Characterization of Anopheles gambiae immune cells through genetic and functional immunophenotyping.

ABSTRACT: Mosquito immune cells, or hemocytes, are integral components of the innate immune responses that define vector competence. To date, the characterization and functional classification of hemocytes has been hindered by the limited availability of genetic resources. Here, we map the composition of mosquito hemocytes by engineering five transgenic Anopheles gambiae lines that express fluorescent proteins under the control of candidate hemocyte promoters. We characterize these five transgenic lines through gene expression and microscopy-based approaches, and examine mosquito immune cell populations by leveraging advanced spectral imaging flow cytometry. We classify mosquito hemocytes into twelve distinct populations based on size, granularity, and ploidy, while defining these hemocyte subtypes

SUBMITTER: Samantsidis GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12675505 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature