Identification of Cryptic Anopheles Mosquito Species by Molecular Protein Profiling
Open Access
- 28 February 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 8 (2), e57486
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057486
Abstract
Vector control is the mainstay of malaria control programmes. Successful vector control profoundly relies on accurate information on the target mosquito populations in order to choose the most appropriate intervention for a given mosquito species and to monitor its impact. An impediment to identify mosquito species is the existence of morphologically identical sibling species that play different roles in the transmission of pathogens and parasites. Currently PCR diagnostics are used to distinguish between sibling species. PCR based methods are, however, expensive, time-consuming and their development requires a priori DNA sequence information. Here, we evaluated an inexpensive molecular proteomics approach for Anopheles species: matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). MALDI-TOF MS is a well developed protein profiling tool for the identification of microorganisms but so far has received little attention as a diagnostic tool in entomology. We measured MS spectra from specimens of 32 laboratory colonies and 2 field populations representing 12 Anopheles species including the A. gambiae species complex. An important step in the study was the advancement and implementation of a bioinformatics approach improving the resolution over previously applied cluster analysis. Borrowing tools for linear discriminant analysis from genomics, MALDI-TOF MS accurately identified taxonomically closely related mosquito species, including the separation between the M and S molecular forms of A. gambiae sensu stricto. The approach also classifies specimens from different laboratory colonies; hence proving also very promising for its use in colony authentication as part of quality assurance in laboratory studies. While being exceptionally accurate and robust, MALDI-TOF MS has several advantages over other typing methods, including simple sample preparation and short processing time. As the method does not require DNA sequence information, data can also be reviewed at any later stage for diagnostic or functional patterns without the need for re-designing and re-processing biological material.This publication has 47 references indexed in Scilit:
- Identification of field-caught Culicoides biting midges using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometryParasitology, 2011
- Larval habitat segregation between the molecular forms of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae in a rice field area of Burkina Faso, West AfricaMedical and Veterinary Entomology, 2011
- Evaluation of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry for characterization of Culicoides nubeculosus biting midgesMedical and Veterinary Entomology, 2010
- Transcriptomic and functional analysis of the Anopheles gambiae salivary gland in relation to blood feedingBMC Genomics, 2010
- A behavioral mechanism underlying ecological divergence in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiaeBehavioral Ecology, 2010
- Plasmodium infection alters Anopheles gambiae detoxification gene expressionBMC Genomics, 2010
- Genetic association of physically unlinked islands of genomic divergence in incipient species of Anopheles gambiaeMolecular Ecology, 2010
- Discrimination of different species from the genus Drosophila by intact protein profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometryBMC Evolutionary Biology, 2010
- Spatial swarm segregation and reproductive isolation between the molecular forms of Anopheles gambiaeProceedings. Biological sciences, 2009
- The molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae: A phenotypic perspectiveInfection, Genetics and Evolution, 2008