Genetic variation in olfactory pathways associated with host-seeking behavior in natural populations of Anopheles minimus, a primary malaria vector in western Thailand
1
Issued Date
2025-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
17563305
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105016908268
Pubmed ID
40993777
Journal Title
Parasites and Vectors
Volume
18
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Parasites and Vectors Vol.18 No.1 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Pusawang K., Zhong D., Sriwichai P., Samung Y., Saeung A., Aupalee K., Somboon P., Junkum A., Wongpalee S.P., Saingamsook J., Sattabongkot J., Cui L., Yan G. Genetic variation in olfactory pathways associated with host-seeking behavior in natural populations of Anopheles minimus, a primary malaria vector in western Thailand. Parasites and Vectors Vol.18 No.1 (2025). doi:10.1186/s13071-025-07029-x Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112385
Title
Genetic variation in olfactory pathways associated with host-seeking behavior in natural populations of Anopheles minimus, a primary malaria vector in western Thailand
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Malaria transmission hinges on infected Anopheles mosquitoes biting humans, with carbon dioxide (CO<inf>2</inf>), host odor, and body heat acting as key attractants. Along the Thai–Myanmar border, Anopheles minimus (the Funestus Group), a primary malaria vector, exhibits a stronger preference for human hosts than species of the Maculatus Group. Elucidating the genetic basis of this feeding behavior is essential for improving malaria control strategies. Methods: Wild Anopheles mosquitoes were collected in Tha Song Yang district, Tak province, Thailand, from July 2019 to November 2020, using cow-baited traps, human landing catches, and Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps. Specimens were identified morphologically and confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. We then performed whole-genome sequencing on An. minimus females categorized by host-seeking behavior: cow-baited collection (COW), human landing indoor (HLI), and human landing outdoor (HLO) to investigate the genetic determinants of host preference. Results: Anopheles minimus females accounted for 25% of total samples (504/1,997). Cox1 sequencing revealed 143 unique haplotypes among 287 specimens, forming two major phylogenetic lineages, A (181 sequences) and B (106 sequences), suggestive of potential cryptic diversity. Whole-genome sequencing of An. minimus Lineage A from COW, HLI, and HLO groups yielded 12,659,785 variants. After filtering, 68,975 non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) remained. Comparing allele frequencies across the three pooled groups (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.001) yielded 2,629, 2,948, and 4,369 significant nsSNPs, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of genes harboring these nsSNPs showed strong enrichment for olfaction-related terms. The top six nsSNPs with olfactory annotations from each group comparison were selected for validation; Sanger sequencing confirmed their association with host-seeking preference. The VectorBase gene IDs for these candidate nsSNPs are AMIN001807, AMIN001339, AMIN003886, AMIN000912, AMIN003926, AMIN011060, AMIN002342, and AMIN015480. Conclusions: The observed significant genomic variance in field-collected An. minimus females, categorized by collection methods (reflecting host-seeking behavior), proposes a genetic underpinning for these behavioral variations. Differential nsSNPs within olfactory pathway genes might be functionally linked to host-seeking in this important malaria vector.