Clarifying the role of the innate immune system of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae is a potential way to block the development of the Plasmodium parasites. Pathogen recognition is the first step of innate immune response, where pattern recognition proteins like GNBPs play a central role. We analysed 70 sequences of the protein coding gene GNBPB2 from two species, Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) and An. coluzzii, collected in six African countries. We detected 135 segregating sites defining 63 distinct haplotypes and 30 proteins. Mean nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.014 for both species. We found no significant genetic differentiation between species, but a significant positive correlation between genetic differentiation and geographical distance among populations. Species status seems to contribute less for the molecular differentiation in GNBPB2 than geographical region in the African continent (West and East). Purifying selection was found to be the most common form of selection, as in many other immunity-related genes. Diversifying selection may be also operating in the GNBPB2 gene.

Despite advances in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, there is still a high percentage of patients who fail to respond or develop resistance to treatment. Establishing robust in vitro melanoma models will enable mechanism-based drug screening while reducing animal testing. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) melanoma skin model (3DMSM) was developed on a porous scaffold. The culture of three melanoma cell lines (SKMEL-1, A375, and G361) in co-culture with human fibroblasts, melanocytes, and keratinocytes allowed the formation of the dermis, and stratified epidermis. Tumors were established in this model using two methodologies: adding previously formed melanoma cell aggregates (CA) or seeding melanoma cells directly into the dermis (CD). In this model, melanoma cells remain in their original microenvironment and, after proliferation, invade the basal layer. The model recapitulates correct melanocyte localization, epidermal disruption, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, including collagen deposition, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, the cytokine profiles studied indicate that the model could mirror the inflammatory and immune-evasive traits of melanoma. Overall, 3DMSM provides a useful tool for understanding the mechanisms of melanoma progression and invasion, and for developing personalized medicine strategies through the implementation of a patient-derived model.