The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus
Abstract Background Malaria is a devastating disease, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites. Current insecticide-based strategies exist to control the spread of malaria by targeting vectors. However, the increase in insecticide resistance in vector populations...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5985c8f31ee44c5fae3bf5b0cc7b11fe 2023-05-15T15:10:26+02:00 The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus Surina Maharaj Elodie Ekoka Erica Erlank Luisa Nardini Janette Reader Lyn-Marie Birkholtz Lizette L. Koekemoer 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 https://doaj.org/article/5985c8f31ee44c5fae3bf5b0cc7b11fe EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/5985c8f31ee44c5fae3bf5b0cc7b11fe Malaria Journal, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2022) 20E-signaling African malaria vector Plasmodium falciparum RNA interference Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 2022-12-31T04:29:18Z Abstract Background Malaria is a devastating disease, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites. Current insecticide-based strategies exist to control the spread of malaria by targeting vectors. However, the increase in insecticide resistance in vector populations hinder the efficacy of these methods. It is, therefore, essential to develop novel vector control methods that efficiently target transmission reducing factors such as vector density and competence. A possible vector control candidate gene, the ecdysone receptor, regulates longevity, reproduction, immunity and other physiological processes in several insects, including malaria vectors. Anopheles funestus is a prominent vector in sub-Saharan Africa, however, the function of the ecdysone receptor in this mosquito has not previously been studied. This study aimed to determine if the ecdysone receptor depletion impacts An. funestus longevity, reproduction and susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infection. Methods RNA interference was used to reduce ecdysone receptor expression levels in An. funestus females and investigate how the above-mentioned phenotypes are influenced. Additionally, the expression levels of the ecdysone receptor, and reproduction genes lipophorin and vitellogenin receptor as well as the immune gene, leucine rich immune molecule 9 were determined in ecdysone receptor-depleted mosquitoes using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Ecdysone receptor-depleted mosquitoes had a shorter lifespan, impaired oogenesis, were less fertile, and had reduced P. falciparum infection intensity. Conclusions Overall, this study provides the first experimental evidence that supports ecdysone receptor as a potential target in the development of vector control measures targeting An. funestus. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 21 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
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English |
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20E-signaling African malaria vector Plasmodium falciparum RNA interference Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
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20E-signaling African malaria vector Plasmodium falciparum RNA interference Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Surina Maharaj Elodie Ekoka Erica Erlank Luisa Nardini Janette Reader Lyn-Marie Birkholtz Lizette L. Koekemoer The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus |
topic_facet |
20E-signaling African malaria vector Plasmodium falciparum RNA interference Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Malaria is a devastating disease, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites. Current insecticide-based strategies exist to control the spread of malaria by targeting vectors. However, the increase in insecticide resistance in vector populations hinder the efficacy of these methods. It is, therefore, essential to develop novel vector control methods that efficiently target transmission reducing factors such as vector density and competence. A possible vector control candidate gene, the ecdysone receptor, regulates longevity, reproduction, immunity and other physiological processes in several insects, including malaria vectors. Anopheles funestus is a prominent vector in sub-Saharan Africa, however, the function of the ecdysone receptor in this mosquito has not previously been studied. This study aimed to determine if the ecdysone receptor depletion impacts An. funestus longevity, reproduction and susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infection. Methods RNA interference was used to reduce ecdysone receptor expression levels in An. funestus females and investigate how the above-mentioned phenotypes are influenced. Additionally, the expression levels of the ecdysone receptor, and reproduction genes lipophorin and vitellogenin receptor as well as the immune gene, leucine rich immune molecule 9 were determined in ecdysone receptor-depleted mosquitoes using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Ecdysone receptor-depleted mosquitoes had a shorter lifespan, impaired oogenesis, were less fertile, and had reduced P. falciparum infection intensity. Conclusions Overall, this study provides the first experimental evidence that supports ecdysone receptor as a potential target in the development of vector control measures targeting An. funestus. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Surina Maharaj Elodie Ekoka Erica Erlank Luisa Nardini Janette Reader Lyn-Marie Birkholtz Lizette L. Koekemoer |
author_facet |
Surina Maharaj Elodie Ekoka Erica Erlank Luisa Nardini Janette Reader Lyn-Marie Birkholtz Lizette L. Koekemoer |
author_sort |
Surina Maharaj |
title |
The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus |
title_short |
The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus |
title_full |
The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus |
title_fullStr |
The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus |
title_full_unstemmed |
The ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in Anopheles funestus |
title_sort |
ecdysone receptor regulates several key physiological factors in anopheles funestus |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 https://doaj.org/article/5985c8f31ee44c5fae3bf5b0cc7b11fe |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/5985c8f31ee44c5fae3bf5b0cc7b11fe |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04123-8 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
container_volume |
21 |
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1 |
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1766341459652378624 |