Effect of anti-fat body antibodies on reproductive capacity of mosquito Anopheles stephensi and transmission blocking of Plasmodium vivax.

ABSTRACT

Effect of anti-mosquito-fat body antibodies on the development of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax has been studied by feeding Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes with infected blood supplemented with serum from immunized rabbits. Immunogenic polypeptides were identified by western blot. Mosquitoes that ingested anti-fat body antibodies along with infectious blood meal had significantly fewer oocysts than the mosquitoes in the control group. Effect of anti-mosquito fat body antibodies on fecundity, hatchability, mortality and engorgement of mosquitoes has also been reported. A significant reduction in fecundity and hatchability was observed, however, effect on mortality and engorgement was variable and statistically insignificant. Results indicated that fat body antibodies have the potential to disrupt reproductive physiology of malaria vector An. stephensi.