The proposed research will evaluate the immune capabilities of three mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti (black-eyed Liverpool strain), Aedes aegypti (Rockefeller strain), and Aedes trivittatus. Specific information will be gained on the immune response of these mosquitoes against three species of filarial worms, Brugia pahangi, Brugia malayi, and Dirofilaria immitis. Experiments are designed to compare the volume of hemolymph, physical characteristics of hemolymph, total hemocyte numbers, and relative numbers of different types of hemocytes in these mosquitoes. Relative changes in the above values as a result of filarial worm infection also will be assessed. From these data a possible explanation for the difference in the immune capabilities of these mosquitoes will be sought. Additional studies will determine if the presence or lack of a sheath in B. pahangi microfilariae stimulates or prevents an immune response by mosquitoes. Experiments also are designed to determine if B. pahangi produces a substance that inhibits the immune response in general in Ae. aegypti, and if this inhibition can be transferred to another mosquito. Transmission electron microscopy studies will assess the ultrastructural characteristics of the encapsulation-melanization response of these mosquitoes against both sheathed and unsheathed microfilariae. The overall aim of this project is to clarify the role the immune mechanism plays in mosquito-filarial worm relationships, thereby increasing our understanding of the epidemiology of mosquito-borne filariasis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Unknown (R22)
Project #
5R22AI019769-03
Application #
3444634
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1983-04-01
Project End
1986-03-31
Budget Start
1985-04-01
Budget End
1986-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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Vavricka, Christopher; Han, Qian; Huang, Yongping et al. (2011) From L-dopa to dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde: a toxic biochemical pathway plays a vital physiological function in insects. PLoS One 6:e16124
Aliota, Matthew T; Chen, Cheng-Chen; Dagoro, Henry et al. (2011) Filarial worms reduce Plasmodium infectivity in mosquitoes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 5:e963
Mehere, Prajwalini; Han, Qian; Christensen, Bruce M et al. (2011) Identification and characterization of two arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferases in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 41:707-14

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