D3398: Metal ions in mosquitoes as critical factors for Plasmodium infection

The malaria parasite has evolved methods to control metal ions from the many microenvironments it encounters in order to maintain a life cycle between the insect and mammalian hosts. Previous research has looked at how metal chelation affects parasite development in human, primate, and rodent hosts, for example, iron and copper chelation inhibits Plasmodium growth in vitro and in the mammalian host. Furthermore, the parasite manipulates metal homeostasis in red blood cells to its advantage, such as by converting hemoglobin to hemozoin. Metal interactions with the mosquito, on the other hand, have not been investigated. Here, investigated such micronutrient interactions in three steps: First, we detailed the metallomes of Anopheles albimanus and Aedes aegypti throughout their life cycles and after a blood meal. Second, we investigated if Plasmodium infection was associated with a distinct response in mosquito metal homeostasis. Third, we investigated the effects of iron and copper chelation on adult mosquito infection and reproduction. Our results highlight that in the continuous effort against mosquito-borne diseases, metal ions offer an attractive target.