Alternative splicing of the Anopheles gambiae Dscam gene in diverse Plasmodium falciparum infections.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In insects, including Anopheles mosquitoes, Dscam (Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule) appears to be involved in phagocytosis of pathogens, and shows pathogen-specific splice-form expression between divergent pathogen (or parasite) types (e.g. between bacteria and Plasmodium or between Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum). Here, data are presented from the first study of Dscam expression in response to genetic diversity within a parasite species.

Methods

In independent field and laboratory studies, a measure of Dscam splice-form diversity was compared between mosquitoes fed on blood that was free of P. falciparum to mosquitoes exposed to either single or mixed genotype infections of P. falciparum.

Results

Significant increases in Anopheles gambia

SUBMITTER: Smith PH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3118162 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature