Publications

concurrent malaria and arbovirus infections in kedougou, southeastern senegal.	malaria is one of the leading causes of acute febrile illness (afi) in africa. with the advent of malaria rapid diagnostic tests, misdiagnosis and co-morbidity with other diseases has been highlighted by an increasing number of studies. although arboviral infections and malaria are both vector-borne diseases and often have an overlapping geographic distribution in sub-saharan africa, information about their incidence rates and concurrent infections is scarce.	2016	26821709
partitioning the contributions of alternative malaria vector species.	in many locations malaria is transmitted by more than one vector species. some vector control interventions, in particular those using genetic approaches, are likely to be targeted against a single species or species complex, at least initially, and it would therefore be useful to be able to predict the epidemiological impact of controlling a single species when multiple vector species are present.	2016	26847084
malaria, helminths, co-infection and anaemia in a cohort of children from mutengene, south western cameroon.	malaria and helminthiases frequently co-infect the same individuals in endemic zones. plasmodium falciparum and helminth infections have long been recognized as major contributors to anaemia in endemic countries. several studies have explored the influence of helminth infections on the course of malaria in humans but how these parasites interact within co-infected individuals remains controversial.	2016	26852392
malaria vectors and their blood-meal sources in an area of high bed net ownership in the western kenya highlands.	blood-meal sources of malaria vectors affect their capacity to transmit the disease. most efficient malaria vectors prefer human hosts. however, with increasing personal protection measures it becomes more difficult for them to find human hosts. here recent malaria vector blood-meal sources in western kenya highlands were investigated.	2016	26857915
evolution of the levels of human leukocyte antigen g (hla-g) in beninese infant during the first year of life in a malaria endemic area: using latent class analysis.	hla-g, a non-classical hla class i antigen, is of crucial interest during pregnancy by inhibiting maternal immune response. its role during infections is discussed, and it has been described that high levels of soluble hla-g during childhood increase the risk of malaria. to explore more precisely interactions between soluble hla-g and malaria, latent class analysis was used to test whether distinct sub-populations of children, each with distinctive soluble hla-g evolutions may suggest the existe ...	2016	26862036
identification of blood meal sources in the main african malaria mosquito vector by maldi-tof ms.	the identification of blood meal sources in malaria vectors is critical to better understanding host/vector interactions and malaria epidemiology and control. currently, the identification of mosquito blood meal origins is based on time-consuming and costly techniques such as precipitin tests, elisa and molecular tools. although these tools have been validated to identify the blood meal and trophic preferences of female anopheles mosquitoes, they present several limitations. recently, matrix-ass ...	2016	26872451
incremental impact upon malaria transmission of supplementing pyrethroid-impregnated long-lasting insecticidal nets with indoor residual spraying using pyrethroids or the organophosphate, pirimiphos methyl.	long-lasting, insecticidal nets (llins) and indoor residual spraying (irs) are the most widely accepted and applied malaria vector control methods. however, evidence that incremental impact is achieved when they are combined remains limited and inconsistent.	2016	26893012
analysis of esterase enzyme activity in adults of the major malaria vector anopheles funestus.	anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-saharan africa. in order to apply effective control measures against this vector, it is necessary to understand the underlying physiological factors that play a critical role in its development, reproduction, fertility and susceptibility to insecticides. one enzyme family involved in the above mentioned biological pathways is the esterases. the aim of this study was to analyse esterase activity levels at different ages during the life-span o ...	2016	26920365
contact bioassays with phenoxybenzyl and tetrafluorobenzyl pyrethroids against target-site and metabolic resistant mosquitoes.	mosquito strains that exhibit increased tolerance to the chemical class of compounds with a sodium channel modulator mode of action (pyrethroids and pyrethrins) are typically described as "pyrethroid resistant". resistance to pyrethroids is an increasingly important challenge in the control of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria or dengue, because one of the main interventions (the distribution of large numbers of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets) currently relies entirely on long- ...	2016	26930058
spatially aggregated clusters and scattered smaller loci of elevated malaria vector density and human infection prevalence in urban dar es salaam, tanzania.	malaria transmission, primarily mediated by anopheles gambiae, persists in dar es salaam (dsm) despite high coverage with bed nets, mosquito-proofed housing and larviciding. new or improved vector control strategies are required to eliminate malaria from dsm, but these will only succeed if they are delivered to the minority of locations where residual transmission actually persists. hotspots of spatially clustered locations with elevated malaria infection prevalence or vector densities were, the ...	2016	26931372
a review of bioinsecticidal activity of solanaceae alkaloids.	only a small percentage of insect species are pests. however, pest species cause significant losses in agricultural and forest crops, and many are vectors of diseases. currently, many scientists are focused on developing new tools to control insect populations, including secondary plant metabolites, e.g., alkaloids, glycoalkaloids, terpenoids, organic acids and alcohols, which show promise for use in plant protection. these compounds can affect insects at all levels of biological organization, b ...	2016	26938561
small-scale land-use variability affects anopheles spp. distribution and concomitant plasmodium infection in humans and mosquito vectors in southeastern madagascar.	deforestation and land-use change have the potential to alter human exposure to malaria. a large percentage of madagascar's original forest cover has been lost to slash-and-burn agriculture, and malaria is one of the top causes of mortality on the island. in this study, the influence of land-use on the distribution of plasmodium vectors and concomitant plasmodium infection in humans and mosquito vectors was examined in the southeastern rainforests of madagascar.	2016	26944051
evaluation of discovar de novo using a mosquito sample for cost-effective short-read genome assembly.	de novo reference assemblies that are affordable, practical to produce, and of sufficient quality for most downstream applications, remain an unattained goal for many taxa. insects, which may yield too little dna from individual specimens for long-read sequencing library construction and often have highly heterozygous genomes, can be particularly hard to assemble using inexpensive short-read sequencing data. the large number of insect species with medical or economic importance makes this a crit ...	2016	26944054
modelling the relative abundance of the primary african vectors of malaria before and after the implementation of indoor, insecticide-based vector control.	malaria remains a heavy burden across sub-saharan africa where transmission is maintained by some of the world's most efficient vectors. indoor insecticide-based control measures have significantly reduced transmission, yet elimination remains a distant target. knowing the relative abundance of the primary vector species can provide transmission models with much needed information to guide targeted control measures. moreover, understanding how existing interventions are impacting on these relati ...	2016	26945997
mevalonate-farnesal biosynthesis in ticks: comparative synganglion transcriptomics and a new perspective.	juvenile hormone (jh) controls the growth, development, metamorphosis, and reproduction of insects. for many years, the general assumption has been that jh regulates tick and other acarine development and reproduction the same as in insects. although researchers have not been able to find the common insect jhs in hard and soft tick species and jh applications appear to have no effect on tick development, it is difficult to prove the negative or to determine whether precursors to jh are made in t ...	2016	26959814
the role of oxidative stress in the longevity and insecticide resistance phenotype of the major malaria vectors anopheles arabiensis and anopheles funestus.	oxidative stress plays numerous biological roles, both functional and pathological. the role of oxidative stress in various epidemiologically relevant biological traits in anopheles mosquitoes is not well established. in this study, the effects of oxidative stress on the longevity and insecticide resistance phenotype in the major malaria vector species an. arabiensis and an. funestus were examined. responses to dietary copper sulphate and hydrogen peroxide were used as proxies for the oxidative ...	2016	26964046
comparative performance of three experimental hut designs for measuring malaria vector responses to insecticides in tanzania.	experimental huts are simplified, standardized representations of human habitations that provide model systems to evaluate insecticides used in indoor residual spray (irs) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) to kill disease vectors. hut volume, construction materials and size of entry points impact mosquito entry and exposure to insecticides. the performance of three standard experimental hut designs was compared to evaluate insecticide used in llins.	2016	26979404
silencing of the olfactory co-receptor gene in dendroctonus armandi leads to eag response declining to major host volatiles.	in this study, a polymerase chain reaction (pcr) based on homology genes of orco was utilized to identify darmorco, which is essential for olfaction in d. armandi. the results showed that darmorco shares significant sequence homology with orco proteins had known in other insects. quantitative real-time pcr (qrt-pcr) analysis suggested that darmorco was abundantly expressed in adult d. armandi; by contrast, darmorco showed trace amounts of expression level in other stages. of different tissues, d ...	2016	26979566
increase in cases of malaria in mozambique, 2014: epidemic or new endemic pattern?	to describe the increase in cases of malaria in mozambique.	2016	26982961
habitat partitioning of malaria vectors in nchelenge district, zambia.	nchelenge district in luapula province, northern zambia, experiences holoendemic malaria despite implementation of vector control programs. the major anopheles vectors that contribute to plasmodium falciparum transmission in this area had not previously been well defined. three collections performed during the 2012 wet and dry seasons and the 2013 wet season revealed anopheles funestus sensu stricto and anopheles gambiae sensu stricto as the main vectors, where 80-85% of each collection was comp ...	2016	27001755
evaluation of insecticides susceptibility and malaria vector potential of anopheles annularis s.l. and anopheles vagus in assam, india.	during the recent past, development of ddt resistance and reduction to pyrethroid susceptibility among the malaria vectors has posed a serious challenge in many southeast asian countries including india. current study presents the insecticide susceptibility and knock-down data of field collected anopheles annularis sensu lato and an. vagus mosquito species from endemic areas of assam in northeast india. anopheles annularis s.l. and an. vagus adult females were collected from four randomly select ...	2016	27010649
genomic signatures of population decline in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.	population genomic features such as nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium are expected to be strongly shaped by changes in population size, and might therefore be useful for monitoring the success of a control campaign. in the kilifi district of kenya, there has been a marked decline in the abundance of the malaria vector anopheles gambiae subsequent to the rollout of insecticide-treated bed nets.	2016	27013475
reduction in malaria incidence following indoor residual spraying with actellic 300 cs in a setting with pyrethroid resistance: mutasa district, zimbabwe.	more than half of malaria cases in zimbabwe are concentrated in manicaland province, where seasonal malaria epidemics occur despite intensified control strategies. recently, high levels of pyrethroid and carbamate resistance were detected in anopheles funestus, the major malaria vector in eastern zimbabwe. in response, a single round of indoor residual spraying (irs) using pirimiphos-methyl (an organophosphate) was implemented in four high burden districts of manicaland province from november 1, ...	2016	27018893
application of serological tools and spatial analysis to investigate malaria transmission dynamics in highland areas of southwest uganda.	serological markers, combined with spatial analysis, offer a comparatively more sensitive means by which to measure and detect foci of malaria transmission in highland areas than traditional malariometric indicators. plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence, seroprevalence, and seroconversion rate to p. falciparum merozoite surface protein-119 (msp-119) were measured in a cross-sectional survey to determine differences in transmission between altitudinal strata. clusters of p. falciparum parasi ...	2016	27022156
insect transformation with piggybac: getting the number of injections just right.	the insertion of exogenous genetic cargo into insects using transposable elements is a powerful research tool with potential applications in meeting food security and public health challenges facing humanity. piggybac is the transposable element most commonly utilized for insect germline transformation. the described efficiency of this process is variable in the published literature, and a comprehensive review of transformation efficiency in insects is lacking. this study compared and contrasted ...	2016	27027400
radical remodeling of the y chromosome in a recent radiation of malaria mosquitoes.	y chromosomes control essential male functions in many species, including sex determination and fertility. however, because of obstacles posed by repeat-rich heterochromatin, knowledge of y chromosome sequences is limited to a handful of model organisms, constraining our understanding of y biology across the tree of life. here, we leverage long single-molecule sequencing to determine the content and structure of the nonrecombining y chromosome of the primary african malaria mosquito, anopheles g ...	2016	27035980
mosquito host choices on livestock amplifiers of rift valley fever virus in kenya.	animal hosts may vary in their attraction and acceptability as components of the host location process for assessing preference, and biting rates of vectors and risk of exposure to pathogens. however, these parameters remain poorly understood for mosquito vectors of the rift valley fever (rvf), an arboviral disease, and for a community of mosquitoes.	2016	27036889
malaria vector populations across ecological zones in guinea conakry and mali, west africa.	malaria remains a pervasive public health problem in sub-saharan west africa. here mosquito vector populations were explored across four sites in mali and the republic of guinea (guinea conakry). the study samples the major ecological zones of malaria-endemic regions in west africa within a relatively small distance.	2016	27059057
correlations between household occupancy and malaria vector biting risk in rural tanzanian villages: implications for high-resolution spatial targeting of control interventions.	fine-scale targeting of interventions is increasingly important where epidemiological disease profiles depict high geographical stratifications. this study verified correlations between household biomass and mosquito house-entry using experimental hut studies, and then demonstrated how geographical foci of mosquito biting risk can be readily identified based on spatial distributions of household occupancies in villages.	2016	27067147
key traveller groups of relevance to spatial malaria transmission: a survey of movement patterns in four sub-saharan african countries.	as malaria prevalence declines in many parts of the world due to widescale control efforts and as drug-resistant parasites begin to emerge, a quantitative understanding of human movement is becoming increasingly relevant to malaria control. however, despite its importance, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding human movement, particularly in sub-saharan africa.	2016	27068686
cuticle thickening in a pyrethroid-resistant strain of the common bed bug, cimex lectularius l. (hemiptera: cimicidae).	thickening of the integument as a mechanism of resistance to insecticides is a well recognised phenomenon in the insect world and, in recent times, has been found in insects exhibiting pyrethroid-resistance. resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in the common bed bug, cimex lectularius l., is widespread and has been frequently inferred as a reason for the pest's resurgence. overexpression of cuticle depositing proteins has been demonstrated in pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs although, to date, no ...	2016	27073871
consolidating tactical planning and implementation frameworks for integrated vector management in uganda.	integrated vector management (ivm) is the recommended approach for controlling some vector-borne diseases (vbd). in the face of current challenges to disease vector control, ivm is vital to achieve national targets set for vbd control. though global efforts, especially for combating malaria, now focus on elimination and eradication, ivm remains useful for uganda which is principally still in the control phase of the malaria continuum. this paper outlines the processes undertaken to consolidate t ...	2016	27074809
malaria hotspots defined by clinical malaria, asymptomatic carriage, pcr and vector numbers in a low transmission area on the kenyan coast.	targeted malaria control interventions are expected to be cost-effective. clinical, parasitological and serological markers of malaria transmission have been used to detect malaria transmission hotspots, but few studies have examined the relationship between the different potential markers in low transmission areas. the present study reports on the relationships between clinical, parasitological, serological and entomological markers of malaria transmission in an area of low transmission intensi ...	2016	27075879
malaria parasitaemia and the use of insecticide-treated nets (ints) for malaria control amongst under-5 year old children in calabar, nigeria.	malaria remains a major cause of febrile illness in nigeria and interventions to reduce malaria burden in nigeria focus on the use of insecticide-treated nets. this study determined the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and the use of insecticide-treated nets (itns) for the control of malaria amongst under-five year old children in calabar, nigeria.	2016	27080122
daily rhythms in mosquitoes and their consequences for malaria transmission.	the 24-h day involves cycles in environmental factors that impact organismal fitness. this is thought to select for organisms to regulate their temporal biology accordingly, through circadian and diel rhythms. in addition to rhythms in abiotic factors (such as light and temperature), biotic factors, including ecological interactions, also follow daily cycles. how daily rhythms shape, and are shaped by, interactions between organisms is poorly understood. here, we review an emerging area, namely ...	2016	27089370
an updated checklist of mosquito species (diptera: culicidae) from madagascar.	an updated checklist of 235 mosquito species from madagascar is presented. the number of species has increased considerably compared to previous checklists, particularly the last published in 2003 (178 species). this annotated checklist provides concise information on endemism, taxonomic position, developmental stages, larval habitats, distribution, behavior, and vector-borne diseases potentially transmitted. the 235 species belong to 14 genera: aedeomyia (3 species), aedes (35 species), anophel ...	2016	27101839
increasing outdoor host-seeking in anopheles gambiae over 6 years of vector control on bioko island.	vector control through indoor residual spraying (irs) has been employed on bioko island, equatorial guinea, under the bioko island malaria control project (bimcp) since 2004. this study analyses the change in mosquito abundance, species composition and outdoor host-seeking proportions from 2009 to 2014, after 11 years of vector control on bioko island.	2016	27113244
insecticide resistance status of the anopheles funestus population in central african republic: a challenge in the war.	in the central african republic, malaria is a major public health problem and the leading cause of death among children. this disease appears to be hyperendemic but no substantial entomological data, including data on anopheles spp. susceptibility to insecticides, is available. this study evaluates, for the first time in the car, the status of insecticide resistance in the anopheles funestus population, the second major vector of malaria in africa.	2016	27113956
the larvicidal effects of black pepper (piper nigrum l.) and piperine against insecticide resistant and susceptible strains of anopheles malaria vector mosquitoes.	insecticide resistance carries the potential to undermine the efficacy of insecticide based malaria vector control strategies. therefore, there is an urgent need for new insecticidal compounds. black pepper (dried fruit from the vine, piper nigrum), used as a food additive and spice, and its principal alkaloid piperine, have previously been shown to have larvicidal properties. the aim of this study was to investigate the larvicidal effects of ground black pepper and piperine against third and fo ...	2016	27117913
insights into resting behavior of malaria vector mosquitoes in mutare and mutasa districts of manicaland province, zimbabwe.	a study was conducted to investigate the current resting behavior of malaria vectors in mutare and mutasa districts, zimbabwe. mosquitoes were captured using pyrethrum spray collection, prokopac aspirator, pit shelter, and exit trap methods. mosquitoes were sorted and identified using morphological key and polymerase chain reaction (pcr) techniques. the anopheles funestus group constituted 97%, whereas anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes were few (3%). endophilic collections in both species wer ...	2016	27134207
the p450 cyp6z1 confers carbamate/pyrethroid cross-resistance in a major african malaria vector beside a novel carbamate-insensitive n485i acetylcholinesterase-1 mutation.	carbamates are increasingly used for vector control notably in areas with pyrethroid resistance. however, a cross-resistance between these insecticides in major malaria vectors such as anopheles funestus could severely limit available resistance management options. unfortunately, the molecular basis of such cross-resistance remains uncharacterized in an. funestus, preventing effective resistance management. here, using a genomewide transcription profiling, we revealed that metabolic resistance t ...	2016	27135886
plasmodium falciparum malaria parasitaemia among indigenous batwa and non-indigenous communities of kanungu district, uganda.	the indigenous batwa of southwestern uganda are among the most highly impoverished populations in uganda, yet there is negligible research on the prevalence of malaria in this population. plasmodium falciparum malaria parasitaemia prevalence was estimated in an indigenous batwa and a non-indigenous neighbouring population, and an exploration of modifiable risk factors was carried out to identify potential entry points for intervention. additionally, evidence of zooprophylaxis was assessed, hypot ...	2016	27146298
disease vectors in the era of next generation sequencing.	almost 20 % of all infectious human diseases are vector borne and, together, are responsible for over one million deaths per annum. over the past decade, the decreasing costs of massively parallel sequencing technologies have facilitated the agnostic interrogation of insect vector genomes, giving medical entomologists access to an ever-expanding volume of high-quality genomic and transcriptomic data. in this review, we highlight how genomics resources have provided new insights into the physiolo ...	2016	27154554
benchmarking vector arthropod culture: an example using the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae (diptera: culicidae).	numerous important characteristics of adult arthropods are related to their size; this is influenced by conditions experienced as immatures. arthropods cultured in the laboratory for research, or mass-reared for novel control methods, must therefore be of a standard size range and known quality so that results are reproducible.	2016	27160438
field evaluation of two novel sampling devices for collecting wild oviposition site seeking malaria vector mosquitoes: oviart gravid traps and squares of electrocuting nets.	new sampling tools are needed for collecting exophilic malaria mosquitoes in sub-saharan africa to monitor the impact of vector control interventions. the oviart gravid trap and squares of electrocuting nets (e-nets) were recently developed under semi-field conditions for collecting oviposition site seeking anopheles gambiae (sensu stricto) (s.s.). this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of these traps for sampling malaria vectors under field conditions.	2016	27165292
an evolutionary approach to identify potentially protective b cell epitopes involved in naturally acquired immunity to malaria and the role of eba-175 in protection amongst denizens of bolifamba, cameroon.	the search for a vaccine against malaria caused by plasmodium falciparum has lasted for more than 100 years, with considerable progress in the identification of a number of vaccine candidates. the post-genomic era offers new opportunities for an expedited search using rational vaccine design and prioritization of key b-cell epitopes involved in natural acquired immunity.	2016	27207101
desiccation tolerance in anopheles coluzzii: the effects of spiracle size and cuticular hydrocarbons.	the african malaria mosquitoes anopheles gambiae and anopheles coluzzii range over forests and arid areas, where they withstand dry spells and months-long dry seasons, suggesting variation in their desiccation tolerance. we subjected a laboratory colony (g3) and wild sahelian mosquitoes during the rainy and dry seasons to desiccation assays. the thoracic spiracles and amount and composition of cuticular hydrocarbons (chcs) of individual mosquitoes were measured to determine the effects of these ...	2016	27207644
olfactory channels associated with the drosophila maxillary palp mediate short- and long-range attraction.	the vinegar fly drosophila melanogaster is equipped with two peripheral olfactory organs, antenna and maxillary palp. the antenna is involved in finding food, oviposition sites and mates. however, the functional significance of the maxillary palp remained unknown. here, we screened the olfactory sensory neurons of the maxillary palp (mp-osns) using a large number of natural odor extracts to identify novel ligands for each mp-osn type. we found that each type is the sole or the primary detector f ...	2016	27213519
knowledge and awareness of malaria and mosquito biting behaviour in selected sites within morogoro and dodoma regions tanzania.	in tanzania there has been a downward trend in malaria prevalence partly due to use of insecticide-treated bed nets for protection against anopheles mosquitoes. however, residual malaria transmission attributed to early biting behaviour of malaria vectors is being reported. knowledge of mosquito feeding behaviour is key to improvements in control approaches. the present study aimed to assess knowledge and awareness on malaria and malaria vectors in-morogoro and dodoma regions of tanzania.	2016	27216605
the epidemiology of residual plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission and infection burden in an african city with high coverage of multiple vector control measures.	in the tanzanian city of dar es salaam, high coverage of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins), larvicide application (la) and mosquito-proofed housing, was complemented with improved access to artemisinin-based combination therapy and rapid diagnostic tests by the end of 2012.	2016	27216734
anopheles darlingi polytene chromosomes: revised maps including newly described inversions and evidence for population structure in manaus.	salivary gland polytene chromosomes of 4th instar anopheles darlingi root were examined from multiple locations in the brazilian amazon. minor modifications were made to existing polytene photomaps. these included changes to the breakpoint positions of several previously described paracentric inversions and descriptions of four new paracentric inversions, two on the right arm of chromosome 3 and two on the left arm of chromosome 3 that were found in multiple locations. a total of 18 inversions o ...	0	27223867
pesticide exposures in a malarious and predominantly farming area in central ghana.	in areas where malaria is endemic, pesticides are widely deployed for vector control, which has contributed to reductions in malaria deaths. pesticide use for agrarian purposes reduces pest populations, thus improving crop production and post-harvest losses. however, adverse health effects have been associated with pesticide exposure, ranging from skin irritation to neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity. though misuse of these pesticides can lead to widespread potential dangers, the debilitating eff ...	2015	27239261
crowdsourcing vector surveillance: using community knowledge and experiences to predict densities and distribution of outdoor-biting mosquitoes in rural tanzania.	lack of reliable techniques for large-scale monitoring of disease-transmitting mosquitoes is a major public health challenge, especially where advanced geo-information systems are not regularly applicable. we tested an innovative crowd-sourcing approach, which relies simply on knowledge and experiences of residents to rapidly predict areas where disease-transmitting mosquitoes are most abundant. guided by community-based resource persons, we mapped boundaries and major physical features in three ...	2016	27253869
factors associated with high heterogeneity of malaria at fine spatial scale in the western kenyan highlands.	the east african highlands are fringe regions between stable and unstable malaria transmission. what factors contribute to the heterogeneity of malaria exposure on different spatial scales within larger foci has not been extensively studied. in a comprehensive, community-based cross-sectional survey an attempt was made to identify factors that drive the macro- and micro epidemiology of malaria in a fringe region using parasitological and serological outcomes.	2016	27259286
ecology of urban malaria vectors in niamey, republic of niger.	urbanization in african cities has major impact on malaria risk. niamey, the capital of the republic of niger, is situated in the west african sahel zone. the short rainy season and human activities linked with the niger river influence mosquito abundance. this study aimed at deciphering the factors of distribution of urban malaria vectors in niamey.	2016	27277707
decline in frequency of the 2la chromosomal inversion in anopheles gambiae (s.s.) in western kenya: correlation with increase in ownership of insecticide-treated bed nets.	the 2la chromosomal inversion, a genetic polymorphism in an. gambiae (sensu stricto) (s.s.), is associated with adaptation to microclimatic differences in humidity and desiccation resistance and mosquito behaviors. ownership of insecticide-treated bed nets (itns) for malaria control has increased markedly in western kenya in the last 20 years. an increase in the frequency of itns indoors could select against house entering or indoor resting of anopheles mosquitoes. thus, the frequency of the 2la ...	2016	27286834
high susceptibility of wild anopheles funestus to infection with natural plasmodium falciparum gametocytes using membrane feeding assays.	anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-saharan africa. however, because it is difficult to colonize, research on this mosquito species has lagged behind other vectors, particularly the understanding of its susceptibility and interactions with the plasmodium parasite. the present study reports one of the first experimental infections of progeny from wild-caught an. funestus with the p. falciparum parasite providing a realistic avenue for the characterisation of immune responses as ...	2016	27301693
discovery of point mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel from african aedes aegypti populations: potential phylogenetic reasons for gene introgression.	yellow fever is endemic in some countries in africa, and aedes aegpyti is one of the most important vectors implicated in the outbreak. the mapping of the nation-wide distribution and the detection of insecticide resistance of vector mosquitoes will provide the beneficial information for forecasting of dengue and yellow fever outbreaks and effective control measures.	2016	27304430
evaluation of a topical formulation of eprinomectin against anopheles arabiensis when administered to zebu cattle (bos indicus) under field conditions.	although vector control strategies, such as insecticide-treated bed nets (itns) and indoor residual spraying (irs) have been effective in kenya the transmission of malaria continues to afflict western kenya. this residual transmission is driven in part by anopheles arabiensis, known for its opportunistic blood feeding behaviour and propensity to feed outdoors. the objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of the drug eprinomectin at reducing malaria vector density when applied to c ...	2016	27317557
rickettsia felis, an emerging flea-borne rickettsiosis.	rickettsia felis is an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen and the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever. first described as a human pathogen from the usa in 1991, r. felis is now identified throughout the world and considered a common cause of fever in africa. the cosmopolitan distribution of this pathogen is credited to the equally widespread occurrence of cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), the primary vector and reservoir of r. felis. although r. felis is a relatively new member ...	2016	27340613
enhancing attraction of african malaria vectors to a synthetic odor blend.	the deployment of odor-baited tools for sampling and controlling malaria vectors is limited by a lack of potent synthetic mosquito attractants. a synthetic mixture of chemical compounds referred to as "the mbita blend" (mb) was shown to attract as many host-seeking malaria mosquitoes as attracted to human subjects. we hypothesized that this effect could be enhanced by adding one or more attractive compounds to the blend. we tested changes in the capability of mb (ammonia + l-lactic acid + tetrad ...	2016	27349651
biting behaviour of anopheles funestus populations in mutare and mutasa districts, manicaland province, zimbabwe: implications for the malaria control programme.	biting behaviour of anopheles funestus in mutare and mutasa districts, zimbabwe, is little understood. an investigation was conducted to primarily compare indoor and outdoor biting behaviour of the mosquito, as well as blood meal sources and sporozoite rates.	2017	27353581
susceptibility status of anopheles arabiensis (diptera: culicidae) commonly used as biological materials for evaluations of malaria vector control tools in madagascar.	madagascar is a malaria-endemic country with an increase in cases in recent years. in vector control using insecticide, a susceptible strain is necessary to evaluate insecticide efficacy, either for spraying or on nets. the susceptibility of anopheles arabiensis from antananarivo, madagascar to two organophosphate, three pyrethroid, two carbamate, and one organochlorine insecticides was investigated. since 2010, an. arabiensis strain has been maintained away from insecticide source during 110 ge ...	2016	27364163
insulin receptor-like ectodomain genes and splice variants are found in both arthropods and human brain cdna.	truncated receptor ectodomains have been described for several classes of cell surface receptors, including those that bind to growth factors, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and adhesion molecules. soluble receptor isoforms are typically generated by proteolytic cleavage of the cell surface receptor or by alternative splicing of rna transcripts arising from the same gene encoding the full-length receptor. both the epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) and the insulin receptor (insr) families prod ...	2013	27375681
is nigeria winning the battle against malaria? prevalence, risk factors and kap assessment among hausa communities in kano state.	malaria is one of the most severe global public health problems worldwide, particularly in africa, where nigeria has the greatest number of malaria cases. this community-based study was designed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of malaria and to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (kap) regarding malaria among rural hausa communities in kano state, nigeria.	2016	27392040
composition and genetic diversity of mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) on islands and mainland shores of kenya's lakes victoria and baringo.	the lake baringo and lake victoria regions of kenya are associated with high seroprevalence of mosquito-transmitted arboviruses. however, molecular identification of potential mosquito vector species, including morphologically identified ones, remains scarce. to estimate the diversity, abundance, and distribution of mosquito vectors on the mainland shores and adjacent inhabited islands in these regions, we collected and morphologically identified adult and immature mosquitoes and obtained the co ...	2016	27402888
'nature or nurture': survival rate, oviposition interval, and possible gonotrophic discordance among south east asian anophelines.	mosquito survival, oviposition interval and gonotrophic concordance are important determinants of vectorial capacity. these may vary between species or within a single species depending on the environment. they may be estimated by examination of the ovaries of host-seeking mosquitoes.	2016	27405767
a review of new challenges and prospects for malaria elimination in mutare and mutasa districts, zimbabwe.	this review outlines and discusses the new challenges in malaria control and prospects for its elimination in mutare and mutasa districts, zimbabwe. the burden of malaria has declined significantly over the past 5 years in most regions in zimbabwe, including mutare and mutasa districts. the nationwide malaria reduction has been primarily linked to scaled-up vector control interventions and early diagnosis and treatment with effective anti-malarial medicines. the successes recorded have prompted ...	2016	27411705
tyrosine hydroxylase is crucial for maintaining pupal tanning and immunity in anopheles sinensis.	tyrosine hydroxylase (th), the initial enzyme in the melanin pathway, catalyzes tyrosine conversion into dopa. although expression and regulation of th have been shown to affect cuticle pigmentation in insects, no direct functional studies to date have focused on the specific physiological processes involving the enzyme during mosquito development. in the current study, silencing of asth during the time period of continuous high expression in anopheles sinensis pupae led to significant impairmen ...	2016	27416870
modelling the influence of temperature and rainfall on the population dynamics of anopheles arabiensis.	malaria continues to be one of the most devastating diseases in the world, killing more humans than any other infectious disease. malaria parasites are entirely dependent on anopheles mosquitoes for transmission. for this reason, vector population dynamics is a crucial determinant of malaria risk. consequently, it is important to understand the biology of malaria vector mosquitoes in the study of malaria transmission. temperature and precipitation also play a significant role in both aquatic and ...	2016	27421769
key knowledge gaps for plasmodium vivax control and elimination.	there is inadequate understanding of the biology, pathology, transmission, and control of plasmodium vivax, the geographically most widespread cause of human malaria. during the last decades, study of this species was neglected, in part due to the erroneous belief that it is intrinsically benign. in addition, many technical challenges in culturing the parasite also hampered understanding its fundamental biology and molecular and cellular responses to chemotherapeutics. research on vivax malaria ...	2016	27430544
chicken volatiles repel host-seeking malaria mosquitoes.	anopheles arabiensis is a dominant vector of malaria in sub-saharan africa, which feeds indoors and outdoors on human and other vertebrate hosts, making it a difficult species to control with existing control methods. novel methods that reduce human-vector interactions are, therefore, required to improve the impact of vector control programmes. investigating the mechanisms underlying the host discrimination process in an. arabiensis could provide valuable knowledge leading to the development of ...	2016	27439360
cytochrome p450 associated with insecticide resistance catalyzes cuticular hydrocarbon production in anopheles gambiae.	the role of cuticle changes in insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles gambiae was assessed. the rate of internalization of (14)c deltamethrin was significantly slower in a resistant strain than in a susceptible strain. topical application of an acetone insecticide formulation to circumvent lipid-based uptake barriers decreased the resistance ratio by ∼50%. cuticle analysis by electron microscopy and characterization of lipid extracts indicated that resistant mosquitoes had ...	2016	27439866
composition and genetics of malaria vector populations in the central african republic.	in many african countries malaria has declined sharply due to a synergy of actions marked by the introduction of vector control strategies, but the disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in central african republic (car). an entomological study was initiated with the aim to characterize the malaria vectors in bangui, the capital of car, and determine their vector competence.	2016	27456078
genetic structure of water chestnut beetle: providing evidence for origin of water chestnut.	water chestnut beetle (galerucella birmanica jacoby) is a pest of the water chestnut (trapa natans l.). to analyze the phylogeny and biogeography of the beetle and provide evidence for the origin of t. natans in china, we conducted this by using three mitochondrial genes (coi, coii and cytb) and nuclear its2 ribosomal dna of g. birmanica. as for mtdna genes, the beetle could be subdivided into three groups: northeastern china (nec), central-northern-southern china (cc-nc-sc) and southwestern chi ...	2016	27459279
mass mosquito trapping for malaria control in western kenya: study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster-randomised trial.	increasing levels of insecticide resistance as well as outdoor, residual transmission of malaria threaten the efficacy of existing vector control tools used against malaria mosquitoes. the development of odour-baited mosquito traps has led to the possibility of controlling malaria through mass trapping of malaria vectors. through daily removal trapping against a background of continued bed net use it is anticipated that vector populations could be suppressed to a level where continued transmissi ...	2016	27460054
a crispr-cas9 sex-ratio distortion system for genetic control.	genetic control aims to reduce the ability of insect pest populations to cause harm via the release of modified insects. one strategy is to bias the reproductive sex ratio towards males so that a population decreases in size or is eliminated altogether due to a lack of females. we have shown previously that sex ratio distortion can be generated synthetically in the main human malaria vector anopheles gambiae, by selectively destroying the x-chromosome during spermatogenesis, through the activity ...	2016	27484623
investigating molecular basis of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in an anopheles funestus population from senegal.	anopheles funestus is one of the major malaria vectors in tropical africa, notably in senegal. the highly anthropophilic and endophilic behaviours of this mosquito make it a good target for vector control operations through the use of insecticide treated nets, long-lasting insecticide nets and indoor residual spraying. however, little is known about patterns of resistance to insecticides and the underlying resistance mechanisms in field populations of this vector in senegal.	2016	27519696
the effect of mass mosquito trapping on malaria transmission and disease burden (solarmal): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial.	odour baits can attract host-seeking anopheles mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. we assessed the effects of mass deployment of odour-baited traps on malaria transmission and disease burden.	2016	27520594
a crossover study to evaluate the diversion of malaria vectors in a community with incomplete coverage of spatial repellents in the kilombero valley, tanzania.	malaria elimination is unlikely to occur if vector control efforts focus entirely on transmission occurring indoors without addressing vectors that bite outdoors and outside sleeping hours. additional control tools such as spatial repellents may provide the personal protection required to fill this gap. however, since repellents do not kill mosquitoes it is unclear if vectors will be diverted from households that use spatial repellents to those that do not.	2016	27527601
prevalence of crt and mdr-1 mutations in plasmodium falciparum isolates from grande comore island after withdrawal of chloroquine.	in comoros, the widespread of chloroquine (cq)-resistant plasmodium falciparum populations was a major obstacle to malaria control, which led to the official withdrawal of cq in 2004. continuous monitoring of cq-resistant markers of the p. falciparum cq resistant transporter (pfcrt) and the p. falciparum multiple drug resistance 1 (pfmdr-1) is necessary inder to obtain first-hand information on cq susceptibility of parasite populations in the field. the objective of this study is to assess the p ...	2016	27527604
tafenoquine and its potential in the treatment and relapse prevention of plasmodium vivax malaria: the evidence to date.	despite declining global malaria incidence, the disease continues to be a threat to people living in endemic regions. in 2015, an estimated 214 million new malaria cases and 438,000 deaths due to malaria were recorded. plasmodium vivax is the second most common cause of malaria next to plasmodium falciparum. vivax malaria is prevalent especially in southeast asia and the horn of africa, with enormous challenges in controlling the disease. some of the challenges faced by vivax malaria-endemic cou ...	2016	27528800
the malaria vectors of the lower shire valley, malawi.	the aim of this study was to characterise breeding sites and climatic factors that influence the abundance of malaria vectors in the lower shire valley, malawi. we regularly sampled adult and larval mosquitoes over the transition periods between the wet and dry seasons during 2000 and 2001. three potential malaria vectors, an. arabiensis, an. gambine sensu stricto and an. funestus, and a fourth non-vector species an. quadriannulatus, were identified. (this is the first record of an. quadriannula ...	0	27528914
know your enemy: some facts about the natural history of malawi's anopheles mosquitoes and implications for malaria control.	in this article i examine the relevance of environmental control techniques in malawi in the context of what we know about breeding, resting and feeding habits of the common anopheles species. i hope that this article may help to put to rest some common misconceptions concerning anopheles control as a malaria prevention strategy.	0	27528915
multiple insecticide resistance in an infected population of the malaria vector anopheles funestus in benin.	knowledge on the spread and distribution of insecticide resistance in major malaria vectors such as anopheles funestus is key to implement successful resistance management strategies across africa. here, by assessing the susceptibility status of an inland population of an. funestus giles (kpome) and investigating molecular basis of resistance, we show that multiple resistance and consistent plasmodium infection rate are present in anopheles funestus populations from kpome.	2016	27531125
towards malaria elimination in the mosaswa (mozambique, south africa and swaziland) region.	the substantial impact of cross-border collaborative control efforts on the burden of malaria in southern africa has previously been demonstrated through the successes of the lubombo spatial development initiative. increases in malaria cases recorded in the three partner countries (mozambique, south africa, swaziland) since termination of that programme in 2011 have provided impetus for the resuscitation of cooperation in the form of the mosaswa malaria initiative. mosaswa, launched in 2015, see ...	2016	27538990
the impact of pyrethroid resistance on the efficacy and effectiveness of bednets for malaria control in africa.	long lasting pyrethroid treated bednets are the most important tool for preventing malaria. pyrethroid resistant anopheline mosquitoes are now ubiquitous in africa, though the public health impact remains unclear, impeding the deployment of more expensive nets. meta-analyses of bioassay studies and experimental hut trials are used to characterise how pyrethroid resistance changes the efficacy of standard bednets, and those containing the synergist piperonyl butoxide (pbo), and assess its impact ...	2016	27547988
investigation of mechanisms of bendiocarb resistance in anopheles gambiae populations from the city of yaoundé, cameroon.	resistance to the carbamate insecticide bendiocarb is emerging in anopheles gambiae populations from the city of yaoundé in cameroon. however, the molecular basis of this resistance remains uncharacterized. the present study objective is to investigate mechanisms promoting resistance to bendiocarb in an. gambiae populations from yaoundé.	2016	27549778
influence of the agrochemicals used for rice and vegetable cultivation on insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in southern côte d'ivoire.	vector control can contribute to the development of resistance to insecticides in malaria vectors. as the swamps and wetlands used for some agricultural activities constitute productive breeding sites for many mosquito species, agricultural pest control may increase the selection pressure for insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. understanding the use of agrochemicals by farmers is important to plan and initiate effective integrated pest and vector management interventions.	2016	27553959
synergistic and compensatory effects of two point mutations conferring target-site resistance to fipronil in the insect gaba receptor rdl.	insecticide resistance can arise from a variety of mechanisms, including changes to the target site, but is often associated with substantial fitness costs to insects. here we describe two resistance-associated target-site mutations that have synergistic and compensatory effects that combine to produce high and persistent levels of resistance to fipronil, an insecticide targeting on γ-aminobytyric acid (gaba) receptors. in nilaparvata lugens, a major pest of rice crops in many parts of asia, we ...	2016	27557781
reviewing south africa's malaria elimination strategy (2012-2018): progress, challenges and priorities.	with a sustained national malaria incidence of fewer than one case per 1000 population at risk, in 2012 south africa officially transitioned from controlling malaria to the ambitious goal of eliminating malaria within its borders by 2018. this review assesses the progress made in the 3 years since programme re-orientation while highlighting challenges and suggesting priorities for moving the malaria programme towards elimination.	2016	27567642
insecticide-treated net campaign and malaria transmission in western kenya: 2003-2015.	insecticide-treated nets (itns) are among the three major intervention measures that have reduced malaria transmission in the past decade. however, increased insecticide resistance in vectors, together with outdoor transmission, has limited the efficacy of the itn scaling-up efforts. observations on longitudinal changes in itn coverage and its impact on malaria transmission allow policy makers to make informed adjustments to control strategies. we analyzed field surveys on itn ownership, malaria ...	2016	27574601
cow-baited tents are highly effective in sampling diverse anopheles malaria vectors in cambodia.	the accurate monitoring and evaluation of malaria vectors requires efficient sampling. the objective of this study was to compare methods for sampling outdoor-biting anopheles mosquitoes in cambodia.	2016	27577697
a prospective cohort study to assess the micro-epidemiology of plasmodium falciparum clinical malaria in ilha josina machel (manhiça, mozambique).	after the decrease in clinical malaria incidence observed in mozambique until 2009, a steady resurgence of cases per year has been reported nationally, reaching alarming levels in 2014. however, little is known about the clinical profile of the cases presented, or the possible epidemiological factors contributing to the resurgence of cases.	2016	27577880
eave tubes for malaria control in africa: initial development and semi-field evaluations in tanzania.	presented here are a series of preliminary experiments evaluating "eave tubes"-a technology that combines house screening with a novel method of delivering insecticides for control of malaria mosquitoes.	2016	27586055
malaria and large dams in sub-saharan africa: future impacts in a changing climate.	sub-saharan africa (ssa) has embarked on a new era of dam building to improve food security and promote economic development. nonetheless, the future impacts of dams on malaria transmission are poorly understood and seldom investigated in the context of climate and demographic change.	2016	27592590
an improved mosquito electrocuting trap that safely reproduces epidemiologically relevant metrics of mosquito human-feeding behaviours as determined by human landing catch.	reliable quantification of mosquito host-seeking behaviours is required to determine the efficacy of vector control methods. for malaria, the gold standard approach remains the risky human landing catch (hlc). here compare the performance of an improved prototype of the mosquito electrocuting grid trap (met) as a safer alternative with hlc for measuring malaria vector behaviour in dar es salaam, tanzania.	2016	27618941
multiple insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus in southern ghana: implications for malaria control.	understanding the dynamics of insecticide resistance in african malaria vectors is crucial for successful implementation of resistance management strategies in the continent. this study reports a high and multiple insecticide resistance in anopheles funestus from southern ghana which could compromise the malaria operational plan in this country, if not tackled. adult anopheles mosquitoes were collected in obuasi and adawukwa, in southern ghana. plasmodium infection rates, susceptibility to the m ...	2016	27628765
spatio-temporal heterogeneity of malaria vectors in northern zambia: implications for vector control.	despite large reductions in malaria burden across zambia, some regions continue to experience extremely high malaria transmission. in nchelenge district, luapula province, northern zambia, almost half the human population carries parasites. intervention coverage has increased substantially over the past decade, but comprehensive district-wide entomological studies to guide delivery of vector control measures are lacking. this study describes the bionomics and spatio-temporal patterns of malaria ...	2016	27655231
a novel method for mapping village-scale outdoor resting microhabitats of the primary african malaria vector, anopheles gambiae.	knowledge of anopheles resting habitats is needed to advance outdoor malaria vector control. this study presents a technique to map locations of resting habitats using high-resolution satellite imagery (world view 2) and probabilistic dempster-shafer (d-s) modelling, focused on a rural village in southern mali, west africa where field sampling was conducted to determine outdoor habitat preferences of anopheles gambiae, the main vector in the study area.	2016	27659918