A genetic study of the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae to Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

In a study of the genetics of susceptibility and refractoriness of Anopheles gambiae to Plasmodium species, nine generations of selection resulted in a completely susceptible line and an entirely refractory line to Plasmodium berghei (a rodent malaria). The F1 progeny from reciprocal crosses between the lines differed in their susceptibility to the parasite. Backcrosses to the parent did not produce proportions of susceptible and refractory individuals consistent with single gene inheritance or with cytoplasmic inheritance but the influence of a sex linked factor was demonstrated.