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Sexual biology may be the key to uncovering why Anopheles mosquitoes are unique in their ability to transmit malaria to humans, according to research published in Science.
By analyzing 16 Anopheles genomes, investigators found these mosquitoes’ reproductive traits evolved along with their capacity to transmit the Plasmodium parasite.
The team believes these findings may provide a new target for malaria control, particularly in regions hardest hit by the disease.
“Our study is the first to reveal the evolutionary dynamics between the sexes that are likely responsible for shaping the ability of Anopheles mosquitoes to transmit malaria to humans,” said study author Flaminia Catteruccia, PhD, of the University of Perugia in Italy.
She and her colleagues analyzed 9 globally dispersed Anopheles species, enabling reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the mosquitoes’ reproductive traits and capacity to transmit malaria.
Results showed that 2 key male reproductive traits in Anopheles are acquired and evolved together over time. The first is transferring ejaculate as a gelatinous, rod-shaped structure called the mating plug. And the second is the ability to synthesize a steroid hormone known as 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which is contained in the mating plug.
The investigators also demonstrated that the evolution of these male traits drove reciprocal adaptations in females that are strongly linked to the mosquitoes’ capacity to transmit malaria.
With prior research, the team had shown that sexual transfer of 20E induces a series of dramatic changes in the female mosquito, fundamentally altering her physiology and behavior. These changes affect a female’s reproductive output, longevity, and immune response to Plasmodium parasites, all key factors in malaria transmission.
All 4 species of Anopheles mosquitoes that transfer large levels of 20E are major malaria vectors originating from Africa and India, the regions of highest malaria burden.
The investigators believe that, by identifying factors important for malaria transmission, they have paved the way for the development of compounds to specifically target those factors. Such compounds could be incorporated into existing mosquito control technologies, boosting their overall effectiveness.
The team also thinks their findings might be applicable to Dengue and West Nile virus, which are transmitted by the Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, respectively. In these species, some aspects of reproductive biology are similar to Anopheles. 
Photo courtesy of CDC
Sexual biology may be the key to uncovering why Anopheles mosquitoes are unique in their ability to transmit malaria to humans, according to research published in Science.
By analyzing 16 Anopheles genomes, investigators found these mosquitoes’ reproductive traits evolved along with their capacity to transmit the Plasmodium parasite.
The team believes these findings may provide a new target for malaria control, particularly in regions hardest hit by the disease.
“Our study is the first to reveal the evolutionary dynamics between the sexes that are likely responsible for shaping the ability of Anopheles mosquitoes to transmit malaria to humans,” said study author Flaminia Catteruccia, PhD, of the University of Perugia in Italy.
She and her colleagues analyzed 9 globally dispersed Anopheles species, enabling reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the mosquitoes’ reproductive traits and capacity to transmit malaria.
Results showed that 2 key male reproductive traits in Anopheles are acquired and evolved together over time. The first is transferring ejaculate as a gelatinous, rod-shaped structure called the mating plug. And the second is the ability to synthesize a steroid hormone known as 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which is contained in the mating plug.
The investigators also demonstrated that the evolution of these male traits drove reciprocal adaptations in females that are strongly linked to the mosquitoes’ capacity to transmit malaria.
With prior research, the team had shown that sexual transfer of 20E induces a series of dramatic changes in the female mosquito, fundamentally altering her physiology and behavior. These changes affect a female’s reproductive output, longevity, and immune response to Plasmodium parasites, all key factors in malaria transmission.
All 4 species of Anopheles mosquitoes that transfer large levels of 20E are major malaria vectors originating from Africa and India, the regions of highest malaria burden.
The investigators believe that, by identifying factors important for malaria transmission, they have paved the way for the development of compounds to specifically target those factors. Such compounds could be incorporated into existing mosquito control technologies, boosting their overall effectiveness.
The team also thinks their findings might be applicable to Dengue and West Nile virus, which are transmitted by the Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, respectively. In these species, some aspects of reproductive biology are similar to Anopheles.
Photo courtesy of CDC
Sexual biology may be the key to uncovering why Anopheles mosquitoes are unique in their ability to transmit malaria to humans, according to research published in Science.
By analyzing 16 Anopheles genomes, investigators found these mosquitoes’ reproductive traits evolved along with their capacity to transmit the Plasmodium parasite.
The team believes these findings may provide a new target for malaria control, particularly in regions hardest hit by the disease.
“Our study is the first to reveal the evolutionary dynamics between the sexes that are likely responsible for shaping the ability of Anopheles mosquitoes to transmit malaria to humans,” said study author Flaminia Catteruccia, PhD, of the University of Perugia in Italy.
She and her colleagues analyzed 9 globally dispersed Anopheles species, enabling reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the mosquitoes’ reproductive traits and capacity to transmit malaria.
Results showed that 2 key male reproductive traits in Anopheles are acquired and evolved together over time. The first is transferring ejaculate as a gelatinous, rod-shaped structure called the mating plug. And the second is the ability to synthesize a steroid hormone known as 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which is contained in the mating plug.
The investigators also demonstrated that the evolution of these male traits drove reciprocal adaptations in females that are strongly linked to the mosquitoes’ capacity to transmit malaria.
With prior research, the team had shown that sexual transfer of 20E induces a series of dramatic changes in the female mosquito, fundamentally altering her physiology and behavior. These changes affect a female’s reproductive output, longevity, and immune response to Plasmodium parasites, all key factors in malaria transmission.
All 4 species of Anopheles mosquitoes that transfer large levels of 20E are major malaria vectors originating from Africa and India, the regions of highest malaria burden.
The investigators believe that, by identifying factors important for malaria transmission, they have paved the way for the development of compounds to specifically target those factors. Such compounds could be incorporated into existing mosquito control technologies, boosting their overall effectiveness.
The team also thinks their findings might be applicable to Dengue and West Nile virus, which are transmitted by the Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, respectively. In these species, some aspects of reproductive biology are similar to Anopheles.