Study of Anopheles darlingi Salivary Gland Genes
Author Information
Author(s): Calvo Eric, Pham Van M, Marinotti Osvaldo, Andersen John F, Ribeiro José MC
Primary Institution: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
Hypothesis
The study investigates the evolution of salivary proteins in the neotropical malaria vector Anopheles darlingi.
Conclusion
The study reveals significant divergence in salivary proteins between An. darlingi and An. gambiae, indicating rapid evolution and loss of certain protein families.
Supporting Evidence
- An. darlingi proteins were found that match culicine but not anopheline proteins.
- On average, salivary proteins are only 53% identical between An. darlingi and An. gambiae.
- Several well-represented salivary protein families in old world anophelines are not expressed in An. darlingi.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at the genes in the saliva of a type of mosquito that spreads malaria and found that they have changed a lot over time, which helps them feed on blood.
Methodology
The study sequenced 2,371 cDNA clones from the salivary glands of An. darlingi to analyze their transcriptome.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the use of field-caught mosquitoes, which may have different exposure to pathogens compared to laboratory-reared specimens.
Limitations
The study does not specify the age of the mosquitoes used, which may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
Adult female Anopheles darlingi mosquitoes captured from the field in Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brazil.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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