This thesis is concerned with the study of olfactory systems in both larval and adult mosquitoes. In this dissertation I cloned the first odorant receptor from mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus and localized the receptor proteins to the olfactory organs of the mosquito. By utilizing a sensitive behavioral assay, I also identified a range of odorant-specific responses that are dependent on the integrity of the Anopheles gambiae larval antennae. Parallel molecular studies further identified a subset of odorant receptors localized to larval antennae and these receptors could confer responses to all behaviorally active compounds when expressed in xenopus oocytes. My research may ultimately enhance the development of vector control strategies, targeting olfactory pathways in both larval and adult mosquitoes to reduce the catastrophic effects of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-11102008-012303 |
| Date | 10 November 2008 |
| Creators | Xia, Yuanfeng |
| Contributors | Laurence J Zwiebel, James G. Parton, Ronald Emeson, Bruce Appel, Clint E Carter |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-11102008-012303/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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