Abstract

The proposed research is designed to elucidate mechanisms of the immune response of both susceptible and refractory mosquitoes to filarial worms. Specific information will be gained on mechanisms of immune recognition, activation, and inhibition in Aedes aegypti (black-eyed Liverpool strain), Ae. aegypti (Rockefeller strain) and Ae. trivittatus against Brugia pahangi, B. malayi and Dirofilaria immitis. Experiments are designed to determine whether differences in phenoloxidase activity and (or) activation of prophenoloxidase in hemolymph and (or) hemocytes from mosquitoes correlate with known differences in immunological competence, and to determine whether such differences reflect changes in the concentration of melanin precursors. Lectin binding specificities and lysosomal enzyme markers will be used to assess subpopulations of hemocytes and to identify changes associated with hemocyte activation. Transmission electron microscopy will be used to characterize melanization processes in Ae. aegypti as compared to Ae. trivittatus. Studies also are designed to develop a method to quantitate melanin deposits on parasites by using radiolabeled tyrosin inoculations into host mosquitoes. The overall aim of this project is to elucidate mechanisms of mosquito immunity, thereby increasing our understanding of the epidemiology of mosquito-borne filariasis.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Unknown (R22)
Project #
2R22AI019769-04A1
Application #
3444633
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1983-04-01
Project End
1990-06-30
Budget Start
1986-07-01
Budget End
1987-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715

  Publications

Choi, Young-Jun; Aliota, Matthew T; Mayhew, George F et al. (2014) Dual RNA-seq of parasite and host reveals gene expression dynamics during filarial worm-mosquito interactions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8:e2905
Liu, Pingyang; Torrens-Spence, Michael P; Ding, Haizhen et al. (2013) Mechanism of cysteine-dependent inactivation of aspartate/glutamate/cysteine sulfinic acid ?-decarboxylases. Amino Acids 44:391-404
Choi, Young-Jun; Fuchs, Jeremy F; Mayhew, George F et al. (2012) Tissue-enriched expression profiles in Aedes aegypti identify hemocyte-specific transcriptome responses to infection. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 42:729-38
Liu, Pingyang; Ding, Haizhen; Christensen, Bruce M et al. (2012) Cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase activity of Aedes aegypti aspartate 1-decarboxylase: the structural basis of its substrate selectivity. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 42:396-403
Liu, Pingyang; Ge, Xiaomei; Ding, Haizhen et al. (2012) Role of glutamate decarboxylase-like protein 1 (GADL1) in taurine biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 287:40898-906
Han, Qian; Robinson, Howard; Ding, Haizhen et al. (2012) Evolution of insect arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferases: structural evidence from the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:11669-74
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
Choi, Young-Jun; Ghedin, Elodie; Berriman, Matthew et al. (2011) A deep sequencing approach to comparatively analyze the transcriptome of lifecycle stages of the filarial worm, Brugia malayi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 5:e1409
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

Showing the most recent 10 out of 98 publications