Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (AS-PCR) Assay to Detect Knockdown and Acetylcholinesterase Mutations in Anopheles superpictus

Abstract

The study aims to determine the presence of L1014F, L1014S, L1014C alleles, which are responsible for knockdown resistance and Ace-1 G119S alleles, which are responsible for acetylcholinesterase insensitivity in Anopheles superpictus, the secondary vector of malaria in Turkey. In this study, 60 Anopheles superpictus adult females were collected from Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla provinces. Then, allele-specific primers for kdr L1014F, L1014S, and L1014C alleles, and the Ace-1 G119S allele were designed. The presence of these alleles was screened in three Anopheles superpictus populations by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Although L1014S allele frequency was too low in Aydın, Muğla, and Denizli populations, neither kdr L1014F and L1014C nor Ace-1 G119S mutations were found in any population. In this study, kdr L1014S mutation was detected for the first time in the Aegean Anopheles superpictus populations.