title: Plasmodium falciparum mating patterns and mosquito infectivity of natural isolates of gametocytes.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum infections in malaria endemic areas often harbor multiple clones of parasites. However, the transmission success of the different genotypes within the mosquito vector has remained elusive so far. The genetic diversity of malaria parasites was measured by using microsatellite markers in gametocyte isolates from 125 asymptomatic carriers. For a subset of 49 carriers, the dynamics of co-infecting genotypes was followed until their development within salivary glands. Also, individual oocysts from midguts infected with blood from 9 donors were genotyped to assess mating patterns. Multiplicity of infection (MOI) was high both in gametocyte isolates and sporozoite populations, reaching up to 10 genotypes. Gametocyte isolates with multiple genotypes gave rise to lower infection prevalence and intensity. Fluctuations of genotype number occurred during the development within the mosquito and sub-patent genotypes, not detected in gametocyte isolates, were identified in the vector salivary glands. The inbreeding coefficient Fis was positively correlated to the oocyst loads, suggesting that P. falciparum parasites use different reproductive strategies according to the genotypes present in the gametocyte isolate. The number of parasite clones within an infection affects the transmission success and the mosquito has an important role in maintaining P. falciparum genetic diversity. Our results emphasize the crucial importance of discriminating between the different genotypes within an infection when studying the A. gambiae natural resistance to P. falciparum, and the need to monitor parasite diversity in areas where malaria control interventions are implemented.
authors: Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Morlais
authors: Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France; Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Douala, Cameroon.
authors: Sandrine E
authors: SE
authors: Nsango
authors: Université Paris-Sud 11, Villejuif, France.
authors: Wilson
authors: W
authors: Toussile
authors: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Abate
authors: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors: Zeinab
authors: Z
authors: Annan
authors: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors: Majoline T
authors: MT
authors: Tchioffo
authors: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Cohuet
authors: Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: Parfait H
authors: PH
authors: Awono-Ambene
authors: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Fontenille
authors: Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution, Montpellier, France.
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Rousset
authors: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France; Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Toulouse, France.
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Berry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D033661:Oocysts / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D034101:Sporozoites / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan