Paternal transmission of symbiotic bacteria in malaria vectors

Claudia Damiani; Irene Ricci; Elena Crotti; Paolo Rossi; Aurora Rizzi; Patrizia Scuppa; Fulvio Esposito; Claudio Bandi; Daniele Daffonchio; Guido Favia

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.040

Paternal transmission of symbiotic bacteria in malaria vectors

Claudia Damiani, Irene Ricci, Elena Crotti, Paolo Rossi, Aurora Rizzi, Patrizia Scuppa, Fulvio Esposito, Claudio Bandi, Daniele Daffonchio, Guido Favia^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Biological, Environmental Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Asaia are associated with different species of malaria vectors and are located in the midgut, salivary glands and reproductive organs of female and male mosquitoes. Based on current evidence, the spreading of these bacteria in mosquito populations occurs through different mechanisms: co-feeding, sexual mating, and maternal transmission [1,2]. Even though paternal transmission of insect symbionts to progeny is not commonplace, the presence of Asaia in the male reproductive organs makes this additional transmission route worth being investigated. Here, we show that male-borne Asaia are transferred to females during the mating of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Subsequently, the bacteria acquired by the female are vertically transmitted to the progeny. It would thus be possible to use male mosquitoes, which do not bite, to spread Asaia strains interfering with malaria transmission.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Current Biology
Volume	18
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.040
State	Published - Dec 9 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.040

Cite this

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title = "Paternal transmission of symbiotic bacteria in malaria vectors",

abstract = "Bacteria of the genus Asaia are associated with different species of malaria vectors and are located in the midgut, salivary glands and reproductive organs of female and male mosquitoes. Based on current evidence, the spreading of these bacteria in mosquito populations occurs through different mechanisms: co-feeding, sexual mating, and maternal transmission [1,2]. Even though paternal transmission of insect symbionts to progeny is not commonplace, the presence of Asaia in the male reproductive organs makes this additional transmission route worth being investigated. Here, we show that male-borne Asaia are transferred to females during the mating of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Subsequently, the bacteria acquired by the female are vertically transmitted to the progeny. It would thus be possible to use male mosquitoes, which do not bite, to spread Asaia strains interfering with malaria transmission.",

author = "Claudia Damiani and Irene Ricci and Elena Crotti and Paolo Rossi and Aurora Rizzi and Patrizia Scuppa and Fulvio Esposito and Claudio Bandi and Daniele Daffonchio and Guido Favia",

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doi = "10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.040",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "18",

journal = "Current Biology",

issn = "0960-9822",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Paternal transmission of symbiotic bacteria in malaria vectors

AU - Damiani, Claudia

AU - Ricci, Irene

AU - Crotti, Elena

AU - Rossi, Paolo

AU - Rizzi, Aurora

AU - Scuppa, Patrizia

AU - Esposito, Fulvio

AU - Bandi, Claudio

AU - Daffonchio, Daniele

AU - Favia, Guido

PY - 2008/12/9

Y1 - 2008/12/9

N2 - Bacteria of the genus Asaia are associated with different species of malaria vectors and are located in the midgut, salivary glands and reproductive organs of female and male mosquitoes. Based on current evidence, the spreading of these bacteria in mosquito populations occurs through different mechanisms: co-feeding, sexual mating, and maternal transmission [1,2]. Even though paternal transmission of insect symbionts to progeny is not commonplace, the presence of Asaia in the male reproductive organs makes this additional transmission route worth being investigated. Here, we show that male-borne Asaia are transferred to females during the mating of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Subsequently, the bacteria acquired by the female are vertically transmitted to the progeny. It would thus be possible to use male mosquitoes, which do not bite, to spread Asaia strains interfering with malaria transmission.

AB - Bacteria of the genus Asaia are associated with different species of malaria vectors and are located in the midgut, salivary glands and reproductive organs of female and male mosquitoes. Based on current evidence, the spreading of these bacteria in mosquito populations occurs through different mechanisms: co-feeding, sexual mating, and maternal transmission [1,2]. Even though paternal transmission of insect symbionts to progeny is not commonplace, the presence of Asaia in the male reproductive organs makes this additional transmission route worth being investigated. Here, we show that male-borne Asaia are transferred to females during the mating of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Subsequently, the bacteria acquired by the female are vertically transmitted to the progeny. It would thus be possible to use male mosquitoes, which do not bite, to spread Asaia strains interfering with malaria transmission.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57049149652&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.040

DO - 10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.040

M3 - Letter

C2 - 19081038

AN - SCOPUS:57049149652

VL - 18

JO - Current Biology

JF - Current Biology

SN - 0960-9822

IS - 23

ER -

Paternal transmission of symbiotic bacteria in malaria vectors

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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