Hemozoin activates the innate immune system and reduces Plasmodium berghei infection in Anopheles gambiae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria is a worldwide infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The malaria vector mosquito Anopheles can trigger effective mechanisms to control completion of the Plasmodium lifecycle; the mosquito immune response to the parasite involves several pathways which are not yet well characterized. Plasmodium metabolite hemozoin has emerged as a potent immunostimulator of mammalian tissues. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of this parasite's by-product as stimulator of Anopheles gambiae immunity to Plasmodium berghei.

Methods

Female mosquitoes were inoculated with hemozoin and the Plasmodium infection rate and intensity were measured. Differences between treatments were detected by Zero-inflated mode

SUBMITTER: Simoes ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4297457 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature