@article{fdi:010037892,
  title = {{P}olymorphism at the defensin gene in the {A}nopheles gambiae complex : testing different selection hypotheses},
  author = {{S}imard, {F}r{\'e}d{\'e}ric and {L}icht, {M}. and {B}esansky, {N}. {J}. and {L}ehmann, {T}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{G}enetic variation in defensin, a gene encoding a major effector molecule of insects immune response was analyzed within and between populations of three members of the {A}nopheles gambiae complex. {T}he species selected included the two anthropophilic species, {A}n. gambiae and {A}n. arabiensis and the most zoophilic species of the complex, {A}n. quadriannulatus. {T}he first species was represented by four populations spanning its extreme genetic and geographical ranges, whereas each of the other two species was represented by a single population. {W}e found (i) reduced overall polymorphism in the mature peptide region and in the total coding region, together with specific reductions in rare and moderately frequent mutations (sites) in the coding region compared with non-coding regions, (ii) markedly reduced rate of non-synonymous diversity compared with synonymous variation in the mature peptide and virtually identical mature peptide across the three species, and (iii) increased divergence between species in the mature peptide together with reduced differentiation between populations of {A}n. gambiae in the same {DNA} region. {T}hese patterns suggest a strong purifying selection on the mature peptide and probably the whole coding region. {B}ecause {A}n. quadriannulatus is not exposed to human pathogens, identical mature peptide and similar pattern of polymorphism across species implies that human pathogens played no role as selective agents on this peptide.},
  keywords = {{A}nopheles gambiae ; {A}frica ; malaria ; vector ; arthropod ; immunity ; defensin ; evolution ; polymorphism ; selection},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nfection {G}enetics and {E}volution},
  volume = {7},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {285--292},
  ISSN = {1567-1348},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.meegid.2006.11.004},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010037892},
}