Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pavia.
Department of Chemistry - C.S.G.I., University of Pavia; Centro Interdipartimentale di Studi e Ricerche per la Conservazione del Patrimonio Culturale (CISRiC), University of Pavia.
Eur J Histochem. 2022 Sep 20;66(4):3462. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2022.3462.
Autofluorescence (AF) in mosquitoes is currently poorly explored, despite its great potential as a marker of body structures and biological functions. Here, for the first time AF in larval heads of two mosquitoes of key public health importance, Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens, is studied using fluorescence imaging and spectrofluorometry, similarly to a label-free histochemical approach. In generally conserved distribution patterns, AF shows differences between mouth brushes and antennae of the two species. The blue AF ascribable to resilin at the antennal bases, more extended in Cx. pipiens, suggests a potential need to support different antennal movements. The AF spectra larger in Cx. pipiens indicate a variability in material composition and properties likely relatable to mosquito biology, including diverse feeding and locomotion behaviours with implications for vector control.
尽管在蚊虫的自体荧光（AF）作为身体结构和生物功能的标志物方面具有很大的潜力，但目前对其研究甚少。本研究首次利用荧光成像和荧光分光光度法研究了两种重要的公共卫生蚊虫（白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊）幼虫头部的 AF，这与无标记的组织化学方法类似。在通常保守的分布模式中，AF 在两种物种的口刷和触角之间显示出差异。触角基部的蓝色 AF 归因于弹性蛋白，在 Cx. pipiens 中更为延伸，表明可能需要支撑不同的触角运动。Cx. pipiens 的 AF 光谱较大，表明材料组成和性质存在差异，这可能与蚊子生物学有关，包括不同的取食和运动行为，这对病媒控制具有重要意义。
