Comparative susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum of the molecular forms M and S of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis Ndiath, M. O. /Cohuet, Anna Gaye, A. Konate, L. Mazenot, C. Faye, O. /Boudin, Christian /Sokhna, Cheikh /Trape, Jean-François Background: The different taxa belonging to Anopheles gambiae complex display phenotypic differences that may impact their contribution to malaria transmission. More specifically, their susceptibility to infection, resulting from a co-evolution between parasite and vector, might be different. The aim of this study was to compare the susceptibility of M and S molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis to infection by Plasmodium falciparum. Methods: F3 progenies of Anopheles gambiae s.l. collected in Senegal were infected, using direct membrane feeding, with P. falciparum gametocyte-containing blood sampled on volunteer patients. The presence of oocysts was determined by light microscopy after 7 days, and the presence of sporozoite by ELISA after 14 days. Mosquito species and molecular forms were identified by PCR. Results: The oocyst rate was significantly higher in the molecular S form (79.07%) than in the M form (57.81%, Fisher's exact test p < 0.001) and in Anopheles arabiensis (55.38%, Fisher's exact test vs. S group p < 0.001). Mean +/- s.e. m. number of oocyst was greater in the An. gambiae S form (1.72 +/- 0.26) than in the An. gambiae M form (0.64 +/- 0.04, p < 0.0001) and in the An. arabiensis group (0.58 +/- 0.04, vs. S group, p < 0.0001). Sporozoite rate was also higher in the molecular form S (83.52%) than in form M (50.98%, Fisher's exact test p < 0.001) and Anopheles arabiensis 50.85%, Fisher's exact test vs. S group p < 0.001). Conclusion: Infected in the same experimental conditions, the molecular form S of An. gambiae is more susceptible to infection by P. falciparum than the molecular form M of An. gambiae and An. arabiensis. 2011 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053882 fdi:010053882 Ndiath M. O., Cohuet Anna, Gaye A., Konate L., Mazenot C., Faye O., Boudin Christian, Sokhna Cheikh, Trape Jean-François. Comparative susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum of the molecular forms M and S of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis. 2011, 10, 269 EN