Non-Genetic Determinants of Mosquito Competence for Malaria Parasites

PLoS Pathogens

Karine Mouline¹  Kounbobr R. Dabiré²  Thierry Lefèvre³  Amélie Vantaux³  Anna Cohuet³ 

[1] Centre Muraz, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso;Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso;MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), UMR Universités Montpellier 1 & 2, CNRS 5290, IRD 224, Montpellier, France

关键词: Malarial parasites;    Parasitic diseases;    Malaria;    Mosquitoes;    Plasmodium;    Parasite evolution;    Infectious disease control;    Evolutionary immunology;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1003365

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Understanding how mosquito vectors and malaria parasites interact is of fundamental interest, and it also offers novel perspectives for disease control. Both the genetic and environmental contexts are known to affect the ability of mosquitoes to support malaria development and transmission, i.e., vector competence. Although the role of environment has long been recognized, much work has focused on host and parasite genetic effects. However, the last few years have seen a surge of studies revealing a great diversity of ways in which non-genetic factors can interfere with mosquito-Plasmodium interactions. Here, we review the current evidence for such environmentally mediated effects, including ambient temperature, mosquito diet, microbial gut flora, and infection history, and we identify additional factors previously overlooked in mosquito-Plasmodium interactions. We also discuss epidemiological implications, and the evolutionary consequences for vector immunity and parasite transmission strategies. Finally, we propose directions for further research and argue that an improved knowledge of non-genetic influences on mosquito-Plasmodium interactions could aid in implementing conventional malaria control measures and contribute to the design of novel strategies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY