Larval diet and temperature alter mosquito immunity and development: using body size and developmental traits to track carry-over effects on longevity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Estimating arbovirus transmission potential requires a mechanistic understanding of how environmental factors influence the expression of adult mosquito traits. While preimaginal exposure to environmental factors can have profound effects on adult traits, tracking and predicting these effects remains challenging.

Methods

Using Aedes albopictus and a structural equation modeling approach, we explored how larval nutrition and temperature jointly affect development rate and success, female body size, and whether these metrics capture carry-over effects on adult female longevity. Additionally, we investigated how larval diet and temperature affect the baseline expression of 10 immune genes.

Results

We found that larval development success was primarily determin

SUBMITTER: Mackay AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10666368 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature