A historical review of the F-1 strain of Anopheles freeborni as a host and vector for studies of malaria.

A review was made of the use of a specific strain of Anopheles freeborni from California (F-1) that has been used extensively in experimental investigations of malaria for more than 50 years. The F-1 strain of An. freeborni has been shown to be a suitable experimental host and vector for different species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans and nonhuman primates for biologic, immunologic, and chemotherapeutic studies. Eleven species of Plasmodium fully completed sporogonic development; development of sporozoites within mature oocysts occurred in an additional 7 species. Transmission through An. freeborni from human to human, monkey to human, or monkey to monkey has been demonstrated for 9 species of Plasmodium.