Dietary L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) augments cuticular melanization in Anopheles mosquitos reducing their lifespan and malaria burden

Emma Camacho, Yuemei Dong, Christine Chrissian, Radames J. B. Cordero, Raúl G. Saraiva, Yesseinia Anglero-Rodriguez, Daniel F. Q. Smith, Ella Jacobs, Isabella Hartshorn, J. Alberto Patiño-Medina, Michael DePasquale, Amanda Dziedzic, Anne Jedlicka, Barbara Smith, Godfree Mlambo, Abhai Tripathi, Nichole A. Broderick, Ruth E. Stark, George Dimopoulos and Arturo Casadevall ()
Additional contact information
Emma Camacho: Johns Hopkins University
Yuemei Dong: Johns Hopkins University
Christine Chrissian: City College of New York
Radames J. B. Cordero: Johns Hopkins University
Raúl G. Saraiva: Johns Hopkins University
Yesseinia Anglero-Rodriguez: Johns Hopkins University
Daniel F. Q. Smith: Johns Hopkins University
Ella Jacobs: Johns Hopkins University
Isabella Hartshorn: Johns Hopkins University
J. Alberto Patiño-Medina: Johns Hopkins University
Michael DePasquale: Johns Hopkins University
Amanda Dziedzic: Johns Hopkins University
Anne Jedlicka: Johns Hopkins University
Barbara Smith: Johns Hopkins University
Godfree Mlambo: Johns Hopkins University
Abhai Tripathi: Johns Hopkins University
Nichole A. Broderick: Johns Hopkins University
Ruth E. Stark: City College of New York
George Dimopoulos: Johns Hopkins University
Arturo Casadevall: Johns Hopkins University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), a naturally occurring tyrosine derivative, is prevalent in environments that include mosquito habitats, potentially serving as part of their diet. Given its role as a precursor for melanin synthesis we investigate the effect of dietary L-DOPA on mosquito physiology and immunity to Plasmodium falciparum and Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Dietary L-DOPA is incorporated into mosquito melanin via a non-canonical pathway and has a profound transcriptional effect associated with enhanced immunity, increased pigmentation, and reduced lifespan. Increased melanization results in an enhanced capacity to absorb electromagnetic radiation that affects mosquito temperatures. Bacteria in the mosquito microbiome act as sources of dopamine, a substrate for melanization. Our results illustrate how an environmentally abundant amino acid analogue can affect mosquito physiology and suggest its potential usefulness as an environmentally friendly vector control agent to reduce malaria transmission, warranting further research and field studies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63077-y

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