title: Use of a Drosophila model to identify genes regulating Plasmodium growth in the mosquito.
abstract: We performed a forward genetic screen, using Drosophila as a surrogate mosquito, to identify host factors required for the growth of the avian malaria parasite, Plasmodium gallinaceum. We identified 18 presumed loss-of-function mutants that reduced the growth of the parasite in flies. Presumptive mutation sites were identified in 14 of the mutants on the basis of the insertion site of a transposable element. None of the identified genes have been previously implicated in innate immune responses or interactions with Plasmodium. The functions of five Anopheles gambiae homologs were tested by using RNAi to knock down gene function followed by measuring the growth of the rodent parasite, Plasmodium berghei. Loss of function of four of these genes in the mosquito affected Plasmodium growth, suggesting that Drosophila can be used effectively as a surrogate mosquito to identify relevant host factors in the mosquito.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jaramillo-Gutierrez
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barillas-Mury
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins
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