Hemolymph Circulation in Mosquitoes

昆虫利用一个开放的循环系统在全身运输营养物质、废物和信号分子。昆虫的循环系统还具有体温调节、促进呼吸和免疫因子循环的功能，这些免疫因子可以检查组织中是否有外来入侵者。昆虫的循环系统由血淋巴（血液）、称为血腔的开放体腔和一系列泵组成，其中主要的泵是一个肌肉背血管，分为胸主动脉和腹心。虽然最近的一些工作集中在昆虫心脏的生理学上，但对血淋巴流动知之甚少。因此，本研究的目的是表征整个蚊子血淋巴循环的机制。目的1将采用新的基于荧光的活体成像方法定性和定量地绘制这种昆虫所有区域的血淋巴循环。目的2将评估副搏动器官在血淋巴推进中的作用。目的3将确定心律和血淋巴电流在各种生理条件下的变化。最后，目标4将测试蚊子感染如何影响循环生理。该研究将对昆虫循环生理学领域做出重要贡献，并将创建任何昆虫的第一个血淋巴循环定量图。此外，这项研究将在蚊子中进行，蚊子是一种社会和生态上重要的昆虫群体，因为它们是害虫和病原体的传播者。由于血淋巴循环影响杀虫剂在整个蚊子体内的传播，以及病原体在传播前的专性迁移，因此更好地了解血淋巴循环有助于开发新的病虫害控制策略。除了其科学价值外，该项目还将培养生物学研究方面的研究生和本科生。

Insects employ an open circulatory system for the transport of nutrients, wastes, and signaling molecules throughout the body. The insect circulatory system also functions in thermoregulation, promoting respiration, and the circulation of immune factors that survey tissues for foreign invaders. The insect circulatory system consists of hemolymph (blood), an open body cavity called the hemocoel, and a series of pumps, with the primary pump being a muscular dorsal vessel that is divided into a thoracic aorta and an abdominal heart. While some recent work has focused on the physiology of the insect heart, little is known about hemolymph flow. Thus, the goal of this research is to characterize the mechanics of hemolymph circulation throughout the mosquito hemocoel. Objective 1 will employ novel fluorescence-based intravital imaging methods to qualitatively and quantitatively map hemolymph circulation in all regions of this insect. Objective 2 will assess the role accessory pulsatile organs play in hemolymph propulsion. Objective 3 will determine how heart rhythms and hemolymph currents change under various physiological conditions. Finally, objective 4 will test how mosquito infection affects circulatory physiology. The research will make critical contributions to the field of insect circulatory physiology and will create the first quantitative map of hemolymph circulation in any insect. Furthermore, this research will be carried out in mosquitoes, a socially and ecologically important insect group because of their role as pests and pathogen transmitters. Because hemolymph circulation affects the dissemination of insecticides throughout the mosquito body, as well as the obligate migration of pathogens prior to their transmission, a better understanding of hemolymph circulation could contribute to the development of novel pest and disease control strategies. In addition to its scientific merit, this project will result in the training of graduate and undergraduate students in biological research.