Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
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| a key role for lipoic acid synthesis during plasmodium liver stage development. | the successful navigation of malaria parasites through their life cycle, which alternates between vertebrate hosts and mosquito vectors, requires a complex interplay of metabolite synthesis and salvage pathways. using the rodent parasite plasmodium berghei, we have explored the synthesis and scavenging pathways for lipoic acid, a short-chain fatty acid derivative that regulates the activity of α-ketoacid dehydrogenases including pyruvate dehydrogenase. in plasmodium, lipoic acid is either synthe ... | 2013 | 23490300 |
| dedicated olfactory neurons mediating attraction behavior to ammonia and amines in drosophila. | animals across various phyla exhibit odor-evoked innate attraction behavior that is developmentally programmed. the mechanism underlying such behavior remains unclear because the odorants that elicit robust attraction responses and the neuronal circuits that mediate this behavior have not been identified. here, we describe a functionally segregated population of olfactory sensory neurons (osns) and projection neurons (pns) in drosophila melanogaster that are highly specific to ammonia and amines ... | 2013 | 23509267 |
| quinolone-3-diarylethers: a new class of antimalarial drug. | the goal for developing new antimalarial drugs is to find a molecule that can target multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle, thus impacting prevention, treatment, and transmission of the disease. the 4(1h)-quinolone-3-diarylethers are selective potent inhibitors of the parasite's mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex. these compounds are highly active against the human malaria parasites plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax. they target both the liver and blood stages of the parasite a ... | 0 | 23515079 |
| next-generation site-directed transgenesis in the malaria vector mosquito anopheles gambiae: self-docking strains expressing germline-specific phic31 integrase. | diseases transmitted by mosquitoes have a devastating impact on global health and the situation is complicated due to difficulties with both existing control measures and the impact of climate change. genetically modified mosquitoes that are refractory to disease transmission are seen as having great potential in the delivery of novel control strategies. the streptomyces phage phic31 integrase system has been successfully adapted for site-directed transgene integration in a range of insects, thu ... | 2013 | 23516619 |
| effects of fluctuating daily temperatures at critical thermal extremes on aedes aegypti life-history traits. | the effect of temperature on insect biology is well understood under constant temperature conditions, but less so under more natural, fluctuating conditions. a fluctuating temperature profile around a mean of 26°c can alter aedes aegypti vector competence for dengue viruses as well as numerous life-history traits, however, the effect of fluctuations on mosquitoes at critical thermal limits is unknown. | 2013 | 23520534 |
| autosomal inheritance of alphamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, resistance in anopheles stephensi-liston, a malaria mosquito. | anopheles stephensi–liston (culicidae: diptera) is an important urban malarial vector in the indian sub-continent, accounting for about 15% of the total annual malaria incidence. chemical control represents a key strategy in the management of this insect vector. however, owing to erratic and continuous application of insecticides, resistance has become a common phenomenon among them and their control has become an uphill task. the genetics of alphamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid resistance was s ... | 2013 | 23521773 |
| identification and characterization of three previously undescribed crystal proteins from bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan. | the total protoxin complement in the parasporal body of mosquitocidal strain, bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan 367, was determined by use of a polyacrylamide gel block coupled to mass spectrometry. a total of eight protoxins were identified from this strain, including five reported protoxins (cry11ba, cry19aa, cry24aa, cry25aa, and cyt2bb), as well as three previously undescribed (cry30ca, cry60aa, and cry60ba) in this isolate. it was interesting that the encoding genes of three new prot ... | 2013 | 23524673 |
| transgenic parasites stably expressing full-length plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein as a model for vaccine down-selection in mice using sterile protection as an endpoint. | circumsporozoite protein (csp) of plasmodium falciparum is a protective human malaria vaccine candidate. there is an urgent need for models that can rapidly down-select novel csp-based vaccine candidates. in the present study, the mouse-mosquito transmission cycle of a transgenic plasmodium berghei malaria parasite stably expressing a functional full-length p. falciparum csp was optimized to consistently produce infective sporozoites for protection studies. a minimal sporozoite challenge dose wa ... | 2013 | 23536694 |
| diversity of culturable bacteria including pantoea in wild mosquito aedes albopictus. | the microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the biology of insects. in recent decades, significant efforts have been made to better understand the diversity of symbiotic bacteria associated with mosquitoes and assess their influence on pathogen transmission. here, we report the bacterial composition found in field-caught aedes albopictus populations by using culture-dependent methods. | 2013 | 23537168 |
| hiv treatments have malaria gametocyte killing and transmission blocking activity. | millions of individuals being treated for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) live in malaria-endemic areas, but the effects of these treatments on malaria transmission are unknown. while drugs like hiv protease inhibitors (pis) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (tmp-smx) have known activity against parasites during liver or asexual blood stages, their effects on transmission stages require further study. | 2013 | 23539746 |
| 16s rrna gene-based identification of elizabethkingia meningoseptica (flavobacteriales: flavobacteriaceae) as a dominant midgut bacterium of the asian malaria vector anopheles stephensi (dipteria: culicidae) with antimicrobial activities. | following their transmission from the human to the mosquito with the bloodmeal, malaria parasites have to persevere in the mosquito midgut for approximately 1 d. during this period the parasites are highly vulnerable to factors of the mosquito midgut, including bacteria. we here aimed at determining the microbial diversity of gut bacteria of the asian malaria vector anopheles stephensi (liston) during development and under different feeding regimes, including feeds on malaria parasite-infected b ... | 2013 | 23540130 |
| plasmodium berghei mapk1 displays differential and dynamic subcellular localizations during liver stage development. | mitogen-activated protein kinases (mapks) regulate key signaling events in eukaryotic cells. in the genomes of protozoan plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria, two genes encoding kinases with significant homology to other eukaryotic mapks have been identified (mapk1, mapk2). in this work, we show that both genes are transcribed during plasmodium berghei liver stage development, and analyze expression and subcellular localization of the pbmapk1 protein in liver stage parasites. li ... | 2013 | 23544094 |
| the malaria transition on the arabian peninsula: progress toward a malaria-free region between 1960-2010. | the transmission of malaria across the arabian peninsula is governed by the diversity of dominant vectors and extreme aridity. it is likely that where malaria transmission was historically possible it was intense and led to a high disease burden. here, we review the speed of elimination, approaches taken, define the shrinking map of risk since 1960 and discuss the threats posed to a malaria-free arabian peninsula using the archive material, case data and published works. from as early as the 194 ... | 0 | 23548086 |
| effect of triflumuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, on aedes aegypti, aedes albopictus and culex quinquefasciatus under laboratory conditions. | resistance to traditional insecticides represents a threat to the control of disease vectors. the insect growth regulators (igr) are a potential alternative to control mosquitoes, including resistant populations. the chitin synthesis inhibitors (csi) are igrs, which interfere with the insect molting process and represent one major class of compounds against aedes aegypti populations resistant to the larvicide organophosphate temephos. in the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of the csi tr ... | 2013 | 23557173 |
| molecular characterization of the carboxypeptidase b1 of anopheles stephensi and its evaluation as a target for transmission-blocking vaccines. | malaria is one of the most important infectious diseases in the world, and it has many economic and social impacts on populations, especially in poor countries. transmission-blocking vaccines (tbvs) are valuable tools for malaria eradication. a study on anopheles gambiae revealed that polyclonal antibodies to carboxypeptidase b1 of a. gambiae can block sexual parasite development in the mosquito midgut. hence, it was introduced as a tbv target in regions where a. gambiae is the main malaria vect ... | 2013 | 23569111 |
| ovicidal and repellent activities of botanical extracts against culex quinquefasciatus, aedes aegypti and anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae). | to determine the ovicidal and repellent activities of methanol leaf extract of ervatamia coronaria (e. coronaria) and caesalpinia pulcherrima (c. pulcherrima) against culex quinquefasciatus (cx. quinquefasciatus), aedes aegypti (ae. aegypti) and anopheles stephensi (an. stephensi). | 2011 | 23569723 |
| malaria vaccines: looking back and lessons learnt. | the current status of malaria vaccine approaches has the background of a long and arduous path of malaria disease control and vaccine development. here, we critically review with regard to unilateral interventional approaches and highlight the impact of socioeconomic elements of malaria endemicity. the necessity of re-energizing basic research of malaria life-cycle and plasmodium developmental biology to provide the basis for promising and cost-effective vaccine approaches and to reach eradicati ... | 0 | 23569729 |
| bioefficacy of mentha piperita essential oil against dengue fever mosquito aedes aegypti l. | to assess the larvicidal and repellent potential of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of peppermint plant, mentha piperita (m. piperita) against the larval and adult stages of aedes aegypti (ae. aegypti). | 0 | 23569733 |
| larvicidal and repellent potential of moringa oleifera against malarial vector, anopheles stephensi liston (insecta: diptera: culicidae). | to evaluate the larvicidal and pupicidal potential of the methanolic extracts from moringa oleifera (m. oleifera) plant seeds against malarial vector anopheles stephensi (a. stephensi) mosquitoes at different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm). | 0 | 23569741 |
| control of tetranychus urticae koch by extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and eucalyptus. | to evaluate the acaricidal activity of extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and eucalyptus against tetranychus urticae (t. urticae) koch. | 0 | 23569829 |
| larvicidal and irritant activities of hexane leaf extracts of citrus sinensis against dengue vector aedes aegypti l. | to assess the larvicidal and irritant activities of the hexane extracts of leaves of citrus sinensis (c. sinensis) against the early fourth instars and female adults of aedes aegypti (ae. aegypti). | 0 | 23569887 |
| isolation and efficacy of entomopathogenic fungus (metarhizium anisopliae) for the control of aedes albopictus skuse larvae: suspected dengue vector in pakistan. | to isolate the entomopathogenic fungus metarhizium anisopliae (m. anisopliae) in the local environment, and evaluate its efficacy against the suspected dengue vector aedes albopictus in pakistan. | 2012 | 23569917 |
| mosquito vector management with botanicals-the most effective weapons in controlling mosquito-borne diseases. | 2012 | 23569926 | |
| repellent properties of cardiospermum halicacabum linn. (family: sapindaceae) plant leaf extracts against three important vector mosquitoes. | to determine repellent activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, chloroform and methanol extract of cardiospermum halicacabum (c. halicacabum) against culex quinquefasciatus (cx. quinquefasciatus), aedes aegypti (ae. aegypti) and anopheles stephensi (an. stephensi). | 2012 | 23569979 |
| evaluation of aqueous and ethanol extract of bioactive medicinal plant, cassia didymobotrya (fresenius) irwin & barneby against immature stages of filarial vector, culex quinquefasciatus say (diptera: culicidae). | to evaluate aqueous and ethanol extract of cassia didymobotrya leaves against immature stages of culex quinquefasciatus. | 2012 | 23569999 |
| development of inexpensive and globally available larval diet for rearing anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae) mosquitoes. | success of sterile insect technique (sit) is dependent upon the mass rearing and release of quality insects, the production of which is directly related to the suitability of the diet ingredients used. commercial diets used for small-scale culture of mosquitoes are expensive and thus not feasible for mass production. | 2013 | 23570246 |
| intra-specific diversity of serratia marcescens in anopheles mosquito midgut defines plasmodium transmission capacity. | a critical stage in malaria transmission occurs in the anopheles mosquito midgut, when the malaria parasite, plasmodium, ingested with blood, first makes contact with the gut epithelial surface. to understand the response mechanisms within the midgut environment, including those influenced by resident microbiota against plasmodium, we focus on a midgut bacteria species' intra-specific variation that confers diversity to the mosquito's competency for malaria transmission. serratia marcescens isol ... | 0 | 23571408 |
| exogenous gypsy insulator sequences modulate transgene expression in the malaria vector mosquito, anopheles stephensi. | malaria parasites are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of the genus anopheles, and these insects are the targets of innovative vector control programs. proposed approaches include the use of genetic strategies based on transgenic mosquitoes to suppress or modify vector populations. although substantial advances have been made in engineering resistant mosquito strains, limited efforts have been made in refining mosquito transgene expression, in particular attenuating the effects of insertions ... | 2013 | 23584017 |
| a member of the cpw-wpc protein family is expressed in and localized to the surface of developing ookinetes. | despite the development of malaria control programs, billions of people are still at risk for this infectious disease. recently, the idea of the transmission-blocking vaccine, which works by interrupting the infection of mosquitoes by parasites, has gained attention as a promising strategy for malaria control and eradication. to date, a limited number of surface proteins have been identified in mosquito-stage parasites and investigated as potential targets for transmission-blocking vaccines. the ... | 2013 | 23587146 |
| the survival of memory cd8 t cells that is mediated by il-15 correlates with sustained protection against malaria. | ag-specific memory t cell responses elicited by infections or vaccinations are inextricably linked to long-lasting protective immunity. studies of protective immunity among residents of malaria endemic areas indicate that memory responses to plasmodium ags are not adequately developed or maintained, as people who survive episodes of childhood malaria are still vulnerable to either persistent or intermittent malaria infections. in contrast, multiple exposures to radiation-attenuated plasmodium be ... | 2013 | 23589611 |
| quantitative bioluminescent imaging of pre-erythrocytic malaria parasite infection using luciferase-expressing plasmodium yoelii. | the liver stages of plasmodium parasites are important targets for the development of anti-malarial vaccine candidates and chemoprophylaxis approaches that aim to prevent clinical infection. analyzing the impact of interventions on liver stages in the murine malaria model system plasmodium yoelii has been cumbersome and requires terminal procedures. in vivo imaging of bioluminescent parasites has previously been shown to be an effective and non-invasive alternative to monitoring liver stage burd ... | 2013 | 23593316 |
| pharmacological properties of datura stramonium l. as a potential medicinal tree: an overview. | india has a great wealth of various naturally occurring plant drugs which have great potential pharmacological activities. datura stramonium (d. stramonium) is one of the widely well known folklore medicinal herbs. the troublesome weed, d. stramonium is a plant with both poisonous and medicinal properties and has been proven to have great pharmacological potential with a great utility and usage in folklore medicine. d. stromonium has been scientifically proven to contain alkaloids, tannins, carb ... | 2012 | 23593583 |
| unique transcriptional profile of liver-resident memory cd8+ t cells induced by immunization with malaria sporozoites. | sterile immunity against live plasmodium infection can be achieved by immunization with radiation-attenuated sporozoites. this protection is known to be mediated in part by antigen-specific memory cd8(+) t cells, presumably those residing in the liver. we characterized and compared the transcriptional profile of parasite-specific memory cd8(+) t cells residing in the liver and spleen after immunization of mice with irradiated sporozoites. microarray-based expression analysis of these memory cd8( ... | 2013 | 23594961 |
| protection against malaria after immunization by chloroquine prophylaxis and sporozoites is mediated by preerythrocytic immunity. | volunteers immunized under chloroquine chemoprophylaxis with plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (cps) develop complete, long-lasting protection against homologous sporozoite challenge. chloroquine affects neither sporozoites nor liver-stages, but kills only asexual forms in erythrocytes once released from the liver into the circulation. consequently, cps immunization exposes the host to antigens from both preerythrocytic and blood stages, and induced immunity might target either of these stages. ... | 2013 | 23599283 |
| larvicidal activities of some iranian native plants against the main malaria vector, anopheles stephensi. | malaria is considered a major health problem in iran. there are different methods for vector control. in this study we tested the larvicidal effects of some iranian plants. the methanolic extracts of 11 plants were prepared with percolation method. the larvicidal activities of them against malaria vector, anopheles stephensi were studied using world health organization standard method. all lc50 values of methanolic extracts of plants that we screened were lower than 300 ppm. the methanolic extra ... | 2013 | 23605596 |
| mechanisms of protective immune responses induced by the plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based, self-assembling protein nanoparticle vaccine. | a lack of defined correlates of immunity for malaria, combined with the inability to induce long-lived sterile immune responses in a human host, demonstrate a need for improved understanding of potentially protective immune mechanisms for enhanced vaccine efficacy. protective sterile immunity (>90%) against the plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (csp) has been achieved using a transgenically modified plasmodium berghei sporozoite (tg-pb/pfcsp) and a self-assembling protein nanopartic ... | 2013 | 23607541 |
| the utility of plasmodium berghei as a rodent model for anti-merozoite malaria vaccine assessment. | rodent malaria species plasmodium yoelii and p. chabaudi have been widely used to validate vaccine approaches targeting blood-stage merozoite antigens. however, increasing data suggest the p. berghei rodent malaria may be able to circumvent vaccine-induced anti-merozoite responses. here we confirm a failure to protect against p. berghei, despite successful antibody induction against leading merozoite antigens using protein-in-adjuvant or viral vectored vaccine delivery. no subunit vaccine approa ... | 0 | 23609325 |
| role of host cell traversal by the malaria sporozoite during liver infection. | malaria infection starts when the sporozoite stage of the plasmodium parasite is injected into the skin by a mosquito. sporozoites are known to traverse host cells before finally invading a hepatocyte and multiplying into erythrocyte-infecting forms, but how sporozoites reach hepatocytes in the liver and the role of host cell traversal (ct) remain unclear. we report the first quantitative imaging study of sporozoite liver infection in rodents. we show that sporozoites can cross the liver sinusoi ... | 2013 | 23610126 |
| prevalence of malaria, dengue, and chikungunya significantly associated with mosquito breeding sites. | to observe the prevalence of malaria, dengue, and chikungunya and their association with mosquito breeding sites. | 0 | 23610486 |
| the relationship between rts,s vaccine-induced antibodies, cd4⁺ t cell responses and protection against plasmodium falciparum infection. | vaccination with the pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine rts,s induces high levels of antibodies and cd4(+) t cells specific for the circumsporozoite protein (csp). using a biologically-motivated mathematical model of sporozoite infection fitted to data from malaria-naive adults vaccinated with rts,s and subjected to experimental p. falciparum challenge, we characterised the relationship between antibodies, cd4(+) t cell responses and protection from infection. both anti-csp antibody titres and csp ... | 2013 | 23613845 |
| toxoplasma gondii salvages sphingolipids from the host golgi through the rerouting of selected rab vesicles to the parasitophorous vacuole. | the obligate intracellular protozoan toxoplasma gondii actively invades mammalian cells and, upon entry, forms its own membrane-bound compartment, named the parasitophorous vacuole (pv). within the pv, the parasite replicates and scavenges nutrients, including lipids, from host organelles. although t. gondii can synthesize sphingolipids de novo, it also scavenges these lipids from the host golgi. how the parasite obtains sphingolipids from the golgi remains unclear, as the pv avoids fusion with ... | 2013 | 23615442 |
| six novel y chromosome genes in anopheles mosquitoes discovered by independently sequencing males and females. | y chromosomes are responsible for the initiation of male development, male fertility, and other male-related functions in diverse species. however, y genes are rarely characterized outside a few model species due to the arduous nature of studying the repeat-rich y. | 2013 | 23617698 |
| artificial activation of mature unfertilized eggs in the malaria vector mosquito, anopheles stephensi (diptera, culicidae). | in the past decade, many transgenic lines of mosquitoes have been generated and analyzed, whereas the maintenance of a large number of transgenic lines requires a great deal of effort and cost. in vitro fertilization by an injection of cryopreserved sperm into eggs has been proven to be effective for the maintenance of strains in mammals. the technique of artificial egg activation is a prerequisite for the establishment of in vitro fertilization by sperm injection. we demonstrated that artificia ... | 2013 | 23619405 |
| antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of the phytochemicals of whole leucas aspera extract. | to investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of whole leucas aspera (labiatae) (l. aspera) alcoholic extract. | 0 | 23620850 |
| development of a population suppression strain of the human malaria vector mosquito, anopheles stephensi. | transgenic mosquito strains are being developed to contribute to the control of dengue and malaria transmission. one approach uses genetic manipulation to confer conditional, female-specific dominant lethality phenotypes. engineering of a female-specific flightless phenotype provides a sexing mechanism essential for male-only mosquito, release approaches that result in population suppression of target vector species. | 2013 | 23622561 |
| temperature variation makes ectotherms more sensitive to climate change. | ectotherms are considered to be particularly vulnerable to climate warming. descriptions of habitat temperatures and predicted changes in climate usually consider mean monthly, seasonal or annual conditions. ectotherms, however, do not simply experience mean conditions, but are exposed to daily fluctuations in habitat temperatures. here, we highlight how temperature fluctuation can generate 'realized' thermal reaction (fitness) norms that differ from the 'fundamental' norms derived under standar ... | 2013 | 23630036 |
| experimental and clinical pharmacology of andrographis paniculata and its major bioactive phytoconstituent andrographolide. | andrographis paniculata (burm. f) nees, generally known as "king of bitters," is an herbaceous plant in the family acanthaceae. in china, india, thailand, and malaysia, this plant has been widely used for treating sore throat, flu, and upper respiratory tract infections. andrographolide, a major bioactive chemical constituent of the plant, has shown anticancer potential in various investigations. andrographolide and its derivatives have anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models asthma, st ... | 2013 | 23634174 |
| fluctuations at a low mean temperature accelerate dengue virus transmission by aedes aegypti. | environmental factors such as temperature can alter mosquito vector competence for arboviruses. results from recent studies indicate that daily fluctuations around an intermediate mean temperature (26°c) reduce vector competence of aedes aeygpti for dengue viruses (denv). theoretical predictions suggest that the mean temperature in combination with the magnitude of the diurnal temperature range (dtr) mediate the direction of these effects. | 2013 | 23638208 |
| malaria infection does not affect the sensitivity of peripheral receptor neurons in anopheles stephensi. | mosquitoes transmit many important diseases including malaria, dengue and yellow fever. disease transmission from one vertebrate host to another depends on repeated blood feedings by single mosquitoes. in order for the mosquito to acquire the blood that it needs to complete oogenesis, the insect must locate a suitable host. olfactory cues (including carbon dioxide) released by the host and detected by the mosquito are the primary signals that vector insects use for host location. previous studie ... | 2013 | 23642231 |
| molecular characterization of mosquitocidal bacillus sphaericus isolated from tamil nadu, india. | forty-two bacillus sphaericus strains were isolated from soil around tamil nadu, india. the phylogenetic relationship among the b. sphaericus isolates was analysed by rep-pcr and multiplex pcr was performed for the detection of mosquito larvicidal genes bina, binb, mtx1, mtx2 and mtx3 in b. sphaericus isolates. according to the rep-pcr band pattern, b. sphaericus isolates were divided into group a comprising i-xi clusters and group b comprising cluster xii. three of the isolates bstn01, 23 and 2 ... | 2013 | 23648218 |
| transmission-blocking interventions eliminate malaria from laboratory populations. | transmission-blocking interventions aim to reduce the prevalence of infection in endemic communities by targeting plasmodium within the insect host. although many studies have reported the successful reduction of infection in the mosquito vector, direct evidence that there is an onward reduction in infection in the vertebrate host is lacking. here we report the first experiments using a population, transmission-based study of plasmodium berghei in anopheles stephensi to assess the impact of a tr ... | 0 | 23652000 |
| malaria mosquitoes attracted by fatal fungus. | insect-killing fungi such as beauveria bassiana are being evaluated as possible active ingredients for use in novel biopesticides against mosquito vectors that transmit malaria. fungal pathogens infect through contact and so applications of spores to surfaces such as walls, nets, or other resting sites provide possible routes to infect mosquitoes in and around domestic dwellings. however, some insects can detect and actively avoid fungal spores to reduce infection risk. if true for mosquitoes, s ... | 2013 | 23658757 |
| enterobacter-activated mosquito immune responses to plasmodium involve activation of srpn6 in anopheles stephensi. | successful development of plasmodium in the mosquito is essential for the transmission of malaria. a major bottleneck in parasite numbers occurs during midgut invasion, partly as a consequence of the complex interactions between the endogenous microbiota and the mosquito immune response. we previously identified srpn6 as an immune component which restricts plasmodium berghei development in the mosquito. here we demonstrate that srpn6 is differentially activated by bacteria in anopheles stephensi ... | 2013 | 23658788 |
| transcriptome analysis of anopheles stephensi embryo using expressed sequence tags. | germ band retraction (gbr) stage is one of the important stages during insect development. it is associated with an extensive epithelial morphogenesis and may also be pivotal in generation of morphological diversity in insects. despite its importance, only a handful of studies report the transcriptome repertoire of this stage in insects. here, we report generation, annotation and analysis of ests from the embryonic stage (16-22 h post fertilization) of laboratoryreared anopheles stephensi mosqui ... | 2013 | 23660664 |
| wolbachia invades anopheles stephensi populations and induces refractoriness to plasmodium infection. | wolbachia is a maternally transmitted symbiotic bacterium of insects that has been proposed as a potential agent for the control of insect-transmitted diseases. one of the major limitations preventing the development of wolbachia for malaria control has been the inability to establish inherited infections of wolbachia in anopheline mosquitoes. here, we report the establishment of a stable wolbachia infection in an important malaria vector, anopheles stephensi. in a. stephensi, wolbachia strain w ... | 2013 | 23661760 |
| mosquito larvicidal and ovicidal activity of puffer fish extracts against anopheles stephensi, culex quinquefasciatus and aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae). | the extracts of liver (le), ovary (oe), skin (se) and muscle (me) tissues of four species of puffer fishes viz., arothron hispidus, lagocephalus inermis, lagocephalus scleratus and chelonodon patoca were evaluated against larvae and eggs of three mosquito vectors, anopheles stephensi, culex quinquefasciatus and aedes aegypti. the lc50 values were 1194.26, 1382.73 (le); 1421.42, 1982.73 (oe); 7116.86, 15038.98 (me) and 10817.8 ppm (se) for an. stephensi and cx. quinquefasciatus respectively for a ... | 2013 | 23665705 |
| identification of targets of cd8⁺ t cell responses to malaria liver stages by genome-wide epitope profiling. | cd8⁺ t cells mediate immunity against plasmodium liver stages. however, the paucity of parasite-specific epitopes of cd8⁺ t cells has limited our current understanding of the mechanisms influencing the generation, maintenance and efficiency of these responses. to identify antigenic epitopes in a stringent murine malaria immunisation model, we performed a systematic profiling of h(2b)-restricted peptides predicted from genome-wide analysis. we describe the identification of plasmodium berghei (pb ... | 2013 | 23675294 |
| a unique y gene in the asian malaria mosquito anopheles stephensi encodes a small lysine-rich protein and is transcribed at the onset of embryonic development. | in many organisms the y chromosome initiates sex determination and regulates male fertility and mating behaviour. however, molecular characterization of y genes is rare outside of a few model species because it is difficult to clone and analyse repeat-rich heterochromatic y sequences. in insects, y genes are only well characterized in a small number of drosophila species. here we report the discovery of guy1 (gene unique to the y), a gene unique to the y chromosome in the asian malaria mosquito, ... | 2013 | 23683123 |
| translational repression controls temporal expression of the plasmodium berghei lccl protein complex. | plasmodium lccl proteins comprise a family of six proteins that function as a protein complex and have essential roles in sporozoite transmission. in plasmodium berghei, family members pblap1, pblap2 and pblap3 have been shown to be expressed in gametocytes and, following gametogenesis and fertilization, to be targeted to distinctive multivesicular organelles termed crystalloids that form in the ookinete. here, we show by gfp-tagging that pblap4, pblap5 and pblap6, like their family members, are ... | 2013 | 23684590 |
| functional evaluation of malaria pfs25 dna vaccine by in vivo electroporation in olive baboons. | plasmodium falciparum pfs25 antigen, expressed on the surface of zygotes and ookinetes, is one of the leading targets for the development of a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine (tbv). our laboratory has been evaluating dna plasmid based pfs25 vaccine in mice and non-human primates. previously, we established that in vivo electroporation (ep) delivery is an effective method to improve the immunogenicity of dna vaccine encoding pfs25 in mice. in order to optimize the in vivo ep procedure and t ... | 2013 | 23684840 |
| diversity and function of bacterial microbiota in the mosquito holobiont. | mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) have been shown to host diverse bacterial communities that vary depending on the sex of the mosquito, the developmental stage, and ecological factors. some studies have suggested a potential role of microbiota in the nutritional, developmental and reproductive biology of mosquitoes. here, we present a review of the diversity and functions of mosquito-associated bacteria across multiple variation factors, emphasizing recent findings. mosquito microbiota is consider ... | 2013 | 23688194 |
| fitness of transgenic mosquito aedes aegypti males carrying a dominant lethal genetic system. | ox513a is a transgenic strain of aedes aegypti engineered to carry a dominant, non-sex-specific, late-acting lethal genetic system that is repressed in the presence of tetracycline. it was designed for use in a sterile-insect (sit) pest control system called ridl® (release of insects carrying a dominant lethal gene) by which transgenic males are released in the field to mate with wild females; in the absence of tetracycline, the progeny from such matings will not survive. we investigated the mat ... | 2013 | 23690948 |
| treatment of plasmodium chabaudi parasites with curcumin in combination with antimalarial drugs: drug interactions and implications on the ubiquitin/proteasome system. | antimalarial drug resistance remains a major obstacle in malaria control. evidence from southeast asia shows that resistance to artemisinin combination therapy (act) is inevitable. ethnopharmacological studies have confirmed the efficacy of curcumin against plasmodium spp. drug interaction assays between curcumin/piperine/chloroquine and curcumin/piperine/artemisinin combinations and the potential of drug treatment to interfere with the ubiquitin proteasome system (ups) were analyzed. in vivo ef ... | 2013 | 23691276 |
| 'manipulation' without the parasite: altered feeding behaviour of mosquitoes is not dependent on infection with malaria parasites. | previous studies have suggested that plasmodium parasites can manipulate mosquito feeding behaviours such as probing, persistence and engorgement rate in order to enhance transmission success. here, we broaden analysis of this 'manipulation phenotype' to consider proximate foraging behaviours, including responsiveness to host odours and host location. using anopheles stephensi and plasmodium yoelii as a model system, we demonstrate that mosquitoes with early stage infections (i.e. non-infectious ... | 2013 | 23698008 |
| comparative genomics in chlamydomonas and plasmodium identifies an ancient nuclear envelope protein family essential for sexual reproduction in protists, fungi, plants, and vertebrates. | fertilization is a crucial yet poorly characterized event in eukaryotes. our previous discovery that the broadly conserved protein hap2 (gcs1) functioned in gamete membrane fusion in the unicellular green alga chlamydomonas and the malaria pathogen plasmodium led us to exploit the rare biological phenomenon of isogamy in chlamydomonas in a comparative transcriptomics strategy to uncover additional conserved sexual reproduction genes. all previously identified chlamydomonas fertilization-essentia ... | 0 | 23699412 |
| development of a chimeric plasmodium berghei strain expressing the repeat region of the p. vivax circumsporozoite protein for in vivo evaluation of vaccine efficacy. | the development of vaccine candidates against plasmodium vivax-the most geographically widespread human malaria species-is challenged by technical difficulties, such as the lack of in vitro culture systems and availability of animal models. chimeric rodent plasmodium parasites are safe and useful tools for the preclinical evaluation of new vaccine formulations. we report the successful development and characterization of chimeric plasmodium berghei parasites bearing the type i repeat region of p ... | 2013 | 23716612 |
| phenotypic dissection of a plasmodium-refractory strain of malaria vector anopheles stephensi: the reduced susceptibility to p. berghei and p. yoelii. | anopheline mosquitoes are the major vectors of human malaria. parasite-mosquito interactions are a critical aspect of disease transmission and a potential target for malaria control. current investigations into parasite-mosquito interactions frequently assume that genetically resistant and susceptible mosquitoes exist in nature. therefore, comparisons between the plasmodium susceptibility profiles of different mosquito species may contribute to a better understanding of vectorial capacity. anoph ... | 2013 | 23717475 |
| copi-mediated blood meal digestion in vector mosquitoes is independent of midgut arf-gef and arf-gap regulatory activities. | we have previously shown that defects in copi coatomer proteins cause 80% mortality in blood fed aedes aegypti mosquitoes by 96 h post-feeding. in this study we show that similar deficiencies in copii and clathrin mediated vesicle transport do not disrupt blood meal digestion and are not lethal, even though both copii and clathrin functions are required for ovarian development. since copi vesicle transport is controlled in mammalian cells by upstream g proteins and associated regulatory factors, ... | 2013 | 23727611 |
| the impact of insecticide resistance on culex pipiens immunity. | because of their role as vectors of diseases, the evolution of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes has been intensively investigated. insecticide resistance is associated to a wide range of pleiotropic effects on several key life-history traits of mosquitoes such as longevity and behavior. however, despite its potential implications in pathogen transmission, the effects of insecticide resistance on mosquito immunity have received little, if any, attention. here, we investigate the impact of ins ... | 2012 | 23745141 |
| cellular localization of dieldrin and structure-activity relationship of dieldrin analogues in dopaminergic cells. | the incidence of parkinson's disease (pd) correlates with environmental exposure to pesticides, such as the organochlorine insecticide, dieldrin. previous studies found an increased concentration of the pesticide in the striatal region of the brains of pd patients and also that dieldrin adversely affects cellular processes associated with pd. these processes include mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species production. however, the mechanism and specific cellular targets responsible for ... | 2013 | 23763672 |
| in vivo, in vitro, and in silico studies suggest a conserved immune module that regulates malaria parasite transmission from mammals to mosquitoes. | human malaria can be caused by the parasite plasmodium falciparum that is transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes. "immunological crosstalk" between the mammalian and anopheline hosts for plasmodium functions to control parasite numbers. key to this process is the mammalian cytokine transforming growth factor-β1 (tgf-β1). in mammals, tgf-β1 regulates inducible nitric oxide (no) synthase (inos) both positively and negatively. in some settings, high levels of no activate latent tgf-β1, which in ... | 2013 | 23764028 |
| morphogenesis of plasmodium zoites is uncoupled from tensile strength. | a shared feature of the motile stages (zoites) of malaria parasites is a cortical cytoskeletal structure termed subpellicular network (spn), thought to define and maintain cell shape. plasmodium alveolins comprise structural components of the spn, and alveolin gene knockout causes morphological abnormalities that coincide with markedly reduced tensile strength of the affected zoites, indicating the alveolins are prime cell shape determinants. here, we characterize a novel spn protein of plasmodi ... | 2013 | 23773015 |
| overexpression of phosphatase and tensin homolog improves fitness and decreases plasmodium falciparum development in anopheles stephensi. | the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (iis) cascade is highly conserved and regulates diverse physiological processes such as metabolism, lifespan, reproduction and immunity. transgenic overexpression of akt, a critical regulator of iis, was previously shown to shorten mosquito lifespan and increase resistance to the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum. to further understand how iis controls mosquito physiology and resistance to malaria parasite infection, we overexpressed an ... | 2013 | 23774695 |
| interactions between asaia, plasmodium and anopheles: new insights into mosquito symbiosis and implications in malaria symbiotic control. | malaria represents one of the most devastating infectious diseases. the lack of an effective vaccine and the emergence of drug resistance make necessary the development of new effective control methods. the recent identification of bacteria of the genus asaia, associated with larvae and adults of malaria vectors, designates them as suitable candidates for malaria paratransgenic control.to better characterize the interactions between asaia, plasmodium and the mosquito immune system we performed a ... | 2013 | 23777746 |
| challenges of assessing the clinical efficacy of asexual blood-stage plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccines. | in the absence of any highly effective vaccine candidate against plasmodium falciparum malaria, it remains imperative for the field to pursue all avenues that may lead to the successful development of such a formulation. the development of a subunit vaccine targeting the asexual blood-stage of plasmodium falciparum malaria infection has proven particularly challenging with only limited success to date in clinical trials. however, only a fraction of potential blood-stage vaccine antigens have bee ... | 2013 | 23778312 |
| mosquito larvicidal properties of aqueous and acetone extracts of trianthema portulacastrum linn. (family: aizoaceae) against vector species of mosquitoes. | crude aqueous and acetone extracts of leaf of trianthema portulacastrum was evaluated for its mosquito larvicidal properties against the larvae of four vector species of mosquito under laboratory conditions. these extracts showed good larvicidal properties, 100% mortality in the third instar larvae was observed in the larval bioassay test with anopheles culicifacies, anopheles stephensi, culex quinquefasciatus and aedes aegypti at a concentration of 1.0, 0.75, 0.75 and 1.0% respectively. the ld5 ... | 2011 | 23781639 |
| the metabolism of primaquine to its active metabolite is dependent on cyp 2d6. | the efficacy of the 8-aminoquinoline (8aq) drug primaquine (pq) has been historically linked to cyp-mediated metabolism. although to date no clear evidence exists in the literature that unambiguously assigns the metabolic pathway or specific metabolites necessary for activity, recent literature suggests a role for cyp 2d6 in the generation of redox active metabolites. | 2013 | 23782898 |
| lectin activity in gut extract of culex pipiens. | the role of lectins is important in interaction between pathogens and mosquito vectors. this study was performed to identify agglutinin activities of protein molecules on the midgut of culex pipiens. | 2013 | 23785692 |
| wash resistance and bioefficacy of alpha-cypermethrin long lasting impregnated nets (llin-interceptor(®)) against anopheles stephensi using tunnel test. | the long-lasing insecticide impregnated nets (llins) is considered as an effective tools for malaria vector control. the aim of this study was to evaluate the residual efficacy of alpha-cypermethrin long lasting impregnated nets (llin-interceptor(®)) against anopheles stephensi using tunnel test. | 2013 | 23785693 |
| baseline susceptibility of different geographical strains of anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae) to temephos in malarious areas of irana. | malaria still remains a public health problem in iran. there are different vector control interventions such as insecticide spraying. the present study was carried out to determine the susceptibility status of anopheles stephensi larvae to temephos as a national plan for monitoring and mapping of insecticide resistance. | 2013 | 23785695 |
| costs of crowding for the transmission of malaria parasites. | the utility of using evolutionary and ecological frameworks to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases is gaining increasing recognition. however, integrating evolutionary ecology and infectious disease epidemiology is challenging because within-host dynamics can have counterintuitive consequences for between-host transmission, especially for vector-borne parasites. a major obstacle to linking within- and between-host processes is that the drivers of the relationships between the density, ... | 2013 | 23789029 |
| efficacy of larvicidal and pupicidal activity of catharanthus roseus aqueous and solvent extracts against anopheles stephensi liston and culex quinquefasciatus say (diptera: culicidae). | to investigate the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of aqueous, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of catharanthus roseus (c. roseus) against malaria and filariasis vectors. | 2013 | 23790333 |
| gut microbes influence fitness and malaria transmission potential of asian malaria vector anopheles stephensi. | the midgut of parasite transmitting vector, anopheles stephensi is a physiologically dynamic ecological niche of resident microbes. the gut resident microbes of anisomorphic and physiologically variable male and female a. stephensi mosquitoes were different (rani et al., 2009). to understand the possible interaction of gut microbes and mosquito host, we examined the contribution of the microbe community on the fitness of the adult mosquitoes and their ability to permit development of the malaria ... | 2013 | 23796588 |
| comparative susceptibilities of species t and u of the anopheles fluviatilis complex to plasmodium vinckei petteri sporogony. | anopheles fluviatilis james is an important malaria vector in indian subcontinent. an. fluviatilis exists as a complex of three sibling species, of which two species, t and u, have been colonized so far. attempts were made to study the comparative susceptibility of species t and u of the an. fluviatilis complex to rodent malaria parasite plasmodium vinckei petteri by using anopheles stephensi liston as calibrator for variable infectivity in different isolates. an. stephensi, which was used as co ... | 2013 | 23802454 |
| a compendium of molecules involved in vector-pathogen interactions pertaining to malaria. | malaria is a vector-borne disease causing extensive morbidity, debility and mortality. development of resistance to drugs among parasites and to conventional insecticides among vector-mosquitoes necessitates innovative measures to combat this disease. identification of molecules involved in the maintenance of complex developmental cycles of the parasites within the vector and the host can provide attractive targets to intervene in the disease transmission. in the last decade, several efforts hav ... | 2013 | 23802619 |
| experimental genetics of plasmodium berghei nfu in the apicoplast iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis pathway. | eukaryotic pathogens of the phylum apicomplexa contain a non-photosynthetic plastid, termed apicoplast. within this organelle distinct iron-sulfur [fe-s] cluster proteins are likely central to biosynthesis pathways, including generation of isoprenoids and lipoic acid. here, we targeted a nuclear-encoded component of the apicoplast [fe-s] cluster biosynthesis pathway by experimental genetics in the murine malaria parasite plasmodium berghei. we show that ablation of the gene encoding a nitrogen f ... | 2013 | 23805304 |
| non-genetic determinants of mosquito competence for malaria parasites. | understanding how mosquito vectors and malaria parasites interact is of fundamental interest, and it also offers novel perspectives for disease control. both the genetic and environmental contexts are known to affect the ability of mosquitoes to support malaria development and transmission, i.e., vector competence. although the role of environment has long been recognized, much work has focused on host and parasite genetic effects. however, the last few years have seen a surge of studies reveali ... | 2013 | 23818841 |
| a novel c-type lysozyme from mytilus galloprovincialis: insight into innate immunity and molecular evolution of invertebrate c-type lysozymes. | a c-type lysozyme (named as mgclyz) gene was cloned from the mussel mytilus galloprovincialis. blast analysis indicated that mgclyz was a salivary c-type lysozyme which was mainly found in insects. the nucleotide sequence of mgclyz was predicted to encode a polypeptide of 154 amino acid residues with the signal peptide comprising the first 24 residues. the deduced mature peptide of mgclyz was of a calculated molecular weight of 14.4 kd and a theoretical isoelectric point (pi) of 8.08. evolution ... | 2013 | 23818979 |
| evaluation of a real-time quantitative pcr to measure the wild plasmodium falciparum infectivity rate in salivary glands of anopheles gambiae. | evaluation of malaria sporozoite rates in the salivary glands of anopheles gambiae is essential for estimating the number of infective mosquitoes, and consequently, the entomological inoculation rate (eir). eir is a key indicator for evaluating the risk of malaria transmission. although the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for detecting the circumsporozoite protein (csp-elisa) is routinely used in the field, it presents several limitations. a multiplex pcr can also be used to detect th ... | 2013 | 23819831 |
| alteration in bacillus thuringiensis toxicity by curing gut flora: novel approach for mosquito resistance management. | mosquitoes are known for acquiring resistance against insecticides in many ways, namely target side mutation, enzyme modification, sequestration, quick elimination, etc. but, the role of microflora present in abundance in the larval midgut is less explored with respect to their role in insecticide resistance. during the course of their development, mosquitoes are continuously exposed to microbes and have naturally acquired midgut microbial flora. this midgut flora can modulate the mosquito's sus ... | 2013 | 23820604 |
| dsred2 transient expression in culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. | culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes have been successfully genetically modified only once, despite the efforts of several laboratories to transform and establish a stable strain. we have developed a transient gene expression method, in culex, that delivers plasmid dna directly to the mosquito haemolymph and additional tissues. we were able to express dsred2 fluorescent protein in adult cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes by injecting plasmids directly into their thorax. the expression of dsred2 in adu ... | 0 | 23828005 |
| the developmental transcriptome of the mosquito aedes aegypti, an invasive species and major arbovirus vector. | mosquitoes are vectors of a number of important human and animal diseases. the development of novel vector control strategies requires a thorough understanding of mosquito biology. to facilitate this, we used rna-seq to identify novel genes and provide the first high-resolution view of the transcriptome throughout development and in response to blood feeding in a mosquito vector of human disease, aedes aegypti, the primary vector for dengue and yellow fever. we characterized mrna expression at 3 ... | 2013 | 23833213 |
| ipb7 transposase behavior in drosophila melanogaster and aedes aegypti. | transposons are used in insect science as genetic tools that enable the transformation of insects and the identification and isolation of genes though their ability to insert in or near to them. four transposons, piggybac, mos1, hermes and minos are commonly used in insects beyond drosophila melanogaster with piggybac, due to its wide host range and frequency of transposition, being the most commonly chosen. the utility of these transposons as genetic tools is directly proportional to their acti ... | 2013 | 23835045 |
| plasmodium dipeptidyl aminopeptidases as malaria transmission-blocking drug targets. | the plasmodium falciparum and p. berghei genomes each contain three dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (dpap) homologs. dpap1 and -3 are critical for asexual growth, but the role of dpap2, the gametocyte-specific homolog, has not been tested. if dpaps are essential for transmission as well as asexual growth, then a dpap inhibitor could be used for treatment and to block transmission. to directly analyze the role of dpap2, a dpap2-minus p. berghei (pbdpap2δ) line was generated. the pbdpap2δ parasites grew ... | 2013 | 23836185 |
| the etramp family member sep2 is expressed throughout plasmodium berghei life cycle and is released during sporozoite gliding motility. | the early transcribed membrane proteins etramps belong to a family of small, transmembrane molecules unique to plasmodium parasite, which share a signal peptide followed by a short lysine-rich stretch, a transmembrane domain and a variable, highly charged c-terminal region. etramps are usually expressed in a stage-specific manner. in the blood stages they localize to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and, in described cases, to vesicle-like structures exported to the host erythrocyte cytosol. ... | 2013 | 23840634 |
| post-integration silencing of piggybac transposable elements in aedes aegypti. | the piggybac transposon, originating in the genome of the lepidoptera trichoplusia ni, has a broad host range, making it useful for the development of a number of transposon-based functional genomic technologies including gene vectors, enhancer-, gene- and protein-traps. while capable of being used as a vector for the creation of transgenic insects and insect cell lines, piggybac has very limited mobility once integrated into the genome of the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti. a transgenic a ... | 2013 | 23861905 |
| immunisation against a serine protease inhibitor reduces intensity of plasmodium berghei infection in mosquitoes. | the mosquito innate immune response is able to clear the majority of plasmodium parasites. this immune clearance is controlled by a number of regulatory molecules including serine protease inhibitors (serpins). to determine whether such molecules could represent a novel target for a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine, we vaccinated mice with anopheles gambiae serpin-2. antibodies against anopheles gambiae serpin-2 significantly reduced the infection of a heterologous anopheles species (anophe ... | 2013 | 23872520 |
| comparison of metabolic capacities and inference of gene content evolution in mosquito-associated spiroplasma diminutum and s. taiwanense. | mosquitoes are hosts of several spiroplasma species that belong to different serogroups. to investigate the genetic mechanisms that may be involved in the utilization of similar hosts in these phylogenetically distinct bacteria, we determined the complete genome sequences of spiroplasma diminutum and s. taiwanense for comparative analysis. the genome alignment indicates that their chromosomal organization is highly conserved, which is in sharp contrast to the elevated genome instabilities observ ... | 0 | 23873917 |
| successful human infection with p. falciparum using three aseptic anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: a new model for controlled human malaria infection. | controlled human malaria infection (chmi) is a powerful method for assessing the efficacy of anti-malaria vaccines and drugs targeting pre-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stages of the parasite. chmi has heretofore required the bites of 5 plasmodium falciparum (pf) sporozoite (spz)-infected mosquitoes to reliably induce pf malaria. we reported that chmi using the bites of 3 pfspz-infected mosquitoes reared aseptically in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cgmp) was successful in ... | 2013 | 23874828 |
| insulin signaling and the regulation of insect diapause. | a rich chapter in the history of insect endocrinology has focused on hormonal control of diapause, especially the major roles played by juvenile hormones (jhs), ecdysteroids, and the neuropeptides that govern jh and ecdysteroid synthesis. more recently, experiments with adult diapause in drosophila melanogaster and the mosquito culex pipiens, and pupal diapause in the flesh fly sarcophaga crassipalpis provide strong evidence that insulin signaling is also an important component of the regulatory ... | 2013 | 23885240 |