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Immune gene expression in the mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus during an avian malaria infection

García-Longoria, L LU ; Ahrén, D LU orcid ; Berthomieu, A ; Kalbskopf, V LU ; Rivero, A and Hellgren, O LU (2023) In Molecular Ecology 32(4). p.904-919
Abstract

Plasmodium relictum is the most widespread avian malaria parasite in the world. It is listed as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species, having been responsible for the extinction of several endemic bird species, and the near-demise of several others. Here we present the first transcriptomic study focused on the effect of P. relictum on the immune system of its vector (the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus) at different times post-infection. We show that over 50% of immune genes identified as being part of the Toll pathway and 30-40% of the immune genes identified within the Imd pathway are overexpressed during the critical period spanning the parasite's oocyst and sporozoite formation (8-12 days), revealing the crucial role played... (More)

Plasmodium relictum is the most widespread avian malaria parasite in the world. It is listed as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species, having been responsible for the extinction of several endemic bird species, and the near-demise of several others. Here we present the first transcriptomic study focused on the effect of P. relictum on the immune system of its vector (the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus) at different times post-infection. We show that over 50% of immune genes identified as being part of the Toll pathway and 30-40% of the immune genes identified within the Imd pathway are overexpressed during the critical period spanning the parasite's oocyst and sporozoite formation (8-12 days), revealing the crucial role played by both these pathways in this natural mosquito-Plasmodium combination. Comparison of infected mosquitoes with their uninfected counterparts also revealed some unexpected immune RNA expression patterns earlier and later in the infection: Significant differences in expression of several immune effectors were observed as early as 30 minutes after the ingestion of the infected blood meal. In addition, in the later stages of the infection (towards the end of the mosquito lifespan), we observed an unexpected increase in immune investment in uninfected, but not in infected, mosquitoes. In conclusion, our work extends the comparative transcriptomic analyses of malaria-infected mosquitoes beyond human and rodent parasites and provides insights into the degree of conservation of immune pathways and into the selective pressures exerted by Plasmodium parasites on their vectors.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
anopheles, immunogenicity, immunosenescence, plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium relictum
in
Molecular Ecology
volume
32
issue
4
pages
16 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:36448733
  • scopus:85144159462
ISSN
0962-1083
DOI
10.1111/mec.16799
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8ec8942b-e82a-4452-af56-374f19934bde
date added to LUP
2022-12-12 09:25:39
date last changed
2024-04-18 07:38:18
@article{8ec8942b-e82a-4452-af56-374f19934bde,
  abstract     = {{<p>Plasmodium relictum is the most widespread avian malaria parasite in the world. It is listed as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species, having been responsible for the extinction of several endemic bird species, and the near-demise of several others. Here we present the first transcriptomic study focused on the effect of P. relictum on the immune system of its vector (the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus) at different times post-infection. We show that over 50% of immune genes identified as being part of the Toll pathway and 30-40% of the immune genes identified within the Imd pathway are overexpressed during the critical period spanning the parasite's oocyst and sporozoite formation (8-12 days), revealing the crucial role played by both these pathways in this natural mosquito-Plasmodium combination. Comparison of infected mosquitoes with their uninfected counterparts also revealed some unexpected immune RNA expression patterns earlier and later in the infection: Significant differences in expression of several immune effectors were observed as early as 30 minutes after the ingestion of the infected blood meal. In addition, in the later stages of the infection (towards the end of the mosquito lifespan), we observed an unexpected increase in immune investment in uninfected, but not in infected, mosquitoes. In conclusion, our work extends the comparative transcriptomic analyses of malaria-infected mosquitoes beyond human and rodent parasites and provides insights into the degree of conservation of immune pathways and into the selective pressures exerted by Plasmodium parasites on their vectors.</p>}},
  author       = {{García-Longoria, L and Ahrén, D and Berthomieu, A and Kalbskopf, V and Rivero, A and Hellgren, O}},
  issn         = {{0962-1083}},
  keywords     = {{anopheles; immunogenicity; immunosenescence; plasmodium falciparum; plasmodium relictum}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{904--919}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Molecular Ecology}},
  title        = {{Immune gene expression in the mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus during an avian malaria infection}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.16799}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/mec.16799}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}