Last Updated: 02/09/2025

Reaction mechanism of action and research in nitroquine TEP1 Anopheles induced blackening coating

Objectives

To use the Anopheles stephensi-Plasmodium yoelii model to observe the binding of nitroquine-induced TEP1 recognition molecules to Plasmodium by laser confocal at the protein level, and to activate the PPO cascade in vitro.

Principal Institution

Army Medical University, China

Principal Investigators / Focal Persons

Jian Zhang

Rationale and Abstract

An ideal antimalarial drug should be able to kill both the red and infrared stages of Plasmodium, and to block the transmission of Plasmodium by Anopheles mosquitoes. However, the current research on antimalarial drugs is mainly limited to intra-red and infrared stage Plasmodium, and it is unclear whether it can block the development of Plasmodium in mosquitoes. Our previous study found that the antimalarial drug – nitroquine can induce the melanization of Anopheles mosquitoes against Plasmodium yoelii, thereby blocking the development of Plasmodium in mosquitoes. Therefore, on the basis of previous research, this project plans to use the Anopheles stephensi-Plasmodium yoelii model to observe the binding of nitroquine-induced TEP1 recognition molecules to Plasmodium by laser confocal at the protein level, and to activate the PPO cascade in vitro. Reaction experiments were conducted to explore the mechanism of nitroquine-induced melanization in mosquitoes. In addition, RNAi experiments were used to inhibit the expression of TEP1 recognition molecule at the gene level to observe whether it could inhibit nitroquine-induced melanization of Anopheles mosquitoes against Plasmodium. To explore the mechanism of whether nitroquine further induces the melanization of Anopheles mosquitoes by activating the TEP1 molecule and activating the PPO cascade. This not only provides a theoretical basis for the use of antimalarial drugs in the field, but also provides an effective and new way for the design and screening of new antimalarial drugs, which will play an important role in establishing an effective malaria control strategy.