Publications

remarkable repellency of ligusticum sinense (umbelliferae), a herbal alternative against laboratory populations of anopheles minimus and aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae).	for personal protection against mosquito bites, user-friendly natural repellents, particularly from plant origin, are considered as a potential alternative to applications currently based on synthetics such as deet, the standard chemical repellent. this study was carried out in thailand to evaluate the repellency of ligusticum sinense hexane extract (lhe) against laboratory anopheles minimus and aedes aegypti, the primary vectors of malaria and dengue fever, respectively.	2015	26249666
combining the sterile insect technique with wolbachia-based approaches: ii--a safer approach to aedes albopictus population suppression programmes, designed to minimize the consequences of inadvertent female release.	due to the absence of a perfect method for mosquito sex separation, the combination of the sterile insect technique and the incompatible insect technique is now being considered as a potentially effective method to control aedes albopictus. in this present study first we examine the minimum pupal irradiation dose required to induce complete sterility in wolbachia triple-infected (hc), double-infected (gua) and uninfected (gt) female ae. albopictus. the hc line is a candidate for ae. albopictus p ...	2015	26252474
colocalization of a cd1d-binding glycolipid with a radiation-attenuated sporozoite vaccine in lymph node-resident dendritic cells for a robust adjuvant effect.	a cd1d-binding glycolipid, α-galactosylceramide (αgalcer), activates invariant nk t cells and acts as an adjuvant. we previously identified a fluorinated phenyl ring-modified αgalcer analog, 7dw8-5, displaying nearly 100-fold stronger cd1d binding affinity. in the current study, 7dw8-5 was found to exert a more potent adjuvant effect than αgalcer for a vaccine based on radiation-attenuated sporozoites of a rodent malaria parasite, plasmodium yoelii, also referred to as irradiated p. yoelii sporo ...	2015	26254338
profiling the host response to malaria vaccination and malaria challenge.	a vaccine for malaria is urgently required. the rts,s vaccine represents major progress, but is only partially effective. development of the next generation of highly effective vaccines requires elucidation of the protective immune response. immunity to malaria is known to be complex, and pattern-based approaches such as global gene expression profiling are ideal for understanding response to vaccination and protection against disease. the availability of experimental sporozoite challenge in hum ...	2015	26256528
urban malaria: understanding its epidemiology, ecology, and transmission across seven diverse icemr network sites.	a major public health question is whether urbanization will transform malaria from a rural to an urban disease. however, differences about definitions of urban settings, urban malaria, and whether malaria control should differ between rural and urban areas complicate both the analysis of available data and the development of intervention strategies. this report examines the approach of the international centers of excellence for malaria research (icemr) to urban malaria in brazil, colombia, indi ...	2015	26259941
entomological monitoring and evaluation: diverse transmission settings of icemr projects will require local and regional malaria elimination strategies.	the unprecedented global efforts for malaria elimination in the past decade have resulted in altered vectorial systems, vector behaviors, and bionomics. these changes combined with increasingly evident heterogeneities in malaria transmission require innovative vector control strategies in addition to the established practices of long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying. integrated vector management will require focal and tailored vector control to achieve malaria elimination. ...	2015	26259942
insecticide resistance in areas under investigation by the international centers of excellence for malaria research: a challenge for malaria control and elimination.	scale-up of the main vector control interventions, residual insecticides sprayed on walls or structures and/or impregnated in bed nets, together with prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, have led to a global reduction in malaria transmission. however, resistance in vectors to almost all classes of insecticides, particularly to the synthetic pyrethroids, is posing a challenge to the recent trend of declining malaria. ten international centers of excellence for malaria research (icemr) locate ...	2015	26259947
a systematic, realist review of zooprophylaxis for malaria control.	integrated vector management (ivm) is recommended as a sustainable approach to malaria control. ivm consists of combining vector control methods based on scientific evidence to maximize efficacy and cost-effectiveness while minimizing negative impacts, such as insecticide resistance and environmental damage. zooprophylaxis has been identified as a possible component of ivm as livestock may draw mosquitoes away from humans, decreasing human-vector contact and malaria transmission. it is possible, ...	2015	26264913
mosquito larvicidal and pupaecidal potential of prodigiosin from serratia marcescens and understanding its mechanism of action.	mosquitoes spread lethal diseases like malaria and dengue fever to humans. considering mosquito vector control as one of the best alternatives to reduce new infections, here we have analyzed the effect of purified pigment prodigiosin extracted from serratia marcescens (nmcc 75) against larval and pupal stages of aedes aegypti and anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. mosquito larvicidal activities of purified prodigiosin revealed lc50 values of 14 ± 1.2, 15.6 ± 1.48, 18 ± 1.3, 21 ± 0.87 µg/ml against ...	2015	26267052
longitudinal analysis of plasmodium sporozoite motility in the dermis reveals component of blood vessel recognition.	malaria infection starts with injection of plasmodium sporozoites by an anopheles mosquito into the skin of the mammalian host. how sporozoites locate and enter a blood vessel is a critical, but poorly understood process. in this study, we examine sporozoite motility and their interaction with dermal blood vessels, using intravital microscopy in mice. our data suggest that sporozoites exhibit two types of motility: in regions far from blood vessels, they exhibit 'avascular motility', defined by ...	2015	26271010
green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from cassia roxburghii-a most potent power for mosquito 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 of synthesized natural products for vector control have been a priority in this area. in the present study, silver nanoparticles (agnps) synthesized using cassia roxburghii plant leaf extract against anopheles stephensi, aedes aegypt ...	2015	26276645
s argassum muticum-synthesized silver nanoparticles: an effective control tool against mosquito vectors and bacterial pathogens.	mosquito-borne diseases represent a deadly threat for millions of people worldwide. furthermore, pathogens and parasites polluting water also constitute a severe plague for populations of developing countries. in this research, silver nanoparticles (agnp) were synthesized using the aqueous extract of the seaweed sargassum muticum. the production of agnp was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance band illustrated in uv-vis spectrophotometry. agnp were characterized by ftir, sem, edx, and xrd anal ...	2015	26281786
anopheles stephensi p38 mapk signaling regulates innate immunity and bioenergetics during plasmodium falciparum infection.	fruit flies and mammals protect themselves against infection by mounting immune and metabolic responses that must be balanced against the metabolic needs of the pathogens. in this context, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk)-dependent signaling is critical to regulating both innate immunity and metabolism during infection. accordingly, we asked to what extent the asian malaria mosquito anopheles stephensi utilizes p38 mapk signaling during infection with the human malaria parasite plasmo ...	2015	26283222
multiresistant elizabethkingia meningoseptica infections in tertiary care.		2014	26288498
discovery of novel plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic antigens for vaccine development.	nearly 100% protection against malaria infection can be achieved in humans by immunization with p. falciparum radiation-attenuated sporozoites (ras). although it is thought that protection is mediated by t cell and antibody responses, only a few of the many pre-erythrocytic (sporozoite and liver stage) antigens that are targeted by these responses have been identified.	2015	26292257
probucol-induced α-tocopherol deficiency protects mice against malaria infection.	the emergence of malaria pathogens having resistance against antimalarials implies the necessity for the development of new drugs. recently, we have demonstrated a resistance against malaria infection of α-tocopherol transfer protein knockout mice showing undetectable plasma levels of α-tocopherol, a lipid-soluble antioxidant. however, dietary restriction induced α-tocopherol deficiency is difficult to be applied as a clinical antimalarial therapy. here, we report on a new strategy to potentiall ...	2015	26296197
eco-friendly control of malaria and arbovirus vectors using the mosquitofish gambusia affinis and ultra-low dosages of mimusops elengi-synthesized silver nanoparticles: towards an integrative approach?	mosquito-borne diseases represent a deadly threat for millions of people worldwide. however, the use of synthetic insecticides to control culicidae may lead to high operational costs and adverse non-target effects. plant-borne compounds have been proposed for rapid extracellular synthesis of mosquitocidal nanoparticles. their impact against biological control agents of mosquito larval populations has been poorly studied. we synthesized silver nanoparticles (agnp) using the aqueous leaf extract o ...	2015	26300364
mass spectrometry identification of age-associated proteins from the malaria mosquitoes anopheles gambiae s.s. and anopheles stephensi.	this study investigated proteomic changes occurring in anopheles gambiae and anopheles stephensi during adult mosquito aging. these changes were evaluated using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2d-dige) and the identities of aging related proteins were determined using capillary high-pressure liquid chromatography (caphplc) coupled with a linear ion-trap (ltq)-orbitrap xl hybrid mass spectrometry (ms). here, we have described the techniques used to determine age associated proteom ...	2015	26306320
the waal gene mutation compromised the inhabitation of enterobacter sp. ag1 in the mosquito gut environment.	the mosquito gut harbors a variety of bacteria that are dynamically associated with mosquitoes in various contexts. however, little is known about bacterial factors that affect bacterial inhabitation in the gut microbial community. enterobacter sp. ag1 is a predominant gram negative bacterium in the mosquito midgut.	2015	26306887
immunogenicity and serological cross-reactivity of saliva proteins among different tsetse species.	tsetse are vectors of pathogenic trypanosomes, agents of human and animal trypanosomiasis in africa. components of tsetse saliva (sialome) are introduced into the mammalian host bite site during the blood feeding process and are important for tsetse's ability to feed efficiently, but can also influence disease transmission and serve as biomarkers for host exposure. we compared the sialome components from four tsetse species in two subgenera: subgenus morsitans: glossina morsitans morsitans (gmm) ...	2015	26313460
a new set of chemical starting points with plasmodium falciparum transmission-blocking potential for antimalarial drug discovery.	the discovery of new antimalarials with transmission blocking activity remains a key issue in efforts to control malaria and eventually eradicate the disease. recently, high-throughput screening (hts) assays have been successfully applied to plasmodium falciparum asexual stages to screen millions of compounds, with the identification of thousands of new active molecules, some of which are already in clinical phases. the same approach has now been applied to identify compounds that are active aga ...	2015	26317851
nanoparticles as potential new generation broad spectrum antimicrobial agents.	the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains to conventional antimicrobial agents has complicated and prolonged infection treatment and increased mortality risk globally. furthermore, some of the conventional antimicrobial agents are unable to cross certain cell membranes thus, restricting treatment of intracellular pathogens. therefore, the disease-causing-organisms tend to persist in these cells. however, the emergence of nanoparticle (np) technology has come with the promising broad ...	2015	26329777
crepuscular behavioral variation and profiling of opsin genes in anopheles gambiae and anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae).	we understand little about photo-preference and the molecular mechanisms governing vision-dependent behavior in vector mosquitoes. investigations of the influence of photo-preference on adult mosquito behaviors such as endophagy and exophagy and endophily and exophily will enhance our ability to develop and deploy vector-targeted interventions and monitoring techniques. our laboratory-based analyses have revealed that crepuscular period photo-preference differs between an. gambiae and an. stephe ...	2015	26334802
datura metel-synthesized silver nanoparticles magnify predation of dragonfly nymphs against the malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to people and animals through the bites of infected mosquitoes. the employ of synthetic insecticides to control anopheles populations leads to high operational costs, non-target effects, and induced resistance. recently, plant-borne compounds have been proposed for efficient and rapid extracellular synthesis of mosquitocidal nanoparticles. however, their impact against predators of mosquito larvae has been poorly studied. in t ...	2015	26337272
complete genome and gene expression analyses of asaia bogorensis reveal unique responses to culture with mammalian cells as a potential opportunistic human pathogen.	asaia bogorensis, a member of acetic acid bacteria (aab), is an aerobic bacterium isolated from flowers and fruits, as well as an opportunistic pathogen that causes human peritonitis and bacteraemia. here, we determined the complete genomic sequence of the as. bogorensis type strain nbrc 16594, and conducted comparative analyses of gene expression under different conditions of co-culture with mammalian cells and standard aab culture. the genome of as. bogorensis contained 2,758 protein-coding ge ...	2015	26358298
wolbachia strains for disease control: ecological and evolutionary considerations.	wolbachia are endosymbionts found in many insects with the potential to suppress vectorborne diseases, particularly through interfering with pathogen transmission. wolbachia strains are highly variable in their effects on hosts, raising the issue of which attributes should be selected to ensure that the best strains are developed for disease control. this depends on their ability to suppress viral transmission, invade host populations, persist without loss of viral suppression and not interfere ...	2015	26366194
recurrent domestication by lepidoptera of genes from their parasites mediated by bracoviruses.	bracoviruses are symbiotic viruses associated with tens of thousands of species of parasitic wasps that develop within the body of lepidopteran hosts and that collectively parasitize caterpillars of virtually every lepidopteran species. viral particles are produced in the wasp ovaries and injected into host larvae with the wasp eggs. once in the host body, the viral dna circles enclosed in the particles integrate into lepidopteran host cell dna. here we show that bracovirus dna sequences have be ...	2015	26379286
roles of nlaktip in the growth and eclosion of the rice brown planthopper, nilaparvata lugens stål, as revealed by rna interference.	akt-interacting protein (aktip) interacts with serine/threonine protein kinase b (pkb)/akt. aktip modulates akt's activity by enhancing the phosphorylation of the regulatory site and plays a crucial role in multiple biological processes. in this study, the full length cdna of nlaktip, a novel aktip gene in the brown planthopper (bph) nilaparvata lugens, was cloned. the reverse transcription quantitive pcr (rt-qpcr) results showed that the nlaktip gene was strongly expressed in gravid female adul ...	2015	26402675
spectral and hrtem analyses of annona muricata leaf extract mediated silver nanoparticles and its larvicidal efficacy against three mosquito vectors anopheles stephensi, culex quinquefasciatus, and aedes aegypti.	mosquitoes transmit various diseases which mainly affect the human beings and every year cause millions of deaths globally. currently available chemical and synthetic mosquitocidal agents pose severe side effects, pollute the environment vigorously, and become resistance. there is an urgent need to identify and develop the cost effective, compatible and eco-friendly product for mosquito control. the present study was aimed to find out the larvicidal potential of aqueous crude extract and green s ...	2015	26410042
aristolochia indica green-synthesized silver nanoparticles: a sustainable control tool against the malaria vector anopheles stephensi?	malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to people and animals through the bites of infected mosquitoes. we biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (agnp) using aristolochia indica extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. agnp were characterized by uv-vis spectroscopy, ftir, sem, edx and xrd. in laboratory, lc50 of a. indica extract against anopheles stephensi ranged from 262.66 (larvae i) to 565.02 ppm (pupae). lc50 of agnp against a. stephensi ranged from 3.94 (larva ...	2015	26412532
optimizing intradermal administration of cryopreserved plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in controlled human malaria infection.	controlled human malaria infection (chmi) is a powerful tool to evaluate malaria vaccine and prophylactic drug efficacy. until recently chmi was only carried out by the bite of infected mosquitoes. a parenteral method of chmi would standardize plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (pfspz) administration, eliminate the need for expensive challenge facility infrastructure, and allow for use of many p. falciparum strains. recently, intradermal (id) injection of aseptic, purified, cryopreserved pfspz was ...	2015	26416102
feasibility of using the mosquito blood meal for rapid and efficient human and animal virus surveillance and discovery.	mosquito blood meals taken from humans and animals potentially represent a useful source of blood for the detection of blood-borne pathogens. in this feasibility study, anopheles stephensi mosquitoes were fed with blood meals spiked with dengue virus type 2 (denv-2) and harvested at serial time points. these mosquitoes are not competent vectors, and the virus is not expected to replicate. ingested blood was spotted on whatman fta cards and stored at room temperature. mosquito abdomens were remov ...	2015	26416112
global transcriptional repression: an initial and essential step for plasmodium sexual development.	gametocytes are nonreplicative sexual forms that mediate malaria transmission to a mosquito vector. they are generated from asexual blood-stage parasites that proliferate in the circulation. however, little is known about how this transition is genetically regulated. here, we report that an apetala2 (ap2) family transcription factor, ap2-g2, regulates this transition as a transcriptional repressor. disruption of ap2-g2 in the rodent malaria parasite plasmodium berghei did not prevent commitment ...	2015	26417110
deltamethrin induced functional mortality of anopheles stephensi, the urban malaria vector, in relation to resistance development.		2015	26418659
french invasive asian tiger mosquito populations harbor reduced bacterial microbiota and genetic diversity compared to vietnamese autochthonous relatives.	the asian tiger mosquito aedes albopictus is one of the most significant pathogen vectors of the twenty-first century. originating from asia, it has invaded a wide range of eco-climatic regions worldwide. the insect-associated microbiota is now recognized to play a significant role in host biology. while genetic diversity bottlenecks are known to result from biological invasions, the resulting shifts in host-associated microbiota diversity has not been thoroughly investigated. to address this su ...	2015	26441903
brevibacillus laterosporus, a pathogen of invertebrates and a broad-spectrum antimicrobial species.	brevibacillus laterosporus, a bacterium characterized by the production of a unique canoe-shaped lamellar body attached to one side of the spore, is a natural inhabitant of water, soil and insects. its biopesticidal potential has been reported against insects in different orders including coleoptera, lepidoptera, diptera and against nematodes and mollusks. in addition to its pathogenicity against invertebrates, different b. laterosporus strains show a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity includ ...	2013	26462431
progress with plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (pfspz)-based malaria vaccines.	sanaria inc. has developed methods to manufacture, purify and cryopreserve aseptic plasmodium falciparum (pf) sporozoites (spz), and is using this platform technology to develop an injectable pfspz-based vaccine that provides high-grade, durable protection against infection with pf malaria. several candidate vaccines are being developed and tested, including pfspz vaccine, in which the pfspz are attenuated by irradiation, pfspz-cvac, in which fully infectious pfspz are attenuated in vivo by conc ...	2015	26469720
overexpression of a triticum aestivum calreticulin gene (tacrt1) improves salinity tolerance in tobacco.	calreticulin (crt) is a highly conserved and abundant multifunctional protein that is encoded by a small gene family and is often associated with abiotic/biotic stress responses in plants. however, the roles played by this protein in salt stress responses in wheat (triticum aestivum) remain obscure. in this study, three tacrt genes were identified in wheat and named tacrt1, tacrt2 and tacrt3-1 based on their sequence characteristics and their high homology to other known crt genes. quantitative ...	2015	26469859
how do nutritional stress and la crosse virus infection interact? tests for effects on willingness to blood feed and fecundity in aedes albopictus (diptera: culicidae).	evolutionary theory predicts that vector-borne pathogens should have low virulence for their vector because of selection against pathogens that harm the vector sufficiently to reduce transmission. environmental factors such as nutritional stress can alter vector-pathogen associations by making the vectors more susceptible to pathogens (condition-dependent competence) and vulnerable to the harm caused by pathogen replication (condition-dependent virulence). we tested the hypotheses of condition-d ...	2015	26477049
impact of environmental variation on host performance differs with pathogen identity: implications for host-pathogen interactions in a changing climate.	specialist and generalist pathogens may exert different costs on their hosts; thereby altering the way hosts cope with environmental variation. we examined how pathogen-challenge alters the environmental conditions that maximize host performance by simultaneously varying temperature and nutrition (protein to carbohydrate ratio; p:c) after exposure to two baculoviruses; one that is specific to the cabbage looper, trichoplusia ni (tnsnpv) and another that has a broad host range (acmnpv). virus-cha ...	2015	26477393
phospholipid topography of whole-body sections of the anopheles stephensi mosquito, characterized by high-resolution atmospheric-pressure scanning microprobe matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging.	high-resolution atmospheric-pressure scanning microprobe matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (ap-smaldi msi) has been employed to study the molecular anatomical structure of rodent malaria vector anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. a dedicated sample preparation method was developed which suits both, the special tissue properties of the sample and the requirements of high-resolution maldi imaging. embedding in 5% carboxymethylcellulose (cmc) was used to maintain the ...	2015	26491885
insecticide resistance in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in zimbabwe: a review.	malaria is a global public health problem, with about 3.2 billion people at risk of infection. the populations at risk mainly reside in africa, asia and america, with african populations accounting for the largest burden of the disease. in 2013, close to 198 million malaria cases were reported, leading to 584,000 deaths. much (90 %) of the mortality rates were recorded from the world health organization (who) database in the african region and 78 % of these occurred in children under the age of ...	2015	26497808
increases in both temperature means and extremes likely facilitate invasive herbivore outbreaks.	although increases in mean temperature (mt) and extreme high temperature (eht) can greatly affect population dynamics of insects under global warming, how concurrent changes in both mt and eht affect invasive species is largely unknown. we used four thermal regimes to simulate the increases in summer temperature and compared their effects on the life-history traits of three geographical populations (chongqing, wuhan and shanghai) of an invasive insect, corythucha ciliata, in china. the four ther ...	2015	26502826
co-expression of interleukin-15 enhances the protective immune responses induced by immunization with a murine malaria mva-based vaccine encoding the circumsporozoite protein.	malaria remains a major global public health problem with an estimated 200 million cases detected in 2012. although the most advanced candidate malaria vaccine (rts,s) has shown promise in clinical trials, its modest efficacy and durability have created uncertainty about the impact of rts,s immunization (when used alone) on global malaria transmission. here we describe the development and characterization of a novel modified vaccinia virus ankara (mva)-based malaria vaccine which co-expresses th ...	2015	26505634
identification of host-plant volatiles and characterization of two novel general odorant-binding proteins from the legume pod borer, maruca vitrata fabricius (lepidoptera: crambidae).	chemoreception is a key feature in selection of host plant by phytophagous insects, and odorant-binding proteins (obps) are involved in chemical communication of both insects and vertebrates. the legume pod borer, maruca vitrata fabricius (lepidoptera: crambidae) is one of the key pest species of cowpea and widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions, causing up to 80% of yield loss. in this study, we investigated the electrophysiological responses of female m. vitrata to flor ...	2015	26517714
the plasmodium palmitoyl-s-acyl-transferase dhhc2 is essential for ookinete morphogenesis and malaria transmission.	the post-translational addition of c-16 long chain fatty acids to protein cysteine residues is catalysed by palmitoyl-s-acyl-transferases (pat) and affects the affinity of a modified protein for membranes and therefore its subcellular localisation. in apicomplexan parasites this reversible protein modification regulates numerous biological processes and specifically affects cell motility, and invasion of host cells by plasmodium falciparum merozoites and toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. using inhi ...	2015	26526684
asparagine requirement in plasmodium berghei as a target to prevent malaria transmission and liver infections.	the proteins of plasmodium, the malaria parasite, are strikingly rich in asparagine. plasmodium depends primarily on host haemoglobin degradation for amino acids and has a rudimentary pathway for amino acid biosynthesis, but retains a gene encoding asparagine synthetase (as). here we show that deletion of as in plasmodium berghei (pb) delays the asexual- and liver-stage development with substantial reduction in the formation of ookinetes, oocysts and sporozoites in mosquitoes. in the absence of ...	2015	26531182
towards a strategy for malaria in pregnancy in afghanistan: analysis of clinical realities and women's perceptions of malaria and anaemia.	afghanistan has some of the worst maternal and infant mortality indicators in the world and malaria is a significant public health concern. study objectives were to assess prevalence of malaria and anaemia, related knowledge and practices, and malaria prevention barriers among pregnant women in eastern afghanistan.	2015	26537247
plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles as an emerging tool against mosquitoes of medical and veterinary importance: a review.	mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) are a key threat for millions of people worldwide, since they act as vectors for devastating parasites and pathogens. mosquito young instars are usually targeted with organophosphates, insect growth regulators and microbial control agents. indoors residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets are also employed. however, these chemicals have strong negative effects on human health and the environment. newer and safer tools have been recently implemented to enh ...	2016	26541154
population-based seroprevalence of malaria in hormozgan province, southeastern iran: a low transmission area.	the seroepidemiological condition of malaria in three main districts of hormozgan province, a low transmission area in southeast of iran, was investigated. methods. sera samples (803) were collected from healthy volunteers from the three main districts (bandar lengeh in the west, bandar abbas in the center, and bandar jask in the east) of hormozgan province. a questionnaire was used to record the sociodemographic features of the participants during sample collecting. an in-house elisa test, usin ...	2015	26543662
transmission-blocking activity of antibodies to plasmodium falciparum glurp.10c chimeric protein formulated in different adjuvants.	plasmodium falciparum is transmitted from person to person by anopheles mosquitoes after completing its sexual reproductive cycle within the infected mosquito. an efficacious vaccine holds the potential to interrupt development of the parasite in the mosquito leading to control and possibly eradication of malaria. a multi-component, r0.10c, was developed comprising p. falciparum glutamate-rich protein (r0) fused in frame to a correctly folded fragment of pfs48/45 (10c). here, a series of novel a ...	2015	26552428
a simple and predictive phenotypic high content imaging assay for plasmodium falciparum mature gametocytes to identify malaria transmission blocking compounds.	plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, specifically the mature stages, are the only malaria parasite stage in humans transmissible to the mosquito vector. anti-malarial drugs capable of killing these forms are considered essential for the eradication of malaria and tools allowing the screening of large compound libraries with high predictive power are needed to identify new candidates. as gametocytes are not a replicative stage it is difficult to apply the same drug screening methods used for asexua ...	2015	26553647
plasmodium p-type cyclin cyc3 modulates endomitotic growth during oocyst development in mosquitoes.	cell-cycle progression and cell division in eukaryotes are governed in part by the cyclin family and their regulation of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). cyclins are very well characterised in model systems such as yeast and human cells, but surprisingly little is known about their number and role in plasmodium, the unicellular protozoan parasite that causes malaria. malaria parasite cell division and proliferation differs from that of many eukaryotes. during its life cycle it undergoes two type ...	2015	26565797
a comparison of plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based slot blot and elisa immuno-assays for oocyst detection in mosquito homogenates.	the infectivity of plasmodium gametocytes is typically determined by microscopically examining the midguts of mosquitoes that have taken a blood meal containing potentially infectious parasites. such assessments are required for the development and evaluation of transmission-reducing interventions (tri), but are limited by subjectivity, technical complexity and throughput. the detection of circumsporozoite protein (csp) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) and enhanced chemiluminescent s ...	2015	26573271
zinc finger nuclease-based double-strand breaks attenuate malaria parasites and reveal rare microhomology-mediated end joining.	genome editing of malaria parasites is key to the generation of live attenuated parasites used in experimental vaccination approaches. dna repair in plasmodium generally occurs only through homologous recombination. this has been used to generate transgenic parasites that lack one to three genes, leading to developmental arrest in the liver and allowing the host to launch a protective immune response. while effective in principle, this approach is not safe for use in humans as single surviving p ...	2015	26573820
wolbachia and the insect immune system: what reactive oxygen species can tell us about the mechanisms of wolbachia-host interactions.	wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that infect a vast range of arthropod species, making them one of the most prevalent endosymbionts in the world. wolbachia's stunning evolutionary success is mostly due to their reproductive parasitism but also to mutualistic effects such as increased host fecundity or protection against pathogens. however, the mechanisms underlying wolbachia phenotypes, both parasitic and mutualistic, are only poorly understood. moreover, it is unclear how the insect immune ...	2015	26579107
arthropod vectors and disease transmission: translational aspects.		2015	26583380
biochemical basis of alphamethrin resistance in different life stages of anopheles stephensi strains of bangalore, india.	anopheles stephensi is an important urban malaria vector in the indian subcontinent. extensive application of insecticides evokes microevolution, which results in resistance that can be traced back to their genotypes. in this study, resistant and susceptible strains of an. stephensi for alphamethrin were selected by selective inbreeding for 27 and ten generations respectively. the biochemical basis of resistance in all the life stages was investigated. quantitative assays were performed for prot ...	2016	26598105
plasmodium evasion of mosquito immunity and global malaria transmission: the lock-and-key theory.	plasmodium falciparum malaria originated in africa and became global as humans migrated to other continents. during this journey, parasites encountered new mosquito species, some of them evolutionarily distant from african vectors. we have previously shown that the pfs47 protein allows the parasite to evade the mosquito immune system of anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. here, we investigated the role of pfs47-mediated immune evasion in the adaptation of p. falciparum to evolutionarily distant mosqui ...	2015	26598665
highly efficient cas9-mediated gene drive for population modification of the malaria vector mosquito anopheles stephensi.	genetic engineering technologies can be used both to create transgenic mosquitoes carrying antipathogen effector genes targeting human malaria parasites and to generate gene-drive systems capable of introgressing the genes throughout wild vector populations. we developed a highly effective autonomous clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (crispr)-associated protein 9 (cas9)-mediated gene-drive system in the asian malaria vector anopheles stephensi, adapted from the mutagenic ...	2015	26598698
a genome-scale investigation of incongruence in culicidae mosquitoes.	comparison of individual gene trees in several recent phylogenomic studies from diverse lineages has revealed a surprising amount of topological conflict or incongruence, but we still know relatively little about its distribution across the tree of life. to further our understanding of incongruence, the factors that contribute to it and how it can be ameliorated, we examined its distribution in a clade of 20 culicidae mosquito species through the reconstruction and analysis of the phylogenetic h ...	2015	26608059
fern-synthesized nanoparticles in the fight against malaria: lc/ms analysis of pteridium aquilinum leaf extract and biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with high mosquitocidal and antiplasmodial activity.	malaria remains a major public health problem due to the emergence and spread of plasmodium falciparum strains resistant to chloroquine. there is an urgent need to investigate new and effective sources of antimalarial drugs. this research proposed a novel method of fern-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles (agnp) using a cheap plant extract of pteridium aquilinum, acting as a reducing and capping agent. agnp were characterized by uv-vis spectrophotometry, fourier transform infrared (ftir) ...	2016	26612497
increased production of pirnas from euchromatic clusters and genes in anopheles gambiae compared with drosophila melanogaster.	specific genomic loci, termed piwi-interacting rna (pirna) clusters, manufacture pirnas that serve as guides for the inactivation of complementary transposable elements (tes). the pirna pathway has been accurately detailed in drosophila melanogaster, while it remains poorly examined in other insects. this pathway is increasingly recognized as critical for germline development and reproduction. understanding of the pirna functions in mosquitoes could offer an opportunity for disease vector contro ...	2015	26617674
"salivary gland cellular architecture in the asian malaria vector mosquito anopheles stephensi".	anopheles mosquitoes are vectors for malaria, a disease with continued grave outcomes for human health. transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans occurs by parasite passage through the salivary glands (sgs). previous studies of mosquito sg architecture have been limited in scope and detail.	2015	26627194
isolation, n-glycosylations and function of a hyaluronidase-like enzyme from the venom of the spider cupiennius salei.	hyaluronidases are important venom components acting as spreading factor of toxic compounds. in several studies this spreading effect was tested on vertebrate tissue. however, data about the spreading activity on invertebrates, the main prey organisms of spiders, are lacking. here, a hyaluronidase-like enzyme was isolated from the venom of the spider cupiennius salei. the amino acid sequence of the enzyme was determined by cdna analysis of the venom gland transcriptome and confirmed by protein a ...	2015	26630650
inhibition of plasmodium berghei development in mosquitoes by effector proteins secreted from asaia sp. bacteria using a novel native secretion signal.	novel interventions are needed to prevent the transmission of the plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. one possible method is to supply mosquitoes with antiplasmodial effector proteins from bacteria by paratransgenesis. mosquitoes have a diverse complement of midgut microbiota including the gram-negative bacteria asaia bogorensis. this study presents the first use of asaia sp. bacteria for paratransgenesis against p. berghei. we identified putative secreted proteins from a. bogorensis by a g ...	2015	26636338
larvicidal activity of nerium oleander against larvae west nile vector mosquito culex pipiens (diptera: culicidae).	background. outbreaks of the west nile virus infection were reported in morocco in 1996, 2003, and 2010. culex pipiens was strongly suspected as the vector responsible for transmission. in the north center of morocco, this species has developed resistance to synthetic insecticides. there is an urgent need to find alternatives to the insecticides as natural biocides. objective. in this work, the insecticidal activity of the extract of the local plant nerium oleander, which has never been tested b ...	2015	26640701
mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection has no impact on plasmodium berghei anka-induced experimental cerebral malaria in c57bl/6 mice.	cerebral malaria (cm) is the most severe complication of human infection with plasmodium falciparum. the mechanisms predisposing to cm are still not fully understood. proinflammatory immune responses are required for the control of blood-stage malaria infection but are also implicated in the pathogenesis of cm. a fine balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses is required for parasite clearance without the induction of host pathology. the most accepted experimental model to stud ...	2015	26644378
evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of extracts and constituents from ampelozizyphus amazonicus.	ampelozizyphus amazonicus ducke, a plant that is widely used by the population of the amazonian region to prevent and treat malaria, was investigated in this work, which describes, for the first time, the antiplasmodial activity of its extracts and associates this activity with its isolated constituents.	0	26664012
discovery of dual-stage malaria inhibitors with new targets.	malaria remains a major global health problem, with more than half of the world population at risk of contracting the disease and nearly a million deaths each year. here, we report the discovery of inhibitors that target multiple stages of malaria parasite growth. to identify these inhibitors, we took advantage of the tres cantos antimalarial compound set (tcams) small-molecule library, which is comprised of diverse and potent chemical scaffolds with activities against the blood stage of the mal ...	2015	26666931
reproduction-immunity trade-offs in insects.	immune defense and reproduction are physiologically and energetically demanding processes and have been observed to trade off in a diversity of female insects. increased reproductive effort results in reduced immunity, and reciprocally, infection and activation of the immune system reduce reproductive output. this trade-off can manifest at the physiological level (within an individual) and at the evolutionary level (genetic distinction among individuals in a population). the resource allocation ...	2015	26667271
the tlr2 is activated by sporozoites and suppresses intrahepatic rodent malaria parasite development.	tlrs (toll-like receptors) play an important role in the initiation of innate immune responses against invading microorganisms. although several tlrs have been reported to be involved in the innate immune response against the blood-stage of malaria parasites, the role of tlrs in the development of the pre-erythrocytic stage is still largely unknown. here, we found that sporozoite and its lysate could significantly activate the tlr2, and induce macrophages to release proinflammatory cytokines, in ...	2015	26667391
application of biogenic carbon dioxide produced by yeast with different carbon sources for attraction of mosquitoes towards adult mosquito traps.	surveillance is a prime requisite for controlling arthropod vectors like mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya. carbon dioxide (co2) is one of the main cues from vertebrate breath that attracts mosquitoes towards the host. hence, co2 is used as an attractant during surveillance of mosquitoes either from commercial cylinders or dry ice for mosquito traps. in the present study, the biogenic carbon dioxide production was optimized with different carbon sources su ...	2016	26677098
green-synthesised nanoparticles from melia azedarach seeds and the cyclopoid crustacean cyclops vernalis: an eco-friendly route to control the malaria vector anopheles stephensi?	the impact of green-synthesised mosquitocidal nanoparticles on non-target aquatic predators is poorly studied. in this research, we proposed a single-step method to synthesise silver nanoparticles (ag np) using the seed extract of melia azedarach. ag np were characterised using a variety of biophysical methods, including uv-vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. in laboratory assays on anopheles steph ...	2016	26679526
a semi-automated luminescence based standard membrane feeding assay identifies novel small molecules that inhibit transmission of malaria parasites by mosquitoes.	current first-line treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria rapidly clear the asexual stages of the parasite, but do not fully prevent parasite transmission by mosquitoes. the standard membrane feeding assay (smfa) is the biological gold standard assessment of transmission reducing activity (tra), but its throughput is limited by the need to determine mosquito infection status by dissection and microscopy. here we present a novel dissection-free luminescence based smfa format using a tran ...	2015	26687564
effect of temperature and humidity on pathogenicity of native beauveria bassiana isolate against musca domestica l.	beauveria bassiana hq917687 virulence to housefly larvae and adult was assessed at different relative humidity, rh (50, 75, 90, and 100 %) and temperature (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 °c) conditions at the fungal dose of 10(8) conidia/ml. depending on the temperature and rh regime tested, difference in mortality rates of housefly adult and larvae were detected. during assay on adult housefly, 100 % mortality was achieved at rh, 90 and 100 % while the temperature of 30 °c showed maximum mortality ...	2013	26688637
larvicidal activity of catechin isolated from leucas aspera against aedes aegypti, anopheles stephensi, and culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae).	vector control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. insecticides of plant origin my serve as an alternative biocontrol technique in the future. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the larvicidal activity of fractions and compounds from the whole-plant methanol extracts of leucas aspera on the fourth-instar larvae of aedes aegypti, anopheles stephensi, and culex quinquefasciatus. the larvae were exposed to fractions with concentrations ranging ...	2016	26711450
safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of intradermal immunization with aseptic, purified, cryopreserved plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in volunteers under chloroquine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial.	immunization of volunteers under chloroquine prophylaxis by bites of plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (pfspz)-infected mosquitoes induces > 90% protection against controlled human malaria infection (chmi). we studied intradermal immunization with cryopreserved, infectious pfspz in volunteers taking chloroquine (pfspz chemoprophylaxis vaccine [cvac]). vaccine groups 1 and 3 received 3× monthly immunizations with 7.5 × 10(4) pfspz. control groups 2 and 4 received normal saline. groups 1 and 2 unde ...	2015	26711509
maduramicin rapidly eliminates malaria parasites and potentiates the gametocytocidal activity of the pyrazoleamide pa21a050.	new strategies targeting plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, the sexual-stage parasites that are responsible for malaria transmission, are needed to eradicate this disease. most commonly used antimalarials are ineffective against p. falciparum gametocytes, allowing patients to continue to be infectious for over a week after asexual parasite clearance. a recent screen for gametocytocidal compounds demonstrated that the carboxylic polyether ionophore maduramicin is active at low nanomolar concentra ...	2015	26711768
the footprints of relapsing malaria in southwest delhi, india.	control of vivax malaria is challenging due to persistence of hypnozoites causing relapses and safety concerns with primaquine in g6pd deficient individuals. we present the epidemiology of malaria with emphasis on recurrence of vivax malaria over a period of four years in southwest delhi among patients reporting to malaria clinic.	2015	26714507
fitness cost in field and laboratory aedes aegypti populations associated with resistance to the insecticide temephos.	the continued use of chemical insecticides in the context of the national program of dengue control in brazil has generated a high selective pressure on the natural populations of aedes aegypti, leading to their resistance to these compounds in the field. fitness costs have been described as adaptive consequences of resistance. this study evaluated the biological and reproductive performance of a. aegypti strains and a field population resistant to temephos, the main larvicide used for controlli ...	2015	26715037
neem oil increases the efficiency of the entomopathogenic fungus metarhizium anisopliae for the control of aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae) larvae.	entomopathogenic fungi are potential candidates for use in integrated vector management and many isolates are compatible with synthetic and natural insecticides. neem oil was tested separately and in combination with the entomopathogenic fungus metarhizium anisopliae against larvae of the dengue vector aedes aegypti. our aim was to increase the effectiveness of the fungus for the control of larval mosquito populations.	2015	26715150
multipurpose effectiveness of couroupita guianensis-synthesized gold nanoparticles: high antiplasmodial potential, field efficacy against malaria vectors and synergy with aplocheilus lineatus predators.	mosquito-borne diseases represent a deadly threat for millions of people worldwide. according to recent estimates, about 3.2 billion people, almost half of the world's population, are at risk of malaria. malaria control is particularly challenging due to a growing number of chloroquine-resistant plasmodium and pesticide-resistant anopheles vectors. newer and safer control tools are required. in this research, gold nanoparticles (aunps) were biosynthesized using a cheap flower extract of couroupi ...	2016	26732702
bioactivity and laundering resistance of five commercially available, factory-treated permethrin-impregnated fabrics for the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases: the need for a standardized testing and licensing procedure.	personal protective measures against hematophagous vectors constitute the first line of defense against arthropod-borne diseases. in this regard, a major advance has been the development of residual insecticides that can be impregnated into clothing. currently, however, information on specific treatment procedures, initial insecticide concentrations, arthropod toxicity, residual activity, and laundering resistance is either fragmentary or non-existent, and no world health organization pesticides ...	2016	26738734
corrigendum: artemisinin-resistant plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates can infect diverse mosquito vectors of southeast asia and africa.		2016	26742574
enhancing immunogenicity and transmission-blocking activity of malaria vaccines by fusing pfs25 to imx313 multimerization technology.	transmission-blocking vaccines (tbv) target the sexual-stages of the malaria parasite in the mosquito midgut and are widely considered to be an essential tool for malaria elimination. high-titer functional antibodies are required against target antigens to achieve effective transmission-blocking activity. we have fused pfs25, the leading malaria tbv candidate antigen to imx313, a molecular adjuvant and expressed it both in chad63 and mva viral vectors and as a secreted protein-nanoparticle. pfs2 ...	2016	26743316
native larvivorous fish in an endemic malarious area of southern iran, a biological alternative factor for chemical larvicides in malaria control program.	the widespread use of chemical insecticides, resistance in vectors and environmental problems, all have led to an increased interest in the use of biological agents in malaria control programs. the most important functional elements are the native fish. the aim of this study was to identify the native species of lavivorous fish in rudan county, southern iran, to introduce an effective species and to propose its' implementation in the national malaria control program.	0	26744713
knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in indian anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae) populations.	knockdown resistance (kdr) in insects resulting from mutation(s) in the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene is one of the mechanisms of resistance against ddt and the pyrethroid group of insecticides. earlier, we reported the presence of two classic kdr mutations, i.e., l1014f and l1014s in anopheles stephensi liston, a major indian malaria vector affecting mainly urban areas. this report presents the distribution of these alleles in different an. stephensi populations. seven populations of ...	2016	26747858
high-throughput assay and discovery of small molecules that interrupt malaria transmission.	preventing transmission is an important element of malaria control. however, most of the current available methods to assay for malaria transmission blocking are relatively low throughput and cannot be applied to large chemical libraries. we have developed a high-throughput and cost-effective assay, the saponin-lysis sexual stage assay (salssa), for identifying small molecules with transmission-blocking capacity. salssa analysis of 13,983 unique compounds uncovered that >90% of well-characterize ...	2015	26749441
a yeast strain associated to anopheles mosquitoes produces a toxin able to kill malaria parasites.	malaria control strategies are focusing on new approaches, such as the symbiotic control, which consists in the use of microbial symbionts to prevent parasite development in the mosquito gut and to block the transmission of the infection to humans. several microbes, bacteria and fungi, have been proposed for malaria or other mosquito-borne diseases control strategies. among these, the yeast wickerhamomyces anomalus has been recently isolated from the gut of anopheles mosquitoes, where it release ...	2016	26754943
mind the gap: residual malaria transmission, veterinary endectocides and livestock as targets for malaria vector control.		2016	26755345
comparison of irradiation and wolbachia based approaches for sterile-male strategies targeting aedes albopictus.	the global expansion of aedes albopictus together with the absence of vaccines for most of the arboviruses transmitted by this mosquito has stimulated the development of sterile-male strategies aiming at controlling disease transmission through the suppression of natural vector populations. in this context, two environmentally friendly control strategies, namely the sterile insect technique (sit) and the wolbachia-based incompatible insect technique (iit) are currently being developed in several ...	2016	26765951
lectin-carbohydrate recognition mechanism of plasmodium berghei in the midgut of malaria vector anopheles stephensi using quantum dot as a new approach.	potential targets of plasmodium ookinetes at the mosquito midgut walls were investigated in relation to interfering malarial transmission. in this study, the essential application of quantum dots (qds) was used to examine the interaction between plasmodium berghei ookinetes and the anopheles stephensi midgut, based on lectin-carbohydrate recognition. two significant lectins were utilized to determine this interaction. two qds, cadmium telluride (cdte)/cds and cadmium selenide (cdse)/cds, were em ...	2016	26772447
population genetic structure of urban malaria vector anopheles stephensi in india.	malaria is a major public health problem in india because climatic condition and geography of india provide an ideal environment for development of malaria vector. anopheles stephensi is a major urban malaria vector in india and its control has been hampered by insecticide resistance. in present study population genetic structure of a. stephensi is analyzed at macro geographic level using 13 microsatellite markers. significantly high genetic differentiation was found in all studied populations w ...	2016	26777030
dosage compensation in the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.	dosage compensation is the fundamental process by which gene expression from the male monosomic x chromosome and from the diploid set of autosomes is equalized. various molecular mechanisms have evolved in different organisms to achieve this task. in drosophila, genes on the male x chromosome are upregulated to the levels of expression from the two x chromosomes in females. to test whether a similar mechanism is operating in immature stages of anopheles mosquitoes, we analyzed global gene expres ...	2016	26782933
a vacuolar iron-transporter homologue acts as a detoxifier in plasmodium.	iron is an essential micronutrient but is also highly toxic. in yeast and plant cells, a key detoxifying mechanism involves iron sequestration into intracellular storage compartments, mediated by members of the vacuolar iron-transporter (vit) family of proteins. here we study the vit homologue from the malaria parasites plasmodium falciparum (pfvit) and plasmodium berghei (pbvit). pfvit-mediated iron transport in a yeast heterologous expression system is saturable (km ∼ 14.7 μm), and selective f ...	2016	26786069
larvicidal and repellent potential of zingiber nimmonii (j. graham) dalzell (zingiberaceae) essential oil: an eco-friendly tool against malaria, dengue, and lymphatic filariasis mosquito vectors?	mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) are important vectors of terms of public health relevance, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. the continuous and indiscriminate use of conventional pesticides for the control of mosquito vectors has resulted in the development of resistance and negative impacts on non-target organisms and the environment. therefore, there is a need for development of effective mosquito control tools. in this study, the larvicidal and repellent activity of zingiber ni ...	2016	26792432
the potential for fungal biopesticides to reduce malaria transmission under diverse environmental conditions.	the effectiveness of conventional malaria vector control is being threatened by the spread of insecticide resistance. one promising alternative to chemicals is the use of naturally-occurring insect-killing fungi. numerous laboratory studies have shown that isolates of fungal pathogens such as beauveria bassiana can infect and kill adult mosquitoes, including those resistant to chemical insecticides.unlike chemical insecticides, fungi may take up to a week or more to kill mosquitoes following exp ...	2015	26792946
identification of the temperature induced larvicidal efficacy of agave angustifolia against aedes, culex, and anopheles larvae.	synthetic insecticides are generally employed to control the mosquito population. however, their injudicious over usage and non-biodegradability are associated with many adverse effects on the environment and mosquitoes. the application of environment-friendly mosquitocidals might be an alternate to overcome these issues. in this study, we found that organic or aqueous extracts of agave angustifolia leaves exhibited a strong larvicidal activity (ld50 28.27 μg/ml) against aedes aegypti, culex qui ...	2016	26793700
functional profiles of orphan membrane transporters in the life cycle of the malaria parasite.	assigning function to orphan membrane transport proteins and prioritizing candidates for detailed biochemical characterization remain fundamental challenges and are particularly important for medically relevant pathogens, such as malaria parasites. here we present a comprehensive genetic analysis of 35 orphan transport proteins of plasmodium berghei during its life cycle in mice and anopheles mosquitoes. six genes, including four candidate aminophospholipid transporters, are refractory to gene d ...	2016	26796412