Publications

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epidemiology of malaria in an area of seasonal transmission in niger and implications for the design of a seasonal malaria chemoprevention strategy.few data are available about malaria epidemiological situation in niger. however, implementation of new strategies such as vaccination or seasonal treatment of a target population requires the knowledge of baseline epidemiological features of malaria. a population-based study was conducted to provide better characterization of malaria seasonal variations and population groups the most at risk in this particular area.201324172107
temporal and micro-spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of anopheles vectors of malaria along the kenyan coast.the distribution of anopheline mosquitoes is determined by temporally dynamic environmental and human-associated variables, operating over a range of spatial scales. macro-spatial short-term trends are driven predominantly by prior (lagged) seasonal changes in climate, which regulate the abundance of suitable aquatic larval habitats. micro-spatial distribution is determined by the location of these habitats, proximity and abundance of available human bloodmeals and prevailing micro-climatic cond ...201324330615
the efficacy of long-lasting nets with declining physical integrity may be compromised in areas with high levels of pyrethroid resistance.long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (llins) are a primary malaria prevention strategy in sub-saharan africa. however, emergence of insecticide resistance threatens the effectiveness of llins.201324156715
reliability of school surveys in estimating geographic variation in malaria transmission in the western kenyan highlands.school surveys provide an operational approach to assess malaria transmission through parasite prevalence. there is limited evidence on the comparability of prevalence estimates obtained from school and community surveys carried out at the same locality.201324143250
projected impacts of climate change on environmental suitability for malaria transmission in west africa.climate change is expected to affect the distribution of environmental suitability for malaria transmission by altering temperature and rainfall patterns; however, the local and global impacts of climate change on malaria transmission are uncertain.201324043443
the clip-domain serine protease homolog spclip1 regulates complement recruitment to microbial surfaces in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.the complement c3-like protein tep1 of the mosquito anopheles gambiae is required for defense against malaria parasites and bacteria. two forms of tep1 are present in the mosquito hemolymph, the full-length tep1-f and the proteolytically processed tep1(cut) that is part of a complex including the leucine-rich repeat proteins lrim1 and apl1c. here we show that the non-catalytic serine protease spclip1 is a key regulator of the complement-like pathway. spclip1 is required for accumulation of tep1 ...201324039584
community-wide distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets can halt transmission of lymphatic filariasis in southeastern nigeria.lymphatic filariasis (lf) in rural southeastern nigeria is transmitted mainly by anopheles spp. mosquitoes. potential coinfection with loa loa in this area has prevented use of ivermectin in the mass drug administration (mda) strategy for lf elimination because of potential severe adverse l. loa-related reactions. this study determined if long-lasting insecticidal net (llin) distribution programs for malaria would interrupt lf transmission in such areas, without need for mda. monthly entomologic ...201323939708
insulin receptor-like ectodomain genes and splice variants are found in both arthropods and human brain cdna.truncated receptor ectodomains have been described for several classes of cell surface receptors, including those that bind to growth factors, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and adhesion molecules. soluble receptor isoforms are typically generated by proteolytic cleavage of the cell surface receptor or by alternative splicing of rna transcripts arising from the same gene encoding the full-length receptor. both the epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) and the insulin receptor (insr) families prod ...201327375681
transcriptome deep-sequencing and clustering of expressed isoforms from favia corals.genomic and transcriptomic sequence data are essential tools for tackling ecological problems. using an approach that combines next-generation sequencing, de novo transcriptome assembly, gene annotation and synthetic gene construction, we identify and cluster the protein families from favia corals from the northern red sea.201323937070
inter-epidemic transmission of rift valley fever in livestock in the kilombero river valley, tanzania: a cross-sectional survey.in recent years, evidence of rift valley fever (rvf) transmission during inter-epidemic periods in parts of africa has increasingly been reported. the inter-epidemic transmissions generally pass undetected where there is no surveillance in the livestock or human populations. we studied the presence of and the determinants for inter-epidemic rvf transmission in an area experiencing annual flooding in southern tanzania.201323951376
a sticky situation: the unexpected stability of malaria elimination.malaria eradication involves eliminating malaria from every country where transmission occurs. current theory suggests that the post-elimination challenges of remaining malaria-free by stopping transmission from imported malaria will have onerous operational and financial requirements. although resurgent malaria has occurred in a majority of countries that tried but failed to eliminate malaria, a review of resurgence in countries that successfully eliminated finds only four such failures out of ...201323798693
preventive chemotherapy as a strategy for elimination of neglected tropical parasitic diseases: endgame challenges.global efforts to address neglected tropical diseases (ntds) were stimulated in january 2012 by the london declaration at which 22 partners, including the bill & melinda gates foundation, world bank, world health organization (who) and major pharmaceutical companies committed to sustaining and expanding ntd programmes to eliminate or eradicate 11 ntds by 2020 to achieve the goals outlined in the recently published who road map. here, we present the current context of preventive chemotherapy for ...201323798692
modest additive effects of integrated vector control measures on malaria prevalence and transmission in western kenya.the effect of integrating vector larval intervention on malaria transmission is unknown when insecticide-treated bed-net (itn) coverage is very high, and the optimal indicator for intervention evaluation needs to be determined when transmission is low.201323870708
identification and expression profile analysis of odorant binding proteins in the oriental fruit fly bactrocera dorsalis.olfaction is crucial in many insects for critical behaviors, including those regulating survival and reproduction. insect odorant-binding proteins (obps) function in the first step of the olfactory system and play an essential role in the perception of odorants, such as pheromones and host chemicals. the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis, is a destructive fruit-eating pest, due to its wide host range of up to 250 different types of fruits and vegetables, and this fly causes severe economic ...201323867609
non-ltr retrotransposons and microsatellites: partners in genomic variation.the human genome is laden with both non-ltr (long-terminal repeat) retrotransposons and microsatellite repeats. both types of sequences are able to, either actively or passively, mutagenize the genomes of human individuals and are therefore poised to dynamically alter the human genomic landscape across generations. non-ltr retrotransposons, such as l1 and alu, are a major source of new microsatellites, which are born both concurrently and subsequently to l1 and alu integration into the genome. l ...201324195012
inland valley rice production systems and malaria infection and disease in the forest region of western côte d'ivoire.this study aimed to determine the epidemiological impact of rice cultivation in inland valleys on malaria in the forest region of western côte d'ivoire. the importance of malaria was compared in terms of prevalence and parasite density of infections and also in terms of clinical malaria incidence between three agro-ecosystems: (i) uncultivated inland valleys, (r0), (ii) inland valleys with one annual rice cultivation in the rainy season, (r1) and (iii) developed inland valleys with two annual ri ...201323841911
analysis of whitefly transcriptional responses to beauveria bassiana infection reveals new insights into insect-fungus interactions.the fungal pathogen, beauveria bassiana, is an efficient biocontrol agent against a variety of agricultural pests. a thorough understanding of the basic principles of insect-fungus interactions may enable the genetic modification of beauveria bassiana to enhance its virulence. however, the molecular mechanism of insect response to beauveria bassiana infection is poorly understood, let alone the identification of fungal virulent factors involved in pathogenesis.201323861870
changes in the burden of malaria following scale up of malaria control interventions in mutasa district, zimbabwe.to better understand trends in the burden of malaria and their temporal relationship to control activities, a survey was conducted to assess reported cases of malaria and malaria control activities in mutasa district, zimbabwe.201323815862
evidence for gene duplication in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene of aedes aegypti.mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (nav), known as kdr mutations, are associated with pyrethroid and ddt insecticide resistance in a number of species. in the mosquito dengue vector aedes aegypti, besides kdr, other polymorphisms allowed grouping aanav sequences as type 'a' or 'b'. here, we point a series of evidences that these polymorphisms are actually involved in a gene duplication event.201324481195
marked biological differences between insecticide resistant and susceptible strains of anopheles funestus infected with the murine parasite plasmodium berghei.anopheles funestus is one of the major malaria vectors in africa but research on this species has been restricted due to the lack of viable laboratory colonies. the vectorial capacity of natural populations of an. funestus is well known but its ability to host plasmodium in the laboratory and the development cycle of the parasite within this mosquito species was, until very recently, unknown. in this study we compared laboratory strains of an. funestus that were resistant and susceptible to pyre ...201323782642
a first report of anopheles funestus sibling species in western kenya highlands.understanding disease vector composition is of priority in designing effective disease control programs. in integrated vector control management, understanding of disease vector species among species complexes simplifies priorities for effective control tools selection. this study identified members of the anopheles funestus complex sampled in western kenya from 2002 to 2011 from different breeding sites. larval sampling was carried out using the standard dipper (350ml) in larval habitats in wes ...201323792011
detection of clade types (clades i and ii) within anopheles funestus sensu stricto by the hydrolysis probe analysis (taqman assay).recent studies presented two clades (clades i and ii) within the major malaria vector, anopheles funestus s.s. on the mitochondrial dna. we describe a hydrolysis probe analysis (taqman assay) method for the rapid identification of these two clades.201323758959
asymptomatic plasmodium infection and cognition among primary schoolchildren in a high malaria transmission setting in uganda.asymptomatic parasitemia is common among schoolchildren living in areas of high malaria transmission, yet little is known about its effect on cognitive function in these settings. to investigate associations between asymptomatic parasitemia, anemia, and cognition among primary schoolchildren living in a high malaria transmission setting, we studied 740 children enrolled in a clinical trial in tororo, uganda. parasitemia, measured by thick blood smears, was present in 30% of the children. infecte ...201323589533
glossina spp. gut bacterial flora and their putative role in fly-hosted trypanosome development.human african trypanosomiasis (hat) is caused by trypanosomes transmitted to humans by the tsetse fly, in which they accomplish their development into their infective metacyclic form. the crucial step in parasite survival occurs when it invades the fly midgut. insect digestive enzymes and immune defenses may be involved in the modulation of the fly's vector competence, together with bacteria that could be present in the fly's midgut. in fact, in addition to the three bacterial symbionts that hav ...201323898466
diversity of culturable bacteria including pantoea in wild mosquito aedes albopictus.the microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the biology of insects. in recent decades, significant efforts have been made to better understand the diversity of symbiotic bacteria associated with mosquitoes and assess their influence on pathogen transmission. here, we report the bacterial composition found in field-caught aedes albopictus populations by using culture-dependent methods.201323537168
development of reference transcriptomes for the major field insect pests of cowpea: a toolbox for insect pest management approaches in west africa.cowpea is a widely cultivated and major nutritional source of protein for many people that live in west africa. annual yields and longevity of grain storage is greatly reduced by feeding damage caused by a complex of insect pests that include the pod sucking bugs, anoplocnemis curvipes fabricius (hemiptera: coreidae) and clavigralla tomentosicollis stål (hemiptera: coreidae); as well as phloem-feeding cowpea aphids, aphis craccivora koch (hemiptera: aphididae) and flower thrips, megalurothrips s ...201324278221
novel selective and irreversible mosquito acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for controlling malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.we reported previously that insect acetylcholinesterases (aches) could be selectively and irreversibly inhibited by methanethiosulfonates presumably through conjugation to an insect-specific cysteine in these enzymes. however, no direct proof for the conjugation has been published to date, and doubts remain about whether such cysteine-targeting inhibitors have desirable kinetic properties for insecticide use. here we report mass spectrometric proof of the conjugation and new chemicals that irrev ...201323323211
arbonematodes - nematode infections transmissible by arthropods: arbeitskreis blut, untergruppe «bewertung blutassoziierter krankheitserreger»*. 201323637651
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 ...201324260463
towards the elements of successful insect rnai.rna interference (rnai), the sequence-specific suppression of gene expression, offers great opportunities for insect science, especially to analyze gene function, manage pest populations, and reduce disease pathogens. the accumulating body of literature on insect rnai has revealed that the efficiency of rnai varies between different species, the mode of rnai delivery, and the genes being targeted. there is also variation in the duration of transcript suppression. at present, we have a limited ca ...201324041495
health effects of drought: a systematic review of the evidence.introduction. climate change projections indicate that droughts will become more intense in the 21 century in some areas of the world. the el niño southern oscillation is associated with drought in some countries, and forecasts can provide advance warning of the increased risk of adverse climate conditions. the most recent available data from emdat estimates that over 50 million people globally were affected by drought in 2011. documentation of the health effects of drought is difficult, given t ...201323787891
extensive circadian and light regulation of the transcriptome in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.mosquitoes exhibit 24 hr rhythms in flight activity, feeding, reproduction and development. to better understand the molecular basis for these rhythms in the nocturnal malaria vector anopheles gambiae, we have utilized microarray analysis on time-of-day specific collections of mosquitoes over 48 hr to explore the coregulation of gene expression rhythms by the circadian clock and light, and compare these with the 24 hr rhythmic gene expression in the diurnal aedes aegypti dengue vector mosquito.201323552056
meeting report of the mosquito kolymbari meeting 2013. 201324428827
the role of innate versus adaptive immune responses in a mouse model of o'nyong-nyong virus infection.o'nyong-nyong virus (onnv), an alphavirus closely related to chikungunya virus (chikv), has caused three major epidemics in africa since 1959. both onnv and chikv produce similar syndromes with fever, rash, and debilitating arthralgia. to determine the roles of the innate and adaptive immune responses, we infected different knockout mice with two strains of onnv (sg650 and mp30). wild-type, rag1 ko, and ifnγr ko mice showed no signs of illness or viremia. the stat1 ko and a129 mice exhibited 50- ...201323568285
o'nyong nyong virus molecular determinants of unique vector specificity reside in non-structural protein 3.o'nyong nyong virus (onnv) and chikungunya virus (chikv) are two closely related alphaviruses with very different infection patterns in the mosquito, anopheles gambiae. onnv is the only alphavirus transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes, but specific molecular determinants of infection of this unique vector specificity remain unidentified. fifteen distinct chimeric viruses were constructed to evaluate both structural and non-structural regions of the genome and infection patterns were determined th ...201323359824
mosquito-borne arbovirus surveillance at selected sites in diverse ecological zones of kenya; 2007 - 2012.increased frequency of arbovirus outbreaks in east africa necessitated the determination of distribution of risk by entomologic arbovirus surveillance. a systematic vector surveillance programme spanning 5 years and covering 11 sites representing seven of the eight provinces in kenya and located in diverse ecological zones was carried out.201323663381
sustained activation of akt elicits mitochondrial dysfunction to block plasmodium falciparum infection in the mosquito host.the overexpression of activated, myristoylated akt in the midgut of female transgenic anopheles stephensi results in resistance to infection with the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum but also decreased lifespan. in the present study, the understanding of mitochondria-dependent midgut homeostasis has been expanded to explain this apparent paradox in an insect of major medical importance. given that akt signaling is essential for cell growth and survival, we hypothesized that sustained ...201323468624
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 ...201425185007
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 ...201425153316
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 ...201424949243
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.201424946878
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 ...201424739261
daily blood feeding rhythms of laboratory-reared north american culex pipiens.blood feeding by free-living insect vectors of disease is rhythmic and can be used to predict when infectious bites will occur. these daily rhythms can also be targeted by control measures, as in insecticide-treated nets. culex pipiens form pipiens and c.p. f. molestus are two members of the culex pipiens assemblage and vectors of west nile virus throughout north america. although culex species vector human pathogens and parasites, the daily blood feeding rhythms of c.p. f. molestus, to our know ...201424450879
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 ...201424693951
long-lasting control of anopheles arabiensis by a single spray application of micro-encapsulated pirimiphos-methyl (actellic® 300 cs).pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes are an increasing threat to malaria vector control. the global plan for insecticide resistance management (gpirm) recommends rotation of non-pyrethroid insecticides for indoor residual spraying (irs). the options from other classes are limited. the carbamate bendiocarb and the organophosphate pirimiphos-methyl (p-methyl) emulsifiable concentrate (ec) have a short residual duration of action, resulting in increased costs due to multiple spray cycles, and user fatig ...201424476070
push by a net, pull by a cow: can zooprophylaxis enhance the impact of insecticide treated bed nets on malaria control?mass insecticide treated bed net (itn) deployment, and its associated coverage of populations at risk, had "pushed" a decline in malaria transmission. however, it is unknown whether malaria control is being enhanced by zooprophylaxis, i.e., mosquitoes diverted to feed on hosts different from humans, a phenomenon that could further reduce malaria entomological transmission risk in areas where livestock herding is common.201424472517
insecticide resistance mechanisms associated with different environments in the malaria vector anopheles gambiae: a case study in tanzania.resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides is a growing concern in africa. since only a few insecticides are used for public health and limited development of new molecules is expected in the next decade, maintaining the efficacy of control programmes mostly relies on resistance management strategies. developing such strategies requires a deep understanding of factors influencing resistance together with characterizing the mechanisms involved. among factors likely to influence insecticide resistan ...201424460952
control of malaria and other vector-borne protozoan diseases in the tropics: enduring challenges despite considerable progress and achievements.vector-borne protozoan diseases represent a serious public health challenge, especially in the tropics where poverty together with vector-favorable climates are the aggravating factors. each of the various strategies currently employed to face these scourges is seriously inadequate. despite enormous efforts, vaccines-which represent the ideal weapon against these parasitic diseases-are yet to be sufficiently developed and implemented. chemotherapy and vector control are therefore the sole effect ...201424401663
assessing the optimal virulence of malaria-targeting mosquito pathogens: a mathematical study of engineered metarhizium anisopliae.metarhizium anisopliae is a naturally occurring fungal pathogen of mosquitoes. recently, metarhizium has been engineered to act against malaria by directly killing the disease agent within mosquito vectors and also effectively blocking onward transmission. it has been proposed that efforts should be made to minimize the virulence of the fungal pathogen, in order to slow the development of resistant mosquitoes following an actual deployment.201424397503
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.201425001377
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.201424565444
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.201424559061
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.201424505285
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.201424678631
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 ...201424656206
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.201424645751
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 ...201424593293
comparative structural and functional analysis of the larval and adult dorsal vessel and its role in hemolymph circulation in the mosquito anopheles gambiae.hemolymph circulation in insects is driven primarily by the contractile action of a dorsal vessel, which is divided into an abdominal heart and a thoracic aorta. as holometabolous insects, mosquitoes undergo striking morphological and physiological changes during metamorphosis. this study presents a comprehensive structural and functional analysis of the larval and adult dorsal vessel in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae. using intravital video imaging we show that, unlike the adult heart, ...201425524976
comparison of a mobile phone-based malaria reporting system with source participant register data for capturing spatial and temporal trends in epidemiological indicators of malaria transmission collected by community health workers in rural zambia.timeliness, completeness, and accuracy are key requirements for any surveillance system to reliably monitor disease burden and guide efficient resource prioritization. evidence that electronic reporting of malaria cases by community health workers (chws) meet these requirements remains limited.201425495698
cost-effectiveness of larviciding for urban malaria control in tanzania.larviciding for malaria control can contribute to an integrated vector management (ivm) approach. this intervention is currently supported in settings where breeding habitats are 'few, fixed, and findable', such as urban areas of sub-saharan africa, but the knowledge base regarding the cost-effectiveness of larviciding is non-existent.201425476586
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 ...201425331807
de novo sequencing, assembly and characterization of antennal transcriptome of anomala corpulenta motschulsky (coleoptera: rutelidae).anomala corpulenta is an important insect pest and can cause enormous economic losses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. it is widely distributed in china, and both larvae and adults can cause serious damage. it is difficult to control this pest because the larvae live underground. any new control strategy should exploit alternatives to heavily and frequently used chemical insecticides. however, little genetic research has been carried out on a. corpulenta due to the lack of genomic reso ...201425461610
differential antibody response to the anopheles gambiae gsg6 and ce5 salivary proteins in individuals naturally exposed to bites of malaria vectors.mosquito saliva plays crucial roles in blood feeding but also evokes in hosts an anti-saliva antibody response. the igg response to the anopheles gambiae salivary protein gsg6 was previously shown to be a reliable indicator of human exposure to afrotropical malaria vectors. we analyzed here the humoral response to the salivary anti-thrombin ce5 in a group of individuals from a malaria hyperendemic area of burkina faso.201425428638
serological markers for monitoring historical changes in malaria transmission intensity in a highly endemic region of western kenya, 1994-2009.monitoring local malaria transmission intensity is essential for planning evidence-based control strategies and evaluating their impact over time. anti-malarial antibodies provide information on cumulative exposure and have proven useful, in areas where transmission has dropped to low sustained levels, for retrospectively reconstructing the timing and magnitude of transmission reduction. it is unclear whether serological markers are also informative in high transmission settings, where intervent ...201425416454
namibia's path toward malaria elimination: a case study of malaria strategies and costs along the northern border.low malaria transmission in namibia suggests that elimination is possible, but the risk of imported malaria from angola remains a challenge. this case study reviews the early transition of a program shift from malaria control to elimination in three northern regions of namibia that comprise the trans-kunene malaria initiative (tkmi): kunene, omusati, and ohangwena.201425409682
multisensor earth observations to characterize wetlands and malaria epidemiology in ethiopia.malaria is a major global public health problem, particularly in sub-saharan africa. the spatial heterogeneity of malaria can be affected by factors such as hydrological processes, physiography, and land cover patterns. tropical wetlands, for example, are important hydrological features that can serve as mosquito breeding habitats. mapping and monitoring of wetlands using satellite remote sensing can thus help to target interventions aimed at reducing malaria transmission. the objective of this ...201425653462
transcriptome-based identification of abc transporters in the western tarnished plant bug lygus hesperus.atp-binding cassette (abc) transporters are a large superfamily of proteins that mediate diverse physiological functions by coupling atp hydrolysis with substrate transport across lipid membranes. in insects, these proteins play roles in metabolism, development, eye pigmentation, and xenobiotic clearance. while abc transporters have been extensively studied in vertebrates, less is known concerning this superfamily in insects, particularly hemipteran pests. we used rna-seq transcriptome sequencin ...201425401762
high-resolution melting analysis reveals low plasmodium parasitaemia infections among microscopically negative febrile patients in western kenya.microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (rdts) are common tools for diagnosing malaria, but are deficient in detecting low plasmodium parasitaemia. a novel molecular diagnostic tool (npcr-hrm) that combines the sensitivity and specificity of nested pcr (npcr) and direct pcr-high resolution melting analysis (dpcr-hrm) was developed. to evaluate patterns of anti-malarial drug administration when no parasites are detected, npcr-hrm was employed to screen blood samples for low parasitaemia from febril ...201425399409
genome-wide patterns of polymorphism in an inbred line of the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.anopheles gambiae is a major mosquito vector of malaria in africa. although increased use of insecticide-based vector control tools has decreased malaria transmission, elimination is likely to require novel genetic control strategies. it can be argued that the absence of an a. gambiae inbred line has slowed progress toward genetic vector control. in order to empower genetic studies and enable precise and reproducible experimentation, we set out to create an inbred line of this species. we found ...201425377942
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 ...201425352698
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 ...201425330116
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 ...201425318705
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.201425333491
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 ...201425310341
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.201425293669
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.201425290939
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.201425261072
challenges in malaria research: core science and innovation. 201425252873
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).201425231168
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.201425187326
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.201425175167
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 ...201425144557
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).201425141761
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 ...201425141947
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.201425129505
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 ...201425115830
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.201425011682
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 ...201424995776
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 ...201424978609
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 ...201424932861
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 ...201424888886
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 2008.201424892677
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 ...201424885950
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 ...201424886539
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 ...201424855023
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 ...201424837592
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, ...201424830448
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.201424885562
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 ...201424885499
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 ...201424779515
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