Induced immunity against the mosquito Anopheles stephensi: effects of cell fraction antigens on longevity, fecundity and Plasmodium berghei transmission

A. P. G. Almeida, Peter Francis Billingsley

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    20 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Two subcellular fractions from the midgut of the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi (Liston) were used to immunize BALB/c mice. Mice were subsequently infected with the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei (Vincke & Lips), and the effects of anti-mosquito immunity on mosquito survival and fecundity and on parasite transmission were investigated. Mosquitoes were infected directly from mice (in vivo) or by feeding cultured ookinetes through a membrane (in vitro). Infections were monitored by counting oocysts on the midgut wall. Microvilli extracts induced a strong and partially specific antibody reaction against the midgut, which was manifest as decreased survival in in vivo fed mosquitoes and reduced fecundity in both kinds of feeding. Antisera against microvilli reduced the mean intensity of P. berghei oocysts when fed in vitro, while mosquitoes fed antiserum against basolateral plasma membranes in vivo, showed higher oocyst burdens.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)207-214
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Medical Entomology
    Volume39
    Publication statusPublished - 2002

    Keywords

    • Anopheles stephensi
    • Plasmodium berghei malaria
    • anti-mosquito antibodies
    • midgut microvilli
    • YOELII-NIGERIENSIS
    • AEDES-AEGYPTI
    • BLOCKING ANTIBODY
    • VECTOR CONTROL
    • MIDGUT
    • INFECTION
    • GALLINACEUM
    • INTENSITY
    • PARASITES
    • PATHOLOGY

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