Impact of trehalose transporter knockdown on Anopheles gambiae stress adaptation and susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infection

Kun Liu, Yuemei Dong, Yuzheng Huang, Jason L. Rasgon, Peter Agre

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anopheles gambiae is a major vector mosquito for Plasmodium falciparum, the deadly pathogen causing most human malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Synthesized in the fat body, trehalose is the predominant sugar in mosquito hemolymph. It not only provides energy but also protects the mosquito against desiccation and heat stresses. Trehalose enters the mosquito hemolymph by the trehalose transporter AgTreT1. In adult female A. gambiae, AgTreT1 is predominantly expressed in the fat body. We found that AgTreT1 expression is induced by environmental stresses such as low humidity or elevated temperature. AgTreT1 RNA silencing reduces the hemolymph trehalose concentration by 40%, and the mosquitoes succumb sooner after exposure to desiccation or heat. After an infectious blood meal, AgTreT1 RNA silencing reduces the number of P. falciparum oocysts in the mosquito midgut by over 70% compared with mock-injected mosquitoes. These data reveal important roles for AgTreT1 in stress adaptation and malaria pathogen development in a major vector mosquito. Thus, AgTreT1 may be a potential target for malaria vector control.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)17504-17509
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume110
Issue number43
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 22 2013

Keywords

  • Major hemolymph sugar
  • Malaria control
  • Malaria parasite oocysts
  • Sugar transporter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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