Energy metabolism affects susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes to Plasmodium infection

• Published in: Insect biochemistry and molecular biology 2011-06, Vol.41 (6), p.349-355
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Jose Henrique M, Gonçalves, Renata L.S, Oliveira, Giselle A, Oliveira, Pedro L, Oliveira, Marcus F, Barillas-Mury, Carolina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anopheles - genetics; Anopheles - metabolism; Anopheles - parasitology; Anopheles gambiae; Electron leak; energy metabolism; Energy Metabolism - genetics; Energy Metabolism - immunology; Female; females; Gene Expression; Gene Silencing; genes; Host-Parasite Interactions - genetics; Host-Parasite Interactions - immunology; hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Immunity, Innate; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - genetics; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; lactate dehydrogenase; Lipid Metabolism; longevity; Longevity - genetics; Malaria - genetics; Malaria - immunology; Malaria - metabolism; Malaria - parasitology; messenger RNA; Metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; midgut; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - pathology; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases - antagonists & inhibitors; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases - genetics; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases - metabolism; Mitochondrial Diseases - metabolism; Mosquito; Plasmodium berghei; Plasmodium berghei - pathogenicity; Plasmodium infection; Reactive oxygen species; Refractoriness; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism
• ISSN: 0965-1748; 1879-0240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.02.001

Previous studies showed that Anopheles gambiae L3-5 females, which are refractory (R) to Plasmodium infection, express higher levels of genes involved in redox-metabolism and mitochondrial respiration than susceptible (S) G3 females. Our studies revealed that R females have reduced longevity, faster utilization of lipid reserves, impaired mitochondrial state-3 respiration, increased rate of mitochondrial electron leak and higher expression levels of several glycolytic enzyme genes. Furthermore, when state-3 respiration was reduced in S females by silencing expression of the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), hydrogen peroxide generation was higher and the mRNA levels of lactate dehydrogenase increased in the midgut, while the prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium berghei infection were significantly reduced. We conclude that there are broad metabolic differences between R and S An. gambiae mosquitoes that influence their susceptibility to Plasmodium infection.