Anti-mosquito egg antibodies reduce the fecundity and viability in malaria vector Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Insecta)

Egg proteins mainly the vitellogens when used as antigen, produce the antibodies which have the capacity to check the mosquito population when ingested along with the blood. Total, 50.9% reduction in fecundity and 33.2% increase in mortality was observed in A. stephensi mosquito fed on the rabbit immunized with egg proteins. Three polypeptides of mol. Wt. 100, 49 and 20.5 kDa were identified by western blotting. Out of them, 100 kDa seems to be the most immunogenic.