{
  "abstract": "Elucidating the biological and molecular mechanisms that govern male fertility and mating behavior in mosquitoes is critical for optimizing genetic and sterile insect technique-based vector control strategies. Here, we examined age-related changes in male reproductive capacity in Anopheles culicifacies, using female egg output as an indirect indicator of male fertility. Our results demonstrated that male reproductive age follows a non-linear pattern of fertility. Morphometric analysis from emergence to day 13 post-eclosion revealed a strong correlation between seminal vesicle capacity and female fecundity, suggesting that age-dependent gonadal development directly influences reproductive potential. At the molecular level, we identified AcLITAF6 as a key regulator of male reproductive homeostasis. RNAi-mediated knockdown of AcLITAF6 impaired apoptosis-associated and phagocytic clearance, reduced sperm viability, and decreased female productive outcomes. Conclusively, we reveal a previously unrecognized role of LITAF in sperm quality control and male reproductive fitness, highlighting AcLITAF6 as a potential target for mosquito population suppression strategies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Delhi, India"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "P. Rohilla"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Saini"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Srivastava"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Yadav"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Sankhala"
    },
    {
      "name": "T. Singh"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Sharma"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Tandon"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Tyagi"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Rani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "R. Dixit"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5htamg468zvkh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.08.31.748190",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748190v1.full",
  "id": "5htamg468zvkh",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748190v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "developmental biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2743|Sperm and Testicular Function"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204966235",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748190v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5htamg468zvkh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:11Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.08.31.748190",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748190v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:developmental biology",
      "subfield": "developmental-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Male Age and Sexual Maturity: Lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor influences sperm quality and reproduction in Anopheles culicifacies",
  "title_text": "Male Age and Sexual Maturity: Lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor influences sperm quality and reproduction in Anopheles culicifacies",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:11Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5htamg468zvkh",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}