Publications

behavioral aspects of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in urban area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis.	the study of some of the behavioral aspects of the main vector of leishmania infantum chagasi cunha & chagas in the americas, lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva), such as dispersion, population size, and vector survival rates, is important for the elucidation of the mechanisms of visceral leishmaniasis transmission. these parameters were studied by means of capture-mark-release-recapture experiments in an urban area of campo grande municipality, an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, situat ...	2013	23540114
sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of leishmania infantum infection in dogs by using peptides selected from hypothetical proteins identified by an immunoproteomic approach.	in brazil, the percentage of infected dogs living in areas where canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is endemic ranges from 10 to 62%; however, the prevalence of infection in dogs is probably higher than figures reported from serological studies. in addition, problems with the occurrence of false-positive or false-negative results in the serodiagnosis of cvl have been reported. the present work analyzed the potential of synthetic peptides mapped from hypothetical proteins for improvement of the ...	2013	23554466
first comparative transcriptomic analysis of wild adult male and female lutzomyia longipalpis, vector of visceral leishmaniasis.	leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with a complex epidemiology and ecology. visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is its most severe clinical form as it results in death if not treated. in latin america vl is caused by the protist parasite leishmania infantum (syn. chagasi) and transmitted by lutzomyia longipalpis. this phlebotomine sand fly is only found in the new world, from mexico to argentina. however, due to deforestation, migration and urbanisation, among others, vl in latin america is undergo ...	2013	23554910
rnai-mediated knockdown of catalase causes cell cycle arrest in sl-1 cells and results in low survival rate of spodoptera litura (fabricius).	deregulated reactive oxygen species (ros) production can lead to the disruption of structural and functional integrity of cells as a consequence of reactive interaction between ros and various biological components. catalase (cat) is a common enzyme existing in nearly all organisms exposed to oxygen, which decomposes harmful hydrogen peroxide, into water and oxygen. in this study, the full length sequence that encodes cat-like protein from spodoptera litura named siltcat (genbank accession numbe ...	2013	23555693
asymptomatic dogs are highly competent to transmit leishmania (leishmania) infantum chagasi to the natural vector.	we evaluated the ability of dogs naturally infected with leishmania (leishmania) infantum chagasi to transfer the parasite to the vector and the factors associated with transmission. thirty-eight infected dogs were confirmed to be infected by direct observation of leishmania in lymph node smears. dogs were grouped according to external clinical signs and laboratory data into symptomatic (n=24) and asymptomatic (n=14) animals. all dogs were sedated and submitted to xenodiagnosis with f1-laborator ...	2013	23562649
survey of sandfly fauna (diptera: psychodidae) in uberlândia, minas gerais state, brazil, 2003-2004.	we analyzed the sandflies around houses and domestic animal shelters located in residences close to forests in localities on the banks of the araguari river, uberlândia, mg, from february 2003 to november 2004. the phlebotomines were captured in the peridomiciliary area, where shannon traps were utilized in the peridomicile and cdc traps in animal shelters. 2,783 specimens of sandflies were captured, 2,140 females (76.9%) and 643 males (23.1%), distributed between 17 species. the most abundant s ...	2013	23563760
epidemiological aspects of american cutaneous leishmaniasis and phlebotomine sandfly population, in the municipality of monte negro, state of rondônia, brazil.	this work was carried out on the purpose of identifying the species of phlebotomine sandflies in the municipality of monte negro, state of rondonia, brazil, that may have been transmitting the american cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl), and concisely describe epidemiological aspects of disease.	2013	23563827
salivary antigen-5/cap family members are cu2+-dependent antioxidant enzymes that scavenge o₂₋. and inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation and neutrophil oxidative burst.	the function of the antigen-5/cap family of proteins found in the salivary gland of bloodsucking animals has remained elusive for decades. antigen-5 members from the hematophagous insects dipetalogaster maxima (dmav) and triatoma infestans (tiav) were expressed and discovered to attenuate platelet aggregation, atp secretion, and thromboxane a2 generation by low doses of collagen (<1 μg/ml) but no other agonists. dmav did not interact with collagen, glycoprotein vi, or integrin α2β1. this inhibit ...	2013	23564450
[visceral leishmaniasis in argentina. cases notification and distribution of vectors (2006-2012)].	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a notifiable disease in argentina. every new case diagnosed must be reported to the national health surveillance system. in the period 2006-2012, a total of 103 cases have been notified in four provinces: entre rios, santa fe, misiones and santiago del estero. misiones has the largest amount of cases: a total of 80, detected in 15 towns from may 2006 to july 2012. the highest incidence is observed in children (less than 15 years of age). in 2004 the vector lutzomyi ...	2013	23570757
experimental infection of dogs with leishmania and saliva as a model to study canine visceral leishmaniasis.	canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania infantum, transmitted by the bite of lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies. dogs are the main domestic reservoir of the parasite. the establishment of an experimental model that partially reproduces natural infection in dogs is very important to test vaccine candidates, mainly regarding those that use salivary proteins from the vector and new therapeutical approaches.	2013	23577121
the role of surface glycoconjugates in leishmania midgut attachment examined by competitive binding assays and experimental development in sand flies.	binding of promastigotes to the sand fly midgut epithelium is regarded as an essential part of the leishmania life cycle in the vector. among leishmania surface molecules putatively involved in attachment to the sand fly midgut, two gpi-anchored molecules are the most prominent: lipophosphoglycan (lpg) and promastigote surface protease gp63. in this work, we examined midgut attachment of leishmania lines mutated in gpi-anchored molecules and compared results from 2 different techniques: in vivo ...	2013	23611086
insecticide-impregnated netting as a potential tool for long-lasting control of the leishmaniasis vector lutzomyia longipalpis in animal shelters.	leishmaniasis remains a serious neglected disease, with more than 350 million people potentially at risk worldwide. control strategies often rely on spraying residual insecticides to target populations of the sand fly vectors that transmit leishmania parasites when blood-feeding. these programmes are often difficult to sustain effectively, as sand fly resting sites must be resprayed on a regular basis. here, we investigate whether application of insecticide-impregnated netting to a surface could ...	2013	23642213
dual effect of lutzomyia longipalpis saliva on leishmania braziliensis infection is mediated by distinct saliva-induced cellular recruitment into balb/c mice ear.	leishmania parasites are transmitted to their vertebrate hosts by infected phlebotomine sand flies during the blood meal of the flies. sand fly saliva is known to enhance leishmania spp. infection, while pre-exposure to saliva protects mice against parasitic infections. in this study, we investigated the initial inflammatory leucocyte composition induced by one or three inocula of salivary gland extract (sge) from lutzomyia longipalpis in the presence or absence of leishmania braziliensis.	2013	23656976
expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 9 in cells of dog jejunum and colon naturally infected with leishmania infantum.	infection with parasite protozoa is a long-term health issue in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. the toll-like receptor (tlr) signaling pathway is one of the first-responding defense systems against leishmania. the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of tlr2 and tlr9 in jejunum and colon and its correlation with cd11c, cd11b, and cd14 receptors used as markers for dendritic cells and macrophages.	2013	23668673
anomalies in the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in brazil.	lutzomyia longipalpis is the main species involved in the epidemiological cycle of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. this species shows a wide geographic distribution and belongs to a group that has 2 setae in the paramere with the curved tips towards the apex of this structure among other characteristics. morphological characters in the genitalia of phlebotomines are essential for correct identification of species. the aim of this study was to report the finding of unilateral and bilateral anom ...	2013	23687856
functional transcriptomics of wild-caught lutzomyia intermedia salivary glands: identification of a protective salivary protein against leishmania braziliensis infection.	leishmania parasites are transmitted in the presence of sand fly saliva. together with the parasite, the sand fly injects salivary components that change the environment at the feeding site. mice immunized with phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland (sg) homogenate are protected against leishmania major infection, while immunity to lutzomyia intermedia sg homogenate exacerbated experimental leishmania braziliensis infection. in humans, antibodies to lu. intermedia saliva are associated with risk of ...	2013	23717705
sergentomyia schwetzi is not a competent vector for leishmania donovani and other leishmania species pathogenic to humans.	sand fly species of the genus sergentomyia are proven vectors of reptilian leishmania that are non-pathogenic to humans. however, a consideration of the role of sergentomyia spp. in the circulation of mammalian leishmaniasis appears repeatedly in the literature and the possibility of leishmania transmission to humans remains unclear. here we studied the susceptibility of colonized sergentomyia schwetzi to leishmania donovani and two other leishmania species pathogenic to humans: l. infantum and ...	2013	23786805
epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus-visceral leishmaniasis-co-infection.	in brazil, the rates of mother-to-child-transmission (mtct) of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) decreased from 20% to 1-2% in some regions. however, the country contains 90% of individuals infected with visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in latin america, and the west region of são paulo state faces an alarming expansion of the disease. we describe the epidemiological aspects of the expanding infection of vl and a case report of an hiv-vl-co-infected child from the west region of são paulo state. the ...	2016	23834783
advances in methods for colour marking of mosquitoes.	different techniques are available for colour marking insects and each technique may be suitable for different insect species. mosquitoes can be marked to determine population size, distribution and flight distance or distinguish closely related species. in this study, two methods of colour marking mosquitoes were described in detail and the impact of both methods on the survival and host-seeking behaviour of the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae sensu stricto was investigated.	2013	23835091
age-dependent female responses to a male ejaculate signal alter demographic opportunities for selection.	a central tenet of evolutionary explanations for ageing is that the strength of selection wanes with age. however, data on age-specific expression and benefits of sexually selected traits are lacking-particularly for traits subject to sexual conflict. we addressed this by using as a model the responses of drosophila melanogaster females of different ages to receipt of sex peptide (sp), a seminal fluid protein transferred with sperm during mating. sp can mediate sexual conflict, benefitting males ...	2013	23843383
sandflies (diptera, psychodidae) from forest areas in botucatu municipality, central western são paulo state, brazil.	the study of the distribution and ecology of sandfly species is essential for epidemiological surveillance and estimation of the transmission risk of leishmania spp. infection.	2013	23849624
the dispersion of lutzomyia longipalpis in urban areas.		2013	23856862
the phlebotomine fauna (diptera: psychodidae) of guaraí, state of tocantins, with an emphasis on the putative vectors of american cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural settlement and periurban areas.	phlebotomine sandflies were captured in rural settlement and periurban areas of the municipality of guaraí in the state of tocantins (to), an endemic area of american cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl). forty-three phlebotomine species were identified, nine of which have already been recognised as acl vectors. eleven species were recorded for the first time in to. nyssomyia whitmani was the most abundant species, followed by evandromyia bourrouli, nyssomyia antunesi and psychodopygus complexus. the s ...	0	23903972
seroconversion of sentinel chickens as a biomarker for monitoring exposure to visceral leishmaniasis.	leishmania infantum chagasi causes visceral leishmaniasis (vl); it is transmitted by the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis that injects saliva and parasites into the host's skin during a blood meal. chickens represent an important blood source for sand flies and their presence in the endemic area is often cited as a risk factor for vl transmission. however, the role of chickens in vl epidemiology has not been well defined. here, we tested if chicken antibodies against lu. longipalpis salivary gland ...	2013	23912591
validity and reliability of enzyme immunoassays using leishmania major or l. infantum antigens for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in brazil.	american visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan leishmania infantum. dogs are the main reservoirs in the domestic transmission cycle. the limited accuracy of diagnostic tests for canine leishmaniasis may contribute to the lack of impact of control measures recommended by the brazilian ministry of health. the objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays employing l. major or l. infantum antigens and their reliability between three labor ...	2013	23922884
the mating competence of geographically diverse leishmania major strains in their natural and unnatural sand fly vectors.	invertebrate stages of leishmania are capable of genetic exchange during their extracellular growth and development in the sand fly vector. here we explore two variables: the ability of diverse l. major strains from across its natural range to undergo mating in pairwise tests; and the timing of the appearance of hybrids and their developmental stage associations within both natural (phlebotomus duboscqi) and unnatural (lutzomyia longipalpis) sand fly vectors. following co-infection of flies with ...	2013	23935521
anaerobic respiration and antioxidant responses of corythucha ciliata (say) adults to heat-induced oxidative stress under laboratory and field conditions.	high temperature often induces oxidative stress and antioxidant response in insects. this phenomenon has been well documented under controlled laboratory conditions, but whether it happens under fluctuating field conditions is largely unknown. in this study, we used an invasive lace bug (corythucha ciliata) as a model species to compare the effects of controlled thermal treatments (2 h at 33-43 °c with 2 °c intervals in the laboratory) and naturally fluctuating thermal conditions (08:00-14:00 at ...	2013	23943359
culling dogs in scenarios of imperfect control: realistic impact on the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis.	visceral leishmaniasis belongs to the list of neglected tropical diseases and is considered a public health problem worldwide. spatial correlation between the occurrence of the disease in humans and high rates of canine infection suggests that in the presence of the vector, canine visceral leishmaniasis is the key factor for triggering transmission to humans. despite the control strategies implemented, such as the sacrifice of infected dogs being put down, the incidence of american visceral leis ...	2013	23951375
the effect of bacterial challenge on ferritin regulation in the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti.	secreted ferritin is the major iron storage and transport protein in insects. here, we characterize the message and protein expression profiles of yellow fever mosquito (aedes aegypti) ferritin heavy chain homologue (hch) and light chain homologue (lch) subunits in response to iron and bacterial challenge. in vivo experiments demonstrated tissue-specific regulation of hch and lch expression over time post-blood meal (pbm). transcriptional regulation of hch and lch was treatment specific, with di ...	2012	23956079
transmission of pathogens by stomoxys flies (diptera, muscidae): a review.	stomoxys flies are mechanical vectors of pathogens present in the blood and skin of their animal hosts, especially livestock, but occasionally humans. in livestock, their direct effects are disturbance, skin lesions, reduction of food intake, stress, blood loss, and a global immunosuppressive effect. they also induce the gathering of animals for mutual protection; meanwhile they favor development of pathogens in the hosts and their transmission. their indirect effect is the mechanical transmissi ...	2013	23985165
predicted altitudinal shifts and reduced spatial distribution of leishmania infantum vector species under climate change scenarios in colombia.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is caused by the trypanosomatid parasite leishmania infantum (=leishmania chagasi), and is epidemiologically relevant due to its wide geographic distribution, the number of annual cases reported and the increase in its co-infection with hiv. two vector species have been incriminated in the americas: lutzomyia longipalpis and lutzomyia evansi. in colombia, l. longipalpis is distributed along the magdalena river valley while l. evansi is only found in the northern part ...	2014	23988300
estimating the optimal control of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis by the use of a mathematical model.	we argue that the strategy of culling infected dogs is not the most efficient way to control zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (zvl) and that, in the presence of alternative control strategies with better potential results, official programs of compulsory culling adopted by some countries are inefficient and unethical. we base our arguments on a mathematical model for the study of control strategies against zvl, which allows the comparison of the efficacies of 5, alternative strategies. we demonst ...	2013	23990761
risk factors for seroconversion by leishmania infantum in a cohort of dogs from an endemic area of brazil.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) has recently emerged in various urban and peri-urban areas of brazil and other countries. understanding the urbanization of vl requires identification of risk factors associated with human and canine infection. to determine the predictors of risk for canine vl, a survey was conducted of 1,443 dogs, from which a cohort was selected (n = 455) and evaluated for approximately 26 months. serology was conducted with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisa): one conduc ...	2013	23990996
epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in a reemerging focus of intense transmission in minas gerais state, brazil.	this study was developed in the urban area of governador valadares, a reemerging focus of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in brazil, presenting 86 human cases of vl from 2008 to 2011. the disease prevailed in males (73.2%) with most patients between 0 and 9 years (44.1%) and a lethality rate of 16.2%. a canine survey was carried out on 16,529 domestic dogs in 35 districts in the area and it showed that 30.2% of them (4,992 dogs) were positive for vl by serum assays. prevalenc ...	2013	24000322
kazal-type serine proteinase inhibitors in the midgut of phlebotomus papatasi.	sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) are important disease vectors of parasites of the genus leishmania, as well as bacteria and viruses. following studies of the midgut transcriptome of phlebotomus papatasi, the principal vector of leishmania major, two non-classical kazal-type serine proteinase inhibitors were identified (ppkzl1 and ppkzl2). analyses of expression profiles indicated that ppkzl1 and ppkzl2 transcripts are both regulated by blood-feeding in the midgut of p. papatasi and are also exp ...	0	24037187
leishmania amazonensis exhibits phosphatidylserine-dependent procoagulant activity, a process that is counteracted by sandfly saliva.	leishmania parasites expose phosphatidylserine (ps) on their surface, a process that has been associated with regulation of host's immune responses. in this study we demonstrate that ps exposure by metacyclic promastigotes of leishmania amazonensis favours blood coagulation. l. amazonensis accelerates in vitro coagulation of human plasma. in addition, l. amazonensis supports the assembly of the prothrombinase complex, thus promoting thrombin formation. this process was reversed by annexin v whic ...	0	24037188
fine structure of the male reproductive system and reproductive behavior of lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae).	the male reproductive system of insects can have several tissues responsible for the secretion of seminal fluid proteins (sfps), such as testes, accessory glands, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct and ejaculatory bulb. the sfps are transferred during mating and can induce several physiological and behavioral changes in females, such as increase in oviposition and decrease in sexual receptivity after copulation. the phlebotomine lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis. ...	2013	24058637
the effect of avian blood on leishmania development in phlebotomus duboscqi.	the development of pathogens transmitted by haematophagous invertebrate vectors is closely connected with the digestion of bloodmeals and is thus affected by midgut enzymatic activity. some studies have demonstrated that avian blood inhibits leishmania major infection in the old world vector phlebotomus papatasi; however, this effect has never been observed in the new world vectors of the genus lutzomyia infected by other leishmania species. therefore, our study was focused on the effect of chic ...	2013	24059328
lights, camera, and action: vertebrate skin sets the stage for immune cell interaction with arthropod-vectored pathogens.	despite increasing studies targeted at host-pathogen interactions, vector-borne diseases remain one of the largest economic health burdens worldwide. such diseases are vectored by hematophagous arthropods that deposit pathogens into the vertebrate host's skin during a blood meal. these pathogens spend a substantial amount of time in the skin that allows for interaction with cutaneous immune cells, suggesting a window of opportunity for development of vaccine strategies. in particular, the recent ...	2013	24062751
genetic structure of lutzomyia longipalpis populations in mato grosso do sul, brazil, based on microsatellite markers.	lutzomyialongipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) is the major vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum and thus plays a crucial role in the epidemiology of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl). this vector is the best studied species of sand fly in the neotropical region. many studies claim that this vector is in fact a species complex; however there is still no consensus regarding the number of species that belong into this complex or the geographical distribution of sibling species. the aim of t ...	2013	24066129
current and future niche of north and central american sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in climate change scenarios.	ecological niche models are useful tools to infer potential spatial and temporal distributions in vector species and to measure epidemiological risk for infectious diseases such as the leishmaniases. the ecological niche of 28 north and central american sand fly species, including those with epidemiological relevance, can be used to analyze the vector's ecology and its association with transmission risk, and plan integrated regional vector surveillance and control programs. in this study, we mod ...	2013	24069478
larval breeding sites of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in visceral leishmaniasis endemic urban areas in southeastern brazil.	the scarcity of information on the immature stages of sand flies and their preferred breeding sites has resulted in the focus of vectorial control on the adult stage using residual insecticide house-spraying. this strategy, along with the treatment of human cases and the euthanasia of infected dogs, has proven inefficient and visceral leishmaniasis continues to expand in brazil. identifying the breeding sites of sand flies is essential to the understanding of the vector's population dynamic and ...	2013	24069494
transcriptional regulation of a chitinase gene by 20-hydroxyecdysone and starvation in the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis.	insect chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes that are required for the degradation of glycosidic bonds of chitin. in this study, we identified and characterized a full-length cdna of the chitinase gene (bdcht2) in the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis. the cdna contains an open reading frame (orf) of 1449 bp that encodes 483 amino acid residues and 126- and 296-bp non-coding regions at the 5'- and 3'-ends, respectively. the bdcht2 genome has four exons and three introns. the predicted molecula ...	2013	24113584
cytokine and nitric oxide patterns in dogs immunized with lbsap vaccine, before and after experimental challenge with leishmania chagasi plus saliva of lutzomyia longipalpis.	in the studies presented here, dogs were vaccinated against leishmania (leishmania) chagasi challenge infection using a preparation of leishmania braziliensis promastigote proteins and saponin as adjuvant (lbsap). vaccination with lbsap induced a prominent type 1 immune response that was characterized by increased levels of interleukin (il-) 12 and interferon gamma (ifn-γ) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pbmc) upon stimulation with soluble vaccine antigen. importantly, results ...	2013	24129068
ecological aspects of phlebotomine sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) from a cave of the speleological province of bambuí, brazil.	phlebotomines are invertebrate hosts of leishmania genus species which are etiological agents of leishmaniases in humans and other mammals. sandflies are often collected in entomological studies of caves both in the inner area and the adjacent environments. caves are ecotypes clearly different from the external environment. several caves have been opened to public visitation before any studies were performed and the places do not have scientific monitoring of the fauna, flora, geological and geo ...	2013	24130847
the sandfly fauna (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) of the parque estadual da serra da tiririca, rio de janeiro, brazil.	cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl) in the state of rio de janeiro is sporadic and can be characterised as a peridomestic transmission that occurs in modified natural environments. the aim of this work was to study the fauna and ecological characteristics of sandflies in an environmentally protected area (the state park of serra da tiririca) within the remnants of the atlantic forest in the municipalities of niterói and maricá and their possible relationship with leishmaniasis. captures were performed ...	0	24141956
oviposition behaviour of phlebotomus argentipes--a laboratory-based study.	the breeding habitat of sandflies is a little studied and poorly understood phenomenon. more importantly, oviposition behaviour is a largely neglected aspect of sandfly biology and this knowledge gap further undermines our understanding of the biology of sandflies. pheromones released by the eggs play an important role in identifying good sites for oviposition by female insects. several recent studies have examined the oviposition pheromone. the present study provides a preliminary report on the ...	0	24141963
first autochthonous case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in volta redonda, rio de janeiro, brazil.	in brazil, american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) is caused by leishmania (leishmania) chagasi and its main vector is lutzomyia longipalpis. cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) in non-endemic areas have been reported over the last few years throughout the country. the objective of this research note is to describe an autochthonous case of cvl that occurred in the municipality of volta redonda, state of rio de janeiro, an area where the disease is not endemic, alerting veterinarians and t ...	2013	24142177
multilocus analysis of divergence and introgression in sympatric and allopatric sibling species of the lutzomyia longipalpis complex in brazil.	lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in latin america, is a complex of sibling species. in brazil, a number of very closely related sibling species have been revealed by the analyses of copulation songs, sex pheromones and molecular markers. however, the level of divergence and gene flow between the sibling species remains unclear. brazilian populations of this vector can be divided in two main groups: one producing burst-type songs and the cembrene-1 pheromone and a ...	2013	24147172
a nod to disease vectors: mitigation of pathogen sensing by arthropod saliva.	arthropod saliva possesses anti-hemostatic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate feeding and, inadvertently, dissemination of pathogens. vector-borne diseases caused by these pathogens affect millions of people each year. many studies address the impact of arthropod salivary proteins on various immunological components. however, whether and how arthropod saliva counters nod-like (nlr) sensing remains elusive. nlrs are innate immune pattern recognition molecules involved i ...	2013	24155744
sand fly-leishmania interactions: long relationships are not necessarily easy.	sand fly and leishmania are one of the best studied vector-parasite models. much is known about the development of these parasites within the sand fly, and how transmission to a suitable vertebrate host takes place. various molecules secreted by the vector assist the establishment of the infection in a vertebrate, and changes to the vector are promoted by the parasites in order to facilitate or enhance transmission. despite a generally accepted view that sand flies and leishmania are also one of ...	0	24159365
molecular and immunogenic properties of apyrase sp01b and d7-related sp04 recombinant salivary proteins of phlebotomus perniciosus from madrid, spain.	sand fly salivary proteins are on the spotlight to become vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis and to markers of exposure to sand fly bites due to the host immune responses they elicit. working with the whole salivary homogenate entails serious drawbacks such as the need for maintaining sand fly colonies and the laborious task of glands dissection. in order to overcome these difficulties, producing recombinant proteins of different vectors has become a major task. in this study, a cdna libra ...	2013	24171166
the effect of temperature on leishmania (kinetoplastida: trypanosomatidae) development in sand flies.	the spread of leishmaniasis to areas where it was previously considered nonendemic has been recently found in the new and old worlds, and climate changes are suspected as a crucial factor responsible for this spread. ambient temperature is known to significantly affect the metabolism of sand flies and their developmental times, but little is known about the effect of temperature on the leishmania life cycle in vectors. this study assesses the effect of temperature on the development of two close ...	2013	24180098
purification of a serine protease and evidence for a protein c activator from the saliva of the tick, ixodes scapularis.	the saliva of ticks is critical to their survival as parasites and hematophagous animals. in this study, we have purified an enzyme with trypsin-like activity from the saliva of the tick vector of lyme disease, ixodes scapularis. this enzyme, named as ixosp (i. scapularis salivary serine protease), is a 29.9 kda molecule with n-terminus fpxmvxlrikxr. a blast search identified ixosp as a secreted serine protease (aay66740) with a conserved catalytic triad his, asp, and ser. in vitro studies demon ...	2013	24184517
expression of the mevalonate pathway enzymes in the lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) sex pheromone gland demonstrated by an integrated proteomic approach.	in latin america, lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of the protozoan parasite leishmania infantum, which is the causal agent of american visceral leishmaniasis. this insect uses male-produced pheromones for mate recognition. elucidation of pheromone biogenesis or its regulation may enable molecular strategies for mating disruption and, consequently, the vector's population management. motivated by our recent results of the transcriptomic characterization of the l. longipalpis pheromone gl ...	2013	24185139
the possible impact of persistent virus infection on the function of the rnai machinery in insects: a hypothesis.	rnai experiments in insects are characterized by great variability in efficiency; for instance beetles and locusts are very amenable to dsrna-mediated gene silencing, while other insect groups, most notably lepidopterans, are more refractory to rnai. several factors can be forwarded that could affect the efficiency of rnai, such as the composition and function of the intracellular rnai machinery, the mechanism of dsrna uptake, the presence of dsrna- and sirna-degrading enzymes and non-specific a ...	2013	24204347
mechanisms of cellular invasion by intracellular parasites.	numerous disease-causing parasites must invade host cells in order to prosper. collectively, such pathogens are responsible for a staggering amount of human sickness and death throughout the world. leishmaniasis, chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, and malaria are neglected diseases and therefore are linked to socio-economical and geographical factors, affecting well-over half the world's population. such obligate intracellular parasites have co-evolved with humans to establish a complexity of specif ...	2013	24221133
positive selection drives accelerated evolution of mosquito salivary genes associated with blood-feeding.	the saliva of bloodsucking animals contains dozens to hundreds of proteins that counteract their hosts' haemostasis, inflammation and immunity. it was previously observed that salivary proteins involved in haematophagy are much more divergent in their primary sequence than those of housekeeping function, when comparisons were made between closely related organisms. while this pattern of evolution could result from relaxed selection or drift, it could alternatively be the result of positive selec ...	2013	24237399
effects of aedes aegypti salivary components on dendritic cell and lymphocyte biology.	saliva is a key element of interaction between hematophagous mosquitoes and their vertebrate hosts. in addition to allowing a successful blood meal by neutralizing or delaying hemostatic responses, the salivary cocktail is also able to modulate the effector mechanisms of host immune responses facilitating, in turn, the transmission of several types of microorganisms. understanding how the mosquito uses its salivary components to circumvent host immunity might help to clarify the mechanisms of tr ...	2013	24238038
relative risk of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil: a spatial analysis in urban area.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a vector-borne disease whose factors involved in transmission are poorly understood, especially in more urban and densely populated counties. in brazil, the vl urbanization is a challenge for the control program. the goals were to identify the greater risk areas for human vl and the risk factors involved in transmission.	2013	24244776
genomic, rnaseq, and molecular modeling evidence suggests that the major allergen domain in insects evolved from a homodimeric origin.	the major allergen domain (ma) is widely distributed in insects. the crystal structure of a single bla g 1 ma revealed a novel protein fold in which the fundamental structure was a duplex of two subsequences (monomers), which had diverged over time. this suggested that the evolutionary origin of the ma structure may have been a homodimer of this smaller subsequence. using publicly available genomic data, the distribution of the basic unit of this class of proteins was determined to better unders ...	0	24253356
different host complement systems and their interactions with saliva from lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera, psychodidae) and leishmania infantum promastigotes.	lutzomyia longipalpis is the vector of leishmania infantum in the new world, and its saliva inhibits classical and alternative human complement system pathways. this inhibition is important in protecting the insect´s midgut from damage by the complement. l. longipalpis is a promiscuous blood feeder and must be protected against its host's complement. the objective of this study was to investigate the action of salivary complement inhibitors on the sera of different host species, such as dogs, gu ...	2013	24255715
novel virus discovery and genome reconstruction from field rna samples reveals highly divergent viruses in dipteran hosts.	we investigated whether small rna (srna) sequenced from field-collected mosquitoes and chironomids (diptera) can be used as a proxy signature of viral prevalence within a range of species and viral groups, using srnas sequenced from wild-caught specimens, to inform total rna deep sequencing of samples of particular interest. using this strategy, we sequenced from adult anopheles maculipennis s.l. mosquitoes the apparently nearly complete genome of one previously undescribed virus related to chro ...	2013	24260463
spatial dynamics of urban populations of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in caxias, state of maranhão, brazil.	in this paper, we report the ecology of lutzomyia longipalpis in caxias city, located in the eastern part of state of maranhão, brazil and highlight its seasonal and geographical distribution by environment. in addition, we discuss natural leishmania infection and its relationship with visceral leishmaniasis.	2013	24270246
spatial and temporal changes in lutzomyia longipalpis abundance, a leishmania infantum vector in an urban area in northeastern argentina.	this study aimed to analyse changes in the spatial distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in posadas, an urban area located in northeastern argentina. data were obtained during the summer of 2007 and 2009 through two entomological surveys of peridomiciles distributed around the city. the abundance distribution pattern for 2009 was computed and compared with the previous pattern obtained in 2007, when the first human visceral leishmaniasis cases were reported in the city. vector abundance was also ...	0	24271040
chemical composition and insecticidal activity of plant essential oils from benin against anopheles gambiae (giles).	insecticide resistance in sub-saharan africa and especially in benin is a major public health issue hindering the control of the malaria vectors. each anopheles species has developed a resistance to one or several classes of the insecticides currently in use in the field. therefore, it is urgent to find alternative compounds to conquer the vector. in this study, the efficacies of essential oils of nine plant species, which are traditionally used to avoid mosquito bites in benin, were investigate ...	2013	24298981
sand-fly saliva-leishmania-man: the trigger trio.	leishmaniases are worldwide diseases transmitted to the vertebrate host by the bite of an infected sand-fly. sand-fly biting and parasite inoculation are accompanied by the injection of salivary molecules, whose immunomodulatory properties are actively being studied. this mini review focuses on how the interactions between sand-fly saliva and the immune system may shape the outcome of infection, given its immunomodulatory properties, in experimental models and in the endemic area. additionally, ...	2013	24312093
a deep insight into the sialotranscriptome of the mosquito, psorophora albipes.	psorophora mosquitoes are exclusively found in the americas and have been associated with transmission of encephalitis and west nile fever viruses, among other arboviruses. mosquito salivary glands represent the final route of differentiation and transmission of many parasites. they also secrete molecules with powerful pharmacologic actions that modulate host hemostasis, inflammation, and immune response. here, we employed next generation sequencing and proteome approaches to investigate for the ...	2013	24330624
field evaluation of alphacypermethrin in indoor residual spraying for leishmaniasis control in an endemic area, northern morocco.	in morocco, the main strategies of leishmaniasis vector control are based on environmental modifications. use of local residual indoor spraying with synthetic pyrethroids is often envisaged. the need to evaluate this control method is essential. the current study was conducted to determine the efficacy of an alphacypermethrin irs program against leishmaniasis vectors in an endemic area in the north of morocco.	2013	24330760
insights into the preservation of the homomorphic sex-determining chromosome of aedes aegypti from the discovery of a male-biased gene tightly linked to the m-locus.	the preservation of a homomorphic sex-determining chromosome in some organisms without transformation into a heteromorphic sex chromosome is a long-standing enigma in evolutionary biology. a dominant sex-determining locus (or m-locus) in an undifferentiated homomorphic chromosome confers the male phenotype in the yellow fever mosquito aedes aegypti. genetic evidence suggests that the m-locus is in a nonrecombining region. however, the molecular nature of the m-locus has not been characterized. u ...	0	24398378
predicting the geographic distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) and visceral leishmaniasis in the state of mato grosso do sul, brazil.	to understand the geographic distribution of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in the state of mato grosso do sul (ms), brazil, both the climatic niches of lutzomyia longipalpis and vl cases were analysed. distributional data were obtained from 55 of the 79 counties of ms between 2003-2012. ecological niche models (enm) of lu. longipalpis and vl cases were produced using the maximum entropy algorithm based on eight climatic variables. lu. longipalpis showed a wide distribution in ms. the highest clima ...	0	24402151
the first record of lutzomyia longipalpis in the argentine northwest.	in 2004, the urban presence of lutzomyia longipalpis was recorded for the first time in formosa province. in 2006, the first autochthonous case of human urban visceral leishmaniasis (vl) was recorded in misiones in the presence of the vector, along with some canine vl cases. after this first case, the vector began to spread primarily in northeast argentina. between 2008-2011, three human vl cases were reported in salta province, but the presence of lu. longipalpis was not recorded. captures of p ...	0	24402160
comparison of two commercial vaccines against visceral leishmaniasis in dogs from endemic areas: igg, and subclasses, parasitism, and parasite transmission by xenodiagnosis.	the incidence of zoonotic canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) would decrease if dogs were effectively vaccinated; however, additional data on the efficacy of canine vaccines are required for their approved preventative use.	2014	24406392
heterogeneities in leishmania infantum infection: using skin parasite burdens to identify highly infectious dogs.	the relationships between heterogeneities in host infection and infectiousness (transmission to arthropod vectors) can provide important insights for disease management. here, we quantify heterogeneities in leishmania infantum parasite numbers in reservoir and non-reservoir host populations, and relate this to their infectiousness during natural infection. tissue parasite number was evaluated as a potential surrogate marker of host transmission potential.	2014	24416460
repeated exposure to lutzomyia intermedia sand fly saliva induces local expression of interferon-inducible genes both at the site of injection in mice and in human blood.	during a blood meal, lutzomyia intermedia sand flies transmit leishmania braziliensis, a parasite causing tegumentary leishmaniasis. in experimental leishmaniasis, pre-exposure to saliva of most blood-feeding sand flies results in parasite establishment in absence of any skin damages in mice challenged with dermotropic leishmania species together with saliva. in contrast, pre-immunization with lu. intermedia salivary gland sonicate (sgs) results in enhanced skin inflammatory exacerbation upon co ...	2014	24421912
dogs, cats, parasites, and humans in brazil: opening the black box.	dogs and cats in brazil serve as primary hosts for a considerable number of parasites, which may affect their health and wellbeing. these may include endoparasites (e.g., protozoa, cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes) and ectoparasites (i.e., fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). while some dog and cat parasites are highly host-specific (e.g., aelurostrongylus abstrusus and felicola subrostratus for cats, and angiostrongylus vasorum and trichodectes canis for dogs), others may easily switch to other h ...	2014	24423244
isolation and molecular characterization of a major hemolymph serpin from the triatomine, panstrongylus megistus.	chagas disease kills 2.5 thousand people per year of 15 million persons infected in latin america. the disease is caused by the protozoan, trypanosome cruzi, and vectored by triatomine insects, including panstrongylus megistus, an important vector in brazil. medicines treating chagas disease have unpleasant side effects and may be ineffective, therefore, alternative control techniques are required. knowledge of the t. cruzi interactions with the triatomine host needs extending and new targets/st ...	2014	24423259
dna barcoding for the identification of sand fly species (diptera, psychodidae, phlebotominae) in colombia.	sand flies include a group of insects that are of medical importance and that vary in geographic distribution, ecology, and pathogen transmission. approximately 163 species of sand flies have been reported in colombia. surveillance of the presence of sand fly species and the actualization of species distribution are important for predicting risks for and monitoring the expansion of diseases which sand flies can transmit. currently, the identification of phlebotomine sand flies is based on morpho ...	2014	24454877
foreword.		0	24473796
acoustic communication in insect disease vectors.	acoustic signalling has been extensively studied in insect species, which has led to a better understanding of sexual communication, sexual selection and modes of speciation. the significance of acoustic signals for a blood-sucking insect was first reported in the xix century by christopher johnston, studying the hearing organs of mosquitoes, but has received relatively little attention in other disease vectors until recently. acoustic signals are often associated with mating behaviour and sexua ...	0	24473800
circadian rhythms in insect disease vectors.	organisms from bacteria to humans have evolved under predictable daily environmental cycles owing to the earth's rotation. this strong selection pressure has generated endogenous circadian clocks that regulate many aspects of behaviour, physiology and metabolism, anticipating and synchronising internal time-keeping to changes in the cyclical environment. in haematophagous insect vectors the circadian clock coordinates feeding activity, which is important for the dynamics of pathogen transmission ...	0	24473802
when population and evolutionary genetics met behaviour.	in this review, we analyse the impact of a population and evolutionary genetics approach on the study of insect behaviour. our attention is focused on the model organism drosophila melanogaster and several other insect species. in particular, we explore the relationship between rhythmic behaviours and the molecular evolution of clock and ion channel genes.	0	24473805
circadian clock of aedes aegypti: effects of blood-feeding, insemination and rna interference.	mosquitoes are the culprits of some of the most important vector borne diseases. a species' potential as a vector is directly dependent on their pattern of behaviour, which is known to change according to the female's physiological status such as whether the female is virgin/mated and unfed/blood-fed. however, the molecular mechanism triggered by and/or responsible for such modulations in behaviour is poorly understood. clock genes are known to be responsible for the control of circadian behavio ...	0	24473806
molecular analysis of an odorant-binding protein gene in two sympatric species of lutzomyia longipalpis s.l.	lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. is the main vector of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) and occurs as a species complex. dna samples from two brazilian sympatric species that differ in pheromone and courtship song production were used to analyse molecular polymorphisms in an odorant-binding protein (obp29) gene. obps are proteins related to olfaction and are involved in activities fundamental to survival, such as foraging, mating and choice of oviposition site. in this study, the marker obp29 was ...	0	24473807
molecular and parasitological detection of leishmania spp. in a dipteran of the species tabanus importunus.	leishmaniasis is an important chronic zoonosis caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania spp. the major vectors of this protozoosis are sand flies, and lutzomyia longipalpis is considered the main species implicated in the transmission of american visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. the presence of the parasite's deoxyribonucleic acid (dna) in ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas has prompted speculations about the existence of new vectors in the cycle of leishmaniasis. the aim of this paper is ...	2014	24473890
spatial and seasonal distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in dracena, a city in the western region of the state of são paulo, brazil, that is endemic with visceral leishmaniasis.	vector seasonality knowledge is important for monitoring and controlling of vector-borne diseases. lutzomyia longipalpis (lu. longipalpis) is the main vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum nicolle, 1908, which is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in the americas.	2014	24474011
leishmaniasis transmission in an ecotourism area: potential vectors in ilha grande, rio de janeiro state, brazil.	the south coast of rio de janeiro state, in brazil, is endemic for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases and is frequently visited by tourists from different parts of the world. since the complex epidemiology of leishmaniases demands local studies, the goal of this study was to investigate the phlebotomine sand fly fauna and leishmaniases transmission in ilha grande, an ecotourism area of angra dos reis municipality.	2013	24499568
a laboratory evaluation of alcohols as attractants for the sandfly lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera:psychodidae).	the potential attraction from 1-octen-3-ol for sandflies has been documented; however, studies using other primary alcohols are limited.	2014	24502386
lbsapsal-vaccinated dogs exhibit increased circulating t-lymphocyte subsets (cd4⁺ and cd8⁺) as well as a reduction of parasitism after challenge with leishmania infantum plus salivary gland of lutzomyia longipalpis.	the development of a protective vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is an alternative approach for interrupting the domestic cycle of leishmania infantum. given the importance of sand fly salivary proteins as potent immunogens obligatorily co-deposited during transmission of leishmania parasites, their inclusion in an anti-leishmania vaccine has been investigated in the last few decades. in this context, we previously immunized dogs with a vaccine composed of l. braziliensis anti ...	2014	24507702
lundep, a sand fly salivary endonuclease increases leishmania parasite survival in neutrophils and inhibits xiia contact activation in human plasma.	neutrophils are the host's first line of defense against infections, and their extracellular traps (net) were recently shown to kill leishmania parasites. here we report a net-destroying molecule (lundep) from the salivary glands of lutzomyia longipalpis. previous analysis of the sialotranscriptome of lu. longipalpis showed the potential presence of an endonuclease. indeed, not only was the cloned cdna (lundep) shown to encode a highly active ss- and dsdnase, but also the same activity was demon ...	2014	24516388
first detection of leishmania tropica dna and trypanosoma species in sergentomyia sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) from an outbreak area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in ghana.	leishmania major and an uncharacterized species have been reported from human patients in a cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl) outbreak area in ghana. reports from the area indicate the presence of anthropophilic sergentomyia species that were found with leishmania dna.	2014	24516676
the concise guide to pharmacology 2013/14: g protein-coupled receptors.	the concise guide to pharmacology 2013/14 provides concise overviews of the key properties of over 2000 human drug targets with their pharmacology, plus links to an open access knowledgebase of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. the full contents can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.12444/full. g protein-coupled receptors are one of the seven major pharmacological targets into ...	0	24517644
distinct cellular migration induced by leishmania infantum chagasi and saliva from lutzomyia longipalpis in a hemorrhagic pool model.	recruitment of a specific cell population after leishmania infection can influence the outcome of the disease. cellular migration in response to leishmania or vector saliva has been reported in air pouch model, however, cellular migration induced by leishmania associated with host's blood and vector saliva in this model has not been described. herein we investigated cellular migration into air pouch of hamster after stimulation with combination of l. chagasi and host's blood and lutzomyia longip ...	0	24553604
first case of autochthonous human visceral leishmaniasis in the urban center of rio de janeiro: case report.	visceral leishmaniasis is an anthropozoonosis that is caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania, especially leishmania (leishmania) infantum, and is transmitted to humans by the bite of sandflies of the genus lutzomyia, such as lutzomyia longipalpis. there are many reservoirs, including canis familiaris. it is a chronic infectious disease with systemic involvement that is characterized by three phases: the initial period, the state period and the final period. the main symptoms are fever, malnu ...	0	24553614
evaluation of canine and feline leishmaniasis by the association of blood culture, immunofluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction.	this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of leishmania spp. in dogs and cats from botucatu, são paulo state, and campo grande, mato grosso do sul state, brazil, by the association of three diagnostic tests: blood culture in liver infusion tryptose medium, immunofluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction. fifty blood samples of dogs and cats from the center for zoonosis control in campo grande, an area endemic for canine visceral leishmaniasis, were collected randomly, as well as ...	2014	24565284
diagnostic metagenomics: potential applications to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections.	the term 'shotgun metagenomics' is applied to the direct sequencing of dna extracted from a sample without culture or target-specific amplification or capture. in diagnostic metagenomics, this approach is applied to clinical samples in the hope of detecting and characterizing pathogens. here, i provide a conceptual overview, before reviewing several recent promising proof-of-principle applications of metagenomics in virus discovery, analysis of outbreaks and detection of pathogens in contemporar ...	2014	24576467
climatic factors and population density of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) in an urban endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis in midwest brazil.	the life cycle of vectors and the reservoirs that participate in the chain of infectious diseases have a strong relationship with the environmental dynamics of the ecosystems in which they live. oscillations in population abundance and seasonality of insects can be explained by factors inherent in each region and time period. therefore, knowledge of the relationship and influence of environmental factors on the population of lutzomyia longipalpis is necessary because of the high incidence of vis ...	2013	24581349
ecological interactions among phlebotomines (diptera: psychodidae) in an agroforestry environment of northeast brazil.	phlebotomine vectors transmit parasites and can cause visceral leishmaniasis (vl) or cutaneous leishmaniasis (tl). phlebotomine females are hematophagous but need to ingest carbohydrates, possibly promoting the development of protozoan parasites in their digestive tract. the present study evaluated the species composition and abundance across several habitats in a metropolitan landscape, as well as associations among phlebotomines, plants, and local climatic parameters. three consecutive monthly ...	2013	24581360
comparative analysis of salivary gland transcriptomes of phlebotomus orientalis sand flies from endemic and non-endemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis.	in east africa, phlebotomus orientalis serves as the main vector of leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (vl). phlebotomus orientalis is present at two distant localities in ethiopia; addis zemen where vl is endemic and melka werer where transmission of vl does not occur. to find out whether the difference in epidemiology of vl is due to distant compositions of p. orientalis saliva we established colonies from addis zemen and melka werer, analyzed and compared the t ...	2014	24587463
female preference and predation risk models can explain the maintenance of a fallow deer (dama dama) lek and its 'handy' location.	we tested the predictions of three models (female preference; hotspot; predator avoidance) on lek formation in the fallow deer population of san rossore, tuscany. we collected behavioural observations in two leks and radiotracking data on 67 deer over 7 years. two deer sub-populations were present in the northern and southern sides of the area, respectively, the two sectors being delimited by a river and including one lek each. predictions were tested for one lek (sg), located in the south-side ...	2014	24599036