Genetic correlation between melanization and antibacterial immune responses in a natural population of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae
Autor(es): Lambrechts, L; Vulule, JM; Koella, JC
Resumo: The immune system of invertebrates can mount different responses, including melanotic encapsulation and several antibacterial defense mechanisms. Variation of the efficacies of these responses is generally considered to be a product of the Evolutionary pressure on each response due to infection by parasites. However, potential interactions and trade-offs among the different responses of the immune system could constrain the Evolutionary potential of each response. In a natural population of the mosquito Anopheles ganibiae, we measured the genetic association between the melanization response and an antibacterial response in two environmental qualities (well-fed and undernourished larvae). In both environments the two immune responses were positively Genetically correlated: in full-sib families that were most likely to melanize a bead, injected bacteria were most likely to be cleared. Thus, our data do not support the idea of a trade-off among different outcomes of the invertebrate immune system, but rather that some families are overall immunologically superior to others.
Palavras-Chave: Anopheles Gambiae; Genetic Correlation; Insect Immunity; Melanization; Trade-Offs
Imprenta: Evolution, v. 58, n. 10, p. 2377-2381, 2004
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Immune response ; Aedes aegypti - Molecular structure
Data de publicação: 2004
