Melanotic pathology and vertical transmission of the gut commensal Elizabethkingia meningoseptica in the Major Malaria Vector Anopheles gambiae
Author(s)
Akhouayri, Idir G
Habtewold, Tibebu
Christophides, Georges K
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
The resident gut flora is known to have significant impacts on the life history of the host organism. Endosymbiotic bacterial species in the Anopheles mosquito gut are potent modulators of sexual development of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, and thus proposed as potential control agents of malaria transmission.
Results
Here we report a melanotic pathology in the major African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, caused by the dominant mosquito endosymbiont Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. Transfer of melanised tissues into the haemolymph of healthy adult mosquitoes or direct haemolymph inoculation with isolated E. meningoseptica bacteria were the only means for transmission and de novo formation of melanotic lesions, specifically in the fat body tissues of recipient individuals. We show that E. meningoseptica can be vertically transmitted from eggs to larvae and that E. meningoseptica-mono-associated mosquitoes display significant mortality, which is further enhanced upon Plasmodium infection, suggesting a synergistic impact of E. meningoseptica and Plasmodium on mosquito survival.
Conclusion
The high pathogenicity and permanent association of E. meningoseptica with An. Gambiae through vertical transmission constitute attractive characteristics towards the potential design of novel mosquito/malaria biocontrol strategies.
The resident gut flora is known to have significant impacts on the life history of the host organism. Endosymbiotic bacterial species in the Anopheles mosquito gut are potent modulators of sexual development of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, and thus proposed as potential control agents of malaria transmission.
Results
Here we report a melanotic pathology in the major African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, caused by the dominant mosquito endosymbiont Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. Transfer of melanised tissues into the haemolymph of healthy adult mosquitoes or direct haemolymph inoculation with isolated E. meningoseptica bacteria were the only means for transmission and de novo formation of melanotic lesions, specifically in the fat body tissues of recipient individuals. We show that E. meningoseptica can be vertically transmitted from eggs to larvae and that E. meningoseptica-mono-associated mosquitoes display significant mortality, which is further enhanced upon Plasmodium infection, suggesting a synergistic impact of E. meningoseptica and Plasmodium on mosquito survival.
Conclusion
The high pathogenicity and permanent association of E. meningoseptica with An. Gambiae through vertical transmission constitute attractive characteristics towards the potential design of novel mosquito/malaria biocontrol strategies.
Date Issued
2013-10-01
Date Acceptance
2013-09-11
Citation
PLoS One, 2013, 8 (10), pp.1-12
ISSN
1932-6203
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
PLoS One
Volume
8
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2013 Akhouayri et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Sponsor
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Wellcome Trust
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000325427100088&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
S19551
093587/Z/10/Z
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
GENE-BASED IDENTIFICATION
PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM
INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE
MELANIZATION REACTION
IMMUNE ACTIVATION
MOSQUITO
DROSOPHILA
STEPHENSI
BACTERIA
INFECTION
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e77619
Date Publish Online
2013-10-01