Dissecting the molecular mechanism of blood sucking behavior of mosquitoes

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15852
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sakuma Chisako 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10747017)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 蚊 / ネッタイシマカ / 吸血 / 味覚 / 遺伝子編集

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Exploring the molecular mechanism of blood sucking behavior of female mosquitoes is one of the critical steps to fight against vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, since pathogens are transmitted when mosquitoes are gorging on blood. In this study, we tried to identify the receptor for adenine nucleotides in blood that serve as phagostimulants for blood sucking, and identified one gustatory receptor (Gr) is required for the perception of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). During this analysis, we established an easy-to-use method to estimate the amount of solution ingested by mosquitoes by employing the food dye in membrane feeding.

Free Research Field

神経行動学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

吸血行動を制御する分子機構が解明されることは、人為的な蚊の行動操作のための基盤となる。本研究において、吸血の促進および抑制(停止)に関わる分子を明らかにしたことは、今後これらが関与する神経回路の解明や、促進と抑制の切替について理解するための重要な手がかりとなる。また人工吸血における簡易定量法を開発したことにより、生きたままの蚊で吸血量や割合を定量できるようになったことは、吸血研究の推進に重要である。