Interactions between malaria parasites and their mosquito hosts in the midgut

Abstract

This review examines what is presently known of the molecular interactions between Plasmodium and Anopheles that take place in the latter's midgut upon ingestion of the parasites with an infectious blood meal. In order to become 'established' in the gut and to transform into a sporozoite-producing oocyst, the malaria parasite needs to undergo different developmental steps that are often characterized by the use of selected resources provided by the mosquito vector. Moreover, some of these resources may be used by the parasite in order to overcome the insect host's defence mechanisms. The molecular partners of this interplay are now in the process of being defined and analyzed for both Plasmodium and mosquito and, thus, understood; these will be presented here in some detail.