Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41421964›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2025

Changes in the Anopheles arabiensis transcriptome and gut microbiota profiles associated with the endosymbiotic Microsporidia MB.

Jacqueline Wahura Waweru, Nicola Mulder, Cynthia Nyambura King'ori, Irene Muiruri, Mwatum Maloba Alakonya, Edward Edmond Makhulu, Lilian Mbaisi Ang'ang'o, Joseph Gichuhi, Daniel Masiga, Jeremy Keith Herren

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Serpin 4/5 ofMicroorganisms · 2026
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jacqueline Wahura WaweruInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Nicola MulderComputational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, IDM University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Cynthia Nyambura King'oriInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Irene MuiruriInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Mwatum Maloba AlakonyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Edward Edmond MakhuluInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Lilian Mbaisi Ang'ang'oInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Joseph GichuhiInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Daniel MasigaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
Jeremy Keith HerrenInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya. jherren@icipe.org.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation INV0225840
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMicrosporidia MB is an endosymbiotic microbe found in Anopheles mosquito populations. This symbiont can block Plasmodium transmission in mosquitoes, and it can spread through mosquito populations and be sustained over generations by vertical and horizontal transmission. These characteristics make Microsporidia MB a potential candidate for symbiont-based malaria vector control. However, the mechanistic basis of interactions between Microsporidia MB and Anopheles arabiensis is poorly characterized. We investigated how the presence of Microsporidia MB affects transcriptomics profiles and the gut microbiota composition and diversity in non-blood-fed and blood-fed (24-, 48- and 72-hours post blood meal) An. arabiensis mosquitoes.

resultsWe observed that mosquito infection with Microsporidia MB upregulated farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase, a gene linked to juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the non-blood-fed mosquitoes. In addition, blood feeding in Microsporidia MB positive mosquitoes was associated with an activation of immune-related genes 24 h after a blood meal, where several genes including the lipopolysaccharide tumor necrosis factor gene were upregulated. Interestingly, we also observed that Microsporidia MB positivity was associated with a microbiota shift to favor the proliferation of microbes including Pseudomonas and Serratia 24 h post blood meal. There were indications of immune system activation in Microsporidia MB positive mosquitoes up to 48 h after a blood meal where factors such as the peptidoglycan recognition SC2-like and lysozyme c-1 were upregulated. Notably, an upregulated immune system at this time point was associated with downregulation of genes associated with metabolism and the restoration of Serratia, Pseudomonas and other key microbes to relative abundances similar to those recorded in non-blood-fed mosquitoes. At the 72-hour time point, Microsporidia MB positive mosquitoes exhibited a downregulation of genes associated with immunity, including cecropins and defensins, while metabolic processes were predominantly upregulated.

conclusionOur results provide insights into the effect of Microsporidia MB infection on the An. arabiensis gene expression and gut microbiota profiles. This work will contribute to mechanistic insights into symbiont-mediated malaria transmission blocking.

Indexed as

AnophelesGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMicrosporidiaSymbiosisTranscriptomeAnimalsGene Expression ProfilingAnopheles arabiensisGene expressionGut microbiotaMicrosporidia MB

Identifiers

PMID41421964
PMCPMC12831235

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.