凉山按蚊和昆明按蚊的形态观察

凉山按蚊(Anopheles liangshanensis Kang et al.1984)和昆明按蚊(An.kunmingensisDong and Wang 1985)是80年代相继在四川、云南发现的两个蚊种。我们于1992年做了两者的杂交实验,证实它们之间不存在生殖隔离。本文就二者的形态进一步做了对比观察。1 材料和方法将四川越西县普雄镇捕获的凉山按蚊和云南龙陵县段家坝捕获的昆明按蚊,作隔离饲养,单个产卵。分别观察在实验室羽化3天后的成蚊雌蚊的翅、腹侧膜暗斑和雄蚊     

埃及伊蚊、冈比亚按蚊和致倦库蚊polyUBQ基因的电子克隆及其序列分析

针对具有选择性蛋白质降解功能的泛素在调控昆虫生长发育过程中的重要作用,探讨埃及伊蚊、冈比亚按蚊和致倦库蚊基因组中polyUBQ基因的有关生物信息。采用电子克隆的方法钓取3种蚊虫基因组中polyUBQ基因序列,分析其特征、分子进化关系、遗传多态性和密码子偏爱性。结果显示,成功获取埃及伊蚊、冈比亚按蚊和致倦库蚊polyUBQ基因序列,命名为Aa-polyUBQ(GenBank登录号:AAGE02005963)、Ag-polyUBQ(ABKP02009650)和Cq-polyUBQ(AAWU01023041),分别编码1 065个、218个和533个氨基酸残基,各具14个、3个和7个泛素单体,Aa-polyUBQ、Ag-polyUBQ和Cq-polyUBQ蛋白二级结构主要元件是延伸带和无规则卷曲,Leu、Ile和Lys是构成3种蛋白的主要氨基酸,亚细胞主要定位于细胞质和细胞核,无前导肽、信号肽和跨膜结构域,除Ag-polyUBQ蛋白外均呈碱性;3种基因序列的同源性较高(83.8%-88.2%)且遗传距离较近(0.129-0.187);检出135个多态位点,共生成3个单倍型,单倍型多样性(Hd=1.000)、平均核苷...     

冈比亚按蚊用声音频率选择配偶

蚊子的嗡嗡声让人厌烦,但这却是它们彼此间辨别身份的标志和吸引“另一半”的“情歌”。英国一项最新研究显示,非洲的冈比亚按蚊可以靠声音的差别来区分不同的种群。     

韩国赫坎按蚊复合体3成员种核糖体DNA内转录间隔2区的比较(英文)

本文对韩国中华按蚊、雷氏按蚊和八代按蚊核糖体DNA (rDNA)内转录间隔 2区 (ITS2 )序列进行了比较研究。用PCR扩增的rDNA ITS2片段直接测序 ,每种蚊测定 3个个体 ,结果显示 :韩国中华按蚊、雷氏按蚊和八代按蚊的rDNA ITS2序列长度分别为 4 6 8bp、 4 51bp和 4 53bp ,GC含量分别为 4 4 .87%、 4 6 .2 %和 4 5.7% ,3种按蚊序列差异范围为 12 .16 %— 30 .74 %。研究表明 ,rDNA ITS2序列差异可用于韩国中华按蚊、雷氏按蚊和八代按蚊的分子鉴别。     

嗜人按蚊,中华按蚊和昆明按蚊存活特性的比较实验观察

在25±2℃综合实验条件下,嗜人按蚊、中华按蚊和昆明按蚊雌蚊的半数死亡日龄分别为21、l8、13天,最长寿命分别为52、43、34天,平均寿命分别为23.5970、19.6529、12.1283天,预期寿命分别为21.0719、17.3129、10.7355天。     

印度疟疾媒介库态按蚊卵黄蛋白原基因的克隆与生物信息学分析（英文）

卵黄蛋白原（vitellogenin, Vg)是主要的卵黄蛋白前体, 在雌虫血餐之后在脂肪体内大量合成。卵黄蛋白原的调节元件已经被用于驱动蚊子（与寄生虫发生最大相互作用的场所）中抗寄生基因的组织特异性表达。不过, 迄今为止, 对在印度引起60%~70%疟疾发生的库态按蚊Anopheles culicifacies中的内源启动子尚未进行过分析。本研究通过PCR扩增了包括5′端上游调节区在内的库态按蚊A. culicifacies卵黄蛋白原基因, 并命名为AncuVg (GenBank登录号为JN113091)。它含有一个大约6.2 kb的开放阅读框, 编码2 052个氨基酸, 具有一个16个氨基酸残基的推断的信号肽。也含有一个N_Vitellogenin区和一个VWF型D区, 这两个区在其他昆虫卵黄蛋白原中也保守。估计多肽分子量为238.0 kDa, 含有4个共有的(RXXR/S)切割位点, C端附近有一个GL/ICG基序, 其后是9个半胱氨酸残基和1个位于GL/ICCG基序上游第18个氨基酸残基处的DGXR 基序。在推断的氨基酸序列上发现3个聚丝氨酸区, 其中2个位于氨基端, 1个位于羧基端。根据同义密码子相对使用概率值, 通过有效密码子数, 测定了蚊子卵黄蛋白原基因密码子的偏倚性程度。也预测了库态按蚊A. culicifacies Vg的三维结构。分析了AncuVg基因, 以理解Vg基因的转录调节。对Vg基因5′端上游区进行的系统发育分析表明, 它们聚类于蚊子的3大分枝。也用各种生物信息学工具分析分析了Vg的同源性和特征。     

大豆GeBP转录因子基因家族的生物信息学分析

GeBP转录因子调控植物表皮毛的生长发育,并且参与控制植物叶片的发育。该文利用生物信息学方法,在大豆全基因组范围内搜索GeBP基因家族,并从氨基酸理化性质、基因结构、染色体的物理分布、系统进化、序列比对、功能结构域、组织表达情况等基本特征方面对GmGeBP基因家族进行分析。结果表明:(1)共获得9个GmGeBP转录因子基因家族成员,其中仅2个基因含有内含子,且都只有1个内含子,表明该家族成员基因构造比较简单但稳定。(2)GmGeBP编码的蛋白分子量为39.65~49.24 kD,理论等电点为4.65~9.08;这些成员基本上都是酸性氨基酸,属于亲水性、不稳定蛋白。(3)这9个基因不均匀的分布于7条染色体上,10和20号染色体上分别分布2个GeBP基因,3、5、13、15、19号染色体上各分布1个基因。(4)系统进化分析表明,大豆与拟南芥对应的GeBP成员亲缘关系较近,分别聚类到4个分支,而与水稻的距离较远。(5)结构域分析表明,9个GmGeBP成员都包含DUF573结构域,推测该部分在GeBP转录因子中很可能是与靶标基因顺式作用元件互作的结构域。(6)通过分析大豆GmGeBP转录因子基因家族的组织表达,发现不同基因在大豆不同组织的表达量不同,具有一定的特异性。该文对大豆GeBP转录因子基因家族的分析和鉴定为进一步研究大豆表皮毛发育的分子作用提供了理论基础。     

中国赫坎按蚊类群的六种按蚊的杂交和染色体的观察

本文报告了赫坎按蚊类群中的中华按蚊(ASS)、长浮按蚊(ACF)、嗜人按蚊(AAP)、大窄按蚊(ADZ)、小宽按蚊(AXK)以及四川的八代按蚊(AYS)与辽宁的AYL品系的杂交和唾腺染色体的观察。结果表明,中华按蚊和长浮按蚊,嗜人按蚊和大窄按蚊之间不存在生殖隔离。因此,长浮按蚊和大窄按蚊可能不是独立的物种:小宽按蚊和四川的八代按蚊不存在生殖隔离;小宽按蚊和辽宁的AYL品系以及AYL品系和四川的八代按蚊却存在生殖隔离。因此,AYL品系可能为新种,而小宽按蚊新种能否成立,有待进一步研究。     

尼日利亚南部阿贝奥库塔地区冈比亚按蚊复合体的形态特征研究（双翅目：蚊科）

对采自尼日利亚南部城市阿贝奥库塔冈比亚按蚊复合体Anopheles gambiae complex的形态特征进行了研究。依据2005年8月至2006年7月灯诱捕获的364个冈比亚按蚊复合体标本,分别对它们的触角、翅、喙、前足、中足和后足6个部位的长度进行了测量,对月平均值进行回归分析,同时利用差异系数（co-efficient of difference,CD）进行近缘分析。分析显示,各特征的长度平均值雨季大于旱季,但是回归分析表明长度变化与季节不显著相关（P>0.05）。差异系数分析结果表明,仅触角长度和翅长显示此复合体为两个不同的种群(CD>1.28),而其他特征值表明为同一种群。因此,该研究结果提示触角长度及翅长对冈比亚按蚊复合体近缘种的区分有重要参考价值。     

Insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in Ibadan,Southwest Nigeria

The emergence of insecticide resistance in Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes has great implications for malaria control in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the dynamics of insecticide susceptibility levels and the frequency of knock‐down resistance (kdr) mutations (L1014F) in wild Anopheles coluzzii Coetzee & Wilkerson sp. n. and Anopheles gambiae Giles from the Ojoo and Bodija areas of Ibadan, in southwest Nigeria. Insecticide susceptibility to pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates and organochlorines was assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) bioassays. A subset of the mosquitoes exposed to pyrethroids and DDT was used for species and molecular form identification; kdr genotyping was determined using the TaqMan real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay. The mosquitoes were resistant to pyrethroids and DDT but completely susceptible to organophosphates and carbamates. Bodija samples (n = 186) consisted of An. gambiae (91.4%) and An. coluzzii (8.1%) and included one An. coluzzii/An. gambiae hybrid specimen. All mosquitoes screened in Ojoo (n = 26) were An. gambiae. The 1014F kdr mutation was detected at frequencies of 24.5 and 5.8% in Bodija and Ojoo, respectively. No correlation was observed between kdr genotypes and resistance phenotypes. The results indicate that metabolic resistance probably plays an important role in the development of resistance and highlight the need to implement insecticide resistance management strategies.     

DNA analysis of transferred sperm reveals significant levels of gene flow between molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae

Anopheles gambiae populations in west Africa are complex, being composed of multiple, sympatric subpopulations. Recent studies have failed to reveal significant genetic differences among subpopulations, stimulating a debate regarding the levels of gene flow among them. The observed homogeneity may be the consequence of substantial contemporary gene flow or it may be that reproductive isolation is complete, but too recent for the accumulation of significant levels of genic divergence. Here, we report the results of a study estimating contemporary levels of gene flow between An. gambiae subpopulations by analysing females and transferred sperm removed from their reproductive systems. A total of 251 female and associated sperm extracts was analysed from a single site in Mali. Two molecular forms of An. gambiae, the M- and S-forms, occurred in sympatry at this site. Overall, we found very strong positive assortative mating within forms, however, we did observe significant hybridization between forms. In the M subpopulation 2/195 females (1.03%) contained sperm from S-form males and in 55 S-form females we found one female containing M-form sperm (1.82%). We also identified a mated M xS hybrid adult female. From mating frequencies, we estimate the Nem between the M- and S-form at 16.8, and from the adult hybrid frequency at 5.6. These values are consistent with our earlier estimate, based on FST for 21 microsatellite loci in which Nem = 5.8. We conclude that the general lack of genetic divergence between the M and S subpopulations of An. gambiae can be explained entirely by contemporary gene flow.     

Mapping members of the Anopheles gambiae complex using climate data

Abstract. Climate is the most important factor governing the distribution of insects over large areas. Warmth and moisture are essential for most insects' reproduction, development and survival. Here, it is shown that the principal vectors of malaria in Africa, members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, flourish within specific climate envelopes. By identifying these climatic conditions empirically, using climate or environmental databases, it is possible to map the distribution and relative abundance of mosquito species, and their chromosomal forms, at continental scales. Alternatively, mathematical models based on a fundamental understanding of how mosquitoes are affected by different climate factors, such as temperature and humidity, can also be employed to map distributions. Empirical or process‐driven models based on climate, or other environmental variables, provide simple tools for mapping the distribution and relative abundance of vectors at a coarse scale over large areas.     

New selenoproteins identified in silico from the genome of Anopheles gambiae

Selenoprotein is biosynthesized by the incorporation of selenocysteine into proteins, where the TGA codon in the open reading frame does not act as a stop signal but is translated into selenocysteine. The dual functions of TGA result in mis-annotation or lack of selenoproteins in the sequenced genomes of many species. Available computational tools fail to correctly predict selenoproteins. Thus, we developed a new method to identify selenoproteins from the genome of Anopheles gambiae computationally.Based on released genomic information, several programs were edited with PERL language to identify selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) element, the coding potential of TGA codons, and cysteine-containing homologs of selenoprotein genes. Our results showed that 11365 genes were terminated with TGA codons, 918 of which contained SECIS elements. Similarity search revealed that 58genes contained Sec/Cys pairs and similar flanking regions around in-frame TGA codons. Finally, 7genes were found to fully meet requirements for selenoproteins, although they have not been annotated as selenoproteins in NCBI databases. Deduced from their basic properties, the newly found selenoproteins in the genome of Anopheles gambiae are possibly related to in vivo oxidation tolerance and protein regulation in order to interfere with anopheles' vectorial capacity of Plasmodium. This study may also provide theoretical bases for the prevention of malaria from anopheles transmission.     

New selenoproteins identified in silico from the genome of Anopheles gambiae

Selenoprotein is biosynthesized by the incorporation of selenocysteine into proteins,where the TGA codon in the open reading frame does not act as a stop signal but is translated into selenocysteine.The dual functions of TGA result in mis-annotation or lack of selenoproteins in the sequenced genomes of many species.Available computational tools fail to correctly predict selenoproteins.Thus,we devel-oped a new method to identify selenoproteins from the genome of Anopheles gambiae computationally.Based on released genomic information,several programs were edited with PERL language to identify selenocysteine insertion sequence(SECIS)element,the coding potential of TGA codons,and cys-teine-containing homologs of selenoprotein genes.Our results showed that 11365 genes were termi-nated with TGA codons,918 of which contained SECIS elements.Similarity search revealed that 58 genes contained Sec/Cys pairs and similar flanking regions around in-frame TGA codons.Finally,7 genes were found to fully meet requirements for selenoproteins,although they have not been anno-tated as selenoproteins in NCBI databases.Deduced from their basic properties,the newly found se-lenoproteins in the genome of Anopheles gambiae are possibly related to in vivo oxidation tolerance and protein regulation in order to interfere with anopheles' vectorial capacity of Plasmodium.This study may also provide theoretical bases for the prevention of malaria from anopheles transmission.     

Activation of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes by carbon dioxide and human breath

Abstract. Female Anopheles gambiae Giles mosquitoes were observed individually in a cage within a wind tunnel and their responses to pulses of carbon dioxide recorded on video tape. The range of concentrations tested revealed an 'activation' threshold concentration of carbon dioxide in the region of 0.01% above background. At this concentration, approximately 60% of the mosquitoes took off and flew upwind. Pulses of human breath, diluted with wind tunnel air to reproduce equivalent concentrations of carbon dioxide, elicited similar levels of response and the same 'activation' threshold concentration. These findings are discussed in relation to the activation of host-seeking mosquitoes.