title: An antibody against an Anopheles albimanus midgut myosin reduces Plasmodium berghei oocyst development.
abstract: Malaria parasites are transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Although several studies have identified mosquito midgut surface proteins that are putatively important for Plasmodium ookinete invasion, only a few have characterized these protein targets and demonstrated transmission-blocking activity. Molecular information about these proteins is essential for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV). The aim of the present study was to test three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), A-140, A-78 and A-10, for their ability to recognize antigens and block oocyst infection of the midgut of Anopheles albimanus, a major malaria vector in Latin America.
  
  
  
  Western-blot of mAbs on antigens from midgut brush border membrane vesicles was used to select antibodies. Three mAbs were tested by membrane feeding assays to evaluate their potential transmission-blocking activity against Plasmodium berghei. The cognate antigens recognized by mAbs with oocyst-reducing activity were determined by immunoprecipitation followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
  
  
  
  Only one mAb, A-140, significantly reduced oocyst infection intensity. Hence, its probable protein target in the Anopheles albimanus midgut was identified and characterized. It recognized three high-molecular mass proteins from a midgut brush border microvilli vesicle preparation. Chemical deglycosylation assays confirmed the peptide nature of the epitope recognized by mAb A-140. Immunoprecipitation followed by proteomic identification with tandem mass spectrometry revealed five proteins, presumably extracted together as a complex. Of these, AALB007909 had the highest mascot score and corresponds to a protein with a myosin head motor domain, indicating that the target of mAb A-140 is probably myosin located on the microvilli of the mosquito midgut.
  
  
  
  These results provide support for the participation of myosin in mosquito midgut invasion by Plasmodium ookinetes. The potential inclusion of this protein in the design of new multivalent vaccine strategies for blocking Plasmodium transmission is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research on Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Morelos, C. P. 62508, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alba N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Lecona-Valera
authors.affiliation: W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Dingyin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Center of Research on Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Morelos, C. P. 62508, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mario H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méxic006F, Av. Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and the Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Rhoel R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dinglasan
authors.affiliation: Center of Research on Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Morelos, C. P. 62508, Mexico. mrodri@insp.mx.
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D009218:Myosins / Q000276:immunology*; D033661:Oocysts; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000254:growth & development*; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009218:Myosins
keywords: Anopheles albimanus; Midgut; Monoclonal antibody; Myosin; Plasmodium berghei