Publications

annotation and analysis of low-complexity protein families of anopheles gambiae that are associated with cuticle.	we have characterized four new families of homologous genes of the mosquito, anopheles gambiae, all of which include members shown by previous work to be cuticular in nature. the cplcg, cplcw, cplcp, and cplca families (where cplc is 'cuticular protein of low complexity') encode proteins with a high proportion of low-complexity sequence. we have also annotated the an. gambiae tweedle genes, a family of cuticular protein genes first described in drosophila, and additional ungrouped an. gambiae cu ...	2009	19754739
the ig domain protein cd9p-1 down-regulates cd81 ability to support plasmodium yoelii infection.	invasion of hepatocytes by plasmodium sporozoites is a prerequisite for establishment of a malaria natural infection. the molecular mechanisms underlying sporozoite invasion are largely unknown. we have previously reported that cd81 is required on hepatocytes for infection by plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium yoelii sporozoites. cd81 belongs to the tetraspanin superfamily of transmembrane proteins. by interacting with each other and with other transmembrane proteins, tetraspanins may play a r ...	2009	19762465
altered immune responses in rhesus macaques co-infected with siv and plasmodium cynomolgi: an animal model for coincident aids and relapsing malaria.	dual epidemics of the malaria parasite plasmodium and hiv-1 in sub-saharan africa and asia present a significant risk for co-infection in these overlapping endemic regions. recent studies of hiv/plasmodium falciparum co-infection have reported significant interactions of these pathogens, including more rapid cd4+ t cell loss, increased viral load, increased immunosuppression, and increased episodes of clinical malaria. here, we describe a novel rhesus macaque model for co-infection that supports ...	2009	19774084
larvicidal & emergence inhibitory activities of neemazal t/s 1.2 per cent ec against vectors of malaria, filariasis & dengue.	vector control, using agents of chemical origin, continues to be practiced in the control of vector borne diseases. however, due to some drawbacks including lack of selectivity, environmental contamination, and emergence and spread of vector resistance, development of natural products for vector control has been a priority in this area. in the present study we evaluated the larvicidal and emergence inhibitory activities of a neem based formulation neem azal t/s 1.2 per cent ec against the vector ...	2009	19797810
imidazoquines as antimalarial and antipneumocystis agents.	peptidomimetic imidazolidin-4-one derivatives of primaquine (imidazoquines) recently displayed in vitro activity against blood schizonts of a chloroquine-resistant strain of plasmodium falciparum. preliminary studies with a subset of such imidazoquines showed them to both block transmission of p. berghei malaria from mouse to mosquito and be highly stable toward hydrolysis at physiological conditions. this prompted us to have deeper insight into the activity of imidazoquines against both plasmod ...	2009	19799426
widespread distribution of a newly found point mutation in voltage-gated sodium channel in pyrethroid-resistant aedes aegypti populations in vietnam.	resistance of aedes aegypti to photostable pyrethroid insecticides is a major problem for disease-vector control programs. pyrethroids target the voltage-gated sodium channel on the insects' neurons. single amino acid substitutions in this channel associated with pyrethroid resistance are one of the main factors that cause knockdown resistance in insects. although kdr has been observed in several mosquito species, point mutations in the para gene have not been fully characterized in ae. aegypti ...	2009	19806205
interaction between short-term heat pretreatment and avermectin on 2nd instar larvae of diamondback moth, plutella xylostella (linn).	based on the cooperative virulence index (c.f.), the interaction effect between short-term heat pretreatment and avermectin on 2(nd) instar larvae of diamondback moth (dbm), plutella xylostella (linnaeus), was assessed. the results suggested that the interaction results between short-term heat pretreatment and avermectin on the tested insects varied with temperature level as well as its duration and avermectin concentration. interaction between heat pretreatment at 30 degrees c and avermectin ma ...	2009	19809544
transgenesis and paratransgenesis to control insect-borne diseases: current status and future challenges.	insect-borne diseases cause significant human morbidity and mortality. current control and preventive methods against vector-borne diseases rely mainly on insecticides. the emergence of insecticide resistance in many disease vectors highlights the necessity to develop new strategies to control these insects. vector transgenesis and paratransgenesis are novel strategies that aim at reducing insect vectorial capacity, or seek to eliminate transmission of pathogens such as plasmodium sp., trypanoso ...	2010	19819346
anopheles mortality is both age- and plasmodium-density dependent: implications for malaria transmission.	daily mortality is an important determinant of a vector's ability to transmit pathogens. original simplifying assumptions in malaria transmission models presume vector mortality is independent of age, infection status and parasite load. previous studies illustrate conflicting evidence as to the importance of plasmodium-induced vector mortality, but very few studies to date have considered the effect of infection density on mosquito survival.	2009	19822012
biologically active natural products of the genus callicarpa.	about 20 species from callicarpa have reported ethnobotanical and ethnomedical uses, and several members of this genus are well known in the traditional medical systems of china and south asia. ethnomedical reports indicate their use in the treatment of hepatitis, rheumatism, fever, headache, indigestion, and other ailments. several species of callicarpa have been reported to be used against cancer (e.g., callicarpa americana root to treat skin cancer and callicarpa rubella bark to treat tumors ...	0	19830264
amaranthus oleracea and euphorbia hirta: natural potential larvicidal agents against the urban indian malaria vector, anopheles stephensi liston (diptera: culicidae).	malaria control in developing countries is based largely on vector eradication by the use of mosquito larvicides which is an ideal method for controlling mosquito and the related epidemics. on account of ecohazardous nature, nontarget specificity of chemical insecticides and evidences of developing resistance against them in the exposed species, currently, importance of secondary plant metabolites has been acknowledged. insecticides of plant origin are environmentally safe, degradable, and targe ...	2009	19838734
study of kinetic parameters for the production of recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein.	gene expression in insect cells is an advantageous system for recombinant protein production, mainly because of its capacity to produce complex proteins with correct post-translational modifications. recently, we identified and purified a protein from lonomia obliqua hemolymph able to increase the production of rabies virus glycoprotein, expressed in drosophila melanogaster cells, by about 60%. in this work, the kinetic parameters for cell growth and recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein product ...	2009	19842054
managing insecticide resistance in malaria vectors by combining carbamate-treated plastic wall sheeting and pyrethroid-treated bed nets.	pyrethroid resistance is now widespread in anopheles gambiae, the major vector for malaria in sub-saharan africa. this resistance may compromise malaria vector control strategies that are currently in use in endemic areas. in this context, a new tool for management of resistant mosquitoes based on the combination of a pyrethroid-treated bed net and carbamate-treated plastic sheeting was developed.	2009	19843332
authentication scheme for routine verification of genetically similar laboratory colonies: a trial with anopheles gambiae.	when rearing morphologically indistinguishable laboratory strains concurrently, the threat of unintentional genetic contamination is constant. avoidance of accidental mixing of strains is difficult due to the use of common equipment, technician error, or the possibility of self relocation by adult mosquitoes ("free fliers"). in many cases, laboratory strains are difficult to distinguish because of morphological and genetic similarity, especially when laboratory colonies are isolates of certain t ...	2009	19849838
prime-boost immunization with adenoviral and modified vaccinia virus ankara vectors enhances the durability and polyfunctionality of protective malaria cd8+ t-cell responses.	protection against liver-stage malaria relies on the induction of high frequencies of antigen-specific cd8+ t cells. we have previously reported high protective levels against mouse malaria, albeit short-lived, by a single vaccination with adenoviral vectors coding for a liver-stage antigen (me.trap). here, we report that prime-boost regimens using modified vaccinia virus ankara (mva) and adenoviral vectors encoding me.trap can enhance both short- and long-term sterile protection against malaria ...	2010	19858306
neither mosquito saliva nor immunity to saliva has a detectable effect on the infectivity of plasmodium sporozoites injected into mice.	malaria infection is initiated when a female anopheles mosquito probing for blood injects saliva, together with sporozoites, into the skin of its mammalian host. prior studies had suggested that saliva may enhance sporozoite infectivity. using rodent malaria models (plasmodium berghei and p. yoelii), we were unable to show that saliva had any detectable effect on sporozoite infectivity. this is encouraging for plans to immunize humans with washed, attenuated p. falciparum sporozoites because man ...	2010	19884338
effect of synergist piperonyl butoxide (pbo) on the toxicity of some essential oils against mosquito larvae.	effect of a known synergist piperonyl butoxide on the toxicity of steam distillate essential oils of jamarosa (cymbopogan nardus), pacholli (pogostemon pacholli), basil (ocimum basilicum), and peppermint (mentha pipreta) plant species against anopheles stephensi larvae were evaluated. the purpose of the present study was to identify the insecticidal potential of these oils against mosquito larvae. the piperonyl butoxide (pbo) was used to enhance the activity of these oils with the aim of develop ...	2009	19886173
a role for immune responses against non-cs components in the cross-species protection induced by immunization with irradiated malaria sporozoites.	immunization with irradiated plasmodium sporozoites induces sterile immunity in rodents, monkeys and humans. the major surface component of the sporozoite the circumsporozoite protein (cs) long considered as the antigen predominantly responsible for this immunity, thus remains the leading candidate antigen for vaccines targeting the parasite's pre-erythrocytic (pe) stages. however, this role for cs was questioned when we recently showed that immunization with irradiated sporozoites (irrspz) of a ...	2009	19890387
a repertoire of the dominant transcripts from the salivary glands of the blood-sucking bug, triatoma dimidiata, a vector of chagas disease.	triatoma (t.) dimidiata is a hematophagous hemiptera and a main vector of chagas disease. the saliva of this and other blood-sucking insects contains potent pharmacologically active components that assist them in counteracting the host hemostatic and inflammatory systems during blood feeding. to describe the repertoire of potential bioactive salivary molecules from this insect, a number of randomly selected transcripts from the salivary gland cdna library of t. dimidiata were sequenced and analy ...	2009	19900580
identification and characterization of odorant-binding protein 1 gene from the asian malaria mosquito, anopheles stephensi.	insect odorant-binding proteins (obps) are small, water-soluble molecules that are thought to transport the hydrophobic odorants to their receptors in the chemosensory neurones. here we report the identification and molecular characterization of the anopheles stephensi odorant-binding protein 1 gene (asteobp1), an obp1 gene in an. stephensi, a major malaria vector in asia. we show that asteobp1 and anopheles gambiae obp1 (agamobp1) are orthologues. these two genes share similar coding sequences ...	2010	19909381
a nonadjuvanted polypeptide nanoparticle vaccine confers long-lasting protection against rodent malaria.	we have designed and produced a prototypic malaria vaccine based on a highly versatile self-assembling polypeptide nanoparticle (sapn) platform that can repetitively display antigenic epitopes. we used this platform to display a tandem repeat of the b cell immunodominant repeat epitope (dppppnpn)(2)d of the malaria parasite plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein. administered in saline, without the need for a heterologous adjuvant, the sapn construct p4c-mal conferred a long-lived, protecti ...	2009	19915055
colonisation and mass rearing: learning from others.	mosquitoes, just as other insects produced for the sterile insect technique (sit), are subjected to several unnatural processes including laboratory colonisation and large-scale factory production. after these processes, sterile male mosquitoes must perform the natural task of locating and mating with wild females. therefore, the colonisation and production processes must preserve characters necessary for these functions. fortunately, in contrast to natural selection which favours a suite of cha ...	2009	19917074
radiation biology of mosquitoes.	there is currently renewed interest in assessing the feasibility of the sterile insect technique (sit) to control african malaria vectors in designated areas. the sit relies on the sterilization of males before mass release, with sterilization currently being achieved through the use of ionizing radiation. this paper reviews previous work on radiation sterilization of anopheles mosquitoes. in general, the pupal stage was irradiated due to ease of handling compared to the adult stage. the dose-re ...	2009	19917076
transgenic technologies to induce sterility.	the last few years have witnessed a considerable expansion in the number of tools available to perform molecular and genetic studies on the genome of anopheles mosquitoes, the vectors of human malaria. as a consequence, knowledge of aspects of the biology of mosquitoes, such as immunity, reproduction and behaviour, that are relevant to their ability to transmit disease is rapidly increasing, and could be translated into concrete benefits for malaria control strategies. amongst the most important ...	2009	19917077
male mating biology.	before sterile mass-reared mosquitoes are released in an attempt to control local populations, many facets of male mating biology need to be elucidated. large knowledge gaps exist in how both sexes meet in space and time, the correlation of male size and mating success and in which arenas matings are successful. previous failures in mosquito sterile insect technique (sit) projects have been linked to poor knowledge of local mating behaviours or the selection of deleterious phenotypes during colo ...	2009	19917078
visualisation and quantitative analysis of the rodent malaria liver stage by real time imaging.	the quantitative analysis of plasmodium development in the liver in laboratory animals in cultured cells is hampered by low parasite infection rates and the complicated methods required to monitor intracellular development. as a consequence, this important phase of the parasite's life cycle has been poorly studied compared to blood stages, for example in screening anti-malarial drugs. here we report the use of a transgenic p. berghei parasite, pbgfp-luc(con), expressing the bioluminescent report ...	2009	19924309
characterization of expression, activity and role in antibacterial immunity of anopheles gambiae lysozyme c-1.	there are eight lysozyme genes in the anopheles gambiae genome. transcripts of one of these genes, lysc-1, increased in anopheles gambiae cell line 4a3b by 24 h after exposure to heat-killed micrococcus luteus. lysozyme activity was also identified in conditioned media from the cell line from which the protein was purified to homogeneity using ion exchange and gel filtration. mass spectrometric analysis of the purified protein showed 100% identity to lysozyme c-1. purified lysozyme c-1 was teste ...	2010	19932188
role of plasmodium berghei cgmp-dependent protein kinase in late liver stage development.	the liver is the first organ infected by plasmodium sporozoites during malaria infection. in the infected hepatocytes, sporozoites undergo a complex developmental program to eventually generate hepatic merozoites that are released into the bloodstream in membrane-bound vesicles termed merosomes. parasites blocked at an early developmental stage inside hepatocytes elicit a protective host immune response, making them attractive targets in the effort to develop a pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine. he ...	2010	19940133
designing of a laboratory model for evaluation of the residual effects of deltamethrin (k-othrine wp 5%) on different surfaces against malaria vector, anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae).	deltamethrin plays an important role in controlling malaria vectors, and is used in indoor residual spraying and manufacture of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets. the residual activity of deltamethrin (k-othrine wp 5%) @ 25 mg/m(2) was studied in laboratory conditions on different surfaces.	2009	19959851
differential transcriptomic responses of biomphalaria glabrata (gastropoda, mollusca) to bacteria and metazoan parasites, schistosoma mansoni and echinostoma paraensei (digenea, platyhelminthes).	a 70-mer-oligonucleotide-based microarray (1152 features) that emphasizes stress and immune responses factors was constructed to study transcriptomic responses of the snail biomphalaria glabrata to different immune challenges. in addition to sequences with relevant putative id and gene ontology (go) annotation, the array features non-immune factors and unknown b. glabrata ests for functional gene discovery. the transcription profiles of b. glabrata (3 biological replicates, each a pool of 5 snai ...	2010	19962194
loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) for rapid identification of anopheles gambiae and anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes.	the main malaria vectors of sub-saharan africa, anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and anopheles arabiensis are morphologically indistinguishable, but often occur in sympatry and differ in feeding preference and vector competence. it is important to assess vector species identity for understanding the vectorial system and establishing appropriate vector control measures. the currently available species diagnosis methods for an. gambiae sensu latu require equipment to which public health practitione ...	2009	19996433
aegyptin displays high-affinity for the von willebrand factor binding site (rgqogvmgf) in collagen and inhibits carotid thrombus formation in vivo.	aegyptin is a 30 kda mosquito salivary gland protein that binds to collagen and inhibits platelet aggregation. we have studied the biophysical properties of aegyptin and its mechanism of action. light-scattering plot showed that aegyptin has an elongated monomeric form, which explains the apparent molecular mass of 110 kda estimated by gel-filtration chromatography. surface plasmon resonance identified the sequence rgqogvmgf (where o is hydroxyproline) that mediates collagen interaction with von ...	2010	20015075
infection of the malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae, with two species of entomopathogenic fungi: effects of concentration, co-formulation, exposure time and persistence.	entomopathogenic fungi metarhizium anisopliae and beauveria bassiana isolates have been shown to infect and reduce the survival of mosquito vectors.	2009	20030834
platelet aggregation inhibitors from hematophagous animals.	salivary glands from blood-sucking animals (e.g., mosquitoes, bugs, sand flies, fleas, ticks, leeches, hookworms, bats) are a rich source of bioactive molecules that counteract hemostasis in a redundant and synergistic manner. this review discusses recent progress in the identification of salivary inhibitors of platelet aggregation, their molecular characterization, and detailed mechanism of action. diversity of inhibitors is remarkable, with distinct families of proteins characterized as apyras ...	2009	20035779
the plasmodium serine-type sera proteases display distinct expression patterns and non-essential in vivo roles during life cycle progression of the malaria parasite.	parasite proteases play key roles in several fundamental steps of the plasmodium life cycle, including haemoglobin degradation, host cell invasion and parasite egress. plasmodium exit from infected host cells appears to be mediated by a class of papain-like cysteine proteases called 'serine repeat antigens' (seras). a sera subfamily, represented by plasmodium falciparum sera5, contains an atypical active site serine residue instead of a catalytic cysteine. members of this seraser subfamily are a ...	2010	20039882
a genomic glimpse of aminoacyl-trna synthetases in malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum.	plasmodium parasites are causative agents of malaria which affects >500 million people and claims approximately 2 million lives annually. the completion of plasmodium genome sequencing and availability of plasmodb database has provided a platform for systematic study of parasite genome. aminoacyl-trna synthetases (aarss) are pivotal enzymes for protein translation and other vital cellular processes. we report an extensive analysis of the plasmodium falciparum genome to identify and classify aars ...	2009	20042123
[correlation of anopheles tep1 gene with melanization induced by nitroquine].	to analyze the relationship between the tep1 gene of anopheles stephensi and melanotic encapsulation of plasmodium yoelii induced by anti-malaria drug nitroquine.	2009	20066988
a multifactorial mechanism in the superior antimalarial activity of alpha-c-galcer.	we have previously shown that the c-glycoside analog of alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-galcer), alpha-c-galcer, displays a superior inhibitory activity against the liver stages of the rodent malaria parasite plasmodium yoelii than its parental glycolipid, alpha-galcer. in this study, we demonstrate that nk cells, as well as il-12, are a key contributor for the superior activity displayed by alpha-c-galcer. surprisingly, the diminished production of th2 cytokines, including il-4, by alpha-c-galc ...	2010	20069056
synergistic and additive effects of epigallocatechin gallate and digitonin on plasmodium sporozoite survival and motility.	most medicinal plants contain a mixture of bioactive compounds, including chemicals that interact with intracellular targets and others that can act as adjuvants to facilitate absorption of polar agents across cellular membranes. however, little is known about synergistic effects between such potential drug candidates and adjuvants. to probe for such effects, we tested the green tea compound epigallocatechin gallate (egcg) and the membrane permeabilising digitonin on plasmodium sporozoite motili ...	2010	20072627
leveraging skewed transcript abundance by rna-seq to increase the genomic depth of the tree of life.	assembling the tree of life is a major goal of biology, but progress has been hindered by the difficulty and expense of obtaining the orthologous dna required for accurate and fully resolved phylogenies. next-generation dna sequencing technologies promise to accelerate progress, but sequencing the genomes of hundreds of thousands of eukaryotic species remains impractical. eukaryotic transcriptomes, which are smaller than genomes and biased toward highly expressed genes that tend to be conserved, ...	2010	20080632
structure and function of a g-actin sequestering protein with a vital role in malaria oocyst development inside the mosquito vector.	cyclase-associated proteins (caps) are evolutionary conserved g-actin-binding proteins that regulate microfilament turnover. caps have a modular structure consisting of an n-terminal adenylate cyclase binding domain, a central proline-rich segment, and a c-terminal actin binding domain. protozoan parasites of the phylum apicomplexa, such as cryptosporidium and the malaria parasite plasmodium, express small cap orthologs with homology to the c-terminal actin binding domain (c-cap). here, we demon ...	2010	20083609
factors affecting fungus-induced larval mortality in anopheles gambiae and anopheles stephensi.	entomopathogenic fungi have shown great potential for the control of adult malaria vectors. however, their ability to control aquatic stages of anopheline vectors remains largely unexplored. therefore, how larval characteristics (anopheles species, age and larval density), fungus (species and concentration) and environmental effects (exposure duration and food availability) influence larval mortality caused by fungus, was studied.	2010	20085659
deep sequencing of small rna libraries reveals dynamic regulation of conserved and novel micrornas and microrna-stars during silkworm development.	in eukaryotes, micrornas (mirnas) have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression. the silkworm (bombyx mori l.) is one of the most suitable lepidopteran insects for studying the molecular aspects of metamorphosis because of its large size, availability of mutants and genome sequence. besides, this insect also has been amply studied from a physiological and biochemical perspective. deep sequencing of small rnas isolated from different stages of silkworm is a powerful tool not only for mea ...	2010	20089182
bacterial symbionts of the brown planthopper, nilaparvata lugens (homoptera: delphacidae).	the brown planthopper (nilaparvata lugens stål), the most destructive pest of rice, has been identified, including biotypes with high virulence towards previously resistant rice varieties. there have also been many reports of a yeast-like symbiont of n. lugens, but little is known about the bacterial microbes. in this study, we examined the bacterial microbes in n. lugens and identified a total of 18 operational taxonomic units (otus) representing four phyla (proteobacteria, firmicutes, actinoba ...	2010	20097822
differential effector pathways regulate memory cd8 t cell immunity against plasmodium berghei versus p. yoelii sporozoites.	malaria results in >1,000,000 deaths per year worldwide. although no licensed vaccine exists, much effort is currently focused on subunit vaccines that elicit cd8 t cell responses directed against plasmodium parasite liver stage ags. multiple immune-effector molecules play a role in antimicrobial immunity mediated by memory cd8 t cells, including ifn-gamma, perforin, trail, fas ligand, and tnf-alpha. however, it is not known which pathways are required for memory cd8 t cell-mediated immunity aga ...	2010	20097864
comparative fitness assessment of anopheles stephensi transgenic lines receptive to site-specific integration.	genetically modified mosquitoes that are unable to transmit pathogens offer opportunities for controlling vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. site-specific gene recombination technologies are advantageous in the development of these insects because antipathogen effector genes can be inserted at integration sites in the genome that cause the least alteration in mosquito fitness. here we describe anopheles stephensi transgenic lines containing phi c31 attp'docking' sites linked to a ...	2010	20113372
a semi-automated method for counting fluorescent malaria oocysts increases the throughput of transmission blocking studies.	malaria transmission is now recognized as a key target for intervention. evaluation of the plasmodium oocyst burden in the midguts of anopheles spp. is important for many of assays investigating transmission. however, current assays are very time-consuming, manually demanding and patently subject to observer-observer variation.	2010	20113492
larvicidal activity of artemisia annua l. callus culture against anopheles stephensi larvae.	the emergence of resistance by both plasmodium falciparum and anopheles stephensi made the search for an alternative environmentally safe plant based insecticide inevitable. artemisia annua is a well known antimalarial. present study is an attempt to induce callus production from young leaves of artemisia annua plant and study its larvicidal activity against larvae of anopheles stephensi. callus was initiated by using different concentrations of auxins and cytokinins. a suitable culture media wa ...	2009	20120465
efficacy of bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki in the control of two mosquito species (anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus).	bioinsecticide bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (btk) was used for controlling the mosquito species (anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus) which gave a significant (p<0.05) mortality in both species. the higher concentration of btk was highly effective compared to the control ones. the controlling effect was dose and time dependent. among the studied mosquitoes the c. quinquefasciatus (lc5 0.154%) was more susceptible than a. stephensi (lc50 0.372%) towards the bioinsecticide btk.	2009	20120473
larvicidal activity of the extracts from different parts of the plant solanum xanthocarpum against important mosquito vectors in the arid region.	larvicidal efficacy of the aqueous and methanol extracts from green unripe and yellow ripe fruits, seeds, leaves and roots of the plant solanum xanthocarpum was evaluated against anopheles culicifacies, anopheles stephensi, aedes aegypti and culex quinquefasciatus, the important mosquito vectors prevalent in the arid region. studies were carried out on late 3rd orearly 4th instarlarvae of these species using standard who technique. based on concentration mortality data lc50 and lc90 values along ...	2009	20121022
plasmodium yoelii-infected a. stephensi inefficiently transmit malaria compared to intravenous route.	it was recently reported that when mosquitoes infected with p. berghei sporozoites feed on mice, they deposit approximately 100-300 sporozoites in the dermis. when we inoculate p. yoelii (py) sporozoites intravenously (iv) into balb/c mice, the 50% infectious dose (id(50)) is often less than 3 sporozoites, indicating that essentially all py sporozoites in salivary glands are infectious. thus, it should only take the bite of one infected mosquito to infect 100% of mice. in human subjects, it take ...	2010	20126610
life cycle studies of the hexose transporter of plasmodium species and genetic validation of their essentiality.	a plasmodium falciparum hexose transporter (pfht) has previously been shown to be a facilitative glucose and fructose transporter. its expression in xenopus laevis oocytes and the use of a glucose analogue inhibitor permitted chemical validation of pfht as a novel drug target. following recent re-annotations of the p. falciparum genome, other putative sugar transporters have been identified. to investigate further if pfht is the key supplier of hexose to p. falciparum and to extend studies to di ...	2010	20132450
high complexity of plasmodium vivax infections in symptomatic patients from a rural community in central vietnam detected by microsatellite genotyping.	fourteen published and three newly identified polymorphic microsatellites were used to genotype 69 plasmodium vivax samples obtained from 39 patients detected over a period of two years who lived in a rural community of central vietnam. all samples were polyclonal with an average expected heterozygosity of 0.86. among the 39 patients, 16 experienced 1-5 recurrent episodes of p. vivax malaria, most of them (83%) with a different genotype profile compared with previous infections. the minimal set ...	2010	20133996
evaluation of larvicidal efficacy of solanum xanthocarpum storage against vector mosquitoes in north - western rajasthan.	efficacy of the methanol extracts from fruits without seeds, whole yellow ripe fruits and seeds of the plant solanum xanthocarpum was evaluated against larvae of anopheles culicifacies, anopheles stephensi, aedes aegypti and culex quinquefasciatus, the important vector mosquitoes prevalent in the arid region. experiments were carried out on late 3rd or early 4th instar larvae of these mosquitoes using standard who technique. 24 and 48 hr lc50 and lc90 values along with their fiducial limits, reg ...	2009	20143723
a plasmodium falciparum strain expressing gfp throughout the parasite's life-cycle.	the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of malaria-related deaths. tools allowing the study of the basic biology of p. falciparum throughout the life cycle are critical to the development of new strategies to target the parasite within both human and mosquito hosts. we here present 3d7ht-gfp, a strain of p. falciparum constitutively expressing the green fluorescent protein (gfp) throughout the life cycle, which has retained its capacity to complete sporog ...	2010	20161781
identification of micrornas expressed in two mosquito vectors, aedes albopictus and culex quinquefasciatus.	micrornas (mirnas) are small non-coding rnas that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in a variety of organisms, including insects, vertebrates, and plants. mirnas play important roles in cell development and differentiation as well as in the cellular response to stress and infection. to date, there are limited reports of mirna identification in mosquitoes, insects that act as essential vectors for the transmission of many human pathogens, including flaviviruses. west nile virus (wnv ...	2010	20167119
translational systems approaches to the biology of inflammation and healing.	inflammation is a complex, non-linear process central to many of the diseases that affect both developed and emerging nations. a systems-based understanding of inflammation, coupled to translational applications, is therefore necessary for efficient development of drugs and devices, for streamlining analyses at the level of populations, and for the implementation of personalized medicine. we have carried out an iterative and ongoing program of literature analysis, generation of prospective data, ...	0	20170421
structural cuticular proteins from arthropods: annotation, nomenclature, and sequence characteristics in the genomics era.	the availability of whole genome sequences of several arthropods has provided new insights into structural cuticular proteins (cps), in particular the distribution of different families, the recognition that these proteins may comprise almost 2% of the protein coding genes of some species, and the identification of features that should aid in the annotation of new genomes and est libraries as they become available. twelve cp families are described: cpr (named after the rebers and riddiford conse ...	2010	20171281
minimal role for the circumsporozoite protein in the induction of sterile immunity by vaccination with live rodent malaria sporozoites.	immunization with live plasmodium sporozoites under chloroquine prophylaxis (spz plus cq) induces sterile immunity against sporozoite challenge in rodents and, more importantly, in humans. full protection is obtained with substantially fewer parasites than with the classic immunization with radiation-attenuated sporozoites. the sterile protection observed comprised a massive reduction in the hepatic parasite load and an additional effect at the blood stage level. differences in the immune respon ...	2010	20194600
transmission blocking activity of a standardized neem (azadirachta indica) seed extract on the rodent malaria parasite plasmodium berghei in its vector anopheles stephensi.	the wide use of gametocytocidal artemisinin-based combination therapy (act) lead to a reduction of plasmodium falciparum transmission in several african endemic settings. an increased impact on malaria burden may be achieved through the development of improved transmission-blocking formulations, including molecules complementing the gametocytocidal effects of artemisinin derivatives and/or acting on plasmodium stages developing in the vector. azadirachtin, a limonoid (tetranortriterpenoid) abund ...	2010	20196858
the infectivity of the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana to insecticide-resistant and susceptible anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes at two different temperatures.	control of the major african malaria vector species continues to rely extensively on the application of residual insecticides through indoor house spraying or bed net impregnation. insecticide resistance is undermining the sustainability of these control strategies. alternatives to the currently available conventional chemical insecticides are, therefore, urgently needed. use of fungal pathogens as biopesticides is one such possibility. however, one of the challenges to the approach is the poten ...	2010	20210990
geometric constrains for detecting short actin filaments by cryogenic electron tomography.	abstract: polymerization of actin into filaments can push membranes forming extensions like filopodia or lamellipodia, which are important during processes such as cell motility and phagocytosis. similarly, small organelles or pathogens can be moved by actin polymerization. such actin filaments can be arranged in different patterns and are usually hundreds of nanometers in length as revealed by various electron microscopy approaches. much shorter actin filaments are involved in the motility of a ...	2010	20214767
suppressive effect of azithromycin on plasmodium berghei mosquito stage development and apicoplast replication.	azithromycin (azm) is a macrolide antibiotic that displays an excellent safety profile even in children and pregnant women and has been shown to have anti-malarial activity against blood stage plasmodium falciparum. this study evaluated the transmission-blocking effect of azm using a rodent malaria model.	2010	20219090
a putative kinase-related protein (pkrp) from plasmodium berghei mediates infection in the midgut and salivary glands of the mosquito.	the completion of the plasmodium (malaria) life cycle in the mosquito requires the parasite to traverse first the midgut and later the salivary gland epithelium. we have identified a putative kinase-related protein (pkrp) that is predicted to be an atypical protein kinase, which is conserved across many species of plasmodium. the pkrp gene encodes a rna of about 5300 nucleotides that is expressed as a 90kda protein in sporozoites. targeted disruption of the pkrp gene in plasmodium berghei, a rod ...	2010	20227415
functional identification of the plasmodium centromere and generation of a plasmodium artificial chromosome.	the artificial chromosome represents a useful tool for gene transfer, both as cloning vectors and in chromosome biology research. to generate a plasmodium artificial chromosome (pac), we had to first functionally identify and characterize the parasite's centromere. a putative centromere (pbcen5) was cloned from chromosome 5 of the rodent parasite p. berghei based on a plasmodium gene-synteny map. plasmids containing pbcen5 were stably maintained in parasites during a blood-stage infection with h ...	2010	20227667
plasmodium falciparum pf10_0164 (etramp10.3) is an essential parasitophorous vacuole and exported protein in blood stages.	upregulated in infectious sporozoites gene 4 (uis4) encodes a parasitophorous vacuole membrane protein expressed in the sporozoite and liver stages of rodent malaria parasites. parasites that lack uis4 arrest in early liver-stage development, and vaccination of mice with uis4(-) sporozoites confers sterile protection against challenge with infectious sporozoites. currently, it remains unclear whether an ortholog of uis4 is carried in the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum, although the ...	2010	20228203
[recombinant plasmodium yoelii expressing green fluorescent protein in erythrocytic and mosquito stages].	to generate recombinant plasmodium yoelii by265 strain which can express green fluorescent protein (gfp) in erythrocytic and mosquito stages.	2009	20232630
mosquito species associated within some western himalayas phytogeographic zones in the garhwal region of india.	thirty four species of mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) were collected across three phytogeographic zones; tropical (300 to 1000 m), sub tropical (1000 to 2000 m) and temperate (2000 to 3000 m) in the garhwal region of india. they included 5 genera: aedes, anopheles, armigeres, culex and uranotaenia. of these, the immature forms of 23 species were recovered from different breeding habitats. the larval habitats were seepage pools, river beds, rice fields, tanks, forest pools, ditches, streams, roc ...	2007	20233101
larvicidal efficacy of ficus benghalensis l. plant leaf extracts against culex quinquefasciatus say, aedes aegypti l. and anopheles stephensi l. (diptera: culicidae).	to investigate the larvicidal efficacy of different extracts of ficus benghalensis l. against culex quinquefasciatus say, aedes aegypti l. and anopheles stephensi l. (diptera: culicidae).	2010	20329569
mosquito cell line glycoproteins: an unsuitable model system for the plasmodium ookinete-mosquito midgut interaction?	abstract:	2010	20338056
anopheles aquasalis infected by plasmodium vivax displays unique gene expression profiles when compared to other malaria vectors and plasmodia.	malaria affects 300 million people worldwide every year and is endemic in 22 countries in the americas where transmission occurs mainly in the amazon region. most malaria cases in the americas are caused by plasmodium vivax, a parasite that is almost impossible to cultivate in vitro, and anopheles aquasalis is an important malaria vector. understanding the interactions between this vector and its parasite will provide important information for development of disease control strategies. to this e ...	2010	20339545
exoerythrocytic plasmodium parasites secrete a cysteine protease inhibitor involved in sporozoite invasion and capable of blocking cell death of host hepatocytes.	plasmodium parasites must control cysteine protease activity that is critical for hepatocyte invasion by sporozoites, liver stage development, host cell survival and merozoite liberation. here we show that exoerythrocytic p. berghei parasites express a potent cysteine protease inhibitor (pbicp, p. berghei inhibitor of cysteine proteases). we provide evidence that it has an important function in sporozoite invasion and is capable of blocking hepatocyte cell death. pre-incubation with specific ant ...	2010	20361051
biological cost of tolerance to heavy metals in the mosquito anopheles gambiae.	the global rate of heavy metal pollution is rapidly increasing in various habitats. anopheles malaria vector species (diptera: culicidae) appear to tolerate many aquatic habitats with metal pollutants, despite their normal proclivity for 'clean' water (i.e. low levels of organic matter). investigations were conducted to establish whether there are biological costs for tolerance to heavy metals in anopheles gambiae giles sensu stricto and to assess the potential impact of heavy metal pollution on ...	2010	20374478
male accessory gland proteins induce female monogamy in anopheline mosquitoes.	the role of male accessory gland (mag) secretions in inducing refractoriness to further mating in mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) was established in the late 1960s. in a set of simple experiments, mag extract was injected intra-thoraxically into the hemocoel of virgin aedes aegypti (l.), culex pipiens pipiens (l.) and anopheles quadrimaculatus say females. this subsequently caused most females to remain unmated when exposed to males. for anophelines these findings were later challenged by a stud ...	2010	20377737
the biological activity of alpha-mangostin, a larvicidal botanic mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 inhibitor.	alpha-mangostin derived from mangosteen was identified as a mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 inhibitor via high throughput insecticide screening, alpha-mangostin was tested for its larvicidal activity against third instar larvae of six mosquito species, and the median lethal concentration values range from 0.84 to 2.90 ppm. the residual larvicidal activity of alpha-mangostin was examined under semifield conditions. the results indicated that alpha-mangostin was photolytic with a half-life of 53 ...	2010	20380307
human malaria parasites: are we ready for a new species?		2010	20380563
blocking of plasmodium transmission by cooperative action of cecropin a and defensin a in transgenic aedes aegypti mosquitoes.	to overcome burden of mosquito-borne diseases, multiple control strategies are needed. population replacement with genetically modified mosquitoes carrying antipathogen effector genes is one of the possible approaches for controlling disease transmission. however, transgenic mosquitoes with antipathogen phenotypes based on overexpression of a single type effector molecule are not efficient in interrupting pathogen transmission. here, we show that co-overexpression of two antimicrobial peptides ( ...	2010	20385844
three members of the 6-cys protein family of plasmodium play a role in gamete fertility.	the process of fertilization is critically dependent on the mutual recognition of gametes and in plasmodium, the male gamete surface protein p48/45 is vital to this process. this protein belongs to a family of 10 structurally related proteins, the so called 6-cys family. to identify the role of additional members of this family in plasmodium fertilisation, we performed genetic and functional analysis on the five members of the 6-cys family that are transcribed during the gametocyte stage of p. b ...	2010	20386715
the importance of age dependent mortality and the extrinsic incubation period in models of mosquito-borne disease transmission and control.	nearly all mathematical models of vector-borne diseases have assumed that vectors die at constant rates. however, recent empirical research suggests that mosquito mortality rates are frequently age dependent. this work develops a simple mathematical model to assess how relaxing the classical assumption of constant mortality affects the predicted effectiveness of anti-vectorial interventions. the effectiveness of mosquito control when mosquitoes die at age dependent rates was also compared across ...	2010	20405010
genetic structure of plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum in the bannu district of pakistan.	plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum are the major causative agents of malaria. while knowledge of the genetic structure of malaria parasites is useful for understanding the evolution of parasite virulence, designing anti-malarial vaccines and assessing the impact of malaria control measures, there is a paucity of information on genetic diversity of these two malaria parasites in pakistan. this study sought to shed some light on the genetic structure of p. vivax and p. falciparum in this u ...	2010	20416089
transcriptional analysis of the pre-erythrocytic stages of the rodent malaria parasite, plasmodium yoelii.	the molecular biology of the clinically silent pre-erythrocytic stages of mammalian plasmodium spp, composed of both the sporozoite and liver stages, has remained largely uncharacterized. improved understanding of the biological processes required for progression through the pre-erythrocytic stages could lead to the identification of novel drug and vaccine targets. to gain insights into the molecular events that occur during the pre-erythrocytic stages of plasmodium, comparative transcriptional ...	2010	20422005
the ic(50) of anti-pfs25 antibody in membrane-feeding assay varies among species.	plasmodium falciparum surface protein 25 (pfs25) is a candidate for transmission-blocking vaccines (tbvs). anti-pfs25 antibodies block the development of oocysts in membrane-feeding assays and we have shown the activity correlates with antibody titer. in this study, we purified pfs25-specific iggs to convert antibody titer to microg/ml and determined the amount of antibody required to inhibit 50% of oocyst development (ic(50)). the ic(50) were, 15.9, 4.2, 41.2, and 85.6microg/ml for mouse, rabbi ...	2010	20434549
suppressing aedes albopictus, an emerging vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses, by a novel combination of a monomolecular film and an insect-growth regulator.	the asian tiger mosquito aedes albopictus (skuse) is rapidly increasing its global range and importance in transmission of chikungunya and dengue viruses. we tested pellet formulations of a monomolecular film (agnique) and (s)-methoprene (altosid) under laboratory and field conditions. in the laboratory, agnique provided 80% control for 20 days, whereas altosid, in combination with agnique, provided 80% control for > 60 days. during field trials, the 1:1 pellet ratio of combined products provide ...	2010	20439963
immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a recombinant yellow fever vaccine against the murine malarial parasite plasmodium yoelii.	the live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine (yf17d) is one of the safest and most effective vaccines available today. here, yf17d was genetically altered to express the circumsporozoite protein (csp) from the murine malarial parasite plasmodium yoelii. reconstituted recombinant virus was viable and exhibited robust csp expression. immunization of naïve mice resulted in extensive proliferation of adoptively transferred csp-specific transgenic cd8(+) t-cells. a single immunization of naïve mice with ...	2010	20451637
vitellogenin gene expression in autogenous culex tarsalis.	autogeny, the ability of a mosquito to mature an initial batch of eggs without blood feeding, is an alternative reproductive strategy with important implications for vector-borne disease transmission. regulation of the major yolk protein (vitellogenin; vg) genes during bloodmeal-induced oogenesis is well studied, but little is known about regulation of vitellogenesis in autogenous mosquitoes. we characterized the expression of four vitellogenin genes (vg1a, vg1b, vg2a and vg2b) in an autogenous ...	2010	20456510
duplication, concerted evolution and purifying selection drive the evolution of mosquito vitellogenin genes.	mosquito vitellogenin (vtg) genes belong to a small multiple gene family that encodes the major yolk protein precursors required for egg production. multiple vtg genes have been cloned and characterized from several mosquito species, but their origin and molecular evolution are poorly understood.	2010	20465817
towards malaria risk prediction in afghanistan using remote sensing.	malaria is a significant public health concern in afghanistan. currently, approximately 60% of the population, or nearly 14 million people, live in a malaria-endemic area. afghanistan's diverse landscape and terrain contributes to the heterogeneous malaria prevalence across the country. understanding the role of environmental variables on malaria transmission can further the effort for malaria control programme.	2010	20465824
isolation, expression analysis, and functional characterization of the first antidiuretic hormone receptor in insects.	diuresis following blood-gorging in rhodnius prolixus is the major process leading to the transmission of chagas' disease. we have cloned the cdna of the first receptor known to be involved in an antidiuretic strategy in insects, a strategy that prevents diuresis. this receptor belongs to the insect capa receptor family known in other insects to be activated by peptides encoded within the capability gene. we characterize the expression profile in fifth-instars and find expression is localized to ...	2010	20479227
genome landscape and evolutionary plasticity of chromosomes in malaria mosquitoes.	nonrandom distribution of rearrangements is a common feature of eukaryotic chromosomes that is not well understood in terms of genome organization and evolution. in the major african malaria vector anopheles gambiae, polymorphic inversions are highly nonuniformly distributed among five chromosomal arms and are associated with epidemiologically important adaptations. however, it is not clear whether the genomic content of the chromosomal arms is associated with inversion polymorphism and fixation ...	2010	20485676
effectiveness of a new granular formulation of biolarvicide bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis against larvae of malaria vectors in india.	control of vector(s) or mosquitoes, in general, through biolarvicide as an alternate biocontrol agent is a greatest desire. we evaluated a water-dispersible granular formulation biolarvicide bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (bti, h-14 serotype; vectobac(®) wdg) in the laboratory and also in the field against two principal malaria vectors, anopheles culicifacies and anopheles stephensi. laboratory evaluations against laboratory-reared immature of the two species were carried out at a tempe ...	2011	20491582
plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi malaria parasites can develop stable resistance to atovaquone with a mutation in the cytochrome b gene.	plasmodium falciparum, has developed resistance to many of the drugs in use. the recommended treatment policy is now to use drug combinations. the atovaquone-proguanil (ap) drug combination, is one of the treatment and prophylaxis options. atovaquone (atq) exerts its action by inhibiting plasmodial mitochondria electron transport at the level of the cytochrome bc1 complex. plasmodium falciparum in vitro resistance to atq has been associated with specific point mutations in the region spanning co ...	2010	20492669
electrophysiological, flight orientation and oviposition responses of three species of mosquito vectors to hexadecyl pentanoate: residual oviposition repellent activity.	understanding on the chemical ecology of mosquito behavior is of paramount importance in developing control programs employing attractants and repellents. several workers focused on topical repellents and oviposition attractants of mosquitoes, however, only limited work has been accomplished on mosquito oviposition repellents. the present systematic investigation provides evidence on the effectiveness of a c21 fatty acid ester- hexadecyl pentanoate, to stimulate antennal olfactory receptors of a ...	2010	20496579
the salivary gland transcriptome of the eastern tree hole mosquito, ochlerotatus triseriatus.	saliva of blood-sucking arthropods contains a complex mixture of peptides that affect their host's hemostasis, inflammation, and immunity. these activities can also modify the site of pathogen delivery and increase disease transmission. saliva also induces hosts to mount an antisaliva immune response that can lead to skin allergies or even anaphylaxis. accordingly, knowledge of the salivary repertoire, or sialome, of a mosquito is useful to provide a knowledge platform to mine for novel pharmaco ...	2010	20496585
pathogenicity of fusarium oxysporum against the larvae of culex quinquefasciatus (say) and anopheles stephensi (liston) in laboratory.	the entomopathogenic fungi fusarium oxysporum are the next generation mosquito controlling agent. f. oxysporum basically contains unique toxin and can be a selectively good agent in tropical countries. we are reporting here the efficacy of the metabolites of f. oxysporum against the larvae of anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus in the laboratory. f. oxysporum was grown on czapek dox broth. the bioassays were run at five different concentrations (1.30, 1.60, 1.77, 1.90, and 2.00 ppm). ...	2010	20499096
trypsin-like serine proteases in lutzomyia longipalpis--expression, activity and possible modulation by leishmania infantum chagasi.	midgut enzymatic activity is one of the obstacles that leishmania must surpass to succeed in establishing infection. trypsins are abundant digestive enzymes in most insects. we have previously described two trypsin cdnas of l. longipalpis: one (lltryp1) with a bloodmeal induced transcription pattern, the other (lltryp2) with a constitutive transcription pattern. we have now characterized the expression and activity of trypsin-like proteases of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral l ...	2010	20502532
comparison of plasmodium berghei challenge models for the evaluation of pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines and their effect on perceived vaccine efficacy.	the immunological mechanisms responsible for protection against malaria infection vary among plasmodium species, host species and the developmental stage of parasite, and are poorly understood. a challenge with live parasites is the most relevant approach to testing the efficacy of experimental malaria vaccines. nevertheless, in the mouse models of plasmodium berghei and plasmodium yoelii, parasites are usually delivered by intravenous injection. this route is highly artificial and particularly ...	2010	20507620
presence of two alternative kdr-like mutations, l1014f and l1014s, and a novel mutation, v1010l, in the voltage gated na+ channel of anopheles culicifacies from orissa, india.	knockdown resistance in insects resulting from mutation(s) in the voltage gated na+ channel (vgsc) is one of the mechanisms of resistance against ddt and pyrethroids. recently a point mutation leading to leu-to-phe substitution in the vgsc at residue 1014, a most common kdr mutation in insects, was reported in anopheles culicifacies-a major malaria vector in the indian subcontinent. this study reports the presence of two additional amino acid substitutions in the vgsc of an an. culicifacies popu ...	2010	20509922
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine impairs plasmodium falciparum gametocyte infectivity and anopheles mosquito survival.	sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (sp) is currently the drug of choice for intermittent preventive treatment of plasmodium falciparum both in pregnancy and infancy. a prolonged parasite clearance time conferred by dhfr and dhps mutations is believed to be responsible for increased gametocyte prevalence in sp treated individuals. however, using a direct feeding assay in mali, we showed that gametocytes present in peripheral venous blood post-sp treatment had reduced infectivity for anopheles gambiae sens ...	2010	20515695
an insight into the sialotranscriptome of simulium nigrimanum, a black fly associated with fogo selvagem in south america.	pemphigus foliaceus is a life threatening skin disease that is associated with autoimmunity to desmoglein, a skin protein involved in the adhesion of keratinocytes. this disease is endemic in certain areas of south america, suggesting the mediation of environmental factors triggering autoimmunity. among the possible environmental factors, exposure to bites of black flies, in particular simulium nigrimanum has been suggested. in this work, we describe the sialotranscriptome of adult female s. nig ...	0	20519601
crystal structure of arginase from plasmodium falciparum and implications for l-arginine depletion in malarial infection .	the 2.15 a resolution crystal structure of arginase from plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes cerebral malaria, is reported in complex with the boronic acid inhibitor 2(s)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (abh) (k(d) = 11 microm). this is the first crystal structure of a parasitic arginase. various protein constructs were explored to identify an optimally active enzyme form for inhibition and structural studies and to probe the structure and function of two polypeptide insertions unique to ...	2010	20527960