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Student 10-Minute Presentation

Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

Student

Student Competition

Grad 10-min Competition: MUVE, Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Manipulating male mosquito biology as a potential vector control strategy for malaria

Monday, November 11, 2024
9:00 AM – 9:12 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 221 A, PCC
Oral Presentation Student Competition

Mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles transmit Plasmodium spp. parasites that cause malaria. Despite interventions, challenges in treatment and control persist. Neuromodulatory pathways that depend on biogenic amines are major targets of interest for mosquito control. We have demonstrated that the biogenic amines serotonin (5-HT) and histamine modulate parasite infection and female biology of the invasive malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. In humans, blood 5-HT levels during severe malaria are reduced whereas histamine levels are increased, providing bioactive levels of these biogenic amines to females in blood. Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood but consume nectar and non-nectar plant components rich in biogenic amines. Males obviously contribute to reproduction, but they can also contribute to female susceptibility to malaria parasite infection. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that provisioning of 5-HT to male A. stephensi might interact with male mating status to alter male activity patterns and female fecundity. To test this, we provisioned unmated and mated male A. stephensi with a log-dose range of 5-HT that included reported concentrations in plants. Following provisioning, we monitored male mosquito circadian activity and female fecundity. Our data showed that 5-HT provisioning altered circadian activity of male mosquitoes in patterns that were differentiated by mating status. Notably, female fecundity following mating was unaffected by male treatment. Findings reveal control of male mosquito activity by ingested 5-HT, with the potential to target this signaling in male A. stephensi via bait station delivery of targeted small molecules to reduce mosquito populations and interrupt parasite transmission.