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FLVCR-like proteins may contribute to malaria control
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ORLANDO — Modulation of anopheline feline leukemia virus subgroup C receptor–like proteins may serve as a means of controlling malaria, according to findings presented at the 52nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting.
John G. Quigley, MD, of the department of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues hypothesized that modulation of the heme export function of feline leukemia virus subgroup C receptor (FLVCR) would increase mosquito mid-gut oxidative stress and impact Plasmodium transmission.
For the study, researchers isolated anopheline orthologs of FLVCR from the two prevalent malaria-transmitting mosquitoes: Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi.
Comparisons of the expression of FLVCR in mosquitoes were conducted before and after a blood meal.
Results indicate that following exposure to heme, the heme export protein was highly expressed on the surface of gut cells.
“Importantly, double stranded RNA-mediated knockdown of A. stephensi FLVCR in mosquitoes decreases midgut A. stephensi FLVCR messenger RNA by 85%, resulting in a 30% reduction in protein levels post-hematophagy,” Quigley said in a press release.
The researchers are currently evaluating the effects of alpha-A. stephensi FLVCR, or dsRNA–mediated blockade of A. stephensi FLVCR heme export function on Plasmodium oocyst survival, salivary gland sporozoite development, mosquito midgut reactive oxygen species production and mosquito fecundity.
“This study is still ongoing, but we are hopeful that inhibiting the function of this protein may have an impact on Plasmodium transmission without affecting mosquito survival. In that case, mosquito FLVCR proteins could serve as potential vaccine targets in the fight to control malaria,” the researchers wrote.
For more information:
- Quigley J. #2. Presented at: 52nd ASH Annual Meeting; Dec 4-7, 2010; Orlando.
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