title: A New Role of the Mosquito Complement-like Cascade in Male Fertility in Anopheles gambiae.
abstract: Thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) is a key immune factor that determines mosquito resistance to a wide range of pathogens, including malaria parasites. Here we report a new allele-specific function of TEP1 in male fertility. We demonstrate that during spermatogenesis TEP1 binds to and removes damaged cells through the same complement-like cascade that kills malaria parasites in the mosquito midgut. Further, higher fertility rates are mediated by an allele that renders the mosquito susceptible to Plasmodium. By elucidating the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying TEP1 function in spermatogenesis, our study suggests that pleiotropic antagonism between reproduction and immunity may shape resistance of mosquito populations to malaria parasites.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U963, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pompon
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U963, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France; Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Levashina
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005720:Gamma Rays; D058685:Genetic Pleiotropy; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; C544265:TEP1 protein, Anopheles gambiae