title: Molecular evolution and population genetics of a Gram-negative binding protein gene in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clarifying the role of the innate immune system of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae is a potential way to block the development of the Plasmodium parasites. Pathogen recognition is the first step of innate immune response, where pattern recognition proteins like GNBPs play a central role.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analysed 70 sequences of the protein coding gene GNBPB2 from two species, Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) and An. coluzzii, collected in six African countries. We detected 135 segregating sites defining 63 distinct haplotypes and 30 proteins. Mean nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.014 for both species. We found no significant genetic differentiation between species, but a significant positive correlation between genetic differentiation and geographical distance among populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Species status seems to contribute less for the molecular differentiation in GNBPB2 than geographical region in the African continent (West and East). Purifying selection was found to be the most common form of selection, as in many other immunity-related genes. Diversifying selection may be also operating in the GNBPB2 gene.
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. psalgueiro@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Sofia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.|London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jacques Derek
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Charlwood
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Arez
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Global Health and Tropical Medicine Centre (GHTM), Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silveira
keywords: Anopheles coluzzii; Anopheles gambiae; Glucan binding protein gene; Gram-negative binding protein gene; Innate immune system