Anopheles gambiae and A. stephensi immune response during Plasmodium berghei infection uncovered by sialotranscriptomic analysis

Abstract

Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted through the bite of female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Responsible for high mobility and mortality rates around the world, this protozoan disease is most common in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Herein, using a pure transcriptomic data analysis approach on mosquito salivary glands we have identified, compiled and compared immune-related transcripts and their levels of expression in A. gambiae and A. stephensi after P. berghei infection. Focusing in immune mechanisms such as recognition of the parasite, signal modulation by serine protease cascades and effector mechanisms, several subclasses of proteins were investigated, including thioester-containing proteins, leucine-rich domain-containing proteins, C-type lectins, galactoside-binding lectins, clip-domain serine proteases, serine protease inhibitors, and antimicrobial peptides. The anti-vector vaccine potential of key-molecules that have exert an action in regulating parasite development have been considered thus, targeting highly conserved antigenic molecules can be effective to control arthropod-borne diseases, including malaria. This study constitutes the first comparative sialotranscriptomic analysis between these two mosquito vectors upon pathogen invasion, focusing solely specific subclasses of immune-related transcripts. Lastly, in order to search for new targets with potential to become pan-arthropod vaccines, we provide potential candidate genes with interest to be further investigated for malaria control