Genetic dissection of Anopheles gambiae gut epithelial responses to Serratia marcescens.

ABSTRACT: Genetic variation in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae profoundly influences its ability to transmit malaria. Mosquito gut bacteria are shown to influence the outcome of infections with Plasmodium parasites and are also thought to exert a strong drive on genetic variation through natural selection; however, a link between antibacterial effects and genetic variation is yet to emerge. Here, we combined SNP genotyping and expression profiling with phenotypic analyses of candidate genes by RNAi-mediated silencing and 454 pyrosequencing to investigate this intricate biological system. We identified 138 An. gambiae genes to be genetically associated with the outcome of Serratia marcescens infection, including the peptidoglycan recognition receptor PGRPLC that triggers activation of the antibacteria

SUBMITTER: Stathopoulos S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3946313 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature