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feeding on Barleria lupilina.
Photo from Domonbabele
F. d. S. Hien et al.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens suggests the plant-based part of Anopheles mosquitoes’ diet affects malaria transmission by influencing the interaction between the mosquitoes and Plasmodium parasites.
Recent studies have shown that Anopheles female mosquitoes, which can transmit the malaria parasite P falciparum, locate and display preferences for natural sources of plant sugar.
These studies also suggested that environmental sugars influence the lifespan and blood-feeding rate of mosquitoes and, therefore, their malaria transmission potential.
Whether the type of plant sugar could also affect the malaria host-pathogen interactions was unclear.
To find out, Thierry Lefevre, PhD, of the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and his colleagues examined the impact of plant diversity on mosquito susceptibility to malaria parasites.
The team studied the natural interactions between the P falciparum parasite, the Anopheles coluzzii mosquito (a major vector of P falciparum in Africa), and several natural plant-derived sugar sources growing in the vicinity of human dwellings in Burkina Faso.
The latter included 2 ornamental flowering plants (Barleria lupilina and Thevetia neriifolia) as well as mangoes and the grape-like fruit from the Lannea microcarpa tree.
The researchers raised groups of Anopheles mosquitos in cages and provided each of them with a different plant sugar source or with a 5% glucose solution.
Sugar-fed mosquitoes were then starved for 24 hours before being offered a parasite-containing blood meal. The blood was drawn from healthy Plasmodium-infected local human volunteers and diluted to a consistent concentration of parasites.
Blood-fed female mosquitoes were housed in a biosafety room and continued to be fed their assigned plant sugar source.
Seven or 14 days after the blood-meal, roughly 30 mosquitoes from each group were examined under the microscope for traits that influence malaria transmission.
The researchers found that different sugar sources had different effects on all traits examined, including the infection and survival rates of the mosquitoes and the survival rate of the parasites 7 days after the blood meal.
The plant sugar source also influenced the proportion of mosquitoes harboring sporozoites and the timing of sporozoite release.
To predict the relative contribution of the different plants to overall malaria transmission, the researchers used the various experimental results in an epidemiological model.
This suggested that plant sugar source can be a significant driver of malaria transmission dynamics.
Compared to the baseline scenario with the 5% glucose solution, both L microcarpa and B lupilina increased malaria transmission by an estimated 30% and 40%, respectively, mainly because of increased infection rates among mosquitoes exposed to parasites through their blood-meal.
In contrast, T neriifolia, with its negative effect on infection rate and decreased longevity, was predicted to decrease malaria transmission by 30% compared with sugar water.
The researchers said these findings suggest that planting anti-Plasmodium plant sugar sources could be a promising alternative strategy for controlling malaria. 
feeding on Barleria lupilina.
Photo from Domonbabele
F. d. S. Hien et al.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens suggests the plant-based part of Anopheles mosquitoes’ diet affects malaria transmission by influencing the interaction between the mosquitoes and Plasmodium parasites.
Recent studies have shown that Anopheles female mosquitoes, which can transmit the malaria parasite P falciparum, locate and display preferences for natural sources of plant sugar.
These studies also suggested that environmental sugars influence the lifespan and blood-feeding rate of mosquitoes and, therefore, their malaria transmission potential.
Whether the type of plant sugar could also affect the malaria host-pathogen interactions was unclear.
To find out, Thierry Lefevre, PhD, of the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and his colleagues examined the impact of plant diversity on mosquito susceptibility to malaria parasites.
The team studied the natural interactions between the P falciparum parasite, the Anopheles coluzzii mosquito (a major vector of P falciparum in Africa), and several natural plant-derived sugar sources growing in the vicinity of human dwellings in Burkina Faso.
The latter included 2 ornamental flowering plants (Barleria lupilina and Thevetia neriifolia) as well as mangoes and the grape-like fruit from the Lannea microcarpa tree.
The researchers raised groups of Anopheles mosquitos in cages and provided each of them with a different plant sugar source or with a 5% glucose solution.
Sugar-fed mosquitoes were then starved for 24 hours before being offered a parasite-containing blood meal. The blood was drawn from healthy Plasmodium-infected local human volunteers and diluted to a consistent concentration of parasites.
Blood-fed female mosquitoes were housed in a biosafety room and continued to be fed their assigned plant sugar source.
Seven or 14 days after the blood-meal, roughly 30 mosquitoes from each group were examined under the microscope for traits that influence malaria transmission.
The researchers found that different sugar sources had different effects on all traits examined, including the infection and survival rates of the mosquitoes and the survival rate of the parasites 7 days after the blood meal.
The plant sugar source also influenced the proportion of mosquitoes harboring sporozoites and the timing of sporozoite release.
To predict the relative contribution of the different plants to overall malaria transmission, the researchers used the various experimental results in an epidemiological model.
This suggested that plant sugar source can be a significant driver of malaria transmission dynamics.
Compared to the baseline scenario with the 5% glucose solution, both L microcarpa and B lupilina increased malaria transmission by an estimated 30% and 40%, respectively, mainly because of increased infection rates among mosquitoes exposed to parasites through their blood-meal.
In contrast, T neriifolia, with its negative effect on infection rate and decreased longevity, was predicted to decrease malaria transmission by 30% compared with sugar water.
The researchers said these findings suggest that planting anti-Plasmodium plant sugar sources could be a promising alternative strategy for controlling malaria.
feeding on Barleria lupilina.
Photo from Domonbabele
F. d. S. Hien et al.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens suggests the plant-based part of Anopheles mosquitoes’ diet affects malaria transmission by influencing the interaction between the mosquitoes and Plasmodium parasites.
Recent studies have shown that Anopheles female mosquitoes, which can transmit the malaria parasite P falciparum, locate and display preferences for natural sources of plant sugar.
These studies also suggested that environmental sugars influence the lifespan and blood-feeding rate of mosquitoes and, therefore, their malaria transmission potential.
Whether the type of plant sugar could also affect the malaria host-pathogen interactions was unclear.
To find out, Thierry Lefevre, PhD, of the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and his colleagues examined the impact of plant diversity on mosquito susceptibility to malaria parasites.
The team studied the natural interactions between the P falciparum parasite, the Anopheles coluzzii mosquito (a major vector of P falciparum in Africa), and several natural plant-derived sugar sources growing in the vicinity of human dwellings in Burkina Faso.
The latter included 2 ornamental flowering plants (Barleria lupilina and Thevetia neriifolia) as well as mangoes and the grape-like fruit from the Lannea microcarpa tree.
The researchers raised groups of Anopheles mosquitos in cages and provided each of them with a different plant sugar source or with a 5% glucose solution.
Sugar-fed mosquitoes were then starved for 24 hours before being offered a parasite-containing blood meal. The blood was drawn from healthy Plasmodium-infected local human volunteers and diluted to a consistent concentration of parasites.
Blood-fed female mosquitoes were housed in a biosafety room and continued to be fed their assigned plant sugar source.
Seven or 14 days after the blood-meal, roughly 30 mosquitoes from each group were examined under the microscope for traits that influence malaria transmission.
The researchers found that different sugar sources had different effects on all traits examined, including the infection and survival rates of the mosquitoes and the survival rate of the parasites 7 days after the blood meal.
The plant sugar source also influenced the proportion of mosquitoes harboring sporozoites and the timing of sporozoite release.
To predict the relative contribution of the different plants to overall malaria transmission, the researchers used the various experimental results in an epidemiological model.
This suggested that plant sugar source can be a significant driver of malaria transmission dynamics.
Compared to the baseline scenario with the 5% glucose solution, both L microcarpa and B lupilina increased malaria transmission by an estimated 30% and 40%, respectively, mainly because of increased infection rates among mosquitoes exposed to parasites through their blood-meal.
In contrast, T neriifolia, with its negative effect on infection rate and decreased longevity, was predicted to decrease malaria transmission by 30% compared with sugar water.
The researchers said these findings suggest that planting anti-Plasmodium plant sugar sources could be a promising alternative strategy for controlling malaria.