Transgenic Anopheles stephensi coexpressing single-chain antibodies resist Plasmodium falciparum development

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jul 10;109(28):E1922-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1207738109. Epub 2012 Jun 11.

Abstract

Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes expressing m1C3, m4B7, or m2A10 single-chain antibodies (scFvs) have significantly lower levels of infection compared to controls when challenged with Plasmodium falciparum, a human malaria pathogen. These scFvs are derived from antibodies specific to a parasite chitinase, the 25 kDa protein and the circumsporozoite protein, respectively. Transgenes comprising m2A10 in combination with either m1C3 or m4B7 were inserted into previously-characterized mosquito chromosomal "docking" sites using site-specific recombination. Transgene expression was evaluated at four different genomic locations and a docking site that permitted tissue- and sex-specific expression was researched further. Fitness studies of docking site and dual scFv transgene strains detected only one significant fitness cost: adult docking-site males displayed a late-onset reduction in survival. The m4B7/m2A10 mosquitoes challenged with P. falciparum had few or no sporozoites, the parasite stage infective to humans, in three of four experiments. No sporozoites were detected in m1C3/m2A10 mosquitoes in challenge experiments when both genes were induced at developmentally relevant times. These studies support the conclusion that expression of a single copy of a dual scFv transgene can completely inhibit parasite development without imposing a fitness cost on the mosquito.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Anopheles / genetics*
  • Anopheles / immunology*
  • Anopheles / parasitology*
  • Binding Sites
  • Culicidae
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Male
  • Models, Genetic
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
  • Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism*
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Sporozoites / metabolism
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Single-Chain Antibodies