The Anopheles stephensi odorant binding protein 1 (AsteObp1) gene: A new molecular marker for biological forms diagnosis

Anopheles (Cellia) stephensi Liston 1901 is known as an Asian malaria vector. Three biological forms,namely “mysorensis”, “intermediate”, and “type” have been earlier reported in this species. Nevertheless,the present morphological and molecular information is insufficient to diagnose these forms. During thisinvestigation, An. stephensi biological forms were morphologically identified and sequenced for odorant-binding protein 1 (Obp1) gene. Also, intron I sequences were used to construct phylogenetic trees. Despitenucleotide sequence variation in exon of AsteObp1, nearly 100% identity was observed at the aminoacid level among the three biological forms. In order to overcome difficulties in using egg morphologycharacters, intron I sequences of An. stephensi Obp1 opens new molecular way to the identification of themain Asian malaria vector biological forms. However, multidisciplinary studies are needed to establishthe taxonomic status of An. stephensi