Blood feeding induces hemocyte proliferation and activation in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae Giles.

ABSTRACT: Malaria is a global public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where the mosquito Anopheles gambiae Giles serves as the major vector for the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum Welch. One determinant of malaria vector competence is the mosquito's immune system. Hemocytes are a critical component as they produce soluble immune factors that either support or prevent malaria parasite development. However, despite their importance in vector competence, understanding of their basic biology is just developing. Applying novel technologies to the study of mosquito hemocytes, we investigated the effect of blood meal on hemocyte population dynamics, DNA replication and cell cycle progression. In contrast to prevailing published work, the data presented here demonstrate that hemocytes in ad

SUBMITTER: Bryant WB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3990356 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature