Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Malaria is a worldwide infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The malaria vector mosquito Anopheles can trigger effective mechanisms to control completion of the Plasmodium lifecycle; the mosquito immune response to the parasite involves several pathways which are not yet well characterized. Plasmodium metabolite hemozoin has emerged as a potent immunostimulator of mammalian tissues. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of this parasite's by-product as stimulator of Anopheles gambiae immunity to Plasmodium berghei. METHODS: Female mosquitoes were inoculated with hemozoin and the Plasmodium infection rate and intensity were measured. Differences between treatments were detected by Zero-inflated models. Microarray transcription analysis was performed to assess gene expression response to hemozoin. Genome-wide analysis results were confirmed by stimulation of Anopheles gambiae tissues and cells with hemozoin and silencing of REL2-F and its negative regulator Caspar. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: We have for the first time shown the impact of hemozoin treatment in Plasmodium infection, reducing both rate and intensity of the infection. We propose that hemozoin boosts the innate immunity in Anopheles, activating key effector genes involved in mosquito resistance to Plasmodium, and this activation is REL2-mediated.
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Authors | Maria L Simões, Luzia Gonçalves, Henrique Silveira |
Journal | Parasites & vectors
(Parasit Vectors)
Vol. 8
Pg. 12
(Jan 08 2015)
ISSN: 1756-3305 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 25573379
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Hemeproteins
- Insect Proteins
- hemozoin
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Topics |
- Animals
- Anopheles
(parasitology)
- Cell Line
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Hemeproteins
(metabolism, pharmacology)
- Host-Parasite Interactions
- Immunity, Innate
(physiology)
- Insect Proteins
(genetics, metabolism)
- Plasmodium berghei
(physiology)
- Protein Array Analysis
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