title: The molecular and cellular basis of olfactory-driven behavior in Anopheles gambiae larvae.
abstract: The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is the principal Afrotropical vector for human malaria. A central component of its vectorial capacity is the ability to maintain sufficient populations of adults. During both adult and preadult (larval) stages, the mosquitoes depend on the ability to recognize and respond to chemical cues that mediate feeding and survival. In this study, we used a behavioral assay to identify a range of odorant-specific responses of An. gambiae larvae that are dependent on the integrity of the larval antennae. Parallel molecular analyses have identified a subset of the An. gambiae odorant receptors (AgOrs) that are localized to discrete neurons within the larval antennae and facilitate odor-evoked responses in Xenopus oocytes that are consistent with the larval behavioral spectrum. These studies shed light on chemosensory-driven behaviors and represent molecular and cellular characterization of olfactory processes in mosquito larvae. These advances may ultimately enhance the development of vector control strategies, targeting olfactory pathways in larval-stage mosquitoes to reduce the catastrophic effects of malaria and other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Neuroscience, Institutes of Chemical Biology and Global Health and Program in Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Yuanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Guirong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buscariollo
authors.forename: R Jason
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pitts
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Laurence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zwiebel
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009812:Odorants; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000494:pharmacology; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D018035:Receptors, Odorant