Population Biology of Anopheles Gambiae in Africa

McCutchan, T G.

Abstract

An. gambiae s.s. is known to be highly variable in terms of chromosomal polymorphisms which are related to chromosomal inversions. It has been suggested that these inversions are adaptive, allowing the species to occupy a variety of habitats and thrive. It is the highly adaptive nature of this species which makes it a powerful vector of human malaria. Our goal is to undertake an in-depth study of the genetic structure of An. gambiae s.s. and, in addition, to look for possible correlations between specific genetic polymorphisms and vectorial capacity for malaria. We will approach questions such as 1) How much gene flow or gene exchange is there among geographic populations and between individuals carrying different inversions? 2) How is genetic polymorphism distributed within the genome? 3) Is there a correlation between vectorial capacity and specific karyotypes?

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Type: Intramural Research (Z01)
• Project #: 1Z01AI000629-01
• Application #: 3790862
• Support Year: 1
• Fiscal Year: 1992

Institution

• Name: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Country: United States

Publications

Manoukis, Nicholas C; Diabate, Abdoulaye; Abdoulaye, Adamou et al. (2009) Structure and dynamics of male swarms of Anopheles gambiae. J Med Entomol 46:227-35

Diabate, Abdoulaye; Dao, Adama; Yaro, Alpha S et al. (2009) Spatial swarm segregation and reproductive isolation between the molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae. Proc Biol Sci 276:4215-22

Lehmann, Tovi; Hume, Jen C C; Licht, Monica et al. (2009) Molecular evolution of immune genes in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. PLoS One 4:e4549

Sogoba, Nafomon; Doumbia, Seydou; Vounatsou, Penelope et al. (2007) Monitoring of larval habitats and mosquito densities in the Sudan savanna of Mali: implications for malaria vector control. Am J Trop Med Hyg 77:82-8

Diabate, Abdoulaye; Dabire, Roch K; Millogo, Niama et al. (2007) Evaluating the effect of postmating isolation between molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol 44:60-4

Simard, Frederic; Licht, Monica; Besansky, Nora J et al. (2007) Polymorphism at the defensin gene in the Anopheles gambiae complex: testing different selection hypotheses. Infect Genet Evol 7:285-92

Yaro, A S; Dao, A; Adamou, A et al. (2006) Reproductive output of female Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae): comparison of molecular forms. J Med Entomol 43:833-9

Marcet, P L; Lehmann, T; Groner, G et al. (2006) Identification and characterization of microsatellite markers in the Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans (Heteroptera: Reduviidae). Infect Genet Evol 6:32-7

Diabate, Abdoulaye; Dabire, Roch K; Kengne, Pierre et al. (2006) Mixed swarms of the molecular M and S forms of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) in sympatric area from Burkina Faso. J Med Entomol 43:480-3

Lehmann, Tovi; Dalton, Ryan; Kim, Eun Hea et al. (2006) Genetic contribution to variation in larval development time, adult size, and longevity of starved adults of Anopheles gambiae. Infect Genet Evol 6:410-6