European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. dimopoulos@embl-heidelberg.de
Anopheles gambiae, the most important vector of malaria, employs its innate immune system in the fight against Plasmodium. This can affect the propagative capacity of Plasmodium in the vector and, in some cases, leads to total refractoriness to the parasite. The components operating in the mosquito's innate immune system and their potential relevance to antimalarial responses are being systematically dissected.