MAPK1 and infection: The provision of small molecule inhibitors of MEK in the blood meal reproducibly reduced ERK activation in the A. stephensi midgut and enhanced nitric oxide synthase (NOS) transcription within 24 h after infection, resulting in the production of inflammatory levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the midgut lumen [23] that are directly toxic to P. falciparum[24] and leading to significant reductions in oocyst numbers on the midgut epithelium [21].