Abstract

Malaria infection renders humans more attractive to Anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes than uninfected people. The mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show that an isoprenoid precursor produced by Plasmodium falciparum, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP), affects A. gambiae s.l. blood meal seeking and feeding behaviors, as well as susceptibility to infection. HMBPP acts indirectly by triggering human red blood cells to increase the release of CO2, aldehydes, and monoterpenes, which together enhance vector attraction, and stimulate vector feeding. When offered in a blood meal, HMBPP modulates neural, antimalarial, and oogenic gene transcription without affecting mosquito survival or fecundity, while in a P. falciparum infected blood meal, sporogony is increased.

Published in

Science
2017, Volume: 355, number: 6329, pages: 1076 - 1080

SLU Authors

• Hill, Sharon

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Birgersson, Göran

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ignell, Rickard

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Behavioral Sciences Biology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah4563

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79954