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Close association of invading Plasmodium berghei and β integrin in the Anopheles gambiae midgut
Author(s) -
Mahairaki Vasso,
Lycett Gareth,
SidénKiamos Inga,
Sinden Robert E.,
Louis Christos
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.20077
Subject(s) - midgut , biology , integrin , anopheles gambiae , plasmodium berghei , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , blood meal , epithelium , immunology , malaria , receptor , biochemistry , genetics , larva , food science , botany
We have used confocal microscopy and an antibody against Anopheles gambiae β integrin to study this protein's distribution in the mosquito midgut and its relationship to invading Plasmodium berghei parasites. An extensive reorganization of integrin is seen to take place in the midgut epithelial cells following the uptake of either non‐infected or parasite‐infected blood meal, probably reflecting the reshaping of the gut due to the presence of the food bolus and the peritrophic membrane that surrounds it. Furthermore, malaria parasites are coated with β integrin immediately upon entry into the epithelium, independent of whether they develop intra‐ or extracellularly. Although this coat is shed a few days after the invasion, β integrin remains concentrated in the cells surrounding the maturing oocyst for several days. Finally, the antibody detects a structural change in the midgut epithelial cells in the immediate vicinity of the invading ookinete, which is consistent with Plasmodium ‐induced apoptosis followed by wound healing. This intimate association suggests a specific role of β integrin in the invasion process. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 60:13–19, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.