Publications

first report of an exophilic anopheles arabiensis population in bissau city, guinea-bissau: recent introduction or sampling bias?	the malaria vector anopheles arabiensis exhibits greater behavioural and ecological plasticity than the other major vectors of the anopheles gambiae complex, which presents challenges for major control methods. this study reports for the first time the presence of an. arabiensis in antula, a suburb of bissau city, the capital of guinea bissau, where high levels of hybridization between anopheles coluzzii and an. gambiae have been reported. given that previous surveys in the area, based on indoor ...	2014	25370807
evaluation of the accuracy of the easytest™ malaria pf/pan ag, a rapid diagnostic test, in uganda.	in recent years, rapid diagnostic tests (rdts) have been widely used for malaria detection, primarily because of their simple operation, fast results, and straightforward interpretation. the asan easytest™ malaria pf/pan ag is one of the most commonly used malaria rdts in several countries, including korea and india. in this study, we tested the diagnostic performance of this rdt in uganda to evaluate its usefulness for field diagnosis of malaria in this country. microscopic and pcr analyses, an ...	2014	25352698
a small-scale field trial of pyriproxyfen-impregnated bed nets against pyrethroid-resistant anopheles gambiae s.s. in western kenya.	pyrethroid resistance is becoming a major problem for vector control programs, because at present, there are few suitable chemical substitutes for pyrethroids, as when used on bed nets the insecticide must have low mammalian toxicity as well as high activity to mosquitoes. pyriproxyfen (ppf) is one of the most active chemicals among the juvenile hormone mimic (jhm) group. sterilizing mosquitoes by using ppf could be a potential control measure for pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors. we investi ...	2014	25333785
widespread pyrethroid and ddt resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus in east africa is driven by metabolic resistance mechanisms.	establishing the extent, geographical distribution and mechanisms of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is a prerequisite for resistance management. here, we report a widespread distribution of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector an. funestus across uganda and western kenya under the control of metabolic resistance mechanisms.	2014	25333491
high levels of asymptomatic and subpatent plasmodium falciparum parasite carriage at health facilities in an area of heterogeneous malaria transmission intensity in the kenyan highlands.	in endemic settings, health facility surveys provide a convenient approach to estimating malaria transmission intensity. typically, testing for malaria at facilities is performed on symptomatic attendees, but asymptomatic infections comprise a considerable proportion of the parasite reservoir. we sampled individuals attending five health facilities in the western kenyan highlands. malaria prevalence by rapid diagnostic test (rdt) was 8.6-32.9% in the health facilities. of all polymerase chain re ...	2014	25331807
a multicopper oxidase-related protein is essential for insect viability, longevity and ovary development.	typical multicopper oxidases (mcos) have ten conserved histidines and one conserved cysteine that coordinate four copper atoms. these copper ions are required for oxidase activity. during our studies of insect mcos, we discovered a gene that we named multicopper oxidase-related protein (mcorp). mcorps share sequence similarity with mcos, but lack many of the copper-coordinating residues. we identified mcorp orthologs in many insect species, but not in other invertebrates or vertebrates. we predi ...	2014	25330116
clinical malaria case definition and malaria attributable fraction in the highlands of western kenya.	in african highland areas where endemicity of malaria varies greatly according to altitude and topography, parasitaemia accompanied by fever may not be sufficient to define an episode of clinical malaria in endemic areas. to evaluate the effectiveness of malaria interventions, age-specific case definitions of clinical malaria needs to be determined. cases of clinical malaria through active case surveillance were quantified in a highland area in kenya and defined clinical malaria for different ag ...	2014	25318705
the red imported fire ant (solenopsis invicta buren) kept y not f: predicted snpy endogenous ligands deorphanize the short npf (snpf) receptor.	neuropeptides and their receptors play vital roles in controlling the physiology and behavior of animals. short neuropeptide f (snpf) signaling regulates several physiological processes in insects such as feeding, locomotion, circadian rhythm and reproduction, among others. previously, the red imported fire ant (solenopsis invicta) snpf receptor (s. invicta snpfr), a g protein-coupled receptor, was immunolocalized in queen and worker brain and queen ovaries. differential distribution patterns of ...	2014	25310341
insecticide resistance and role in malaria transmission of anopheles funestus populations from zambia and zimbabwe.	two mitochondrial dna clades have been described in anopheles funestus populations from southern africa. clade i is common across the continent while clade ii is known only from mozambique and madagascar. the specific biological status of these clades is at present unknown. we investigated the possible role that each clade might play in the transmission of plasmodium falciparum and the insecticide resistance status of an. funestus from zimbabwe and zambia.	2014	25293669
mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene of anophelines and their association with resistance to pyrethroids - a review.	constant and extensive use of chemical insecticides has created a selection pressure and favored resistance development in many insect species worldwide. one of the most important pyrethroid resistance mechanisms is classified as target site insensitivity, due to conformational changes in the target site that impair a proper binding of the insecticide molecule. the voltage-gated sodium channel (nav) is the target of pyrethroids and ddt insecticides, used to control insects of medical, agricultur ...	2014	25292318
modeling the cost effectiveness of malaria control interventions in the highlands of western kenya.	tools that allow for in silico optimization of available malaria control strategies can assist the decision-making process for prioritizing interventions. the openmalaria stochastic simulation modeling platform can be applied to simulate the impact of interventions singly and in combination as implemented in rachuonyo south district, western kenya, to support this goal.	2014	25290939
qsar analyses of ddt analogues and their in silico validation using molecular docking study against voltage-gated sodium channel of anopheles funestus.	ddt has enjoyed the reputation of a successful pesticide in disease control programme and agricultural practices along with the serious opposition and ban later on due to its biomagnification and toxic action against non-target organisms. the present work was carried out to develop qsar models for analysing ddt analogues for their pesticidal activity and in silico validation of these models. a 2d-qsar model was generated using stepwise with multiple regression, and the model with a value of r(2) ...	2014	25271473
desiccation tolerance as a function of age, sex, humidity and temperature in adults of the african malaria vectors anopheles arabiensis and anopheles funestus.	adult mosquito survival is strongly temperature and moisture dependent. few studies have investigated the interacting effects of these variables on adult survival and how this differs among the sexes and with age, despite the importance of such information for population dynamic models. for these reasons, the desiccation tolerance of anopheles arabiensis patton and anopheles funestus giles males and females of three different ages was assessed under three combinations of temperature and humidity ...	2014	25267846
de novo transcriptome of the hemimetabolous german cockroach (blattella germanica).	the german cockroach, blattella germanica, is an important insect pest that transmits various pathogens mechanically and causes severe allergic diseases. this insect has long served as a model system for studies of insect biology, physiology and ecology. however, the lack of genome or transcriptome information heavily hinder our further understanding about the german cockroach in every aspect at a molecular level and on a genome-wide scale. to explore the transcriptome and identify unique sequen ...	2014	25265537
the highly polymorphic cyp6m7 cytochrome p450 gene partners with the directionally selected cyp6p9a and cyp6p9b genes to expand the pyrethroid resistance front in the malaria vector anopheles funestus in africa.	pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus is rapidly expanding across southern africa. it remains unknown whether this resistance has a unique origin with the same molecular basis or is multifactorial. knowledge of the origin, mechanisms and evolution of resistance are crucial to designing successful resistance management strategies.	2014	25261072
challenges in malaria research: core science and innovation.		2014	25252873
field evaluation of natural human odours and the biogent-synthetic lure in trapping aedes aegypti, vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses in kenya.	methods currently used in sampling adult aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses are limited for effective surveillance of the vector and accurate determination of the extent of virus transmission during outbreaks and inter - epidemic periods. here, we document the use of natural human skin odours in baited traps to improve sampling of adult ae. aegypti in two different endemic areas of chikungunya and dengue in kenya - kilifi and busia counties. the chemistry of the vol ...	2014	25246030
insecticide-treated net wall hangings for malaria vector control: an experimental hut study in north-eastern tanzania.	alternative long-lasting, practical and effective tools for applying insecticides on home walls against malaria vectors need to be developed. the use of wall hangings made from netting on interior walls for aesthetic purposes is a common practice in rural communities. insecticide-treated net wall hangings can be produced in a long-lasting format and used in an approach that simulates indoor residual spraying (irs).	2014	25231168
increased malaria transmission around irrigation schemes in ethiopia and the potential of canal water management for malaria vector control.	irrigation schemes have been blamed for the increase in malaria in many parts of sub-saharan africa. however, proper water management could help mitigate malaria around irrigation schemes in this region. this study investigates the link between irrigation and malaria in central ethiopia.	2014	25218697
molecular characterization of human pathogenic bunyaviruses of the nyando and bwamba/pongola virus groups leads to the genetic identification of mojuí dos campos and kaeng khoi virus.	human infection with bwamba virus (bwav) and the closely related pongola virus (pgav), as well as nyando virus (ndv), are important causes of febrile illness in africa. however, despite seroprevalence studies that indicate high rates of infection in many countries, these viruses remain relatively unknown and unstudied. in addition, a number of unclassified bunyaviruses have been isolated over the years often with uncertain relationships to human disease.	2014	25188437
evaluation of universal coverage of insecticide-treated nets in western kenya: field surveys.	mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets (itns) is a cost-effective way to achieve universal coverage, but maintaining this coverage is more difficult. in addition to commonly used indicators, evaluation of universal coverage should include coverage of effective nets and changes in coverage over time.	2014	25187326
metagenomics, paratransgenesis and the anopheles microbiome: a portrait of the geographical distribution of the anopheline microbiota based on a meta-analysis of reported taxa.	anophelines harbour a diverse microbial consortium that may represent an extended gene pool for the host. the proposed effects of the insect microbiota span physiological, metabolic and immune processes. here we synthesise how current metagenomic tools combined with classical culture-dependent techniques provide new insights in the elucidation of the role of the anopheles-associated microbiota. many proposed malaria control strategies have been based upon the immunomodulating effects that the ba ...	2014	25185007
the remarkable journey of adaptation of the plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite to new world anopheline mosquitoes.	plasmodium falciparum originated in africa, dispersed around the world as a result of human migration and had to adapt to several different indigenous anopheline mosquitoes. anophelines from the new world are evolutionary distant form african ones and this probably resulted in a more stringent selection of plasmodium as it adapted to these vectors. it is thought that plasmodium has been genetically selected by some anopheline species through unknown mechanisms. the mosquito immune system can gre ...	0	25185006
larvicidal efficacy of ethiopian ethnomedicinal plant juniperus procera essential oil against afrotropical malaria vector anopheles arabiensis (diptera: culicidae).	to screen the essential oil of juniperus procera (j. procera) (cupressaceae) for larvicidal activity against late third instar larvae of anopheles arabiensis (an. arabiensis) patton, the principle malaria vector in ethiopia.	0	25183156
comparative susceptibility to permethrin of two anopheles gambiae s.l. populations from southern benin, regarding mosquito sex, physiological status, and mosquito age.	to investigate what kind of mosquito sample is necessary for the determination of insecticide susceptibility in malaria vectors.	0	25182557
molecular characterization of ddt resistance in anopheles gambiae from benin.	insecticide resistance in the mosquito vector is the one of the main obstacles against effective malaria control. in order to implement insecticide resistance management strategies, it is important to understand the genetic factors involved. in this context, we investigated the molecular basis of ddt resistance in the main malaria vector from benin.	2014	25175167
genome sequence analysis of in vitro and in vivo phenotypes of bunyamwera and ngari virus isolates from northern kenya.	biological phenotypes of tri-segmented arboviruses display characteristics that map to mutation/s in the s, m or l segments of the genome. plaque variants have been characterized for other viruses displaying varied phenotypes including attenuation in growth and/or pathogenesis. in order to characterize variants of bunyamwera and ngari viruses, we isolated individual plaque size variants; small plaque (sp) and large plaque (lp) and determined in vitro growth properties and in vivo pathogenesis in ...	2014	25153316
micro-encapsulated pirimiphos-methyl shows high insecticidal efficacy and long residual activity against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors in central côte d'ivoire.	the wide-scale implementation of insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying (irs) has contributed to a considerable decrease of malaria morbidity and mortality in sub-saharan africa over the last decade. due to increasing resistance in anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes to dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (ddt) and pyrethroids, alternative insecticide formulations for irs with long-lasting residual activity are required to sustain the gains obtained in most malaria-endemic countr ...	2014	25152326
increasing role of anopheles funestus and anopheles arabiensis in malaria transmission in the kilombero valley, tanzania.	in order to sustain the gains achieved by current malaria control strategies, robust surveillance systems that monitor dynamics of vectors and their roles in malaria transmission over time are essential. this longitudinal study demonstrates the trends in malaria vector dynamics and their relative contribution to malaria transmission in hyperendemic transmission settings in tanzania.	2014	25150840
characterizing, controlling and eliminating residual malaria transmission.	long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) and indoor residual spraying (irs) interventions can reduce malaria transmission by targeting mosquitoes when they feed upon sleeping humans and/or rest inside houses, livestock shelters or other man-made structures. however, many malaria vector species can maintain robust transmission, despite high coverage of llins/irs containing insecticides to which they are physiologically fully susceptible, because they exhibit one or more behaviours that define the b ...	2014	25149656
functional specialization among members of knickkopf family of proteins in insect cuticle organization.	our recent study on the functional analysis of the knickkopf protein from t. castaneum (tcknk), indicated a novel role for this protein in protection of chitin from degradation by chitinases. knk is also required for the laminar organization of chitin in the procuticle. during a bioinformatics search using this protein sequence as the query, we discovered the existence of a small family of three knk-like genes (including the prototypical tcknk) in the t. castaneum genome as well as in all insect ...	2014	25144557
preventive effect of permethrin-impregnated long-lasting insecticidal nets on the blood feeding of three major pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors in western kenya.	since the world health organization (who) adopted the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) as a principal strategy for effective malaria prevention and control, pyrethroids have been the only class of insecticides used for llins. the dramatic success of insecticide-treated nets (itns) and llins in african countries, however, has been threatened by the rapid development of pyrethroid resistance in vector mosquitoes. itns and llins are still used as effective self-protection measures, but ...	2014	25141947
persistently high estimates of late night, indoor exposure to malaria vectors despite high coverage of insecticide treated nets.	it has been speculated that widespread and sustained use of insecticide treated bed nets (itns) for over 10 years in asembo, western kenya, may have selected for changes in the location (indoor versus outdoor) and time (from late night to earlier in the evening) of biting of the predominant species of human malaria vectors (anopheles funestus, anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, and anopheles arabiensis).	2014	25141761
evaluation of textile substrates for dispensing synthetic attractants for malaria mosquitoes.	the full-scale impact of odour-baited technology on the surveillance, sampling and control of vectors of infectious diseases is partly limited by the lack of methods for the efficient and sustainable dispensing of attractants. in this study we investigated whether locally-available and commonly used textiles are efficient substrates for the release of synthetic odorant blends attracting malaria mosquitoes.	2014	25129505
mass spectrometry based proteomic analysis of salivary glands of urban malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	salivary gland proteins of anopheles mosquitoes offer attractive targets to understand interactions with sporozoites, blood feeding behavior, homeostasis, and immunological evaluation of malaria vectors and parasite interactions. to date limited studies have been carried out to elucidate salivary proteins of an. stephensi salivary glands. the aim of the present study was to provide detailed analytical attributives of functional salivary gland proteins of urban malaria vector an. stephensi. a pro ...	2014	25126571
human exposure to early morning anopheles funestus biting behavior and personal protection provided by long-lasting insecticidal nets.	a shift towards early morning biting behavior of the major malaria vector anopheles funestus have been observed in two villages in south benin following distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins), but the impact of these changes on the personal protection efficacy of llins was not evaluated. data from human and an. funestus behavioral surveys were used to measure the human exposure to an. funestus bites through previously described mathematical models. we estimated the personal prote ...	2014	25115830
analysis of the sporozoite elisa for estimating infection rates in mozambican anophelines.	comparisons were undertaken to investigate cost-effective methods of implementing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for sporozoite determination in anophelines when large numbers require processing. comparisons between elisa plate reader and visual assessments were performed with anopheles funestus and anopheles gambiae s.l. (diptera: culicidae), as were comparisons between whole-body mosquito samples, heads and thoraces, and abdomens alone. rates obtained from pools of five or 10 mo ...	2015	25088021
adherence to artemether-lumefantrine drug combination: a rural community experience six years after change of malaria treatment policy in tanzania.	adherence to multidosing is challenging worldwide. this study assessed the extent of adherence to multidosing artemether-lumefantrine (alu) in a rural community in tanzania, six years after switching from single dose policy of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine.	2014	25011682
insecticide resistance comes of age.	a new study integrates biochemistry, genetics and structural biology to reveal the mechanism of metabolic resistance in a vector mosquito in unprecedented detail.	2014	25001377
de novo transcriptome sequencing and sequence analysis of the malaria vector anopheles sinensis (diptera: culicidae).	anopheles sinensis is the major malaria vector in china and southeast asia. vector control is one of the most effective measures to prevent malaria transmission. however, there is little transcriptome information available for the malaria vector. to better understand the biological basis of malaria transmission and to develop novel and effective means of vector control, there is a need to build a transcriptome dataset for functional genomics analysis by large-scale rna sequencing (rna-seq).	2014	25000941
development and optimization of the suna trap as a tool for mosquito monitoring and control.	monitoring of malaria vector populations provides information about disease transmission risk, as well as measures of the effectiveness of vector control. the suna trap is introduced and evaluated with regard to its potential as a new, standardized, odour-baited tool for mosquito monitoring and control.	2014	24998771
activity of ocimum basilicum, ocimum canum, and cymbopogon citratus essential oils against plasmodium falciparum and mature-stage larvae of anopheles funestus s.s.	the biological activities of essential oils from three plants grown in cameroon: ocimum basilicum, ocimum canum, and cymbopogon citratus were tested against plasmodium falciparum and mature-stage larvae of anopheles funestus. gas chromatography and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry analyses showed that the main compounds are geranial, 1,8-cineole and linalool in c. citratus, o. canum and o. basilicum, respectively. larvicidal tests carried out according to the protocol recommended by the wo ...	2014	24995776
larval salinity tolerance of two members of the anopheles funestus group.	the anopheles funestus group (diptera: culicidae) is one of the main species groups involved in malaria transmission in the afrotropical regions. basic research into this group has been limited because its members are eurygamic (they tend not to mate in confined spaces), which makes laboratory colonization difficult. currently, only a few an. funestus giles colonies are available and no colonies of other members of the group have been established. as information on the larval biology of members ...	2014	24987777
cutprotfam-pred: detection and classification of putative structural cuticular proteins from sequence alone, based on profile hidden markov models.	the arthropod cuticle is a composite, bipartite system, made of chitin ﬁlaments embedded in a proteinaceous matrix. the physical properties of cuticle are determined by the structure and the interactions of its two major components, cuticular proteins (cps) and chitin. the proteinaceous matrix consists mainly of structural cuticular proteins. the majority of the structural proteins that have been described to date belong to the cpr family, and they are identified by the conserved r&r region (reb ...	2014	24978609
the efficacy of vectron 20 wp, etofenprox, for indoor residual spraying in areas of high vector resistance to pyrethroids and organochlorines in zambia.	the selection of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors has the potential to compromise any insecticide-based vector control programme. to ensure that the insecticides used for indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated nets in zambia remain effective and their choice is evidence based, insecticide resistance surveillance and monitoring are essential. this study assessed and compared the residual efficacy of etofenprox (vectron 20 wp), an ether pyrethroid, at 0.1 g/m(2) with pyrethroids ...	2012	24967135
the salivary secretome of the biting midge, culicoides sonorensis.	culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous insects with over 1400 species distributed throughout the world. many of these species are of particular agricultural importance as primary vectors of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses, yet little is known about culicoides genomics and proteomics. detailed studies of members from other blood-feeding dipteran families, including those of mosquito (culicidae) and black fly (simuliidae), have shown that protein components with ...	2014	24949243
pirna pathway gene expression in the malaria vector mosquito anopheles stephensi.	the ability of transposons to mobilize to new places in a genome enables them to introgress rapidly into populations. the pirna pathway has been characterized recently in the germ line of the fruit fly, drosophila melanogaster, and is responsible for downregulating transposon mobility. transposons have been used as tools in mosquitoes to genetically transform a number of species including anopheles stephensi, a vector of human malaria. these mobile genetic elements also have been proposed as too ...	2014	24947897
a global assembly of adult female mosquito mark-release-recapture data to inform the control of mosquito-borne pathogens.	pathogen transmission by mosquitos is known to be highly sensitive to mosquito bionomic parameters. mosquito mark-release-recapture (mmrr) experiments are a standard method for estimating such parameters including dispersal, population size and density, survival, blood feeding frequency and blood meal host preferences.	2014	24946878
brain proteomics of anopheles gambiae.	anopheles gambiae has a well-adapted system for host localization, feeding, and mating behavior, which are all governed by neuronal processes in the brain. however, there are no published reports characterizing the brain proteome to elucidate neuronal signaling mechanisms in the vector. to this end, a large-scale mapping of the brain proteome of an. gambiae was carried out using high resolution tandem mass spectrometry, revealing a repertoire of >1800 proteins, of which 15% could not be assigned ...	2014	24937107
ecophysiology of anopheles gambiae s.l.: persistence in the sahel.	the dry-season biology of malaria vectors is poorly understood, especially in arid environments when no surface waters are available for several months, such as during the dry season in the sahel. here we reappraise results on the dry-season physiology of members of the anopheles gambiae s.l. complex in the broad context of dormancy in insects and especially in mosquitoes. we examine evidence on seasonal changes in reproduction, metabolism, stress tolerance, nutrition, molecular regulation, and ...	2014	24933461
underpinning sustainable vector control through informed insecticide resistance management.	there has been rapid scale-up of malaria vector control in the last ten years. both of the primary control strategies, long-lasting pyrethroid treated nets and indoor residual spraying, rely on the use of a limited number of insecticides. insecticide resistance, as measured by bioassay, has rapidly increased in prevalence and has come to the forefront as an issue that needs to be addressed to maintain the sustainability of malaria control and the drive to elimination. zambia's programme reported ...	2014	24932861
a cost-effective, community-based, mosquito-trapping scheme that captures spatial and temporal heterogeneities of malaria transmission in rural zambia.	monitoring mosquito population dynamics is essential to guide selection and evaluation of malaria vector control interventions but is typically implemented by mobile, centrally-managed teams who can only visit a limited number of locations frequently enough to capture longitudinal trends. community-based (cb) mosquito trapping schemes for parallel, continuous monitoring of multiple locations are therefore required that are practical, affordable, effective, and reliable.	2014	24906704
modeling larval malaria vector habitat locations using landscape features and cumulative precipitation measures.	predictive models of malaria vector larval habitat locations may provide a basis for understanding the spatial determinants of malaria transmission.	2014	24903736
anopheles ziemanni a locally important malaria vector in ndop health district, north west region of cameroon.	malaria transmission in cameroon is mediated by a plethora of vectors that are heterogeneously distributed across the country depending on the biotope. to effectively guide malaria control operations, regular update on the role of local anopheles species is essential. therefore, an entomological survey was conducted between august 2010 and may 2011 to evaluate the role of the local anopheline population in malaria transmission in three villages of the ndop health district in the northwest region ...	2014	24903710
how the malaria vector anopheles gambiae adapts to the use of insecticide-treated nets by african populations.	insecticide treated bed nets have been recommended and proven efficient as a measure to protect african populations from malaria mosquito vector anopheles spp. this study evaluates the consequences of bed nets use on vectors resistance to insecticides, their feeding behavior and malaria transmission in dielmo village, senegal, were llins were offered to all villagers in july 2008.	2014	24892677
ecological niche and potential distribution of anopheles arabiensis in africa in 2050.	the future distribution of malaria in africa is likely to be much more dependent on environmental conditions than the current distribution due to the effectiveness of indoor and therapeutic anti-malarial interventions, such as insecticide-treated nets (itns), indoor residual spraying for mosquitoes (irs), artemisinin-combination therapy (act), and intermittent presumptive treatment (ipt). future malaria epidemiology is therefore expected to be increasingly dominated by anopheles arabiensis, whic ...	2014	24888886
genetic polymorphism at an odorant receptor gene (or39) among mosquitoes of the anopheles gambiae complex in senegal (west africa).	olfaction plays a significant role in insect behavior during critical steps of their life-cycle, such as host-seeking during foraging or the search for a mate. here, we explored genetic polymorphism within and divergence between sibling species of the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae sensu lato in the gene sequence and encoded peptides of an odorant receptor, or39. this study included sympatric specimens of an. gambiae sensu stricto, an. coluzzii and an. arabiensis sampled together in ...	2014	24886539
ex vivo anti-malarial drugs sensitivity profile of plasmodium falciparum field isolates from burkina faso five years after the national policy change.	the recent reports on the decreasing susceptibility of plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin derivatives along the thailand and myanmar border are worrying. indeed it may spread to india and then africa, repeating the same pattern observed for chloroquine resistance. therefore, it is essential to start monitoring p. falciparum sensitivity to artemisinin derivatives and its partner drugs in africa. efficacy of al and asaq were tested by carrying out an in vivo drug efficacy test, with an ex vivo s ...	2014	24885950
acceptance of illness and satisfaction with life among malaria patients in rivers state, nigeria.	health condition is one of the basic factors affecting satisfaction with life, and the level of illness acceptance. the purpose of the study was to analyse the level of illness acceptance, the level of satisfaction with life among malaria patients, and the level of trust placed in the physician and the nurse.	2014	24885562
insecticidal and repellent activities of pyrethroids to the three major pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors in western kenya.	the dramatic success of insecticide treated nets (itns) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) in african countries has been countered by the rapid development of pyrethroid resistance in vector mosquitoes over the past decade. one advantage of the use of pyrethroids in itns is their excito-repellency. use of the excito-repellency of pyrethroids might be biorational, since such repellency will not induce or delay the development of any physiological resistance. however, little is known about ...	2014	24885499
molecular and functional characterization of anopheles gambiae inward rectifier potassium (kir1) channels: a novel role in egg production.	inward rectifier potassium (kir) channels play essential roles in regulating diverse physiological processes. although kir channels are encoded in mosquito genomes, their functions remain largely unknown. in this study, we identified the members of the anopheles gambiae kir gene family and began to investigate their function. notably, we sequenced the a. gambiae kir1 (agkir1) gene and showed that it encodes all the canonical features of a kir channel: an ion pore that is composed of a pore helix ...	2014	24855023
efficacy of actellic 300 cs, pirimiphos methyl, for indoor residual spraying in areas of high vector resistance to pyrethroids and carbamates in zambia.	the selection of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors has the potential to compromise any insecticide-based malaria vector control program. to ensure that transmission-interrupting tools remain effective, and their choice is evidence based, insecticide surveillance and monitoring is essential. this study assessed and compared the residual efficacy of an organophosphate insecticide pirimiphos methyl (actellic 300 cs, 0-2-diethylamino-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl 0, 0-dimethylphosphorothioate) at 1 ...	2013	24843932
rnai-mediated knockdown of serine protease inhibitor genes increases the mortality of plutella xylostella challenged by destruxin a.	destruxin a is a mycotoxin that is secreted by entomopathogenic fungi which has a broad-spectrum insecticidal effect. previous transcript and protein profiling analysis showed that destruxin a has significant effects on the expression of serine protease inhibitor genes (serpin-2, 4, 5) in the larvae of plutella xylostella. in the current study, we aimed to understand the role of serpins under application of destruxin a. we obtained two full-length cdna sequences of p. xylostella serpins, named s ...	2014	24837592
community knowledge and acceptance of larviciding for malaria control in a rural district of east-central tanzania.	the use of microbial larvicides, a form of larval source management, is a less commonly used malaria control intervention that nonetheless has significant potential as a component of an integrated vector management strategy. we evaluated community acceptability of larviciding in a rural district in east-central tanzania using data from 962 household surveys, 12 focus group discussions, and 24 in-depth interviews. most survey respondents trusted in the safety (73.1%) and efficacy of larviciding, ...	2014	24830448
effective autodissemination of pyriproxyfen to breeding sites by the exophilic malaria vector anopheles arabiensis in semi-field settings in tanzania.	malaria vector control strategies that target adult female mosquitoes are challenged by the emergence of insecticide resistance and behavioural resilience. conventional larviciding is restricted by high operational costs and inadequate knowledge of mosquito-breeding habitats in rural settings that might be overcome by the juvenile hormone analogue, pyriproxyfen (ppf). this study assessed the potential for anopheles arabiensis to pick up and transfer lethal doses of ppf from contamination sites t ...	2014	24779515
absence/presence calling in microarray-based cgh experiments with non-model organisms.	structural variations in genomes are commonly studied by (micro)array-based comparative genomic hybridization. the data analysis methods to infer copy number variation in model organisms (human, mouse) are established. in principle, the procedures are based on signal ratios between test and reference samples and the order of the probe targets in the genome. these procedures are less applicable to experiments with non-model organisms, which frequently comprise non-sequenced genomes with an unknow ...	2014	24771343
molasses as a source of carbon dioxide for attracting the malaria mosquitoes anopheles gambiae and anopheles funestus.	most odour baits for haematophagous arthropods contain carbon dioxide (co2). the co2 is sourced artificially from the fermentation of refined sugar (sucrose), dry ice, pressurized gas cylinders or propane. these sources of co2 are neither cost-effective nor sustainable for use in remote areas of sub-saharan africa. in this study, molasses was evaluated as a potential substrate for producing co2 used as bait for malaria mosquitoes.	2014	24767543
igg1 and igg4 antibody responses to the anopheles gambiae salivary protein gsg6 in the sympatric ethnic groups mossi and fulani in a malaria hyperhendemic area of burkina faso.	human antibody response to the anopheles gambiae salivary protein gsg6 has recently emerged as a potentially useful tool for malaria epidemiological studies and for the evaluation of vector control interventions. however, the current understanding of the host immune response to mosquito salivary proteins and of the possible crosstalk with early response to plasmodium parasites is still very limited. we report here the analysis of igg1 and igg4 subclasses among anti-gsg6 igg responders belonging ...	2014	24760038
perceptions and recommendations by scientists for a potential release of genetically modified mosquitoes in nigeria.	the use of genetically modified mosquitoes (gmms) for the control of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases has been proposed in malaria-endemic countries, such as nigeria, which has the largest burden in africa. scientists are major stakeholders whose opinions and perceptions can adversely affect the success of the trials of gmms if they are not involved early. unfortunately, information on the awareness of nigerians scientists and their overall perception of the gmms is practically non-exis ...	2014	24758165
an environmental data set for vector-borne disease modeling and epidemiology.	understanding the environmental conditions of disease transmission is important in the study of vector-borne diseases. low- and middle-income countries bear a significant portion of the disease burden; but data about weather conditions in those countries can be sparse and difficult to reconstruct. here, we describe methods to assemble high-resolution gridded time series data sets of air temperature, relative humidity, land temperature, and rainfall for such areas; and we test these methods on th ...	2014	24755954
high burden of malaria following scale-up of control interventions in nchelenge district, luapula province, zambia.	malaria control interventions have been scaled-up in zambia in conjunction with a malaria surveillance system. although substantial progress has been achieved in reducing morbidity and mortality, national and local information demonstrated marked heterogeneity in the impact of malaria control across the country. this study reports the high burden of malaria in nchelenge district, luapula province, zambia from 2006 to 2012 after seven years of control measures.	2014	24755108
central projections of gustatory receptor neurons in the medial and the lateral sensilla styloconica of helicoverpa armigera larvae.	food selection behavior of lepidopteran larvae is predominantly governed by the activation of taste neurons present in two sensilla styloconica located on the galea of the maxilla. in this study, we present the ultrastructure of the sensilla styloconica and the central projection pattern of their associated receptor neurons in larvae of the heliothine moth, helicoverpa armigera. by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the previous findings of two morphologically fairly sim ...	2014	24740428
made-to-measure malaria vector control strategies: rational design based on insecticide properties and coverage of blood resources for mosquitoes.	eliminating malaria from highly endemic settings will require unprecedented levels of vector control. to suppress mosquito populations, vector control products targeting their blood hosts must attain high biological coverage of all available sources, rather than merely high demographic coverage of a targeted resource subset, such as humans while asleep indoors. beyond defining biological coverage in a measurable way, the proportion of blood meals obtained from humans and the proportion of bites ...	2014	24739261
cuticular differences associated with aridity acclimation in african malaria vectors carrying alternative arrangements of inversion 2la.	principal malaria vectors in africa, an. gambiae and an. coluzzii, share an inversion polymorphism on the left arm of chromosome 2 (2la/2l+a) that is distributed non-randomly in the environment. genomic sequencing studies support the role of strong natural selection in maintaining steep clines in 2la inversion frequency along environmental gradients of aridity, and physiological studies have directly implicated 2la in heat and desiccation tolerance, but the precise genetic basis and the underlyi ...	2014	24721548
the effects of oviposition-site deprivation on longevity and bloodfeeding rate in anopheles gambiae.	the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae, needs surface water in order to lay their eggs. in many parts of africa, there are dry periods varying from days to months in length when suitable larval sites are not available and female mosquitoes experience oviposition-site deprivation (osd). previous studies have shown that egg-laying and egg-hatching rates were reduced due to osd. here, we assessed its effect on longevity and bloodfeeding rate of anopheles gambiae. we predicted that osd will ...	2014	24708656
multigene phylogenetics reveals temporal diversification of major african malaria vectors.	the major vectors of malaria in sub-saharan africa belong to subgenus cellia. yet, phylogenetic relationships and temporal diversification among african mosquito species have not been unambiguously determined. knowledge about vector evolutionary history is crucial for correct interpretation of genetic changes identified through comparative genomics analyses. in this study, we estimated a molecular phylogeny using 49 gene sequences for the african malaria vectors an. gambiae, an. funestus, an. ni ...	2014	24705448
molecular biology of insect sodium channels and pyrethroid resistance.	voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for the initiation and propagation of the action potential in neurons and other excitable cells. because of their critical roles in electrical signaling, sodium channels are targets of a variety of naturally occurring and synthetic neurotoxins, including several classes of insecticides. this review is intended to provide an update on the molecular biology of insect sodium channels and the molecular mechanism of pyrethroid resistance. although mammalian ...	2014	24704279
preserving pyrethroids.		0	24700973
habitat discrimination by gravid anopheles gambiae sensu lato--a push-pull system.	the non-random distribution of anopheline larvae in natural habitats suggests that gravid females discriminate between habitats of different quality. whilst physical and chemical cues used by culex and aedes vector mosquitoes for selecting an oviposition site have been extensively studied, those for anopheles remain poorly explored. here the habitat selection by anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), the principal african malaria vector, was investigated when presented with a choice of two infusio ...	2014	24693951
an experimental hut study to quantify the effect of ddt and airborne pyrethroids on entomological parameters of malaria transmission.	current malaria vector control programmes rely on insecticides with rapid contact toxicity. however, spatial repellents can also be applied to reduce man-vector contact, which might ultimately impact malaria transmission. the aim of this study was to quantify effects of airborne pyrethroids from coils and ddt used an indoor residual spray (irs) on entomological parameters that influence malaria transmission.	2014	24693934
implications of low-density microfilariae carriers in anopheles transmission areas: molecular forms of anopheles gambiae and anopheles funestus populations in perspective.	previous studies have shown a general reduction in annual transmission potential (atp) of anopheles species after mass drug administration (mda) in lymphatic filariasis endemic communities. whereas results obtained from a monitoring programme after three years of mda revealed a decrease in atp of anopheles funestus this was not the same for an. gambiae s.s. in ghana. in this study, the ability of these vectors in transmitting wuchereria bancrofti in nine lymphatic filariasis endemic communities ...	2014	24690378
monitoring, characterization and control of chronic, symptomatic malaria infections in rural zambia through monthly household visits by paid community health workers.	active, population-wide mass screening and treatment (msat) for chronic plasmodium falciparum carriage to eliminate infectious reservoirs of malaria transmission have proven difficult to apply on large national scales through trained clinicians from central health authorities.	2014	24678631
biting by anopheles funestus in broad daylight after use of long-lasting insecticidal nets: a new challenge to malaria elimination.	malaria control is mainly based on indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets. the efficacy of these tools depends on the behaviour of mosquitoes, which varies by species. with resistance to insecticides, mosquitoes adapt their behaviour to ensure their survival and reproduction. the aim of this study was to assess the biting behaviour of anopheles funestus after the implementation of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins).	2014	24678587
estimating the annual entomological inoculation rate for plasmodium falciparum transmitted by anopheles gambiae s.l. using three sampling methods in three sites in uganda.	the plasmodium falciparum entomological inoculation rate (pfeir) is a measure of exposure to infectious mosquitoes. it is usually interpreted as the number of p. falciparum infective bites received by an individual during a season or annually (apfeir). in an area of perennial transmission, the accuracy, precision and seasonal distribution (i.e., month by month) of apfeir were investigated. data were drawn from three sites in uganda with differing levels of transmission where falciparum malaria i ...	2014	24656206
transmission of malaria in relation to distribution and coverage of long-lasting insecticidal nets in central côte d'ivoire.	the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) is an effective malaria control strategy. however, there are challenges to achieve high coverage, such as distribution sustainability, and coverage keep-up. this study assessed the effect of llins coverage and contextual factors on entomological indicators of malaria in rural côte d'ivoire.	2014	24645751
potential causes and consequences of behavioural resilience and resistance in malaria vector populations: a mathematical modelling analysis.	the ability of mosquitoes to evade fatal exposure to insecticidal nets and sprays represents the primary obstacle to eliminating malaria. however, it remains unclear which behaviours are most important for buffering mosquito and parasite populations against vector control.	2014	24629066
a description of malaria sentinel surveillance: a case study in oromia regional state, ethiopia.	in the context of the massive scale up of malaria interventions, there is increasing recognition that the current capacity of routine malaria surveillance conducted in most african countries through integrated health management information systems is inadequate. the timeliness of reporting to higher levels of the health system through health management information systems is often too slow for rapid action on focal infectious diseases such as malaria. the purpose of this paper is to: 1) describe ...	2014	24618105
comparative analysis of response to selection with three insecticides in the dengue mosquito aedes aegypti using mrna sequencing.	mosquito control programmes using chemical insecticides are increasingly threatened by the development of resistance. such resistance can be the consequence of changes in proteins targeted by insecticides (target site mediated resistance), increased insecticide biodegradation (metabolic resistance), altered transport, sequestration or other mechanisms. as opposed to target site resistance, other mechanisms are far from being fully understood. indeed, insecticide selection often affects a large n ...	2014	24593293
multimodal integration of carbon dioxide and other sensory cues drives mosquito attraction to humans.	multiple sensory cues emanating from humans are thought to guide blood-feeding female mosquitoes to a host. to determine the relative contribution of carbon dioxide (co2) detection to mosquito host-seeking behavior, we mutated the aaeggr3 gene, a subunit of the heteromeric co2 receptor in aedes aegypti mosquitoes. gr3 mutants lack electrophysiological and behavioral responses to co2. these mutants also fail to show co2-evoked responses to heat and lactic acid, a human-derived attractant, suggest ...	0	24581501
a single mutation in the gste2 gene allows tracking of metabolically based insecticide resistance in a major malaria vector.	metabolic resistance to insecticides is the biggest threat to the continued effectiveness of malaria vector control. however, its underlying molecular basis, crucial for successful resistance management, remains poorly characterized.	2014	24565444
evidence for perennial malaria in rural and urban areas under the sudanian climate of kandi, northeastern benin.	in arid settings, droughts usually lead to periods of very low or no malaria transmission. however, in rural kandi (sonsoro) in northeastern benin, several malaria cases are often diagnosed during dry seasons. the underlying factors accounting for this phenomenon remain unknown.	2014	24564957
behavioural divergence of sympatric anopheles funestus populations in burkina faso.	in burkina faso, two chromosomal forms of the malaria vector anopheles funestus, folonzo and kiribina, are distinguished by contrasting frequencies of shared polymorphic chromosomal inversions. sympatric and synchronous populations of folonzo and kiribina mate assortatively, as indicated by a significant deficit of heterokaryotypes, and genetic associations among inversions on independently segregating chromosome arms. the present study aimed to assess, by intensive longitudinal sampling, whethe ...	2014	24559382
an online tool for mapping insecticide resistance in major anopheles vectors of human malaria parasites and review of resistance status for the afrotropical region.	malaria control programmes across africa and beyond are facing increasing insecticide resistance in the major anopheline vectors. in order to preserve or prolong the effectiveness of the main malaria vector interventions, up-to-date and easily accessible insecticide resistance data that are interpretable at operationally-relevant scales are critical. herein we introduce and demonstrate the usefulness of an online mapping tool, ir mapper.	2014	24559061
contrasting plasmodium infection rates and insecticide susceptibility profiles between the sympatric sibling species anopheles parensis and anopheles funestus s.s: a potential challenge for malaria vector control in uganda.	although the an. funestus group conceals one of the major malaria vectors in africa, little is known about the dynamics of members of this group across the continent. here, we investigated the species composition, infection rate and susceptibility to insecticides of this species group in uganda.	2014	24533773
persistent detection of plasmodium falciparum, p. malariae, p. ovale curtisi and p. ovale wallikeri after act treatment of asymptomatic ghanaian school-children.	two hundred and seventy four asymptomatic ghanaian school-children aged 5 to 17 years were screened for malaria parasites by examination of blood films. one hundred and fifty five microscopically-positive individuals were treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and followed for 3 weeks. retrospective species-specific pcr of all 274 screened samples identified an additional 60 children with sub-patent parasitaemia, and a substantial proportion of co-infections with plasmodium malariae, plasmo ...	2013	24533292
is housing quality associated with malaria incidence among young children and mosquito vector numbers? evidence from korogwe, tanzania.	several studies conducted in northeast tanzania have documented declines in malaria transmission even before interventions were scaled up. one explanation for these reductions may be the changes in socio-environmental conditions associated with economic development, and in particular improvements in housing construction.	2014	24505285
re-evaluation of microscopy confirmed plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax malaria by nested pcr detection in southern ethiopia.	with 75% of the ethiopian population at risk of malaria, accurate diagnosis is crucial for malaria treatment in endemic areas where plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax co-exist. the present study evaluated the performance of regular microscopy in accurate identification of plasmodium spp. in febrile patients visiting health facilities in southern ethiopia.	2014	24502664
lymphatic filariasis in luangwa district, south-east zambia.	past case reports and recent data from lf mapping surveys indicate that lf occurs in zambia, but no studies have been carried out to document its epidemiology and health implications. the present study assessed infection, disease, transmission and human perception aspects of lf in an endemic area of luangwa district, south-east zambia, as a background for planning and implementation of control.	2013	24499525
impact of operational effectiveness of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) on malaria transmission in pyrethroid-resistant areas.	a dynamic study on the transmission of malaria was conducted in two areas (r⁺ area: low resistance area; r⁺⁺⁺ area: high resistance area) in the department of plateau in south eastern benin, where the population is protected by long lasting insecticidal nets (llins). the aim of this study was to determine if the resistance of malaria vectors to insecticides has an impact on their behavior and on the effectiveness of llins in the reduction of malaria transmission.	2013	24499508
evaluation of the long-lasting insecticidal net interceptor ln: laboratory and experimental hut studies against anopheline and culicine mosquitoes in northeastern tanzania.	long lasting insecticidal nets (ln) are a primary method of malaria prevention. before new types of ln are approved they need to meet quality and efficacy standards set by the who pesticide evaluation scheme. the process of evaluation has three phases. in phase i the candidate ln must meet threshold bioassay criteria after 20 standardized washes. in phase ii washed and unwashed lns are evaluated in experimental huts against wild, free flying anopheline mosquitoes. in phase iii the ln are distrib ...	2013	24499488