Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

Anopheles gambiae is the principal Afrotropical vector for human malaria, in which olfaction mediates a wide range of both adult and larval behaviors. Indeed, mosquitoes depend on the ability to respond to chemical cues for feeding, host preference, and mate location/selection. Building upon previou...

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Main Authors: Chao Liu, R Jason Pitts, Jonathan D Bohbot, Patrick L Jones, Guirong Wang, Laurence J Zwiebel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010-08-01
Series:PLoS Biology
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1000467&type=printable
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author Chao Liu
R Jason Pitts
Jonathan D Bohbot
Patrick L Jones
Guirong Wang
Laurence J Zwiebel
author_facet Chao Liu
R Jason Pitts
Jonathan D Bohbot
Patrick L Jones
Guirong Wang
Laurence J Zwiebel
author_sort Chao Liu
collection DOAJ
description Anopheles gambiae is the principal Afrotropical vector for human malaria, in which olfaction mediates a wide range of both adult and larval behaviors. Indeed, mosquitoes depend on the ability to respond to chemical cues for feeding, host preference, and mate location/selection. Building upon previous work that has characterized a large family of An. gambiae odorant receptors (AgORs), we now use behavioral analyses and gene silencing to examine directly the role of AgORs, as well as a newly identified family of candidate chemosensory genes, the An. gambiae variant ionotropic receptors (AgIRs), in the larval olfactory system. Our results validate previous studies that directly implicate specific AgORs in behavioral responses to DEET as well as other odorants and reveal the existence of at least two distinct olfactory signaling pathways that are active in An. gambiae. One system depends directly on AgORs; the other is AgOR-independent and requires the expression and activity of AgIRs. In addition to clarifying the mechanistic basis for olfaction in this system, these advances may ultimately enhance the development of vector control strategies, targeting olfactory pathways in mosquitoes to reduce the catastrophic effects of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-ccb4bcb569df43ff8afb72cd473142bf2025-08-20T02:31:48ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Biology1544-91731545-78852010-08-0188e100046710.1371/journal.pbio.1000467Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.Chao LiuR Jason PittsJonathan D BohbotPatrick L JonesGuirong WangLaurence J ZwiebelAnopheles gambiae is the principal Afrotropical vector for human malaria, in which olfaction mediates a wide range of both adult and larval behaviors. Indeed, mosquitoes depend on the ability to respond to chemical cues for feeding, host preference, and mate location/selection. Building upon previous work that has characterized a large family of An. gambiae odorant receptors (AgORs), we now use behavioral analyses and gene silencing to examine directly the role of AgORs, as well as a newly identified family of candidate chemosensory genes, the An. gambiae variant ionotropic receptors (AgIRs), in the larval olfactory system. Our results validate previous studies that directly implicate specific AgORs in behavioral responses to DEET as well as other odorants and reveal the existence of at least two distinct olfactory signaling pathways that are active in An. gambiae. One system depends directly on AgORs; the other is AgOR-independent and requires the expression and activity of AgIRs. In addition to clarifying the mechanistic basis for olfaction in this system, these advances may ultimately enhance the development of vector control strategies, targeting olfactory pathways in mosquitoes to reduce the catastrophic effects of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1000467&type=printable
spellingShingle Chao Liu
R Jason Pitts
Jonathan D Bohbot
Patrick L Jones
Guirong Wang
Laurence J Zwiebel
Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.
PLoS Biology
title Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.
title_full Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.
title_fullStr Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.
title_full_unstemmed Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.
title_short Distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae.
title_sort distinct olfactory signaling mechanisms in the malaria vector mosquito anopheles gambiae
url https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1000467&type=printable
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