Comparison of male reproductive success in malaria-refractory and susceptible strains of Anopheles gambiae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In female mosquitoes that transmit malaria, the benefits of being refractory to the Plasmodium parasite are balanced by the immunity costs in the absence of infection. Male mosquitoes, however, gain no advantage from being refractory to blood-transmitted parasites, so that any costs associated with an enhanced immune system in the males limit the evolution of female refractoriness and has practical implications for the release of transgenic males.

Methods

Aspects of the male cost of carrying Plasmodium-refractory genes were estimated by comparing the males' immune response and reproductive success among strains of Anopheles gambiae that had been selected for refractoriness or extreme susceptibility to the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis. The

SUBMITTER: Voordouw MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2438369 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature