The sensory physiology and ecology of taste in the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae
| Responsable du projet | Patrick Guerin |
| Collaborateur | Sébastien Kessler |
| Résumé |
The African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, is one of the more
efficient vectors of human malaria, especially of its more lethal
form caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The anthropophilic host
preference of this species as well as its endophilic behaviour
guarantees a strong host-vector interaction favorable to a very
high level of parasite transmission. While olfactory cues that
serve female An. gambiae to find humans for a blood meal have been
well researched, little is known about taste organs and gustatory
chemoreceptor responses in this species. Such responses are
implicated in host recognition, feeding site choice and biting
responses in mosquitoes. Plant derived sugars in nectar provide a
primary nutrient source for adult An. gambiae whereas vertebrate
blood provides proteins for egg production. The project aims are to
identify specific products from plants and humans that serve to
stimulate feeding by An. gambiae. Neurophysiological recordings
targeted at contact-chemosensilla on the prothoracic legs and
mouthparts of male and female An. gambiae will permit us to
identify the most important biting and feeding stimuli. We will
then use behavioural assays to quantify the biting and feeding
responses of An. gambiae to such stimuli. With the use of ion
channel inhibitors we will also try to elucidate the ion channel
types implicated in the neurophysiological responses of An. gambiae
gustatory sensory cells. An important component of the research will
be the identification of feeding deterrents as this may lead to the
identification of products that could serve to inhibit the biting
and feeding responses of the African malaria mosquito and so break
the disease transmission cycle. |
| Mots-clés |
Anopheline mosquito, Insect vector of disease, African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, Blood feeding, Nectar feeding, Gustation, Feeding stimulnt, Feeding deterrent |
| Type de projet | Recherche fondamentale |
| Domaine de recherche | Zoologie |
| Source de financement | FNS - Encouragement de projets (Div. I-III) |
| Etat | Terminé |
| Début de projet | 1-10-2011 |
| Fin du projet | 30-9-2013 |
| Budget alloué | 124'320.00 |
| Autre information |
http://p3.snf.ch/projects-138207# |
| Contact | Patrick Guerin |