Inferring selection in the Anopheles gambiae species complex: an example from immune-related serine protease inhibitors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae species complex are the primary vectors of human malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Many host genes have been shown to affect Plasmodium development in the mosquito, and so are expected to engage in an evolutionary arms race with the pathogen. However, there is little conclusive evidence that any of these mosquito genes evolve rapidly, or show other signatures of adaptive evolution.

Methods

Three serine protease inhibitors have previously been identified as candidate immune system genes mediating mosquito-Plasmodium interaction, and serine protease inhibitors have been identified as hot-spots of adaptive evolution in other taxa. Population-genetic tests for selection, including a recent multi-gene extension of the McDonald-Kreitman

SUBMITTER: Obbard DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2698913 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature