Abstract
The Anopheles gambiae adult peritrophic matrix protein 1 (AgAper1) regulatory elements were used to drive the expression of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a protein known to disrupt malaria parasite development in mosquitoes. These AgAper1 regulatory elements were sufficient to promote the accumulation of PLA2 in midgut epithelial cells before a blood meal and its release into the lumen upon blood ingestion. Plasmodium berghei oocyst formation was reduced by ∼80% (74-91% range) in transgenic mosquitoes. Blood-seeking behaviour and survival of AgAper1-PLA2 transgenic mosquitoes were comparable to sibling wild-type mosquitoes, while fertility was substantially lower. Ultrastructural studies suggest that decreased fitness is a consequence of internal damage to midgut epithelial cells.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 271-279 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Insect molecular biology |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Peritrophic matrix protein 1
- Phospholipase A2
- Plasmodium
- Transgenic mosquito
- Transmission blocking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Insect Science