The molecular and cellular basis of olfactory-driven behavior in Anopheles gambiae larvae.

ABSTRACT: The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is the principal Afrotropical vector for human malaria. A central component of its vectorial capacity is the ability to maintain sufficient populations of adults. During both adult and preadult (larval) stages, the mosquitoes depend on the ability to recognize and respond to chemical cues that mediate feeding and survival. In this study, we used a behavioral assay to identify a range of odorant-specific responses of An. gambiae larvae that are dependent on the integrity of the larval antennae. Parallel molecular analyses have identified a subset of the An. gambiae odorant receptors (AgOrs) that are localized to discrete neurons within the larval antennae and facilitate odor-evoked responses in Xenopus oocytes that are consistent with the larval behavioral spe

SUBMITTER: Xia Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2359781 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature