Characterization of mosquito aquaporins

Aquaporins, membrane channels that transport water and other small solutes across cell membranes, are found in all multi cellular organisms. They play an important role in insect diuresis. This project focuses on the aquaporin gene families of two important disease vector mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. Using a reverse genetics RNA interference approach in combination with diuresis and a dessication bioassays, we performed a functional characterization of all members of these families in adult female mosquitoes.