Anopheles immune genes and amino acid sites evolving under the effect of positive selection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It has long been the goal of vector biology to generate genetic knowledge that can be used to "manipulate" natural populations of vectors to eliminate or lessen disease burden. While long in coming, progress towards reaching this goal has been made. Aiming to increase our understanding regarding the interactions between Plasmodium and the Anopheles immune genes, we investigated the patterns of genetic diversity of four anti-Plasmodium genes in the Anopheles gambiae complex of species.

Methodology/principal findings

Within a comparative phylogenetic and population genetics framework, the evolutionary history of four innate immunity genes within the An. gambiae complex (including the two most important human malaria vectors, An. gambiae and An. arabiensis) is recons

SUBMITTER: Parmakelis A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2811201 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature