With malaria and other vector-borne diseases, we're faced
with problems of not having effective vaccines and insecticide-resistant
vectors. But it seems that mosquitoes do a great job of controlling infection
in their own bodies.
A new study has found that mosquitoes ramp up their immune
system after drinking blood to help fight off the parasites that blood might
contain.
Allergy
An allergy is a hypersensitive disorder of immune system. Substances that often cause allergic reactions are pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, food, insect stings and medicines.
Advertisement
Michael Povelones, an assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, who co-authored the study said that, "This appears to be a new mechanism by which the mosquito is anticipating a parasite infection. If we can use that information to our advantage, we might be able to find new avenues of preventing mosquitoes from transmitting disease."
Scientists already knew that a group of molecules called leucine-rich repeat immune proteins were important players in mosquitoes' immune defence.
Povelones and colleagues earlier reported that two of these LRIMs, LRIM1 and APL1C, are part of a signalling pathway akin to the human complement system, which coordinates immune response through a cascade of signalling interactions.
In mosquitoes, LRIM1 and APL1C helped target malarial parasites for destruction. In the latest study, the scientists wanted to gain a deeper understanding of what the other identified LRIM proteins - there are at least two dozen - did for mosquito immunity.
From their tests, one protein, LRIM9, stood out. When it was
blocked, parasite levels in the mosquitoes increased three-fold.
Researchers found that adult females had the highest expression levels of LRIM9, with more than 20 times the amount of LRIM9 as adult males. Adult females are the only mosquitoes that drink blood.
They noted that LRIM9 may help the mosquito immune system recognise pathogens and may also recruit or interact with other immune system components. The study was published in the Journal of Innate Immunity.
Source: Medindia
Researchers found that adult females had the highest expression levels of LRIM9, with more than 20 times the amount of LRIM9 as adult males. Adult females are the only mosquitoes that drink blood.
They noted that LRIM9 may help the mosquito immune system recognise pathogens and may also recruit or interact with other immune system components. The study was published in the Journal of Innate Immunity.
Source: Medindia
Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system fails to recognize the body as 'self' and attacks it.
Advertisement
 Mosquitoes Have Evolved Triple Threat of Visual, Olfactory, Thermal Cues to Bite UsA mosquito smells a host's carbon dioxide (CO2) plume from a distance of 10 to 50 meters. As it flies closer, to within five to 15 meters, it begins to see the host. | Advertisement
|
A Mosquito Bites You Based On Your Body Odor That Is Controlled By Certain Gene Markers
People who are less attractive to mosquitoes produce natural repellents and, according to the study, this trait could be genetically controlled.
Advertisement
