INHIBITION OF MALARIA PARASITE DEVELOPMENT IN MOSQUITOS BY ANTI-MOSQUITO-MIDGUT ANTIBODIES

The mosquito midgut plays a central role in the development and subseq uent transmission of malaria parasites. Using a rodent malaria parasit e, Plasmodium berghei, and the mosquito vector Anopheles stephensi, we investigated the effect of anti-mosquito-midgut antibodies on the dev elopment of malaria parasites in the mosquito. In agreement with previ ous studies, we found that mosquitoes that ingested antimidgut antibod ies along with infectious parasites had significantly fewer oocysts th an mosquitoes in the control group. We also found that the antimidgut antibodies inhibit the development and/or translocation of the sporozo ites. Together, these observations open an avenue for research toward the development of a vector-based malaria parasite transmission-blocki ng vaccine.