This Project Grant award, provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (CFDA 93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research), aims to obtain a mechanistic understanding of extracellular vesicle (EV) function in the mosquito immune system. The $648,924 award to Iowa State University seeks to define the roles of mosquito EVs in recognizing Plasmodium malaria parasites and activating/priming mosquito immune cells (hemocytes). The 5-year project, running from February 2025 to January 2030, will examine how different EV biogenesis pathways, molecular contents, and single-cell immune responses contribute to mosquito immune function and vector competence for malaria transmission. The expected outcomes are expected to provide new insights into the previously unexplored roles of EVs in pathogen recognition and immune cell activation across invertebrate systems, which may inform strategies to manipulate mosquito immunity and interrupt malaria transmission.
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