Rapamycin inhibits pathogen transmission in mosquitoes by promoting immune activation.

摘要: Repeated blood meals provide essential nutrients for mosquito egg development and routes pathogen transmission. The target of rapamycin, the TOR pathway, is vitellogenesis. However, its influence on transmission remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that an inhibitor effectively suppresses Plasmodium berghei infection in Anopheles stephensi. An. stephensi injected with rapamycin or feeding rapamycin-treated mice showed increased resistance P. infection. Exposing a rapamycin-coated surface not only decreased numbers both oocysts sporozoites but also impaired survival fecundity. Transcriptome analysis revealed inhibitory effect parasite was through enhanced activation immune responses, especially NF-κB transcription factor REL2, regulator pathway complement system. Knockdown REL2 mosquitoes abrogated induction complement-like proteins TEP1 SPCLIP1 abolished rapamycin-mediated refractoriness Together, these findings demonstrate key role regulating thereby influencing vector competence.