The effect of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infection on ovarian protein accumulation by Anopheles stephensi

Abstract

Both anopheline and culicine mosquitoes have been shown to incur a reduction in reproductive fitness when infected with malaria parasites. The agent of rodent malaria, Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis, was used as a laboratory model to investigate changes in the accumulation of protein in the ovaries of Anopheles stephensi when infected with oocysts or when feeding on mice with heavy asexual parasitaemia but no mature gametocytes. Herein we report that during the early phases of the gonotrophic cycle the ovarian protein content increased normally; however, after 16 h post-blood-feeding there was a significant reduction in the total protein content in ovaries from infected mosquitoes. The development of ovaries from mosquitoes undergoing a second gonotrophic cycle and containing maturing oocysts was similarly affected. Ovarian protein profiles produced by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a depletion of the yolk protein vitellin. Ovaries from mosquitoes feeding on a mouse with 31% parasitaemia, no detectable gametocytes and a low haematocrit (29% packed cell volume) also exhibited a reduction in protein content, although this did not occur until much later in the gonotrophic cycle. The role of blood-meal quality and malaria infection in the reduction in egg production is discussed.

Induced Immunity Against the MosquitoAnopheles stephensi(Diptera: Culicidae): Effects of Cell Fraction Antigens on Survival, Fecundity, andPlasmodium berghei(Eucoccidiida: Plasmodiidae) Transmission

“…stephensi Hurd 1995a, 1995b;Hogg et al 1997;Jahan and Hurd 1997), P. berghei infections did not reduce oviposition even at high parasite burdens. This pattern was consistent within immunization groups.…”

Exposure of the mosquito vector Culex pipiens to the malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum: effect of infected blood intake on immune and antioxidant defences, fecundity and survival

“…Plasmodium parasites are known to affect vector fecundity with, for instance, egg resorption occurring in the mosquito ovaries during Plasmodium development [11, 29–32]. Here, we found that laying probability increased with blood meal size: a particularly small blood meal being not sufficient to mature eggs [54].…”

“…For instance, it has been shown that mosquitoes experience local oxidative stress enhancement focused on the invasion site [26, 27] avoiding generalized oxidative damage [28]. Then, exposure is associated with vitellogenesis disruption, apoptosis and egg resorption in the ovaries [11, 29–32] that can lead to delayed reproduction and/or decreased fecundity [33]. This highlights a second trade-off between fight against the parasite and reproduction [34].…”

Larval nutrition differentially affects adult fitness and Plasmodium development in the malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi

“…It is inferred that responses initiated by the female mosquito following an infectious blood meal negatively affect survival and vitellogenin deposition in the oocytes [10,11]. However, while Plasmodium -infected mosquitoes may exhibit reduced longevity and fecundity, the interaction of these effects with fitness upon emergence (i.e.…”