Natural microbe-mediated refractoriness to Plasmodium infection in Anopheles gambiae

Science. 2011 May 13;332(6031):855-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1201618.

Abstract

Malaria parasite transmission depends on the successful transition of Plasmodium through discrete developmental stages in the lumen of the mosquito midgut. Like the human intestinal tract, the mosquito midgut contains a diverse microbial flora, which may compromise the ability of Plasmodium to establish infection. We have identified an Enterobacter bacterium isolated from wild mosquito populations in Zambia that renders the mosquito resistant to infection with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum by interfering with parasite development before invasion of the midgut epithelium. Phenotypic analyses showed that the anti-Plasmodium mechanism requires small populations of replicating bacteria and is mediated through a mosquito-independent interaction with the malaria parasite. We show that this anti-Plasmodium effect is largely caused by bacterial generation of reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / immunology
  • Anopheles / microbiology*
  • Anopheles / parasitology*
  • Digestive System / microbiology
  • Digestive System / parasitology
  • Enterobacter / growth & development
  • Enterobacter / isolation & purification
  • Enterobacter / physiology*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Insect Vectors / immunology
  • Insect Vectors / microbiology
  • Insect Vectors / parasitology
  • Plasmodium berghei / growth & development
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / pathogenicity
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Zambia

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species