are specifically and highly expressed in ookinetes, while PIMMS22 transcription starts already in gametocytes and peaks in sporozoites. All three genes show strong phenotypes associated with the ookinete to oocyst transition, as their disruption leads to very low numbers of oocysts and complete abolishment of transmission. PIMMS22 has a secondary essential function in the oocyst. Our results enrich the molecular understanding of the parasite-vector interactions and identify PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22 as new targets of transmission blocking interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiamaka V Ukegbu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
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15
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Chabanol E, Behrends V, Prévot G, Christophides GK, Gendrin M. Antibiotic Treatment in Anopheles coluzzii Affects Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism. Pathogens 2020; 9:E679. [PMID: 32825534 PMCID: PMC7558193 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito microbiota reduces the vector competence of Anopheles to Plasmodium and affects host fitness; it is therefore considered as a potential target to reduce malaria transmission. While immune induction, secretion of antimicrobials and metabolic competition are three typical mechanisms of microbiota-mediated protection against invasive pathogens in mammals, the involvement of metabolic competition or mutualism in mosquito-microbiota and microbiota-Plasmodium interactions has not been investigated. Here, we describe a metabolome analysis of the midgut of Anopheles coluzzii provided with a sugar-meal or a non-infectious blood-meal, under conventional or antibiotic-treated conditions. We observed that the antibiotic treatment affects the tricarboxylic acid cycle and nitrogen metabolism, notably resulting in decreased abundance of free amino acids. Linking our results with published data, we identified pathways which may participate in microbiota-Plasmodium interactions via metabolic interactions or immune modulation and thus would be interesting candidates for future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Chabanol
- Microbiota of Insect Vectors Group, Institut Pasteur de Guyane, 97306 Cayenne, French Guiana;
- Ecole Doctorale Numéro 587, Diversités, Santé, et Développement en Amazonie, Université de Guyane, 97337 Cayenne, French Guiana
- Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana;
| | - Volker Behrends
- Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK;
| | - Ghislaine Prévot
- Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana;
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | | | - Mathilde Gendrin
- Microbiota of Insect Vectors Group, Institut Pasteur de Guyane, 97306 Cayenne, French Guiana;
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BU, UK;
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
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16
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Debalke S, Habtewold T, Christophides GK, Duchateau L. Stability of the effect of silencing fibronectin type III domain-protein 1 (FN3D1) gene on Anopheles arabiensis reared under different breeding site conditions. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:202. [PMID: 32307003 PMCID: PMC7168852 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04078-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria vector mosquitoes acquire midgut microbiota primarily from their habitat. The homeostasis of these microbial communities plays an essential role in the mosquito longevity, the most essential factor in the mosquito vectorial capacity. Our recent study revealed that silencing genes involved in regulation of the midgut homeostasis including FN3D1, FN3D3 and GPRGr9 reduced the survival of female adult Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes. In the present study, we investigate the stability of the gene silencing efficiency of mosquitoes reared in three different breeding conditions representing distinct larval habitat types: town brick pits in Jimma, flood pools in the rural land of Asendabo and roadside pools in Wolkite. METHODS First-instar larvae of An. arabiensis mosquitoes were reared separately using water collected from the three breeding sites. The resulting adult females were micro-injected with dsRNA targeting the FN3D1 gene (AARA003032) and their survival was monitored. Control mosquitoes were injected with dsRNA Lacz. In addition, the load of midgut microbiota of these mosquitoes was determined using flow cytometry. RESULTS Survival of naïve adult female mosquitoes differed between the three sites. Mosquitoes reared using water collected from brick pits and flood pools survived longer than mosquitoes reared using water collected from roadside. However, the FN3D1 gene silencing effect on survival did not differ between the three sites. CONCLUSIONS The present study revealed that the efficacy of FN3D1 gene silencing is not affected by variation in the larval habitat. Thus, silencing this gene has potential for application throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkadis Debalke
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science & Pathology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Biometrics Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Luc Duchateau
- Biometrics Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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17
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Witmer K, Fraschka SA, Vlachou D, Bártfai R, Christophides GK. An epigenetic map of malaria parasite development from host to vector. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6354. [PMID: 32286373 PMCID: PMC7156373 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63121-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite replicates asexually in the red blood cells of its vertebrate host employing epigenetic mechanisms to regulate gene expression in response to changes in its environment. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing in conjunction with RNA sequencing to create an epigenomic and transcriptomic map of the developmental transition from asexual blood stages to male and female gametocytes and to ookinetes in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Across the developmental stages examined, heterochromatin protein 1 associates with variantly expressed gene families localised at subtelomeric regions and variant gene expression based on heterochromatic silencing is observed only in some genes. Conversely, the euchromatin mark histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) is abundant in non-heterochromatic regions across all developmental stages. H3K9ac presents a distinct pattern of enrichment around the start codon of ribosomal protein genes in all stages but male gametocytes. Additionally, H3K9ac occupancy positively correlates with transcript abundance in all stages but female gametocytes suggesting that transcription in this stage is independent of H3K9ac levels. This finding together with known mRNA repression in female gametocytes suggests a multilayered mechanism operating in female gametocytes in preparation for fertilization and zygote development, coinciding with parasite transition from host to vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Witmer
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK.
| | - Sabine A Fraschka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Richárd Bártfai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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18
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James SL, Marshall JM, Christophides GK, Okumu FO, Nolan T. Toward the Definition of Efficacy and Safety Criteria for Advancing Gene Drive-Modified Mosquitoes to Field Testing. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:237-251. [PMID: 32155390 PMCID: PMC7153640 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes containing gene drive systems are being developed as complementary tools to prevent transmission of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. As with any new tool, decision makers and other stakeholders will need to balance risks (safety) and benefits (efficacy) when considering the rationale for testing and deploying gene drive-modified mosquito products. Developers will benefit from standards for judging whether an investigational gene drive product meets acceptability criteria for advancing to field trials. Such standards may be formalized as preferred product characteristics and target product profiles, which describe the desired attributes of the product category and of a particular product, respectively. This report summarizes discussions from two scientific workshops aimed at identifying efficacy and safety characteristics that must be minimally met for an investigational gene drive-modified mosquito product to be deemed viable to move from contained testing to field release and the data that will be needed to support an application for first field release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L James
- Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Tony Nolan
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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19
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Rodgers FH, Cai JA, Pitaluga AN, Mengin-Lecreulx D, Gendrin M, Christophides GK. Functional analysis of the three major PGRPLC isoforms in the midgut of the malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 118:103288. [PMID: 31760136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) constitute the primary means of bacterial recognition in insects. Recent work in the model organism Drosophila has revealed the mechanisms by which the complement of PGRPs refine the sensitivity of different tissues to bacterial elicitors, permitting the persistence of commensal bacteria in the gut whilst maintaining vigilance against bacterial infection. Here, we use in vivo knockdowns and in vitro pull-down assays to investigate the role of the three major isoforms of the transmembrane receptor of the Imd pathway, PGRPLC, in basal immunity in the Anopheles coluzzii mosquito midgut. Our results indicate that the mosquito midgut is regionalized in its expression of immune effectors and of PGRPLC1. We show that PGRPLC1 and PGRPLC3 are pulled down with polymeric DAP-type peptidoglycan, while PGRPLC2 and PGRPLC3 co-precipitate in the presence of TCT, a peptidoglycan monomer. These data suggest that, as found in Drosophila, discrimination of polymeric and monomeric PGN by Anopheles PGRPLC participates in the regulation of the Imd pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye H Rodgers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Julia A Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andre N Pitaluga
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Dominique Mengin-Lecreulx
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ Paris-Sud and Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mathilde Gendrin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK; Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, BP6010 Cayenne, French Guiana, France & Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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20
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Angrisano F, Sala KA, Tapanelli S, Christophides GK, Blagborough AM. Male-Specific Protein Disulphide Isomerase Function is Essential for Plasmodium Transmission and a Vulnerable Target for Intervention. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18300. [PMID: 31797966 PMCID: PMC6892906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54613-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibiting transmission of Plasmodium is an essential strategy in malaria eradication, and the biological process of gamete fusion during fertilization is a proven target for this approach. Lack of knowledge of the mechanisms underlying fertilization have been a hindrance in the development of transmission-blocking interventions. Here we describe a protein disulphide isomerase essential for malarial transmission (PDI-Trans/PBANKA_0820300) to the mosquito. We show that PDI-Trans activity is male-specific, surface-expressed, essential for fertilization/transmission, and exhibits disulphide isomerase activity which is up-regulated post-gamete activation. We demonstrate that PDI-Trans is a viable anti-malarial drug and vaccine target blocking malarial transmission with the use of PDI inhibitor bacitracin (98.21%/92.48% reduction in intensity/prevalence), and anti-PDI-Trans antibodies (66.22%/33.16% reduction in intensity/prevalence). To our knowledge, these results provide the first evidence that PDI function is essential for malarial transmission, and emphasize the potential of anti-PDI agents to act as anti-malarials, facilitating the future development of novel transmission-blocking interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Angrisano
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna A Sala
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Tapanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M Blagborough
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, United Kingdom. .,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
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21
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Debalke S, Habtewold T, Duchateau L, Christophides GK. The effect of silencing immunity related genes on longevity in a naturally occurring Anopheles arabiensis mosquito population from southwest Ethiopia. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:174. [PMID: 30992084 PMCID: PMC6469062 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3414-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector control remains the most important tool to prevent malaria transmission. However, it is now severely constrained by the appearance of physiological and behavioral insecticide resistance. Therefore, the development of new vector control tools is warranted. Such tools could include immunization of blood hosts of vector mosquitoes with mosquito proteins involved in midgut homeostasis (anti-mosquito vaccines) or genetic engineering of mosquitoes that can drive population-wide knockout of genes producing such proteins to reduce mosquito lifespan and malaria transmission probability. METHODS To achieve this, candidate genes related to midgut homeostasis regulation need to be assessed for their effect on mosquito survival. Here, different such candidate genes were silenced through dsRNA injection in the naturally occurring Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes and the effect on mosquito survival was evaluated. RESULTS Significantly higher mortality rates were observed in the mosquitoes silenced for FN3D1 (AARA003032), FN3D3 (AARA007751) and GPRGr9 (AARA003963) genes as compared to the control group injected with dsRNA against a non-related bacterial gene (LacZ). This observed difference in mortality rate between the candidate genes and the control disappeared when gene-silenced mosquitoes were treated with antibiotic mixtures, suggesting that gut microbiota play a key role in the observed reduction of mosquito survival. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that interference with the expression of the FN3D1, FN3D3 or GPRGr9 genes causes a significant reduction of the longevity of An. arabiensis mosquito in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkadis Debalke
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science & Pathology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Biometrics Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tibebu Habtewold
- Biometrics Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Luc Duchateau
- Biometrics Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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22
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Reyes Ruiz VM, Sousa GL, Sneed SD, Farrant KV, Christophides GK, Povelones M. Stimulation of a protease targeting the LRIM1/APL1C complex reveals specificity in complement-like pathway activation in Anopheles gambiae. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214753. [PMID: 30958840 PMCID: PMC6453449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement-like pathway of the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae provides protection against infection by diverse pathogens. A functional requirement for a core set of proteins during infections by rodent and human malaria parasites, bacteria, and fungi suggests a similar mechanism operates against different pathogens. However, the extent to which the molecular mechanisms are conserved is unknown. In this study we probed the biochemical responses of complement-like pathway to challenge by the Gram-positive bacterium Staphyloccocus aureus. Western blot analysis of the hemolymph revealed that S. aureus challenge activates a TEP1 convertase-like activity and promotes the depletion of the protein SPCLIP1. S. aureus challenge did not lead to an apparent change in the abundance of the LRIM1/APL1C complex compared to challenge by the Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli. Following up on this observation using a panel of LRIM1 and APL1C antibodies, we found that E. coli challenge, but not S. aureus, specifically activates a protease that cleaves the C-terminus of APL1C. Inhibitor studies in vivo and in vitro protease assays suggest that a serine protease is responsible for APL1C cleavage. This study reveals that despite different challenges converging on activation of a TEP1 convertase-like activity, the mosquito complement-like pathway also includes pathogen-specific reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria M. Reyes Ruiz
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Gregory L. Sousa
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sarah D. Sneed
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Katie V. Farrant
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Abstract
Malaria remains a serious public health problem in Brazil despite a significant drop in the number of cases in the past decade. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of malaria transmission in Brazil to highlight the epidemiologically most relevant components that could help tackle the disease. We consider factors impacting on the malaria burden and transmission dynamics including the geographical occurrence of both autochthonous and imported infections, the distribution and abundance of malaria vectors and records of natural mosquito infections with Plasmodium. Our analysis identifies three discrete malaria transmission systems related to the Amazon rainforest, Atlantic rainforest and Brazilian coast, respectively. The Amazonian system accounts for 99% of all malaria cases in the country. It is largely due to autochthonous P. vivax and P. falciparum transmission by mosquitoes of the Nyssorhynchus subgenus, primarily Anopheles darlingi. Whilst P. vivax transmission is widespread, P. falciparum transmission is restricted to hotspot areas mostly in the States of Amazonas and Acre. This system is the major source of P. vivax exportation to the extra-Amazonian regions that are also affected by importation of P. falciparum from Africa. The Atlantic system comprises autochthonous P. vivax transmission typically by the bromeliad-associated mosquitoes An. cruzii and An. bellator of the Kerteszia subgenus. An. cruzii also transmits simian malaria parasites to humans. The third, widespread but geographically fragmented, system is found along the Brazilian coast and comprises P. vivax transmission mainly by An. aquasalis. We conclude that these geographically and biologically distinct malaria transmission systems require specific strategies for effective disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca C Carlos
- a School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology, Central Multiuser Laboratory , São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Botucatu , Brazil.,b Institute of Biotechnology , São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Botucatu , Brazil
| | - Luisa D P Rona
- c Department of Life Sciences , Imperial College London , London , UK.,d Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics , Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) , Florianópolis , Brazil.,e National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (INCT-EM, CNPq) , National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Entomology , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | | | - Jayme A Souza-Neto
- a School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology, Central Multiuser Laboratory , São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Botucatu , Brazil.,b Institute of Biotechnology , São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Botucatu , Brazil
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24
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Habtewold T, Tapanelli S, Masters EKG, Hoermann A, Windbichler N, Christophides GK. Streamlined SMFA and mosquito dark-feeding regime significantly improve malaria transmission-blocking assay robustness and sensitivity. Malar J 2019; 18:24. [PMID: 30683107 PMCID: PMC6347765 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2663-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The development of malaria transmission-blocking strategies including the generation of malaria refractory mosquitoes to replace the wild populations through means of gene drives hold great promise. The standard membrane feeding assay (SMFA) that involves mosquito feeding on parasitized blood through an artificial membrane system is a vital tool for evaluating the efficacy of transmission-blocking interventions. However, despite the availability of several published protocols, the SMFA remains highly variable and broadly insensitive. Methods The SMFA protocol was optimized through coordinated culturing of Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes and Plasmodium falciparum parasite coupled with placing mosquitoes under a strict dark regime before, during, and after the gametocyte feed. Results A detailed description of essential steps is provided toward synchronized generation of highly fit An. coluzzii mosquitoes and P. falciparum gametocytes in preparation for an SMFA. A dark-infection regime that emulates the natural vector-parasite interaction system is described, which results in a significant increase in the infection intensity and prevalence. Using this optimal SMFA pipeline, a series of putative transmission-blocking antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were screened, confirming that melittin and magainin can interfere with P. falciparum development in the vector. Conclusion A robust SMFA protocol that enhances the evaluation of interventions targeting human malaria transmission in laboratory setting is reported. Melittin and magainin are identified as highly potent antiparasitic AMPs that can be used for the generation of refractory Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Sofia Tapanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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25
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Nash A, Urdaneta GM, Beaghton AK, Hoermann A, Papathanos PA, Christophides GK, Windbichler N. Integral gene drives for population replacement. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio037762. [PMID: 30498016 PMCID: PMC6361204 DOI: 10.1242/bio.037762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A first generation of CRISPR-based gene drives has now been tested in the laboratory in a number of organisms, including malaria vector mosquitoes. Challenges for their use in the area-wide genetic control of vector-borne disease have been identified, including the development of target site resistance, their long-term efficacy in the field, their molecular complexity, and practical and legal limitations for field testing of both gene drive and coupled anti-pathogen traits. We have evaluated theoretically the concept of integral gene drive (IGD) as an alternative paradigm for population replacement. IGDs incorporate a minimal set of molecular components, including drive and anti-pathogen effector elements directly embedded within endogenous genes - an arrangement that in theory allows targeting functionally conserved coding sequences without disrupting their function. Autonomous and non-autonomous IGD strains could be generated, optimized, regulated and imported independently. We performed quantitative modeling comparing IGDs with classical replacement drives and show that selection for the function of the hijacked host gene can significantly reduce the establishment of resistant alleles in the population, while drive occurring at multiple genomic loci prolongs the duration of transmission blockage in the face of pre-existing target site variation. IGD thus has potential as a more durable and flexible population replacement strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Nash
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Giulia Mignini Urdaneta
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andrea K Beaghton
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Philippos Aris Papathanos
- Centre of Functional Genomics, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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26
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Nakhleh J, Christophides GK, Osta MA. The serine protease homolog CLIPA14 modulates the intensity of the immune response in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:18217-18226. [PMID: 28928218 PMCID: PMC5672044 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.797787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Clip domain serine protease homologs (SPHs) are positive and negative regulators of Anopheles gambiae immune responses mediated by the complement-like protein TEP1 against Plasmodium malaria parasites and other microbial infections. We have previously reported that the SPH CLIPA2 is a negative regulator of the TEP1-mediated response by showing that CLIPA2 knockdown (kd) enhances mosquito resistance to infections with fungi, bacteria, and Plasmodium parasites. Here, we identify another SPH, CLIPA14, as a novel regulator of mosquito immunity. We found that CLIPA14 is a hemolymph protein that is rapidly cleaved following a systemic infection. CLIPA14 kd mosquitoes elicited a potent melanization response against Plasmodium berghei ookinetes and exhibited significantly increased resistance to Plasmodium infections as well as to systemic and oral bacterial infections. The activity of the enzyme phenoloxidase, which initiates melanin biosynthesis, dramatically increased in the hemolymph of CLIPA14 kd mosquitoes in response to systemic bacterial infections. Ookinete melanization and hemolymph phenoloxidase activity were further increased after cosilencing CLIPA14 and CLIPA2, suggesting that these two SPHs act in concert to control the melanization response. Interestingly, CLIPA14 RNAi phenotypes and its infection-induced cleavage were abolished in a TEP1 loss-of-function background. Our results suggest that a complex network of SPHs functions downstream of TEP1 to regulate the melanization reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny Nakhleh
- From the Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon and
| | | | - Mike A Osta
- From the Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon and
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27
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Rodgers FH, Gendrin M, Wyer CAS, Christophides GK. Microbiota-induced peritrophic matrix regulates midgut homeostasis and prevents systemic infection of malaria vector mosquitoes. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006391. [PMID: 28545061 PMCID: PMC5448818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulation of the mosquito gut microbiota can lay the foundations for novel methods for disease transmission control. Mosquito blood feeding triggers a significant, transient increase of the gut microbiota, but little is known about the mechanisms by which the mosquito controls this bacterial growth whilst limiting inflammation of the gut epithelium. Here, we investigate the gut epithelial response to the changing microbiota load upon blood feeding in the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii. We show that the synthesis and integrity of the peritrophic matrix, which physically separates the gut epithelium from its luminal contents, is microbiota dependent. We reveal that the peritrophic matrix limits the growth and persistence of Enterobacteriaceae within the gut, whilst preventing seeding of a systemic infection. Our results demonstrate that the peritrophic matrix is a key regulator of mosquito gut homeostasis and establish functional analogies between this and the mucus layers of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. When a female mosquito takes a blood meal from a human, the bacteria residing within its gut grow significantly. Following a blood meal, female mosquitoes produce a barrier within their gut, known as the peritrophic matrix, which physically separates the blood meal from the cells of the epithelium. Here, we show that the presence of bacteria in the gut is required for the synthesis of the peritrophic matrix. By experimentally disrupting this barrier, we find that this structure plays a role in limiting the extent to which bacteria of one particular family are able to grow and persist in the mosquito gut. We also find that the peritrophic matrix ensures that bacteria remain within the gut, preventing them from invading the mosquito body cavity. These results will be useful in designing disease control strategies that depend on the ability of bacteria to colonize and persist in relevant tissues in the mosquito host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye H. Rodgers
- Vector Immunogenomics and Infection Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mathilde Gendrin
- Vector Immunogenomics and Infection Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A. S. Wyer
- Vector Immunogenomics and Infection Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George K. Christophides
- Vector Immunogenomics and Infection Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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28
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Gendrin M, Turlure F, Rodgers FH, Cohuet A, Morlais I, Christophides GK. The Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins PGRPLA and PGRPLB Regulate Anopheles Immunity to Bacteria and Affect Infection by Plasmodium. J Innate Immun 2017; 9:333-342. [PMID: 28494453 DOI: 10.1159/000452797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) form a family of immune regulators that is conserved from insects to mammals. In the malaria vector mosquito Anophelescoluzzii, the peptidoglycan receptor PGRPLC activates the immune-deficiency (Imd) pathway limiting both the microbiota load and Plasmodium infection. Here, we carried out an RNA interference screen to examine the role of all 7 Anopheles PGRPs in infections with Plasmodium berghei and P. falciparum. We show that, in addition to PGRPLC, PGRPLA and PGRPS2/PGRPS3 also participate in antiparasitic defenses, and that PGRPLB promotes mosquito permissiveness to P. falciparum. We also demonstrate that following a mosquito blood feeding, which promotes growth of the gut microbiota, PGRPLA and PGRPLB positively and negatively regulate the activation of the Imd pathway, respectively. Our data demonstrate that PGRPs are important regulators of the mosquito epithelial immunity and vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Gendrin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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29
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Habtewold T, Groom Z, Christophides GK. Immune resistance and tolerance strategies in malaria vector and non-vector mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:186. [PMID: 28420446 PMCID: PMC5395841 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2109-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Anopheles gambiae complex consists of species that vary greatly in their capacity to transmit malaria. The mosquito immune system has been identified as a key factor that can influence whether Plasmodium infection establishes within the mosquito vector. This study was designed to investigate the immune responses of An. coluzzii, An. arabiensis and An. quadriannulatus mosquitoes. The first two mosquito species are major vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, while the third is thought to be a non-vector. Methods All three mosquito species were reared in mixed cultures. Their capacity to eliminate P. berghei and regulate midgut bacteria was examined. Results Our results revealed large differences in mosquito resistance to P. berghei. In all three mosquito species, immune reactions involving the complement system were triggered when the number of parasites that mosquitoes were challenged with exceeded a certain level, i.e. immune tolerance threshold. This threshold was markedly lower in An. quadriannulatus compared to An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis. We also demonstrated that the level of immune tolerance to P. berghei infection in the haemolymph is inversely correlated with the level of immune tolerance to microbiota observed in the midgut lumen after a blood meal. The malaria non-vector mosquito species, An. quadriannulatus was shown to have a much higher level of tolerance to microbiota in the midgut than An. coluzzii. Conclusions We propose a model whereby an increased tolerance to microbiota in the mosquito midgut results in lower tolerance to Plasmodium infection. In this model, malaria non-vector mosquito species are expected to have increased immune resistance in the haemocoel, possibly due to complement priming by microbiota elicitors. We propose that this strategy is employed by the malaria non-vector mosquito, An. quadriannulatus, while An. coluzzii has reduced tolerance to bacterial infection in the midgut and consequently reduced immune resistance to Plasmodium infection at the haemocoel level. An in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating immune tolerance versus resistance in different mosquito vectors of malaria could guide the design of new vector and disease control strategies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2109-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK. .,Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Zoe Groom
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Costello Medical Consulting, Cambridge, UK
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30
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Erguler K, Chandra NL, Proestos Y, Lelieveld J, Christophides GK, Parham PE. A large-scale stochastic spatiotemporal model for Aedes albopictus-borne chikungunya epidemiology. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174293. [PMID: 28362820 PMCID: PMC5375158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans primarily via the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The virus caused a major epidemic in the Indian Ocean in 2004, affecting millions of inhabitants, while cases have also been observed in Europe since 2007. We developed a stochastic spatiotemporal model of Aedes albopictus-borne chikungunya transmission based on our recently developed environmentally-driven vector population dynamics model. We designed an integrated modelling framework incorporating large-scale gridded climate datasets to investigate disease outbreaks on Reunion Island and in Italy. We performed Bayesian parameter inference on the surveillance data, and investigated the validity and applicability of the underlying biological assumptions. The model successfully represents the outbreak and measures of containment in Italy, suggesting wider applicability in Europe. In its current configuration, the model implies two different viral strains, thus two different outbreaks, for the two-stage Reunion Island epidemic. Characterisation of the posterior distributions indicates a possible relationship between the second larger outbreak on Reunion Island and the Italian outbreak. The model suggests that vector control measures, with different modes of operation, are most effective when applied in combination: adult vector intervention has a high impact but is short-lived, larval intervention has a low impact but is long-lasting, and quarantining infected territories, if applied strictly, is effective in preventing large epidemics. We present a novel approach in analysing chikungunya outbreaks globally using a single environmentally-driven mathematical model. Our study represents a significant step towards developing a globally applicable Ae. albopictus-borne chikungunya transmission model, and introduces a guideline for extending such models to other vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Erguler
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- * E-mail: (KE); (PEP)
| | - Nastassya L. Chandra
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Yiannis Proestos
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Jos Lelieveld
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - George K. Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Paul E. Parham
- Department of Public Health and Policy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (KE); (PEP)
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31
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Kohl A, Pondeville E, Schnettler E, Crisanti A, Supparo C, Christophides GK, Kersey PJ, Maslen GL, Takken W, Koenraadt CJM, Oliva CF, Busquets N, Abad FX, Failloux AB, Levashina EA, Wilson AJ, Veronesi E, Pichard M, Arnaud Marsh S, Simard F, Vernick KD. Advancing vector biology research: a community survey for future directions, research applications and infrastructure requirements. Pathog Glob Health 2016; 110:164-72. [PMID: 27677378 PMCID: PMC5072118 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2016.1211475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens impact public health, animal production, and animal welfare. Research on arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and midges which transmit pathogens to humans and economically important animals is crucial for development of new control measures that target transmission by the vector. While insecticides are an important part of this arsenal, appearance of resistance mechanisms is increasingly common. Novel tools for genetic manipulation of vectors, use of Wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria, and other biological control mechanisms to prevent pathogen transmission have led to promising new intervention strategies, adding to strong interest in vector biology and genetics as well as vector-pathogen interactions. Vector research is therefore at a crucial juncture, and strategic decisions on future research directions and research infrastructure investment should be informed by the research community. A survey initiated by the European Horizon 2020 INFRAVEC-2 consortium set out to canvass priorities in the vector biology research community and to determine key activities that are needed for researchers to efficiently study vectors, vector-pathogen interactions, as well as access the structures and services that allow such activities to be carried out. We summarize the most important findings of the survey which in particular reflect the priorities of researchers in European countries, and which will be of use to stakeholders that include researchers, government, and research organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Kohl
- a MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research , Glasgow , UK
| | - Emilie Pondeville
- a MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research , Glasgow , UK
| | - Esther Schnettler
- a MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research , Glasgow , UK
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- b Department of Life Sciences , Imperial College London , London , UK
| | - Clelia Supparo
- b Department of Life Sciences , Imperial College London , London , UK
| | | | - Paul J Kersey
- c The European Molecular Biology Laboratory , The European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus , Cambridge , UK
| | - Gareth L Maslen
- c The European Molecular Biology Laboratory , The European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus , Cambridge , UK
| | - Willem Takken
- d Laboratory of Entomology , Wageningen University and Research Centre , Wageningen , The Netherlands
| | | | - Clelia F Oliva
- e Polo d'Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Núria Busquets
- f Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) , Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Campus UAB , Barcelona , Spain
| | - F Xavier Abad
- f Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) , Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Campus UAB , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- g Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Virology , Institut Pasteur , Paris cedex 15 , France
| | - Elena A Levashina
- h Department of Vector Biology , Max-Planck-Institut für Infektionsbiologie, Campus Charité Mitte , Berlin , Germany
| | - Anthony J Wilson
- i Integrative Entomology Group, Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme , The Pirbright Institute , Surrey , UK
| | - Eva Veronesi
- j Swiss National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology , University of Zürich , Zürich , Switzerland
| | - Maëlle Pichard
- k Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors , Institut Pasteur, Unit of Insect Vector Genetics and Genomics , Paris cedex 15 , France
| | - Sarah Arnaud Marsh
- k Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors , Institut Pasteur, Unit of Insect Vector Genetics and Genomics , Paris cedex 15 , France
| | - Frédéric Simard
- l MIVEGEC "Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle" , UMR IRD224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier , Montpellier France
| | - Kenneth D Vernick
- k Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors , Institut Pasteur, Unit of Insect Vector Genetics and Genomics , Paris cedex 15 , France.,m CNRS Unit of Hosts, Vectors and Pathogens (URA3012) , Institut Pasteur , Paris cedex 15 , France
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Akorli J, Gendrin M, Pels NAP, Yeboah-Manu D, Christophides GK, Wilson MD. Seasonality and Locality Affect the Diversity of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii Midgut Microbiota from Ghana. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157529. [PMID: 27322614 PMCID: PMC4913965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria can have important implications in the development and competence of disease vectors. In Anopheles mosquitoes, the composition of the midgut microbiota is largely influenced by the larval breeding site, but the exact factors shaping this composition are currently unknown. Here, we examined whether the proximity to urban areas and seasons have an impact on the midgut microbial community of the two major malaria vectors in Africa, An. coluzzii and An. gambiae. Larvae and pupae were collected from selected habitats in two districts of Ghana during the dry and rainy season periods. The midgut microbiota of adults that emerged from these collections was determined by 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA. We show that in both mosquito species, Shewanellaceae constituted on average of 54% and 73% of the midgut microbiota from each site in the dry and rainy season, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae was found in comparatively low abundance below 1% in 22/30 samples in the dry season, and in 25/38 samples in the rainy season. Our data indicate that seasonality and locality significantly affect both the diversity of microbiota and the relative abundance of bacterial families with a positive impact of dry season and peri-urban settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jewelna Akorli
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Mathilde Gendrin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College Road, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Nana Adjoa P. Pels
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - George K. Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College Road, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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Gendrin M, Yerbanga RS, Ouedraogo JB, Lefèvre T, Cohuet A, Christophides GK. Differential Effects of Azithromycin, Doxycycline, and Cotrimoxazole in Ingested Blood on the Vectorial Capacity of Malaria Mosquitoes. Open Forum Infect Dis 2016; 3:ofw074. [PMID: 27419152 PMCID: PMC4943539 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofw074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. The gut microbiota of malaria vector mosquitoes grows after a blood meal and limits Plasmodium infection. We previously showed that penicillin and streptomycin in the ingested blood affect bacterial growth and positively impact mosquito survival and permissiveness to Plasmodium. In this study, we examine the effects of doxycycline, azithromycin, and co-trimoxazole. All 3 antibiotics are used in mass drug administration programs and have antimicrobial activities against bacteria and various stages of malaria parasites. Methods. The effects of blood meal supplementation with antibiotics on the mosquito microbiota, lifespan, and permissiveness to Plasmodium falciparum were assessed. Results. Ingestion of any of the 3 antibiotics significantly affected the mosquito microbiota. Azithromycin decreased P falciparum infection load and mosquito lifespan, whereas at high concentrations, doxycycline increased P falciparum infection load. Co-trimoxazole negatively impacted infection intensity but had no reproducible effect on mosquito lifespan. Conclusions. Our data suggest that the overall effect of antibiotic treatment on parameters critical for mosquito vectorial capacity is drug specific. The negative effect of azithromycin on malaria transmission is consistent with current efforts for disease elimination, whereas additional, larger scale investigations are required before conclusions can be drawn about doxycycline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Gendrin
- Department of Life Sciences , Imperial College London , United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Thierry Lefèvre
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Montpellier, France
| | - Anna Cohuet
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Montpellier, France
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Habtewold T, Duchateau L, Christophides GK. Flow cytometry analysis of the microbiota associated with the midguts of vector mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:167. [PMID: 27004717 PMCID: PMC4802834 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1438-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The scientific interest to understand the function and structure of the microbiota associated with the midgut of mosquito disease vectors is increasing. The advancement of such a knowledge has encountered challenges and limitations associated with conventional culture-based and PCR techniques. METHODS Flow cytometry (FCM) combined with various cell marking dyes have been successfully applied in the field of ecological microbiology to circumvent the above shortcomings. Here, we describe FCM technique coupled with live/dead differential staining dyes SYBR Green I (SGI) and Propidium Iodide (PI) to quantify and study other essential characteristics of the mosquito gut microbiota. RESULTS A clear discrimination between cells and debris, as well as between live and dead cells was achieved when the midgut homogenate was subjected to staining with 5 × 103 dilution of the SGI and 30 μM concentration of the PI. Reproducibly, FCM event collections produced discrete populations including non-fluorescent cells, SYBR positive cells, PI fluorescing cells and cells that fluoresce both in SYBR and PI, all these cell populations representing, respectively, background noise, live bacterial, dead cells and inactive cells with partial permeability to PI. The FCM produced a strong linear relationship between cell counts and their corresponding dilution factors (R (2) = 0.987), and the technique has a better precision compared to qRT-PCR. The FCM count of the microbiota reached a peak load at 18 h post-feeding and started declining at 24 h. The present FCM technique also successfully applied to quantify bacterial cells in fixed midgut samples that were homogenized in 4 % PFA. CONCLUSION The FCM technique described here offers enormous potential and possibilities of integration with advanced molecular biochemical techniques for the study of the microbiota community in disease vector mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK ,Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Duchateau
- Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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Erguler K, Smith-Unna SE, Waldock J, Proestos Y, Christophides GK, Lelieveld J, Parham PE. Large-Scale Modelling of the Environmentally-Driven Population Dynamics of Temperate Aedes albopictus (Skuse). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149282. [PMID: 26871447 PMCID: PMC4752251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a highly invasive vector species. It is a proven vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses, with the potential to host a further 24 arboviruses. It has recently expanded its geographical range, threatening many countries in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Europe and North America. Here, we investigate the theoretical limitations of its range expansion by developing an environmentally-driven mathematical model of its population dynamics. We focus on the temperate strain of Ae. albopictus and compile a comprehensive literature-based database of physiological parameters. As a novel approach, we link its population dynamics to globally-available environmental datasets by performing inference on all parameters. We adopt a Bayesian approach using experimental data as prior knowledge and the surveillance dataset of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, as evidence. The model accounts for temperature, precipitation, human population density and photoperiod as the main environmental drivers, and, in addition, incorporates the mechanism of diapause and a simple breeding site model. The model demonstrates high predictive skill over the reference region and beyond, confirming most of the current reports of vector presence in Europe. One of the main hypotheses derived from the model is the survival of Ae. albopictus populations through harsh winter conditions. The model, constrained by the environmental datasets, requires that either diapausing eggs or adult vectors have increased cold resistance. The model also suggests that temperature and photoperiod control diapause initiation and termination differentially. We demonstrate that it is possible to account for unobserved properties and constraints, such as differences between laboratory and field conditions, to derive reliable inferences on the environmental dependence of Ae. albopictus populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Erguler
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- * E-mail: (KE); (PEP)
| | - Stephanie E. Smith-Unna
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Waldock
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Yiannis Proestos
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - George K. Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Jos Lelieveld
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul E. Parham
- Department of Public Health and Policy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, United Kingdom
- Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St. Mary’s campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (KE); (PEP)
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Lombardo F, Christophides GK. Novel factors of Anopheles gambiae haemocyte immune response to Plasmodium berghei infection. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:78. [PMID: 26858200 PMCID: PMC4746906 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1359-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insect haemocytes mediate cellular immune responses (e.g., phagocytosis) and contribute to the synthesis of humoral immune factors. In previous work, a genome-wide molecular characterization of Anopheles gambiae circulating haemocytes was followed by functional gene characterization using cell-based RNAi screens. Assays were carried out to investigate the role of selected haemocyte-specific or enriched genes in phagocytosis of bacterial bio-particles, expression of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin1, and basal and induced expression of the mosquito complement factor LRIM1 (leucine-rich repeat immune gene I). Findings Here we studied the impact of a subset of genes (37 candidates) from the haemocyte-specific dsRNA collection on the development of Plasmodium in the mosquito by in vivo gene silencing. Our screening identifies 10 novel factors with a role in the mosquito response to Plasmodium. Analysis of in vivo screening phenotypes reveals a significant anti-correlation between the prevalence of oocysts and melanised ookinetes. Conclusions Among novel immune genes are putative pattern recognition proteins (leucine-rich repeat, fibrinogen-domain and R-type lectins), immune modulation and signalling proteins (LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha factor, LITAF and CLIP proteases), and components of extracellular matrix such as laminin and collagen. Additional identified proteins such as the storage protein hexamerin and vesicular-type ATPase (V-ATPase) are associated for the first time with the mosquito response against Plasmodium. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1359-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Lombardo
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK. .,Current address: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Parham PE, Waldock J, Christophides GK, Michael E. Climate change and vector-borne diseases of humans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:rstb.2014.0377. [PMID: 25688025 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Parham
- Department of Public Health and Policy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Grantham Institute for Climate Change, St Mary's campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Joanna Waldock
- The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Edwin Michael
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA
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Proestos Y, Christophides GK, Ergüler K, Tanarhte M, Waldock J, Lelieveld J. Present and future projections of habitat suitability of the Asian tiger mosquito, a vector of viral pathogens, from global climate simulation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:rstb.2013.0554. [PMID: 25688015 PMCID: PMC4342960 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change can influence the transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) through altering the habitat suitability of insect vectors. Here we present global climate model simulations and evaluate the associated uncertainties in view of the main meteorological factors that may affect the distribution of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which can transmit pathogens that cause chikungunya, dengue fever, yellow fever and various encephalitides. Using a general circulation model at 50 km horizontal resolution to simulate mosquito survival variables including temperature, precipitation and relative humidity, we present both global and regional projections of the habitat suitability up to the middle of the twenty-first century. The model resolution of 50 km allows evaluation against previous projections for Europe and provides a basis for comparative analyses with other regions. Model uncertainties and performance are addressed in light of the recent CMIP5 ensemble climate model simulations for the RCP8.5 concentration pathway and using meteorological re-analysis data (ERA-Interim/ECMWF) for the recent past. Uncertainty ranges associated with the thresholds of meteorological variables that may affect the distribution of Ae. albopictus are diagnosed using fuzzy-logic methodology, notably to assess the influence of selected meteorological criteria and combinations of criteria that influence mosquito habitat suitability. From the climate projections for 2050, and adopting a habitat suitability index larger than 70%, we estimate that approximately 2.4 billion individuals in a land area of nearly 20 million km2 will potentially be exposed to Ae. albopictus. The synthesis of fuzzy-logic based on mosquito biology and climate change analysis provides new insights into the regional and global spreading of VBDs to support disease control and policy making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Proestos
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC), The Cyprus Institute, 20 Konstantinou Kavafi Street, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - G K Christophides
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - K Ergüler
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC), The Cyprus Institute, 20 Konstantinou Kavafi Street, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - M Tanarhte
- Department of Atmospheric Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitnerweg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - J Waldock
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC), The Cyprus Institute, 20 Konstantinou Kavafi Street, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - J Lelieveld
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC), The Cyprus Institute, 20 Konstantinou Kavafi Street, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus Department of Atmospheric Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitnerweg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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Parham PE, Waldock J, Christophides GK, Hemming D, Agusto F, Evans KJ, Fefferman N, Gaff H, Gumel A, LaDeau S, Lenhart S, Mickens RE, Naumova EN, Ostfeld RS, Ready PD, Thomas MB, Velasco-Hernandez J, Michael E. Climate, environmental and socio-economic change: weighing up the balance in vector-borne disease transmission. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:rstb.2013.0551. [PMID: 25688012 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Arguably one of the most important effects of climate change is the potential impact on human health. While this is likely to take many forms, the implications for future transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), given their ongoing contribution to global disease burden, are both extremely important and highly uncertain. In part, this is owing not only to data limitations and methodological challenges when integrating climate-driven VBD models and climate change projections, but also, perhaps most crucially, to the multitude of epidemiological, ecological and socio-economic factors that drive VBD transmission, and this complexity has generated considerable debate over the past 10-15 years. In this review, we seek to elucidate current knowledge around this topic, identify key themes and uncertainties, evaluate ongoing challenges and open research questions and, crucially, offer some solutions for the field. Although many of these challenges are ubiquitous across multiple VBDs, more specific issues also arise in different vector-pathogen systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Parham
- Department of Public Health and Policy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Joanna Waldock
- The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Deborah Hemming
- Meteorological Office Hadley Centre, UK Meteorological Office, Fitzroy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
| | - Folashade Agusto
- Department of Mathematics, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN 37044, USA
| | - Katherine J Evans
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Nina Fefferman
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Holly Gaff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominium University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Abba Gumel
- Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1904, USA School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85069-7100, USA
| | - Shannon LaDeau
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, PO Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545-0129, USA
| | - Suzanne Lenhart
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1300, USA
| | - Ronald E Mickens
- Department of Physics, Clark Atlanta University, PO Box 172, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
| | - Elena N Naumova
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Richard S Ostfeld
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, PO Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545-0129, USA
| | - Paul D Ready
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Matthew B Thomas
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jorge Velasco-Hernandez
- Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mexico Institute of Mathematics Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Edwin Michael
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA
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Proestos Y, Christophides GK, Ergüler K, Tanarhte M, Waldock J, Lelieveld J. Correction to 'Present and future projections of habitat suitability of the Asian tiger mosquito, a vector of viral pathogens, from global climate simulation'. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20150246. [PMID: 26323769 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Ukegbu CV, Cho JS, Christophides GK, Vlachou D. Transcriptional silencing and activation of paternal DNA during Plasmodium berghei zygotic development and transformation to oocyst. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1230-40. [PMID: 25728487 PMCID: PMC4678591 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The malaria parasite develops sexually in the mosquito midgut upon entry with the ingested blood meal before it can invade the midgut epithelium and embark on sporogony. Recent data have identified a number of distinct transcriptional programmes operating during this critical phase of the parasite life cycle. We aimed at characterizing the parental contribution to these transcriptional programmes and establish the genetic framework that would guide further studies of Plasmodium zygotic development and ookinete-to-oocyst transition. To achieve this we used in vitro and in vivo cross-fertilization experiments of various parasite lines expressing fluorescent reporters under the control of constitutive and stage-specific promoters. The results revealed that the zygote/ookinete stage exhibits a maternal phenotype with respect to constitutively expressed reporters, which is derived from either maternal mRNA inheritance or transcription of the maternal allele. The respective paternal alleles are silenced in the zygote/ookinete but reactivated after midgut invasion and transformation to oocyst. Transcripts specifically produced in the zygote/ookinete are synthesized de novo by both parental alleles. These findings highlight a putative role of epigenetic regulation of Plasmodium zygotic development and add substantially to the emerging picture of the molecular mechanisms regulating this important stage of malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jee-Sun Cho
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
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42
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Dembo EG, Abay SM, Dahiya N, Ogboi JS, Christophides GK, Lupidi G, Chianese G, Lucantoni L, Habluetzel A. Impact of repeated NeemAzal-treated blood meals on the fitness of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:94. [PMID: 25884799 PMCID: PMC4330930 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0700-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herbal remedies are widely used in many malaria endemic countries to treat patients, in particular in the absence of anti-malarial drugs and in some settings to prevent the disease. Herbal medicines may be specifically designed for prophylaxis and/or for blocking malaria transmission to benefit both, the individual consumer and the community at large. Neem represents a good candidate for this purpose due to its inhibitory effects on the parasite stages that cause the clinical manifestations of malaria and on those responsible for infection in the vector. Furthermore, neem secondary metabolites have been shown to interfere with various physiological processes in insect vectors. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of the standardised neem extract NeemAzal on the fitness of the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi following repeated exposure to the product through consecutive blood meals on treated mice. METHODS Batches of An. stephensi mosquitoes were offered 5 consecutive blood meals on female BALB/c mice treated with NeemAzal at an azadirachtin A concentration of 60, 105 or 150 mg/kg. The blood feeding capacity was estimated by measuring the haematin content of the rectal fluid excreted by the mosquitoes during feeding. The number of eggs laid was estimated by image analysis and their hatchability assessed by direct observations. RESULTS A dose and frequency dependent impact of NeemAzal treatment on the mosquito feeding capacity, oviposition and egg hatchability was demonstrated. In the 150 mg/kg treatment group, the mosquito feeding capacity was reduced by 50% already at the second blood meal and by 50 to 80% in all treatment groups at the fifth blood meal. Consequently, a 50 - 65% reduction in the number of eggs laid per female mosquito was observed after the fifth blood meal in all treatment groups. Similarly, after the fifth treated blood meal exposure, hatchability was found to be reduced by 62% and 70% in the 105 and 150 mg/kg group respectively. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study, taken together with the accumulated knowledge on neem open the challenging prospects of designing neem-based formulations as multi-target phytomedicines exhibiting preventive, parasite transmission-blocking as well as anti-vectorial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edson G Dembo
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Solomon M Abay
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy. .,School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Nisha Dahiya
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Johnbull S Ogboi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | | | - Giulio Lupidi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Chianese
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Lucantoni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy. .,Current address: Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Annette Habluetzel
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Piazza dei Costanti, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
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Gendrin M, Rodgers FH, Yerbanga RS, Ouédraogo JB, Basáñez MG, Cohuet A, Christophides GK. Antibiotics in ingested human blood affect the mosquito microbiota and capacity to transmit malaria. Nat Commun 2015; 6:5921. [PMID: 25562286 PMCID: PMC4338536 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria reduction is most efficiently achieved by vector control whereby human populations at high risk of contracting and transmitting the disease are protected from mosquito bites. Here, we identify the presence of antibiotics in the blood of malaria-infected people as a new risk of increasing disease transmission. We show that antibiotics in ingested blood enhance the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes to malaria infection by disturbing their gut microbiota. This effect is confirmed in a semi-natural setting by feeding mosquitoes with blood of children naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Antibiotic exposure additionally increases mosquito survival and fecundity, which are known to augment vectorial capacity. These findings suggest that malaria transmission may be exacerbated in areas of high antibiotic usage, and that regions targeted by mass drug administration programs against communicable diseases may necessitate increased vector control. The gut microbiota of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes contributes to the insects’ resistance to the parasite. Here, Gendrin et al. show that antibiotics in ingested human blood alter the mosquito gut microbiota and increase the insect’s survival, fecundity and susceptibility to the parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Gendrin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Faye H Rodgers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Rakiswendé S Yerbanga
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Jean Bosco Ouédraogo
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - María-Gloria Basáñez
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Anna Cohuet
- 1] Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso [2] Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité MIVEGEC, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - George K Christophides
- 1] Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK [2] The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Neafsey DE, Waterhouse RM, Abai MR, Aganezov SS, Alekseyev MA, Allen JE, Amon J, Arcà B, Arensburger P, Artemov G, Assour LA, Basseri H, Berlin A, Birren BW, Blandin SA, Brockman AI, Burkot TR, Burt A, Chan CS, Chauve C, Chiu JC, Christensen M, Costantini C, Davidson VLM, Deligianni E, Dottorini T, Dritsou V, Gabriel SB, Guelbeogo WM, Hall AB, Han MV, Hlaing T, Hughes DST, Jenkins AM, Jiang X, Jungreis I, Kakani EG, Kamali M, Kemppainen P, Kennedy RC, Kirmitzoglou IK, Koekemoer LL, Laban N, Langridge N, Lawniczak MKN, Lirakis M, Lobo NF, Lowy E, MacCallum RM, Mao C, Maslen G, Mbogo C, McCarthy J, Michel K, Mitchell SN, Moore W, Murphy KA, Naumenko AN, Nolan T, Novoa EM, O'Loughlin S, Oringanje C, Oshaghi MA, Pakpour N, Papathanos PA, Peery AN, Povelones M, Prakash A, Price DP, Rajaraman A, Reimer LJ, Rinker DC, Rokas A, Russell TL, Sagnon N, Sharakhova MV, Shea T, Simão FA, Simard F, Slotman MA, Somboon P, Stegniy V, Struchiner CJ, Thomas GWC, Tojo M, Topalis P, Tubio JMC, Unger MF, Vontas J, Walton C, Wilding CS, Willis JH, Wu YC, Yan G, Zdobnov EM, Zhou X, Catteruccia F, Christophides GK, Collins FH, Cornman RS, Crisanti A, Donnelly MJ, Emrich SJ, Fontaine MC, Gelbart W, Hahn MW, Hansen IA, Howell PI, Kafatos FC, Kellis M, Lawson D, Louis C, Luckhart S, Muskavitch MAT, Ribeiro JM, Riehle MA, Sharakhov IV, Tu Z, Zwiebel LJ, Besansky NJ. Mosquito genomics. Highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquitoes. Science 2014; 347:1258522. [PMID: 25554792 DOI: 10.1126/science.1258522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 362] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. To investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. Comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the X chromosome, and more intron losses, relative to Drosophila. Some determinants of vectorial capacity, such as chemosensory genes, do not show elevated turnover but instead diversify through protein-sequence changes. This dynamism of anopheline genes and genomes may contribute to their flexible capacity to take advantage of new ecological niches, including adapting to humans as primary hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Neafsey
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mohammad R Abai
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sergey S Aganezov
- George Washington University, Department of Mathematics and Computational Biology Institute, 45085 University Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Max A Alekseyev
- George Washington University, Department of Mathematics and Computational Biology Institute, 45085 University Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - James E Allen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - James Amon
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Tafea Province, Vanuatu
| | - Bruno Arcà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Peter Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic-Pomona, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Gleb Artemov
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Avenue, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Lauren A Assour
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Eck Institute for Global Health, 211B Cushing Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Hamidreza Basseri
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aaron Berlin
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Bruce W Birren
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stephanie A Blandin
- Inserm, U963, F-67084 Strasbourg, France. CNRS, UPR9022, IBMC, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Andrew I Brockman
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Thomas R Burkot
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Australia
| | - Austin Burt
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Clara S Chan
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Cedric Chauve
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joanna C Chiu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, One Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Mikkel Christensen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Carlo Costantini
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unités Mixtes de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, 911, Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 Montpellier, France
| | - Victoria L M Davidson
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 271 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Elena Deligianni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100 GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Tania Dottorini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Vicky Dritsou
- Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stacey B Gabriel
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Wamdaogo M Guelbeogo
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou 01 BP 2208, Burkina Faso
| | - Andrew B Hall
- Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Mira V Han
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Thaung Hlaing
- Department of Medical Research, No. 5 Ziwaka Road, Dagon Township, Yangon 11191, Myanmar
| | - Daniel S T Hughes
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK. Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adam M Jenkins
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Xiaofang Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Irwin Jungreis
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Evdoxia G Kakani
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maryam Kamali
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Petri Kemppainen
- Computational Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Ryan C Kennedy
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ioannis K Kirmitzoglou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, New Campus, University of Cyprus, CY 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Lizette L Koekemoer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Vector Control Reference Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham 2131, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Njoroge Laban
- National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nicholas Langridge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Mara K N Lawniczak
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Manolis Lirakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Neil F Lobo
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Ernesto Lowy
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Robert M MacCallum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Chunhong Mao
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, 1015 Life Science Circle, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Gareth Maslen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Charles Mbogo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research - Coast, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Jenny McCarthy
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic-Pomona, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 271 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Sara N Mitchell
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wendy Moore
- Department of Entomology, 1140 East South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Katherine A Murphy
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, One Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Anastasia N Naumenko
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Tony Nolan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Eva M Novoa
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Samantha O'Loughlin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Chioma Oringanje
- Department of Entomology, 1140 East South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Mohammad A Oshaghi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Philippos A Papathanos
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ashley N Peery
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anil Prakash
- Regional Medical Research Centre NE, Indian Council of Medical Research, P.O. Box 105, Dibrugarh-786 001, Assam, India
| | - David P Price
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Ashok Rajaraman
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Lisa J Reimer
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - David C Rinker
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA. Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Tanya L Russell
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Australia
| | - N'Fale Sagnon
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou 01 BP 2208, Burkina Faso
| | - Maria V Sharakhova
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Terrance Shea
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Felipe A Simão
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Simard
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unités Mixtes de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, 911, Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 Montpellier, France
| | - Michel A Slotman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77807, USA
| | - Pradya Somboon
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | | | - Claudio J Struchiner
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, RJ Brazil. Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gregg W C Thomas
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Marta Tojo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Pantelis Topalis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100 GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - José M C Tubio
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Maria F Unger
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - John Vontas
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Catherine Walton
- Computational Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Craig S Wilding
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Judith H Willis
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yi-Chieh Wu
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Department of Computer Science, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Evgeny M Zdobnov
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Frank H Collins
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Robert S Cornman
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK. Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SJ, UK
| | - Scott J Emrich
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Eck Institute for Global Health, 211B Cushing Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Michael C Fontaine
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. Centre of Evolutionary and Ecological Studies (Marine Evolution and Conservation group), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, NL-9747 AG Groningen, Netherlands
| | - William Gelbart
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Matthew W Hahn
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Immo A Hansen
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Paul I Howell
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE MSG49, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Fotis C Kafatos
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Manolis Kellis
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daniel Lawson
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Christos Louis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece. Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100 GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Marc A T Muskavitch
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. Biogen Idec, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - José M Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, 1140 East South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Igor V Sharakhov
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Laurence J Zwiebel
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Pharmacology, Institutes for Chemical Biology, Genetics and Global Health, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Nora J Besansky
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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Akinosoglou KA, Bushell ESC, Ukegbu CV, Schlegelmilch T, Cho JS, Redmond S, Sala K, Christophides GK, Vlachou D. Characterization of Plasmodium developmental transcriptomes in Anopheles gambiae midgut reveals novel regulators of malaria transmission. Cell Microbiol 2014; 17:254-68. [PMID: 25225164 PMCID: PMC4371638 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The passage through the mosquito is a major bottleneck for malaria parasite populations and a target of interventions aiming to block disease transmission. Here, we used DNA microarrays to profile the developmental transcriptomes of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in vivo, in the midgut of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, from parasite stages in the midgut blood bolus to sporulating oocysts on the basal gut wall. Data analysis identified several distinct transcriptional programmes encompassing genes putatively involved in developmental processes or in interactions with the mosquito. At least two of these programmes are associated with the ookinete development that is linked to mosquito midgut invasion and establishment of infection. Targeted disruption by homologous recombination of two of these genes resulted in mutant parasites exhibiting notable infection phenotypes. GAMER encodes a short polypeptide with granular localization in the gametocyte cytoplasm and shows a highly penetrant loss-of-function phenotype manifested as greatly reduced ookinete numbers, linked to impaired male gamete release. HADO encodes a putative magnesium phosphatase with distinctive cortical localization along the concave ookinete periphery. Disruption of HADO compromises ookinete development leading to significant reduction of oocyst numbers. Our data provide important insights into the molecular framework underpinning Plasmodium development in the mosquito and identifies two genes with important functions at initial stages of parasite development in the mosquito midgut.
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Upton LM, Povelones M, Christophides GK. Anopheles gambiae blood feeding initiates an anticipatory defense response to Plasmodium berghei. J Innate Immun 2014; 7:74-86. [PMID: 25247883 DOI: 10.1159/000365331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes have potent innate defense mechanisms that protect them from infection by diverse pathogens. Much remains unknown about how different pathogens are sensed and specific responses triggered. Leucine-Rich repeat IMmune proteins (LRIMs) are a mosquito-specific family of putative innate receptors. Although some LRIMs have been implicated in mosquito immune responses, the function of most family members is largely unknown. We screened Anopheles gambiae LRIMs by RNAi for effects on mosquito infection by rodent malaria and found that LRIM9 is a Plasmodium berghei antagonist with phenotypes distinct from family members LRIM1 and APL1C, which are key components of the mosquito complement-like pathway. LRIM9 transcript and protein levels are significantly increased after blood feeding but are unaffected by Plasmodium or midgut microbiota. Interestingly, LRIM9 in the hemolymph is strongly upregulated by direct injection of the ecdysteroid, 20-hydroxyecdysone. Our data suggest that LRIM9 may define a novel anti-Plasmodium immune defense mechanism triggered by blood feeding and that hormonal changes may alert the mosquito to bolster its defenses in anticipation of exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanna M Upton
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Waldock J, Parham PE, Lelieveld J, Christophides GK. Climate and human health: the impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases, Paphos, Cyprus (17-19 October 2012). Pathog Glob Health 2014; 107:387-92. [PMID: 24428826 PMCID: PMC4073523 DOI: 10.1179/2047772413z.000000000161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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48
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Midega J, Blight J, Lombardo F, Povelones M, Kafatos F, Christophides GK. Discovery and characterization of two Nimrod superfamily members in Anopheles gambiae. Pathog Glob Health 2014; 107:463-74. [PMID: 24428830 PMCID: PMC4073527 DOI: 10.1179/204777213x13867543472674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-bacterial proteins in mosquitoes are known to play an important modulatory role on immune responses to infections with human pathogens including malaria parasites. In this study we characterized two members of the Anopheles gambiae Nimrod superfamily, namely AgNimB2 and AgEater. We confirm that current annotation of the An. gambiae genome incorrectly identifies AgNimB2 and AgEater as a single gene, AGAP009762. Through in silico and experimental approaches, it has been shown that AgNimB2 is a secreted protein that mediates phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus but not of Escherichia coli bacteria. We also reveal that this function does not involve a direct interaction of AgNimB2 with S. aureus. Therefore, AgNimB2 may act downstream of complement-like pathway activation, first requiring bacterial opsonization. In addition, it has been shown that AgNimB2 has an anti-Plasmodium effect. Conversely, AgEater is a membrane-bound protein that either functions redundantly or is dispensable for phagocytosis of E. coli or S. aureus. Our study provides insights into the role of members of the complex Nimrod superfamily in An. gambiae, the most important African vector of human malaria.
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49
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Yassine H, Kamareddine L, Chamat S, Christophides GK, Osta MA. A serine protease homolog negatively regulates TEP1 consumption in systemic infections of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. J Innate Immun 2014; 6:806-18. [PMID: 25012124 DOI: 10.1159/000363296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Clip domain serine protease homologs are widely distributed in insect genomes and play important roles in regulating insect immune responses, yet their exact functions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that CLIPA2, a clip domain serine protease homolog of Anopheles gambiae, regulates the consumption of the mosquito complement-like protein TEP1 during systemic bacterial infections. We provide evidence that CLIPA2 localizes to microbial surfaces in a TEP1-dependent manner whereby it negatively regulates the activity of a putative TEP1 convertase, which converts the full-length TEP1-F form into active TEP1cut. CLIPA2 silencing triggers an exacerbated TEP1-mediated response that significantly enhances mosquito resistance to infections with a broad class of microorganisms including Plasmodium berghei, Escherichia coli and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. We also provide further evidence for the existence of a functional link between TEP1 and activation of hemolymph prophenoloxidase during systemic infections. Interestingly, the enhanced TEP1-mediated immune response in CLIPA2 knockdown mosquitoes correlated with a significant reduction in fecundity, corroborating the existence of a trade-off between immunity and reproduction. In sum, CLIPA2 is an integral regulatory component of the mosquito complement-like pathway which functions to prevent an overwhelming response by the host in response to systemic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Yassine
- Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Stathopoulos S, Neafsey DE, Lawniczak MKN, Muskavitch MAT, Christophides GK. Genetic dissection of Anopheles gambiae gut epithelial responses to Serratia marcescens. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1003897. [PMID: 24603764 PMCID: PMC3946313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae profoundly influences its ability to transmit malaria. Mosquito gut bacteria are shown to influence the outcome of infections with Plasmodium parasites and are also thought to exert a strong drive on genetic variation through natural selection; however, a link between antibacterial effects and genetic variation is yet to emerge. Here, we combined SNP genotyping and expression profiling with phenotypic analyses of candidate genes by RNAi-mediated silencing and 454 pyrosequencing to investigate this intricate biological system. We identified 138 An. gambiae genes to be genetically associated with the outcome of Serratia marcescens infection, including the peptidoglycan recognition receptor PGRPLC that triggers activation of the antibacterial IMD/REL2 pathway and the epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR. Silencing of three genes encoding type III fibronectin domain proteins (FN3Ds) increased the Serratia load and altered the gut microbiota composition in favor of Enterobacteriaceae. These data suggest that natural genetic variation in immune-related genes can shape the bacterial population structure of the mosquito gut with high specificity. Importantly, FN3D2 encodes a homolog of the hypervariable pattern recognition receptor Dscam, suggesting that pathogen-specific recognition may involve a broader family of immune factors. Additionally, we showed that silencing the gene encoding the gustatory receptor Gr9 that is also associated with the Serratia infection phenotype drastically increased Serratia levels. The Gr9 antibacterial activity appears to be related to mosquito feeding behavior and to mostly rely on changes of neuropeptide F expression, together suggesting a behavioral immune response following Serratia infection. Our findings reveal that the mosquito response to oral Serratia infection comprises both an epithelial and a behavioral immune component. In malaria vector mosquitoes, the presence of bacteria and malaria parasites is tightly linked. Bacteria that are part of the mosquito gut ecosystem are critical modulators of the immune response elicited during infection with malaria parasites. Furthermore, responses against oral bacterial infections can affect malaria parasites. Here, we combined mosquito gut infections with the enterobacterium Serratia marcescens with genome-wide discovery and phenotypic analysis of genes involved in antibacterial responses to characterize molecular processes that control gut bacterial infections thus possibly affecting the mosquito susceptibility to infection by malaria parasites. Our data reveal complex genetic networks controlling the gut bacterial infection load and ecosystem homeostasis. These networks appear to exhibit much higher specificity toward specific classes of bacteria than previously thought and include behavioral response circuits involved in antibacterial immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - George K. Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
- * E-mail:
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