The Anopheles gambiae 2La chromosome inversion is associated with susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum in Africa

• Published in: eLife Vol. 6
• Main Authors: Riehle, Michelle M, Bukhari, Tullu, Gneme, Awa, Guelbeogo, Wamdaogo M, Coulibaly, Boubacar, Fofana, Abdrahamane, Pain, Adrien, Bischoff, Emmanuel, Renaud, Francois, Beavogui, Abdoul H, Traore, Sekou F, Sagnon, N'Fale, Vernick, Kenneth D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England eLife Science Publications, Ltd 23.06.2017; eLife Sciences Publications Ltd; eLife Sciences Publication; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subjects: Africa; Alleles; Animals; Anopheles; Anopheles - genetics; Anopheles - parasitology; Anopheles gambiae; Behavior, Animal; Chromosome Inversion; chromosome rearrangement; Chromosomes; Chromosomes, Insect; Culicidae; Disease susceptibility; Disease transmission; Epidemiology and Global Health; Gene expression; Gene polymorphism; Genetic aspects; Genomics and Evolutionary Biology; Geography; Health aspects; Host-Parasite Interactions; host-pathogen interactions; Humans; insect vector; Insecticides; Inversion; Life Sciences; Malaria; Malaria - transmission; Microbiology and Parasitology; Mosquito Vectors - genetics; Mosquito Vectors - parasitology; Mosquitoes; Observations; Parasites; Parasitology; Plasmodium; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - growth & development; Population genetics; Recombination; Vectors; Africa; Kenya; West Africa; global health; Plasmodium; epidemiology; Anopheles; host-pathogen interactions; insect vector; evolutionary biology; chromosome rearrangement; genomics; malaria
• ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
• DOI: 10.7554/eLife.25813

Chromosome inversions suppress genetic recombination and establish co-adapted gene complexes, or supergenes. The 2La inversion is a widespread polymorphism in the species complex, the major African mosquito vectors of human malaria. Here we show that alleles of the 2La inversion are associated with natural malaria infection levels in wild-captured vectors from West and East Africa. Mosquitoes carrying the more-susceptible allele (2L+ ) are also behaviorally less likely to be found inside houses. Vector control tools that target indoor-resting mosquitoes, such as bednets and insecticides, are currently the cornerstone of malaria control in Africa. Populations with high levels of the 2L+ allele may form reservoirs of persistent outdoor malaria transmission requiring novel measures for surveillance and control. The 2La inversion is a major and previously unappreciated component of the natural malaria transmission system in Africa, influencing both malaria susceptibility and vector behavior.