Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pathology ofAnopheles stephensi after infection withPlasmodium berghei berghei

II. Changes in amino acid contents

Zur Pathologie vonAnopheles stephensi nach Infektion mitPlasmodium berghei berghei

II. Veränderungen im Aminosäuregehalt

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Infection withPlasmodium berghei results in the disease of a relatively high percentage of mosquitoes depending on the experimental conditions. The damage caused by the parasites may be so severe that the host dies. It can also become manifest for instance in a change in the amino acid content of the mosquito homogenate. The amino acid content of mosquitoes fed on a glucose solution, normal mouse blood, or the blood of infected mice was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively over a period of 14 days. The amino acids lysine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, and tyrosine are always found in higher concentrations in infected mosquitoes. The content of leucine (and/or isoleucine) increased from the 6th day and glutamic acid from the 9th day compared to the controls. Lower concentrations were found for alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, and serine as compared to uninfected mosquitoes. Further investigations on this subject might help to find the causes for the susceptibility or resistance of individual mosquitoes to plasmodia.

Zusammenfassung

Nach Infektion mitPlasmodium berghei erkrankt je nach Versuchsbedingungen ein mehr oder weniger großer Prozentsatz der Moskitos. Der schädliche Einfluß der Parasiten kann dabei so gravierend sein, daß der Wirt zugrunde geht. Er kann sich aber auch auf andere Weise manifestieren, zum Beispiel im veränderten Aminosäuregehalt des Homogenats der Mücken. Der Aminosäuregehalt von Mücken, die mit Glucose-Lösung, normalem Mäuseblut oder mit dem Blut infizierter Mäuse gefüttert worden waren, wurde 14 Tage lang qualitativ und quantitativ analysiert und verglichen. Die Aminosäuren Lysin, Phenylalanin, Prolin, Threonin und Tyrosin sind bei infizierten Moskitos stets in höherer Konzentration vorhanden. Der Gehalt an Leucin (und/oder Isoleucin) steigt vom 6. Tag an, der der Glutaminsäure vom 9. Tag im Gegensatz zu den Kontrolltieren an. Niedrigere Konzentrationen gegenüber den nicht infizierten Mücken finden sich bei Alanin, Asparaginsäure, Glycin und Serin. Weitere Untersuchungen auf diesem Gebiet sollen vor allem die Ursachen für die Empfänglichkeit oder Resistenz bestimmter Moskitos gegenüber Plasmodien finden helfen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrell, I.: Physiological and biochemical changes during insects development. In: The physiology of Insecta, 1, M. Rockstein, ed., pp. 91–148. New York: Academic Press 1964

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, G.H., Chao, J.: Use of amino acids byPlasmodium relictum oocysts in vitro. Exp. Parasitol.39, 115–118 (1976)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bursell, E.: Aspects of the metabolism of amino acids in the tsetse fly,Glossina (Diptera). J. Insect Physiol.9, 439–452 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bursell, E., Billing, K.C., Hargrove, J.W., McCabe, C.T., Slack, E.: Metabolism of the bloodmeal in tsetse flies (a review). Acta Trop. (Basel)31, 297–320 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P.S.: Studies on the protein metabolism ofCulex pipiens L. —I. Metabolic changes of free amino acids during larval and pupal development. J. Insect Physiol.2, 38–51 (1958a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P.S.: Studies on the protein metabolism ofCulex pipiens L. — II. Quantitative differences in free amino acids between male and female adult mosquitoes. J. Insect. Physiol.2, 128–136 (1958b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P.S.: Free amino acids in insects. In: Amino acid pools, J.T. Holden, ed., pp. 115–135. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P.S.: Studies on the protein metabolism ofCulex pipiens L. — IV. Separation of free amino acids and peptides in adult mosquitoes by column chromatography. J. Insect Physiol.9, 53–132 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, E.W., Ball, G.H.: The free amino acids in the whole bodies of Culicid mosquitoes. J. Parasitol.37, 29 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, E.W., Ball, G.H.: The free amino acids in the whole bodies of Culicid mosquitoes. Exp. Parasitol.1, 339–346 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimond, J.B., Lea, A.O., Hahnert, W.F., De Long, D.M.: The amino acid required for egg production inAedes aegypti. Can. Entomol88, 57–63 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckstein, F.: Über Immunität bei Insekten. Anz. Schädlingskd.7, 49–55 (1931)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukuda, T.: Conversion of phenylalanine into tyrosine in the silkworm larva (Bombyx mori). Nature177, 429–430 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gad, A.M., Maier, W.A., Piekarski, G.:Pathology ofAnopheles stephensi after Infection withPlasmodium berghei: I. Mortality rate. Z. Parasitenkd.In press

  • Geiger, R.F.: Untersuchungen über freie Aminosäuren während der Adultentwicklung vonCulex pipiens undCulex fatigans und deren Einfluß auf die Eireifung. Rev. Suisse Zool.68, 583–626 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilmour, D.: Biochemistry of insects. New York and London: Academic Press 1961

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooding, R.H.: In vitro properties of proteinases in the midgut of adultAedes aegypti L. andCulex fatigans (Wiesemann). Comp. Biochem. Physiol.17, 115–127 (1966)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, R., Condon, W.J., Edgar, W.J., Babie, S.J.: Effects of mermithid parasitism on the haemolymph composition of the larval blackflies Prosimulium mixtum/fuscum and Simulium venustum. Parasitol.77, 367–374 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, R., Webster, J.M.:Mermis nigrescens: Physiological relationship with its host, the adult desert locustSchistocerca gregaria. Exp. Parasitol.29, 66–79 (1971)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hacker, C.S.: The differential effect ofPlasmodium gallinaceum on the fecundity of several strains ofAedes aegypti. J. Invertebr. Pathol.18, 373–377 (1971)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsten, E., Kirsten, R., Arese, P.: Das Verhalten von freien Aminosäuren, energiereichen Phosphorsäure-Verbindungen und einigen Glycolyse- und Tricarboncyclus-Substraten in Muskeln vonLocusta migratoria bei der Arbeit. Biochem. Z.337, 167–178 (1963)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lea, A.O., Dimond, J.B., De Longe, D.N.: Role of diet in egg development by mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) Science123, 890–891 (1956)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LevenBook, L.: The distribution of free amino acid, glutamine and glutamate in the southern army wormProdenia eridania. J. Insect Physiol.8, 559–567 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, W.A.: Die Phenoloxydase vonChironomus thummi und ihre Beeinflussung durch parasitäre Mermithiden. j. Insect Physiol.19, 85–96 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, W.A., Nassif-Makki H.: Der Umbau von radioaktivem Phenylalanin und Tyrosin in MalariainfiziertenCulex-Weibchen. Z. Parasitenkd.46, 69–74 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maier, W.A., Omer, O.: Der Einfluß vonPlasmodium cathemerium auf den Aminosäuregehalt und die Eizahl vonCulex pipiens fatigans. Z. Parasitenkd.42, 265–278 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Micks, D.W.: Paper chromatography as a tool for mosquito taxonomy: TheCulex pipiens complex. Nature174, 217–218 (1954)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Micks, D.W., Ellis, J.P.: Free amino acids in adult mosquitoes. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.78, 69–72 (1951)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Micks, D.W., Ellis, J.P.: Free amino acids in the developmental stages of the mosquito. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.79, 191–193 (1952)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ormerod, W.E.: The effect ofTrypanosoma rangeli on the concentration of amino acids in the hemolymph ofRhodnius prolixus. J. Invertebr. Pathol.9, 247–255 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sacktor, B.: Energetics and respiratory metabolism of muscular contraction. In: The physiology of Insecta, 2, M. Rockstein, ed., pp. 483–580. New York: Academic Press 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, E.: Dünnschichtchromatographie. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Stekol, J.A.: Synthetic pathways of methionine, cystine and threonine. In: Symposium on amino acid metabolism, pp. 509–557, W.D. McElroy and H.B. Glass, eds. Baltimore: The John Hopkins Press 1955

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, D.W.: Effect of dietary amino acid on the amino acid pool ofAedes aegypti. J. Insect Physiol.18, 521–526 (1972)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, D.W., Terzian, L.A.: The free amino acids of the ageing femaleAedes aegypti mosquito. J. Insect Physiol.8, 133–143 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, D.W., Terzian, L.A.: Free amino acids and related compounds in the tissues of ageing femaleAedes aegypti mosquitoes. J. Insect Physiol.16, 1–15 (1970)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, D.W., Terzian, L.A., Price, P.A.: Digestion of the human blood-meal by theAedes aegypti mosquito. J. Insect Physiol.17, 2,469–2,473 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thong, C.H.S., Webster, J.M.: Effects ofContortylenchus reversus (Nematoda: Sphaerulariidas) on hemolymph composition and oocyte development in the beetleDendroctonus pseudotsugae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). J. Invertebr. Pathol.26, 91–98 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toumanoff, C.: A propos de la dégénérence brune des microfilaires chez les moustiques, sa nature; analogie avec les ‘black spores’ de Ross. Bull. Soc. Pathol. Exot.33, 372–377 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincke, I.H., Bafort, J., Scheepers-Biva, M.: Observations récentes sur la transmission cyclique dePlasmodium berghei. Ann. Soc. Belg. Med. Trop.46, 327–336 (1966)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, D.I., Moeller, F.E.: Comparison of the free amino acid composition in the hemolymph of healthy andNosema-infected female honey bees. J. Invertebr. Pathol.15, 202–206 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Adel M. Gad

    Present address: Faculty of Science Entomology Department, Ain Shams University, Kairo-El Abbasieh, Egypt

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Medizinische Parasitologie der Universität Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-5300, Bonn 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Adel M. Gad, Walter A. Maier & Gerhard Piekarski

Authors
  1. Adel M. Gad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Walter A. Maier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gerhard Piekarski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was supported in part by World Health Organization, Geneva.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gad, A.M., Maier, W.A. & Piekarski, G. Pathology ofAnopheles stephensi after infection withPlasmodium berghei berghei . Z. Parasitenkd. 60, 263–276 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00929173

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00929173

Keywords

Search

Navigation