Molecular interactions between Plasmodium and its insect vectors

Our understanding of the intricate interactions between the malarial parasite and the mosquito vector is complicated both by the number and diversity of parasite and vector species, and by the experimental inaccessibility of phenomena under investigation. Steady developments in techniques to study the parasite in the mosquito have recently been augmented by methods to culture in their entirety the sporogonic stages of some parasite species. These, together with the new saturation technologies, and genetic transformation of both parasite and vector will permit penetrating studies into an exciting and largely unknown area of parasite-host interactions, an understanding of which must result in the development of new intervention strategies. This microreview highlights key areas of current basic molecular interest, and identifies numerous lacunae in our knowledge that must be filled if we are to make rational decisions for future control strategies. It will conclude by trying to explain why in the opinion of this reviewer understanding malaria-mosquito interactions may be critical to our future attempts to limit a disease of growing global importance.