Figure 1.
Diversity of ways in which non-genetic factors may influence mosquito competence for malaria parasites.
The net effect of these factors on vector competence will depend on how they affect both the parasite's ability to establish and develop in the insect host and the mosquito's ability to resist and/or tolerate the infection. All pictures downloaded from Wikipedia except the photo illustrating the vertebrate hosts (credit: Thierry Lefèvre) and the mosquito (credit: Nil Rahola).
Table 1.
Existing evidence for non-genetic influences on mosquito competence for malaria parasites.
Figure 2.
Complex environmental mediation of mosquito competence for malaria parasites.
Environmental factors such as temperature and diet can affect parasite development and mosquito physiological state and immune response, which can all interact with microbial symbionts and other co-infecting parasites. Because physiological feedbacks modulate behavior, the potential exists for the mosquito to adjust some environmental conditions (diet, temperature) to optimize its microbial interactions and immune function and to increase its resistance to infection. Alternatively, malaria parasites might manipulate host behaviors (e.g., feeding, thermal behavior) to their own benefit. Modified from Ponton et al. [47].
Figure 3.
Disentangling the influence of host genotype, parasite genotype, environment, and interactions.