"Ammonia Regulation in Aedes taeniorhynchus, a Salt-Water Mosquito" by Joseph Edmonds

Date of Award

Spring 5-25-2025

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Biology

Department

Biology

Advisor

Dr. Marjorie Patrick

Abstract

The salt tolerant mosquito species Aedes taeniorhynchus has been observed in high salinity and ammonia conditions. Previous studies indicate Na+/K+ ATPase (NKA), the proton pump vacuolar-type H+ ATPase (VHA) and sodium-dependent cation-chloride cotransporters (NKCC’s) in sodium secretion in larval Aedes taeniorhynchus. However ammonia transporter such as Rh-protein, Amt1, and Amt2 have only been characterized in Aedes taeniorhynchus’s fresh water relative Aedes aegypti. Our research exhibits the expression of these transporters in A.taeniorhynchus using immunohistochemistry techniques. Evidence of VHA and NKA function in ammonia transport was characterized in vivo using drug antagonists in varying saline and ammonia concentrations. Ammonia flux rates and hemolymph concentrations showed lower concentrations of salinity corresponding to higher ammonia flux rates. Drug antagonist experiments revealed ammonia flux was more dependent on the inhibition of NKA rather than VHA. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo results exhibit possible novel mechanisms of ammonia secretion needed to be explored further.

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