Abstract:
Anopheles stephensi is a major malaria vector in the Eastern Africa, Middle East, and
Indian subcontinent. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and odorant receptors (ORs)
are major part of the olfactory system of An. stephensi required for the feeding, host
seeking and oviposition. This study entails the identification of the OBPs and ORs of
An. stephensi for the first time. Further, prediction of gene structure, chromosomal
distribution, and subcellular localization of OBPs and ORs were carried out along with
the phylogenetic, syntenic and motif analyses. Further, computational characterization
of OBPs and ORs was carried out to determine the three-dimensional structures. To
identify the attractants and repellents of An. stephensi, pipeline designed for insect’s
and molecular docking was performed. A total of 44 OBPs and 45 ORs were identified
having close phylogenetic and homologous relationships with the Anopheles gambiae,
also a malaria vector. OBPs and ORs characterization revealed the structural
differences in OBPs and ORs. Four potential attractants and repellents of An. stephensi
were identified using molecular docking. This study provides novel insights into the
structure of OBPs and ORs of An. stephensi and identification of novel attractants and
repellents to control the An. stephensi using integrated mosquito management (IMM)
