Publications

sporozoite immunization of human volunteers under mefloquine prophylaxis is safe, immunogenic and protective: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.	immunization of healthy volunteers with chloroquine chemoprophylaxis and sporozoites (cps-cq) efficiently and reproducibly induces dose-dependent and long-lasting protection against homologous plasmodium falciparum challenge. here, we studied whether chloroquine can be replaced by mefloquine, which is the only other licensed anti-malarial chemoprophylactic drug that does not affect pre-erythrocytic stages, exposure to which is considered essential for induction of protection by cps immunization. ...	2014	25396417
laboratory evaluation of indian medicinal plants as repellents against malaria, dengue, and filariasis vector mosquitoes.	mosquito-borne diseases have an economic impact, including loss in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates; however, no part of the world is free from vector-borne diseases. mosquitoes are the carriers of severe and well-known illnesses such as malaria, arboviral encephalitis, dengue fever, chikungunya fever, west nile virus, and yellow fever. these diseases produce significant morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock around the world ...	2015	25399815
malaria: prevention in travellers (non-drug interventions).	malaria transmission occurs most frequently in environments with humidity greater than 60% and ambient temperature of 25°c to 30°c. risks increase with longer visits and depend on activity. infection can follow a single mosquito bite. incubation is usually 10 to 14 days but can be up to 18 months, depending on the strain of parasite.	2014	25399869
effects of ingested vertebrate-derived factors on insect immune responses.	during the process of blood feeding insect vectors are exposed to an array of vertebrate-derived blood factors ranging from byproducts of blood meal digestion to naturally occurring products in the blood including growth hormones, cytokines and factors derived from blood-borne pathogens themselves. in this review, we examine the ability of these ingested vertebrate blood factors to alter the innate pathogen defenses of insect vectors. the ability of these factors to modify the immune responses o ...	0	25401083
safety and comparability of controlled human plasmodium falciparum infection by mosquito bite in malaria-naïve subjects at a new facility for sporozoite challenge.	controlled human malaria infection (chmi) studies which recapitulate mosquito-borne infection are a critical tool to identify protective vaccine and drug candidates for advancement to field trials. in partnership with the walter reed army institute of research, the chmi model was established at the seattle biomedical research institute's malaria clinical trials center (mctc). activities and reagents at both centers were aligned to ensure comparability and continued safety of the model. to demons ...	2014	25405724
host control of insect endogenous retroviruses: small rna silencing and immune response.	endogenous retroviruses are relics of ancient infections from retroviruses that managed to integrate into the genome of germline cells and remained vertically transmitted from parent to progeny. subsequent to the endogenization process, these sequences can move and multiply in the host genome, which can have deleterious consequences and disturb genomic stability. natural selection favored the establishment of silencing pathways that protect host genomes from the activity of endogenous retrovirus ...	2014	25412365
symbionts conferring resistance to viruses in insects.		0	25417905
engineering the control of mosquito-borne infectious diseases.	recent advances in genetic engineering are bringing new promise for controlling mosquito populations that transmit deadly pathogens. here we discuss past and current efforts to engineer mosquito strains that are refractory to disease transmission or are suitable for suppressing wild disease-transmitting populations.	2014	25418061
genome-wide rip-chip analysis of translational repressor-bound mrnas in the plasmodium gametocyte.	following fertilization, the early proteomes of metazoans are defined by the translation of stored but repressed transcripts; further embryonic development relies on de novo transcription of the zygotic genome. during sexual development of plasmodium berghei, a rodent model for human malaria species including p. falciparum, the stability of repressed mrnas requires the translational repressors dozi and cith. when these repressors are absent, plasmodium zygote development and transmission to the ...	2014	25418785
micrornas of two medically important mosquito species: aedes aegypti and anopheles stephensi.	micrornas (mirnas) are endogenous, single-stranded small rnas that have important regulatory functions at the post-transcriptional level. in the present study, we characterize mirnas in two divergent mosquito species, aedes aegypti and anopheles stephensi, through deep sequencing of small rnas spanning all developmental stages. we discovered eight novel mirnas in ae. aegypti and 20 novel mirnas in an. stephensi, which enabled the first systematic analysis of mirna evolution in mosquitos. we trac ...	2014	25420875
evolutionary roots of arginase expression and regulation.	classical (m1), producing nitric oxide, no, and m2, in which arginase activity is primarily expressed. ornithine, the product of arginase, is a substrate for synthesis of polyamines and collagen, important for growth and ontogeny of animals. m2 macrophages, expressing high level of mitochondrial arginase, have been implicated in promoting cell division and deposition of collagen during ontogeny and wound repair. arginase expression is the default mode of tissue macrophages, but can also be ampli ...	2014	25426114
the repeat region of the circumsporozoite protein is critical for sporozoite formation and maturation in plasmodium.	the circumsporozoite protein (csp) is the major surface protein of the sporozoite stage of malaria parasites and has multiple functions as the parasite develops and then migrates from the mosquito midgut to the mammalian liver. the overall structure of csp is conserved among plasmodium species, consisting of a species-specific central tandem repeat region flanked by two conserved domains: the nh2-terminus and the thrombospondin repeat (tsr) at the cooh-terminus. although the central repeat regio ...	2014	25438048
isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis is the essential metabolic role of the apicoplast during gametocytogenesis in plasmodium falciparum.	the malaria parasite harbors a relict plastid called the apicoplast and its discovery opened a new avenue for drug discovery and development due to its unusual, nonmammalian metabolism. the apicoplast is essential during the asexual intraerythrocytic and hepatic stages of the parasite, and there is strong evidence supporting its essential metabolic role during the mosquito stages of the parasite. supply of the isoprenoid building blocks isopentenyl diphosphate (ipp) and dimethylallyl diphosphate ...	2014	25446055
a sensitive enhanced chemiluminescent-elisa for the detection of plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite antigen in midguts of anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.	efforts to develop a successful malaria vaccine are hampered due to lack of assays that are predictive of protective immunity without conducting large clinical studies. the effect of experimental vaccines and drugs on malaria transmission is yet more difficult to measure. knowledge on the plasmodium infection rate in mosquito populations will aid the measurement of effects from intervention measures for malaria control. here, we report the development of a chemiluminescent sandwich elisa (ecl-el ...	2015	25455023
antibody and t-cell responses associated with experimental human malaria infection or vaccination show limited relationships.	this study examined specific antibody and t-cell responses associated with experimental malaria infection or malaria vaccination, in malaria-naive human volunteers within phase i/iia vaccine trials, with a view to investigating inter-relationships between these types of response. malaria infection was via five bites of plasmodium falciparum-infected mosquitoes, with individuals reaching patent infection by 11-12 days, having harboured four or five blood-stage cycles before drug clearance. infect ...	0	25471322
subtractive and differential hybridization molecular analyses of ceratitis capitata xx/xy versus xx embryos to search for male-specific early transcribed genes.	the agricultural pest ceratitis capitata, also known as the mediterranean fruit fly or medfly, is a fruit crop pest of very high economic relevance in different continents. the strategy to separate ceratitis males from females (sexing) in mass rearing facilities is a useful step before the sterilization and release of male-only flies in sterile insect technique control programs (sit). the identification of genes having early embryonic male-specific expression, including y-linked genes, such as t ...	2014	25472628
inference of the oxidative stress network in anopheles stephensi upon plasmodium infection.	ookinete invasion of anopheles midgut is a critical step for malaria transmission; the parasite numbers drop drastically and practically reach a minimum during the parasite's whole life cycle. at this stage, the parasite as well as the vector undergoes immense oxidative stress. thereafter, the vector undergoes oxidative stress at different time points as the parasite invades its tissues during the parasite development. the present study was undertaken to reconstruct the network of differentially ...	2014	25474020
experimental cerebral malaria pathogenesis--hemodynamics at the blood brain barrier.	cerebral malaria claims the lives of over 600,000 african children every year. to better understand the pathogenesis of this devastating disease, we compared the cellular dynamics in the cortical microvasculature between two infection models, plasmodium berghei anka (pba) infected cba/caj mice, which develop experimental cerebral malaria (ecm), and p. yoelii 17xl (pyxl) infected mice, which succumb to malarial hyperparasitemia without neurological impairment. using a combination of intravital im ...	2014	25474413
plasmodium alveolins possess distinct but structurally and functionally related multi-repeat domains.	the invasive and motile life stages of malaria parasites (merozoite, ookinete and sporozoite) possess a distinctive cortical structure termed the pellicle. the pellicle is characterised by a double-layered 'inner membrane complex' (imc) located underneath the plasma membrane, which is supported by a cytoskeletal structure termed the subpellicular network (spn). the spn consists of intermediate filaments, whose major constituents include a family of proteins called alveolins. here, we re-appraise ...	2014	25475193
gut microbiota elicits a protective immune response against malaria transmission.	glycosylation processes are under high natural selection pressure, presumably because these can modulate resistance to infection. here, we asked whether inactivation of the udp-galactose:β-galactoside-α1-3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3gt) gene, which ablated the expression of the galα1-3galβ1-4glcnac-r (α-gal) glycan and allowed for the production of anti-α-gal antibodies (abs) in humans, confers protection against plasmodium spp. infection, the causative agent of malaria and a major driving force ...	0	25480293
natural variation in virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana against malaria mosquitoes.	insecticide resistance is greatly hampering current efforts to control malaria and therefore alternative methods are needed. entomopathogenic fungi have been proposed as an alternative with a special focus on the cosmopolitan species beauveria bassiana. however, few studies have analysed the effects of natural variation within fungal isolates on mosquito survival, and the implications and possible exploitation for malaria control.	2014	25480526
maternal germline-specific genes in the asian malaria mosquito anopheles stephensi: characterization and application for disease control.	anopheles stephensi is a principal vector of urban malaria on the indian subcontinent and an emerging model for molecular and genetic studies of mosquito biology. to enhance our understanding of female mosquito reproduction, and to develop new tools for basic research and for genetic strategies to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases, we identified 79 genes that displayed previtellogenic germline-specific expression based on rna-seq data generated from 11 life stage-specific and sex-specif ...	2014	25480960
a novel plant-produced pfs25 fusion subunit vaccine induces long-lasting transmission blocking antibody responses.	malaria transmission blocking vaccines (tbv) directed against proteins expressed on sexual stages of plasmodium falciparum in the mosquito midgut are considered an effective means to reduce malaria transmission. antibodies induced by tbv block sporogonic development in the mosquito, and thus transmission to the next human host. the pfs25 protein, expressed on the surface of gametes, zygotes and ookinetes, is one of the primary targets for tbv development. using a plant virus-based transient expr ...	2014	25483525
assessment of therapeutic responses to gametocytocidal drugs in plasmodium falciparum malaria.	indirect clinical measures assessing anti-malarial drug transmission-blocking activity in falciparum malaria include measurement of the duration of gametocytaemia, the rate of gametocyte clearance or the area under the gametocytaemia-time curve (auc). these may provide useful comparative information, but they underestimate dose-response relationships for transmission-blocking activity. following 8-aminoquinoline administration p. falciparum gametocytes are sterilized within hours, whereas cleara ...	2014	25486998
participation of irradiated anopheles arabiensis males in swarms following field release in sudan.	the success of the sterile insect technique (sit) depends the release of large numbers of sterile males, which are able to compete for mates with the wild male population within the target area. unfortunately, the processes of colonisation, mass production and irradiation may reduce the competitiveness of sterile males through genetic selection, loss of natural traits and somatic damage. in this context, the capacity of released sterile anopheles arabiensis males to survive, disperse and partici ...	2014	25495146
capacity of mosquitoes to transmit malaria depends on larval environment.	adult traits of holometabolous insects such as reproduction and survival can be shaped by conditions experienced during larval development. these "carry-over" effects influence not only individual life history and fitness, but can also impact interactions between insect hosts and parasites. despite this, the implications of larval conditions for the transmission of human, wildlife and plant diseases that are vectored by insects remain poorly understood.	2014	25496502
host cell phosphatidylcholine is a key mediator of malaria parasite survival during liver stage infection.	during invasion, plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, wraps itself in a parasitophorous vacuole membrane (pvm), which constitutes a critical interface between the parasite and its host cell. within hepatocytes, each plasmodium sporozoite generates thousands of new parasites, creating high demand for lipids to support this replication and enlarge the pvm. here, a global analysis of the total lipid repertoire of plasmodium-infected hepatocytes reveals an enrichment of neutral lipids and the ...	0	25498345
temporal dynamics of the abc transporter response to insecticide treatment: insights from the malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	in insects, abc transporters have been shown to contribute to defence/resistance to insecticides by reducing toxic concentrations in cells/tissues. despite the extensive studies about this detoxifying mechanism, the temporal patterns of abc transporter activation have been poorly investigated. using the malaria vector anopheles stephensi as a study system, we investigated the expression profile of abc genes belonging to different subfamilies in permethrin-treated larvae at different time points ...	2014	25504146
small-molecule xenomycins inhibit all stages of the plasmodium life cycle.	widespread resistance to most antimalaria drugs in use has prompted the search for novel candidate compounds with activity against plasmodium asexual blood stages to be developed for treatment. in addition, the current malaria eradication programs require the development of drugs that are effective against all stages of the parasite life cycle. we have analyzed the antimalarial properties of xenomycins, a novel subclass of small molecule compounds initially isolated for anticancer activity and s ...	2014	25512429
wolbachia small noncoding rnas and their role in cross-kingdom communications.	in prokaryotes, small noncoding rnas (snrnas) of 50-500 nt are produced that are important in bacterial virulence and response to environmental stimuli. here, we identified and characterized snrnas from the endosymbiotic bacteria, wolbachia, which are widespread in invertebrates and cause reproductive manipulations. most importantly, some strains of wolbachia inhibit replication of several vector-borne pathogens in insects. we demonstrate that two abundant snrnas, wsnrna-46 and wsnrna-49, are ex ...	2014	25512495
evaluating the efficacy of biological and conventional insecticides with the new 'mcd bottle' bioassay.	control of mosquitoes requires the ability to evaluate new insecticides and to monitor resistance to existing insecticides. monitoring tools should be flexible and low cost so that they can be deployed in remote, resource poor areas. ideally, a bioassay should be able to simulate transient contact between mosquitoes and insecticides, and it should allow for excito-repellency and avoidance behaviour in mosquitoes. presented here is a new bioassay, which has been designed to meet these criteria. t ...	2014	25515850
cpb1 of aedes aegypti interacts with denv2 e protein and regulates intracellular viral accumulation and release from midgut cells.	aedes aegypti is a principal vector responsible for the transmission of dengue viruses (denv). to date, vector control remains the key option for dengue disease management. to develop new vector control strategies, a more comprehensive understanding of the biological interactions between denv and ae. aegypti is required. in this study, a cdna library derived from the midgut of female adult ae. aegypti was used in yeast two-hybrid (y2h) screenings against denv2 envelope (e) protein. among the man ...	2014	25521592
towards the genetic control of insect vectors: an overview.	insects are responsible for the transmission of major infectious diseases. recent advances in insect genomics and transformation technology provide new strategies for the control of insect borne pathogen transmission and insect pest management. one such strategy is the genetic modification of insects with genes that block pathogen development. another is to suppress insect populations by releasing either sterile males or males carrying female-specific dominant lethal genes into the environment. ...	0	25530773
a slot blot immunoassay for quantitative detection of plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein in mosquito midgut oocyst.	there is still a need for sensitive and reproducible immunoassays for quantitative detection of malarial antigens in preclinical and clinical phases of vaccine development and in epidemiology and surveillance studies, particularly in the vector host. here we report the results of sensitivity and reproducibility studies for a research-grade, quantitative enhanced chemiluminescent-based slot blot assay (ecl-sb) for detection of both recombinant plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (rpfcs ...	2014	25531543
community knowledge and practices regarding malaria and long-lasting insecticidal nets during malaria elimination programme in an endemic area in iran.	since malaria is one of the foremost public health problems in iran, a malaria elimination phase has been initiated and application of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) is an important strategy for control. success and effectiveness of this community based strategy largely dependent on proper use of llins. in this context, to determine the community's knowledge and practices about malaria and llins, a study was conducted in rudan county, one of the important malaria endemic areas in southea ...	2014	25539639
experimental study of the relationship between plasmodium gametocyte density and infection success in mosquitoes; implications for the evaluation of malaria transmission-reducing interventions.	the evaluation of transmission reducing interventions (tri) to control malaria widely uses membrane feeding assays. in such assays, the intensity of plasmodium infection in the vector might affect the measured efficacy of the candidates to block transmission. gametocyte density in the host blood is a determinant of the infection success in the mosquito, however, uncertain estimates of parasite densities and intrinsic characteristics of the infected blood can induce variability. to reduce this va ...	2015	25541384
neither the hiv protease inhibitor lopinavir-ritonavir nor the antimicrobial trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prevent malaria relapse in plasmodium cynomolgi-infected non-human primates.	plasmodium vivax malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and only one drug is in clinical use that can kill the hypnozoites that cause p. vivax relapses. hiv and p. vivax malaria geographically overlap in many areas of the world, including south america and asia. despite the increasing body of knowledge regarding hiv protease inhibitors (hiv pis) on p. falciparum malaria, there are no data regarding the effects of these treatments on p. vivax's hypnozoite form and clinical ...	2014	25541998
mosquito larvicidal potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized using chomelia asiatica (rubiaceae) against anopheles stephensi, aedes aegypti, and culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae).	mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. mosquito control is to enhance the health and quality of life of county residents and visitors through the reduction of mosquito populations. mosquito control is a serious concern in developing countries like india due to the lack of general awareness, development of resistance, and socioeconomic reasons. today, nanotechnology is a promising research domain which has a wide ranging application in vector control pr ...	2015	25544703
antimicrobial and mosquitocidal activity of microbial synthesized silver nanoparticles.	microbial synthesis of nanoparticles is a green approach that interconnects nanotechnology and microbial biotechnology. here, we synthesized the silver nanoparticles (agnps) using bacterial strains of listeria monocytogenes, bacillus subtilius and streptomyces anulatus. we tested the efficacy of agnps against the larvae, pupae and adults of anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus. we have also investigated the antifungal activity of agnps against the soil keratinophilic fungus of chrysosp ...	2015	25544704
the role of male harassment on female fitness for the dengue vector mosquito aedes aegypti.	sexual harassment studies in insects suggest that females can incur several kinds of costs from male harassment and mating. here, we examined direct and indirect costs of male harassment on components of female fitness in the predominantly monandrous mosquito aedes aegypti. to disentangle the costs of harassment versus the costs of mating, we held females at a low or high density with males whose claspers were modified to prevent insemination, and compared these to females held with normal males ...	0	25544799
larvicidal and repellent properties of streptomyces sp. vitjs4 crude extract against anopheles stephensi, aedes aegypti and culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae).	the aim of the present study was to assess the larvicidal and repellent properties of marine streptomyces sp. vitjs4 crude extracts. the marine soil samples were collected from the puducherry coast, tamil nadu, india. the isolate streptomyces sp. vitjs4 was taxonomically characterized and identified. the ethyl acetate crude extract tested for larvicidal property showed 100% mortality for all the 3 species after 24 h exposure against the early fourth instar larvae of malarial vector--anopheles st ...	2014	25546945
increased akt signaling in the mosquito fat body increases adult survivorship.	akt signaling regulates diverse physiologies in a wide range of organisms. we examine the impact of increased akt signaling in the fat body of 2 mosquito species, the asian malaria mosquito anopheles stephensi and the yellow fever mosquito aedes aegypti. overexpression of a myristoylated and active form of a. stephensi and ae. aegypti akt in the fat body of transgenic mosquitoes led to activation of the downstream signaling molecules forkhead box o (foxo) and p70 s6 kinase in a tissue and blood ...	2014	25550465
plasmodium falciparum evades mosquito immunity by disrupting jnk-mediated apoptosis of invaded midgut cells.	the malaria parasite, plasmodium, must survive and develop in the mosquito vector to be successfully transmitted to a new host. the plasmodium falciparum pfs47 gene is critical for malaria transmission. parasites that express pfs47 (nf54 wt) evade mosquito immunity and survive, whereas pfs47 knockouts (ko) are efficiently eliminated by the complement-like system. two alternative approaches were used to investigate the mechanism of action of pfs47 on immune evasion. first, we examined whether pfs ...	2014	25552553
mosquito genomics. highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 anopheles mosquitoes.	variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. to investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the x chromosome, and more ...	2014	25554792
dried whole-plant artemisia annua slows evolution of malaria drug resistance and overcomes resistance to artemisinin.	pharmaceutical monotherapies against human malaria have proven effective, although ephemeral, owing to the inevitable evolution of resistant parasites. resistance to two or more drugs delivered in combination will evolve more slowly; hence combination therapies have become the preferred norm in the fight against malaria. at the forefront of these efforts has been the promotion of artemisinin combination therapy, but despite these efforts, resistance to artemisinin has begun to emerge. in 2012, w ...	2015	25561559
pivotal and distinct role for plasmodium actin capping protein alpha during blood infection of the malaria parasite.	accurate regulation of microfilament dynamics is central to cell growth, motility and response to environmental stimuli. stabilizing and depolymerizing proteins control the steady-state levels of filamentous (f-) actin. capping protein (cp) binds to free barbed ends, thereby arresting microfilament growth and restraining elongation to remaining free barbed ends. in all cps characterized to date, alpha and beta subunits form the active heterodimer. here, we show in a eukaryotic parasitic cell tha ...	2015	25565321
innate immunity induced by plasmodium liver infection inhibits malaria reinfections.	following transmission through a mosquito bite to the mammalian host, plasmodium parasites first invade and replicate inside hepatocytes before infecting erythrocytes and causing malaria. the mechanisms limiting plasmodium reinfections in humans living in regions of malaria endemicity have mainly been explored by studying the resistance induced by the blood stage of infection. however, epidemiologic studies have suggested that in high-transmission areas, preerythrocytic stages also activate host ...	2015	25583524
ovipositional behavior of anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.	mosquito eggs laid within two hours are necessary for transgenic (injection) studies, because mosquito eggs become hard after that period. thus, in order to have eggs available within this two-hour window, it is important to understand the ovipositional behavior of anopheles gambiae s.s.. in the present study, the ovipositional behavior of an. gambiae s.s. (kisumu) was investigated in several different conditions: age of mosquitoes, time post blood meal to access oviposition substrate, and light ...	2014	25589884
elizabethkingia anophelis: molecular manipulation and interactions with mosquito hosts.	flavobacteria (members of the family flavobacteriaceae) dominate the bacterial community in the anopheles mosquito midgut. one such commensal, elizabethkingia anophelis, is closely associated with anopheles mosquitoes through transstadial persistence (i.e., from one life stage to the next); these and other properties favor its development for paratransgenic applications in control of malaria parasite transmission. however, the physiological requirements of e. anophelis have not been investigated ...	2015	25595771
malpighian tubules are important determinants of pseudomonas transstadial transmission and longtime persistence in anopheles stephensi.	pseudomonas is a genus of bacteria commonly found in investigations of gut microbes in malaria mosquitoes. among those mosquitoes is the dominating malaria vector in asia, anopheles stephensi, where pseudomonas is a prevailing bacterium and natural inhabitant of its breeding places. in order to explore the reason for finding pseudomonas so frequently, an investigation of its localization and transstadial properties was undertaken.	2015	25604581
discovery of mosquito saliva micrornas during chikv infection.	mosquito borne pathogens are transmitted to humans via saliva during blood feeding. mosquito saliva is a complex concoction of many secretory factors that modulate the feeding foci to enhance pathogen infection and establishment. multiple salivary proteins/factors have been identified/characterized that enhance pathogen infection. here, we describe, for the first time, the identification of exogenous micrornas from mosquito saliva. micrornas are short, 18-24 nucleotide, non-coding rnas that regu ...	2015	25612225
targeting educational campaigns for prevention of malaria and dengue fever: an assessment in thailand.	the current study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (kap) of at-risk populations for malaria and/or dengue fever in relation to mosquito exposure and household mosquito control practices. specific objectives included comparison of individual and household level health practices between a rural and urban setting in thailand. findings are intended to guide thailand ministry of health educational campaigns targeting arthropod-borne disease.	2015	25612545
interactions between a fungal entomopathogen and malaria parasites within a mosquito vector.	mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to the chemical insecticides currently available for malaria vector control, spurring interest in alternative management tools. one promising technology is the use of fungal entomopathogens. fungi have been shown to impact the potential for mosquitoes to transmit malaria by reducing mosquito longevity and altering behaviour associated with flight and host location. additionally, fungi could impact the development of malaria parasites within the mosq ...	2015	25626485
evaluation of repellency effect of essential oils of satureja khuzestanica (carvacrol), myrtus communis (myrtle), lavendula officinalis and salvia sclarea using standard who repellency tests.	using special lotions and repellent sprays on skin is one of the effective methods to prevent arthropods biting which was verified in this study.	2013	25629066
aerobic microbial community of insectary population of phlebotomus papatasi.	microbes particularly bacteria presenting in the gut of haematophagous insects may have an important role in the epidemiology of human infectious disease.	2013	25629067
malaria situation in an endemic area, southeastern iran.	malaria is an endemic infectious disease in southeastern parts of iran. despite years of efforts and intervention programs against malaria, transmission still occurs in jask county.	2013	25629068
mosquito larvicidal potential of gossypium hirsutum (bt cotton) leaves extracts against aedes aegypti and anopheles stephensi larvae.	we aimed to extract the ingredients from leaves of gossypium hirsutum (bt cotton) using different solvents and evaluate for potential use to control different larval stages of mosquito species, aedes aegypti and anopheles stephensi.	2013	25629069
aerobic bacterial flora of biotic and abiotic compartments of a hyperendemic zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (zcl) focus.	identification of the microflora of the sand fly gut and the environmental distribution of these bacteria are important components for paratransgenic control of leishmania transmission by sand flies.	2015	25630498
evaluation of some aromatic plant extracts for mosquito larvicidal potential against culex quinquefasciatus, aedes aegypti, and anopheles stephensi.	in the present investigation, larvicidal potential of hexane, choloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of seven aromatic plants, viz., blumea mollis, chloroxylon swietenia, clausena anisata, feronia limnonia, lantana camera, plectranthus amboinicus, and tagetes erecta were screened against culex quinquefasciatus, aedes aegypti, and anopheles stephensi. the larval mortality was observed after 12 and 24 h of exposure period. the results revealed that all the extracts showed varie ...	2015	25630696
lipopeptides as the antifungal and antibacterial agents: applications in food safety and therapeutics.	a lot of crops are destroyed by the phytopathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and yeast leading to economic losses to the farmers. members of the bacillus genus are considered as the factories for the production of biologically active molecules that are potential inhibitors of growth of phytopathogens. plant diseases constitute an emerging threat to global food security. many of the currently available antimicrobial agents for agriculture are highly toxic and nonbiodegradable and thus cause extend ...	2015	25632392
biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using floral extract of chrysanthemum indicum l.--potential for malaria vector control.	mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. the use of synthetic insecticides to control vector mosquitoes has caused physiological resistance and adverse environmental effects in addition to high operational cost. insecticides synthesized of natural products for vector control have been a priority in this area. in the present study, silver nanoparticles (ag nps) were green-synthesized using a floral extract of chrysanthemum indicum screened for larvicidal ...	2015	25637241
cd40 is required for protective immunity against liver stage plasmodium infection.	the costimulatory molecule cd40 enhances immunity through several distinct roles in t cell activation and t cell interaction with other immune cells. in a mouse model of immunity to liver stage plasmodium infection, cd40 was critical for the full maturation of liver dendritic cells, accumulation of cd8(+) t cells in the liver, and protective immunity induced by immunization with the plasmodium yoelii fabb/f(-) genetically attenuated parasite. using mixed adoptive transfers of polyclonal wild-typ ...	2015	25646303
host-based prophylaxis successfully targets liver stage malaria parasites.	eliminating malaria parasites during the asymptomatic but obligate liver stages (lss) of infection would stop disease and subsequent transmission. unfortunately, only a single licensed drug that targets all lss, primaquine, is available. targeting host proteins might significantly expand the repertoire of prophylactic drugs against malaria. here, we demonstrate that both bcl-2 inhibitors and p53 agonists dramatically reduce ls burden in a mouse malaria model in vitro and in vivo by altering the ...	2015	25648263
mosquitocidal and antibacterial activity of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from aloe vera extracts: towards an effective tool against the malaria vector anopheles stephensi?	mosquitoes represent an important threat for lives of millions of people worldwide, acting as vectors for devastating pathogens, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and west nile. in addition, pathogens and parasites polluting water also constitute a severe plague for populations of developing countries. here, we investigated the mosquitocidal and antibacterial properties of aloe vera leaf extract and silver nanoparticles synthesized using a. vera extract. mosquitocidal properties were assess ...	2015	25653031
within-host competition does not select for virulence in malaria parasites; studies with plasmodium yoelii.	in endemic areas with high transmission intensities, malaria infections are very often composed of multiple genetically distinct strains of malaria parasites. it has been hypothesised that this leads to intra-host competition, in which parasite strains compete for resources such as space and nutrients. this competition may have repercussions for the host, the parasite, and the vector in terms of disease severity, vector fitness, and parasite transmission potential and fitness. it has also been a ...	2015	25658331
cytoplasmic actin is an extracellular insect immune factor which is secreted upon immune challenge and mediates phagocytosis and direct killing of bacteria, and is a plasmodium antagonist.	actin is a highly versatile, abundant, and conserved protein, with functions in a variety of intracellular processes. here, we describe a novel role for insect cytoplasmic actin as an extracellular pathogen recognition factor that mediates antibacterial defense. insect actins are secreted from cells upon immune challenge through an exosome-independent pathway. anopheles gambiae actin interacts with the extracellular md2-like immune factor agmdl1, and binds to the surfaces of bacteria, mediating ...	2015	25658622
in vivo approaches reveal a key role for dcs in cd4+ t cell activation and parasite clearance during the acute phase of experimental blood-stage malaria.	dendritic cells (dcs) are phagocytes that are highly specialized for antigen presentation. heterogeneous populations of macrophages and dcs form a phagocyte network inside the red pulp (rp) of the spleen, which is a major site for the control of blood-borne infections such as malaria. however, the dynamics of splenic dcs during plasmodium infections are poorly understood, limiting our knowledge regarding their protective role in malaria. here, we used in vivo experimental approaches that enabled ...	2015	25658925
lymph-node resident cd8α+ dendritic cells capture antigens from migratory malaria sporozoites and induce cd8+ t cell responses.	malaria infection begins when a female anopheles mosquito injects plasmodium sporozoites into the skin of its host during blood feeding. skin-deposited sporozoites may enter the bloodstream and infect the liver, reside and develop in the skin, or migrate to the draining lymph nodes (dlns). importantly, the dln is where protective cd8(+) t cell responses against malaria liver stages are induced after a dermal route of infection. however, the significance of parasites in the skin and dln to cd8(+) ...	2015	25658939
toxicity of aristolochic acids isolated from aristolochia indica linn (aristolochiaceae) against the malarial vector anopheles stephensi liston (diptera: culicidae).	with the growth of resistance to overused insecticides, vector management has become highly problematic. hence more concentration has been focused on botanicals. therefore our present study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity of compounds, aristolochic acid i and aristolochic acid ii from the methanol extract of aristolochia indica l. (aristolochiaceae) leaves on larvae of anopheles stephensi l. (diptera: culicidae) employing world health organization standard larvicide testing procedures. the so ...	2015	25660198
human ipsc-derived hepatocyte-like cells support plasmodium liver-stage infection in vitro.	malaria eradication is a major goal in public health but is challenged by relapsing malaria species, expanding drug resistance, and the influence of host genetics on antimalarial drug efficacy. to overcome these hurdles, it is imperative to establish in vitro assays of liver-stage malaria for drug testing. induced pluripotent stem cells (ipsc) potentially allow the assessment of donor-specific drug responses, and ipsc-derived hepatocyte-like cells (ihlcs) can facilitate the study of host genetic ...	2015	25660406
synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using gmelina asiatica leaf extract against filariasis, dengue, and malaria vector mosquitoes.	mosquitoes are blood-feeding insects and serve as the most important vectors for spreading human diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and filariasis. the continued use of synthetic insecticides has resulted in resistance in mosquitoes. synthetic insecticides are toxic and affect the environment by contaminating soil, water, and air, and then natural products may be an alternative to synthetic insecticides because they are effective, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and safe to envir ...	2015	25666372
ornamental exterior versus therapeutic interior of madagascar periwinkle (catharanthus roseus): the two faces of a versatile herb.	catharanthus roseus (l.) known as madagascar periwinkle (mp) is a legendary medicinal plant mostly because of possessing two invaluable antitumor terpenoid indole alkaloids (tias), vincristine and vinblastine. the plant has also high aesthetic value as an evergreen ornamental that yields prolific blooms of splendid colors. the plant possesses yet another unique characteristic as an amiable experimental host for the maintenance of the smallest bacteria found on earth, the phytoplasmas and spiropl ...	2015	25667940
anopheles midgut epithelium evades human complement activity by capturing factor h from the blood meal.	hematophagous vectors strictly require ingesting blood from their hosts to complete their life cycles. exposure of the alimentary canal of these vectors to the host immune effectors necessitates efficient counteractive measures by hematophagous vectors. the anopheles mosquito transmitting the malaria parasite is an example of hematophagous vectors that within seconds can ingest human blood double its weight. the innate immune defense mechanisms, like the complement system, in the human blood sho ...	2015	25679788
ovicidal and adulticidal potential of leaf and seed extract of albizia lebbeck (l.) benth. (family: fabaceae) against culex quinquefasciatus, aedes aegypti, and anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae).	several diseases are associated to the mosquito-human interaction. mosquitoes are the carriers of severe and well-known illnesses such as malaria, arboviral encephalitis, dengue fever, chikungunya fever, west nile virus, and yellow fever. these diseases produce significant morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock around the world. in the present study, hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of leaf and seed of albizia lebbeck were assayed for their toxicity agai ...	2015	25681143
climate change and epidemiology of human parasitosis in egypt: a review.	climate change is an emerging global issue. it is expected to have significant impacts both in egypt and around the world. thus, the country is in need for taking action to prepare for the unavoidable effects of climate change, including the increase in water stress, the rise in sea level, and the rapidly increasing gap between the limited water availability and the escalating demand for water in the country. also, weather and climate play a significant role in people's health. direct impacts of ...	2013	25685530
alga-produced malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate pfs25 formulated with a human use-compatible potent adjuvant induces high-affinity antibodies that block plasmodium falciparum infection of mosquitoes.	a vaccine to prevent the transmission of malaria parasites from infected humans to mosquitoes is an important component for the elimination of malaria in the 21st century, yet it remains neglected as a priority of malaria vaccine development. the lead candidate for plasmodium falciparum transmission-blocking vaccine development, pfs25, is a sexual stage surface protein that has been produced for vaccine testing in a variety of heterologous expression systems. any realistic malaria vaccine will n ...	2015	25690099
the role of rna interference (rnai) in arbovirus-vector interactions.	rna interference (rnai) was shown over 18 years ago to be a mechanism by which arbovirus replication and transmission could be controlled in arthropod vectors. during the intervening period, research on rnai has defined many of the components and mechanisms of this antiviral pathway in arthropods, yet a number of unexplored questions remain. rnai refers to rna-mediated regulation of gene expression. originally, the term described silencing of endogenous genes by introduction of exogenous double- ...	2015	25690800
identification of chemical constituents and larvicidal activity of essential oil from murraya exotica l. (rutaceae) against aedes aegypti, anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae).	this study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical composition and larvicidal effect of leaf essential oil from murraya exotica against early fourth-instar larvae of aedes aegypti, anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus. gas chromatography (gc) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (gc-ms) analyses revealed that the essential oil contained 27 components. the major chemical components identified were β-humulene (40.62%), benzyl benzoate (23.96%), β-caryophyllene (7.05%) and α-terpi ...	2015	25697880
maintenance of residual activity of bt toxin by using natural and synthetic dyes: a novel approach for sustainable mosquito vector control.	mosquito control protein from bacillus thuringiensis gets inactivated with exposure to sunlight. to address this issue, the potential of synthetic and natural dye was investigated as sunlight protectants. bt sv2 in absence of dyes when exposed to sunlight showed reduced effectiveness against the fourth instars of mosquito larvae. whereas acriflavin, congo red and violacein were able to maintain 86.4%, 91.6% and 82.2% mosquito larvicidal efficacy of bt sv2 against ivth instars larvae of anopheles ...	2015	25699646
blood-stage immunity to plasmodium chabaudi malaria following chemoprophylaxis and sporozoite immunization.	protection against malaria in humans can be achieved by repeated exposure to infected mosquito bites during prophylactic chloroquine treatment (chemoprophylaxis and sporozoites (cps)). we established a new mouse model of cps immunization to investigate the stage and strain-specificity of malaria immunity. immunization with plasmodium chabaudi by mosquito bite under chloroquine cover does not generate pre-erythrocytic immunity, which is acquired only after immunization with high sporozoite doses. ...	2015	25714922
a sufficient role of mhc class i molecules on hepatocytes in anti-plasmodial activity of cd8 (+) t cells in vivo.	although cd8(+) t cells are shown to mediate the protective immunity against the liver stages of malaria parasites in mice, whether the direct presentation of malaria antigen by major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class i molecules expressed on the liver of infected host is required for anti-plasmodial activity of cd8(+) t cells is still unknown. presently, there is only one cd8(+) epitope, syvpsaeqi, derived from the circumsporozoite protein of plasmodium yoelii (pycs), that mediates anti-ma ...	2015	25729379
an efficient strategy for producing a stable, replaceable, highly efficient transgene expression system in silkworm, bombyx mori.	we developed an efficient strategy that combines a method for the post-integration elimination of all transposon sequences, a site-specific recombination system, and an optimized fibroin h-chain expression system to produce a stable, replaceable, highly efficient transgene expression system in the silkworm (bombyx mori) that overcomes the disadvantages of random insertion and post-integration instability of transposons. here, we generated four different transgenic silkworm strains, and of one th ...	2015	25739894
an overview of malaria transmission from the perspective of amazon anopheles vectors.	in the americas, areas with a high risk of malaria transmission are mainly located in the amazon forest, which extends across nine countries. one keystone step to understanding the plasmodium life cycle in anopheles species from the amazon region is to obtain experimentally infected mosquito vectors. several attempts to colonise anopheles species have been conducted, but with only short-lived success or no success at all. in this review, we review the literature on malaria transmission from the ...	2015	25742262
annotated differentially expressed salivary proteins of susceptible and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes of anopheles stephensi.	vector control is one of the major global strategies for control of malaria. however, the major obstacle for vector control is the development of multiple resistances to organochlorine, organophosphorus insecticides and pyrethroids that are currently being used in public health for spraying and in bednets. salivary glands of vectors are the first target organ for human-vector contact during biting and parasite-vector contact prior to parasite development in the mosquito midguts. the salivary gla ...	2015	25742511
multispecies analysis of expression pattern diversification in the recently expanded insect ly6 gene family.	gene families often consist of members with diverse expression domains reflecting their functions in a wide variety of tissues. however, how the expression of individual members, and thus their tissue-specific functions, diversified during the course of gene family expansion is not well understood. in this study, we approached this question through the analysis of the duplication history and transcriptional evolution of a rapidly expanding subfamily of insect ly6 genes. we analyzed different ins ...	2015	25743545
angiotensin-converting enzymes modulate aphid-plant interactions.	angiotensin-converting enzymes (aces) are key components of the renin-angiotensin system in mammals. however, the function of ace homologs in insect saliva is unclear. aphids presumably deliver effector proteins via saliva into plant cells to maintain a compatible insect-plant interaction. in this study, we showed that ace modulates aphid-plant interactions by affecting feeding behavior and survival of aphids on host plants. three ace genes were identified from the pea aphid acyrthosiphon pisum ...	2015	25744345
regulation of plasmodium yoelii oocyst development by strain- and stage-specific small-subunit rrna.	one unique feature of malaria parasites is the differential transcription of structurally distinct rrna (rrna) genes at different developmental stages: the a-type genes are transcribed mainly in asexual stages, whereas the s-type genes are expressed mostly in sexual or mosquito stages. conclusive functional evidence of different rrnas in regulating stage-specific parasite development, however, is still absent. here we performed genetic crosses of plasmodium yoelii parasites with one parent havin ...	2015	25759501
proteolytic cleavage of the plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein is a target of protective antibodies.	studies in animals and human volunteers demonstrate that antibodies against the repeat-region of the plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (csp) abrogate sporozoite infection. however, the realization that the n- and c- terminal regions flanking the repeats play essential roles in parasite infectivity raised the possibility that they could be targeted by protective antibodies. we characterized a monoclonal antibody (mab5d5) specific for the n-terminus of the p. falciparum csp, which inhibits the p ...	2015	25762791
cyclic gmp balance is critical for malaria parasite transmission from the mosquito to the mammalian host.	transmission of malaria occurs during anopheles mosquito vector blood meals, when plasmodium sporozoites that have invaded the mosquito salivary glands are delivered to the mammalian host. sporozoites display a unique form of motility that is essential for their movement across cellular host barriers and invasion of hepatocytes. while the molecular machinery powering motility and invasion is increasingly well defined, the signaling events that control these essential parasite activities have not ...	2015	25784701
a plasmodium phospholipase is involved in disruption of the liver stage parasitophorous vacuole membrane.	the coordinated exit of intracellular pathogens from host cells is a process critical to the success and spread of an infection. while phospholipases have been shown to play important roles in bacteria host cell egress and virulence, their role in the release of intracellular eukaryotic parasites is largely unknown. we examined a malaria parasite protein with phospholipase activity and found it to be involved in hepatocyte egress. in hepatocytes, plasmodium parasites are surrounded by a parasito ...	2015	25786000
the anopheles stephensi odorant binding protein 1 (asteobp1) gene: a new molecular marker for biological forms diagnosis.	anopheles (cellia) stephensi liston 1901 is known as an asian malaria vector. three biological forms, namely "mysorensis", "intermediate", and "type" have been earlier reported in this species. nevertheless, the present morphological and molecular information is insufficient to diagnose these forms. during this investigation, an. stephensi biological forms were morphologically identified and sequenced for odorant-binding protein 1 (obp1) gene. also, intron i sequences were used to construct phyl ...	2015	25795618
larvicidal activity of few select indigenous plants of north east india against disease vector mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae).	mosquitoes are the vectors of several life threatening diseases like dengue, malaria, japanese encephalitis and lymphatic filariasis, which are widely present in the north-eastern states of india. investigations on five local plants of north-east india, selected on the basis of their use by indigenous communities as fish poison, were carried out to study their mosquito larvicidal potential against anopheles stephensi (malaria vector), stegomyia aegypti (dengue vector) and culex quinquefasciatus ...	2015	25801251
feeding stage, species, body part and sex-specific activity of glutathione s-transferase in mosquito.	in the present study, the feeding stage, body parts, development and sex specific activity of glutathione s-transferases (gsts) were observed in different mosquito species (aedes aegypti, culex quinquefasciatus, anopheles stephensi, an. culicifacies, an. annularis, an. subpictus, an. vagus). gst activity was assayed spectrophotometrically at 23°c, using a uv max microplate reader, to measure the rate of conjugation of gsh to cdnb. a significant species-specific difference in the activity of gst ...	2015	25801255
an investigation on the diversity of mosquitocidal bacteria and its relationship with incidence of vector borne diseases.	control of mosquitoes is the most important aspect of public health, as mosquitoes transmit many human diseases, including the fatal infection, japanese encephalitis. this paper addresses the isolation of new mosquitocidal bacteria from soil samples in the union territory of pondicherry, india, where, no clinical cases of vector borne infections have been reported. bacterial isolates from soil samples were screened for potential mosquitocidal strains and bioassays against mosquito vectors (culex ...	2015	25801257
the plasmodium class xiv myosin, myob, has a distinct subcellular location in invasive and motile stages of the malaria parasite and an unusual light chain.	myosin b (myob) is one of the two short class xiv myosins encoded in the plasmodium genome. class xiv myosins are characterized by a catalytic "head," a modified "neck," and the absence of a "tail" region. myosin a (myoa), the other class xiv myosin in plasmodium, has been established as a component of the glideosome complex important in motility and cell invasion, but myob is not well characterized. we analyzed the properties of myob using three parasite species as follows: plasmodium falciparu ...	2015	25802338
mitochondrial physiology in the major arbovirus vector aedes aegypti: substrate preferences and sexual differences define respiratory capacity and superoxide production.	adult females of aedes aegypti are facultative blood sucking insects and vectors of dengue and yellow fever viruses. insect dispersal plays a central role in disease transmission and the extremely high energy demand posed by flight is accomplished by a very efficient oxidative phosphorylation process, which take place within flight muscle mitochondria. these organelles play a central role in energy metabolism, interconnecting nutrient oxidation to atp synthesis, but also represent an important s ...	2015	25803027
chlorfenapyr: irritant effect compared to other insecticides and its intrinsic toxicity in multiple-insecticide-susceptible and -resistant anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae).	for effective management of vector resistance there is a need for new insecticide molecules with novel modes of action. for desired toxic effect of an insecticide, apart from other behavioural aspects, toxicity and chemical nature of the molecule are important that may cause irritability in the mosquito to the insecticide affecting the uptake. in this study, a pyrrole class insecticide, chlorfenapyr (a late acting insecticide) was tested for its irritability against multiple-insecticide-suscepti ...	2015	25815874
cymbopogon citratus-synthesized gold nanoparticles boost the predation efficiency of copepod mesocyclops aspericornis against malaria and dengue mosquitoes.	plant-borne compounds can be employed to synthesize mosquitocidal nanoparticles that are effective at low doses. however, how they affect the activity of mosquito predators in the aquatic environment is unknown. in this study, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (aun) using the leaf extract of cymbopogon citratus, which acted as a reducing and capping agent. aun were characterized by a variety of biophysical methods and sorted for size in order to confirm structural integrity. c. citratus extract ...	2015	25819295
development of an in vitro assay and demonstration of plasmodium berghei liver-stage inhibition by trap-specific cd8+ t cells.	the development of an efficacious vaccine against the plasmodium parasite remains a top priority. previous research has demonstrated the ability of a prime-boost virally vectored sub-unit vaccination regimen, delivering the liver-stage expressed malaria antigen trap, to produce high levels of antigen-specific t cells. the liver-stage of malaria is the main target of t cell-mediated immunity, yet a major challenge in assessing new t cell inducing vaccines has been the lack of a suitable pre-clini ...	2015	25822951
site-specific cassette exchange systems in the aedes aegypti mosquito and the plutella xylostella moth.	genetically engineered insects are being evaluated as potential tools to decrease the economic and public health burden of mosquitoes and agricultural pest insects. here we describe a new tool for the reliable and targeted genome manipulation of pest insects for research and field release using recombinase mediated cassette exchange (rmce) mechanisms. we successfully demonstrated the established φc31-rmce method in the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti, which is the first report of rmce in mo ...	2015	25830287