Response of mosquito larvae to changes in hypoxia signaling

Mosquito larvae require a reduction in gut oxygen levels (induced hypoxia) to successfully molt between instars. In natural environments, this hypoxia is generated by the consumption of oxygen by aerobically respiring microbes in the gut. This signal activates the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) pathway leading to expression of response genes. To identify the genes that are induced or repressed by hypoxia, we indirectly activated or suppressed hypoxia by rearing mosquitoes with aerobic, wild-type E. coli (K12) or with E. coli encoding a defective cytochrome oxidase. We directly manipulated HIF signaling using pharmacological agents that activated or suppressed HIF signaling. This work will identify genes that are essential for responding to hypoxia and necessary for successful molting in mosquitoes.