Blood‐induced differential gene expression in Anopheles dirus evaluated using RNA sequencing

• Published in: Medical and veterinary entomology 2018-12, Vol.32 (4), p.399-406
• Main Authors: Mongkol, W., Nguitragool, W., Sattabongkot, J., Kubera, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anopheles - genetics; Anopheles - metabolism; Anopheles - parasitology; Anopheles dirus; Blood; Blood - metabolism; blood‐induced genes; Culicidae; Down-Regulation; Drug resistance; Feeding; Female; Gene Expression; Malaria; Malaria - transmission; Mosquito Vectors - genetics; Mosquito Vectors - metabolism; Mosquito Vectors - parasitology; Oogenesis; Parasites; Polymerase chain reaction; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reverse transcription; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA sequencing; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Sugar; Sugars - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Vectors; Vitellogenesis
• ISSN: 0269-283X; 1365-2915
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12310

Malaria parasites are transmitted through blood feeding by female Anopheline mosquitoes. Unveiling the blood‐feeding process will improve understanding of vector biology. Anopheles dirus (Diptera: Culicidae) is one of the primary malaria vectors in the Greater Mekong Subregion, the epicentre of malaria drug resistance. In this study, differential gene expression between sugar‐ and blood‐fed An. dirus was investigated by RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq). A total of 589 transcripts were found to be upregulated and 703 transcripts downregulated as a result of blood feeding. Transcriptional differences were found in genes involved in blood digestion, peritrophic matrix formation, oogenesis and vitellogenesis. The expression levels of several genes were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The present results provide better understanding of An. dirus biology in relation to its blood feeding. This is the first report of blood‐induced gene expression in Anopheles dirus (Diptera: Culicidae) analysed using RNA sequencing. A total of 589 transcripts were found to be upregulated and 703 transcripts downregulated subsequent to blood feeding. Transcriptional differences were found in genes involved in blood digestion, peritrophic matrix formation, oogenesis and vitellogenesis.