Publications

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.	2014	25409682
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 ...	2014	25653462
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
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, ...	2014	25524976
mosquito genomics. highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 anopheles mosquitoes.	variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. to investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the x chromosome, and more ...	2014	25554792
vectorbase: an updated bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vectors and other organisms related with human diseases.	vectorbase is a national institute of allergy and infectious diseases supported bioinformatics resource center (brc) for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens. now in its 11th year, vectorbase currently hosts the genomes of 35 organisms including a number of non-vectors for comparative analysis. hosted data range from genome assemblies with annotated gene features, transcript and protein expression data to population genetics including variation and insecticide-resistance phenotypes. here we d ...	2014	25510499
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
maternal germline-specific genes in the asian malaria mosquito anopheles stephensi: characterization and application for disease control.	anopheles stephensi is a principal vector of urban malaria on the indian subcontinent and an emerging model for molecular and genetic studies of mosquito biology. to enhance our understanding of female mosquito reproduction, and to develop new tools for basic research and for genetic strategies to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases, we identified 79 genes that displayed previtellogenic germline-specific expression based on rna-seq data generated from 11 life stage-specific and sex-specif ...	2014	25480960
sampling host-seeking anthropophilic mosquito vectors in west africa: comparisons of an active human-baited tent-trap against gold standard methods.	in this study, we characterize the ability of the previously described infoscitex tent (ist) to capture mosquitoes in comparison to either the centers for disease control light trap hung next to individuals under a bed net (ltc) or to human landing catches (hlc). in senegal, the ist caught 6.14 times the number of anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), and 8.78 times the culex group v mosquitoes as ltc. in one of two locations in burkina faso, the ist caught an. gambiae at a rate not significantly ...	2014	25422393
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
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
spatial distribution of the sibling species of anopheles gambiae sensu lato (diptera: culicidae) and malaria prevalence in bayelsa state, nigeria.	much of the confusing ecophenotypic plasticity of anopheles gambiae sensu lato is attributable to the differential biological traits of the sibling species, with their heterogeneous geographical distribution, behavioral dissimilarities and divergent population dynamics. these differences are critical to their roles in malaria transmission. studies were, therefore, undertaken on the spatial distribution of these species and malaria prevalence rates in bayelsa state, september, 2008-august 2010.	2014	24438675
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
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
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
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
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
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
entomological and parasitological impacts of indoor residual spraying with ddt, alphacypermethrin and deltamethrin in the western foothill area of madagascar.	in madagascar, indoor residual spraying (irs) with insecticide was part of the national malaria control programme since the middle of the twentieth century. it was mainly employed in the highlands and the foothill areas, which are prone to malaria epidemics. prior to a policy change foreseeing a shift from ddt to pyrethroids, a study was carried out to assess the entomological and parasitological impacts of irs in areas with ddt or pyrethroids and in areas without irs.	2014	24423246
resistance mechanisms of anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae) to temephos.	anopheles stephensi is a sub-tropical species and has been considered as one of the most important vector of human malaria throughout the middle east and south asian region including the malarious areas of southern iran. current reports confirmed an. stephensi resistance to temephos in oman and india. however, there is no comprehensive research on mechanisms of temephos resistance in an. stephensi in the literature. this study was designed in order to clarify the enzymatic and molecular mechanis ...	2014	26114145
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
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
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
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
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
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
differential effects of inbreeding and selection on male reproductive phenotype associated with the colonization and laboratory maintenance of anopheles gambiae.	effective mating between laboratory-reared males and wild females is paramount to the success of vector control strategies aiming to decrease disease transmission via the release of sterile or genetically modified male mosquitoes. however mosquito colonization and laboratory maintenance have the potential to negatively affect male genotypic and phenotypic quality through inbreeding and selection, which in turn can decrease male mating competitiveness in the field. to date, very little is known a ...	2014	24418094
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
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
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
full-genome characterisation of orungo, lebombo and changuinola viruses provides evidence for co-evolution of orbiviruses with their arthropod vectors.	the complete genomes of orungo virus (oruv), lebombo virus (lebv) and changuinola virus (cglv) were sequenced, confirming that they each encode 11 distinct proteins (vp1-vp7 and ns1-ns4). phylogenetic analyses of cell-attachment protein 'outer-capsid protein 1' (oc1), show that orbiviruses fall into three large groups, identified as: vp2(oc1), in which oc1 is the 2nd largest protein, including the culicoides transmitted orbiviruses; vp3(oc1), which includes the mosquito transmitted orbiviruses; ...	2014	24475112
participation of irradiated anopheles arabiensis males in swarms following field release in sudan.	the success of the sterile insect technique (sit) depends the release of large numbers of sterile males, which are able to compete for mates with the wild male population within the target area. unfortunately, the processes of colonisation, mass production and irradiation may reduce the competitiveness of sterile males through genetic selection, loss of natural traits and somatic damage. in this context, the capacity of released sterile anopheles arabiensis males to survive, disperse and partici ...	2014	25495146
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
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
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
transmission patterns of plasmodium falciparum by anopheles gambiae in benin.	to better control malaria, the clear and urgent need is for improved data to inform decision makers, but in several african countries, there is a lack of baseline data on vectors and variation in the intensity of malaria transmission. this has resulted in the implementation of vector control efforts that ignore variation in vector behaviour and intensity of transmission, an approach that is most often not cost-effective. this study presents a detailed entomological description of mosquito distri ...	2014	25412948
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 ...	2014	24450879
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
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
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
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
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
field study site selection, species abundance and monthly distribution of anopheline mosquitoes in the northern kruger national park, south africa.	knowledge of the ecology and behaviour of a target species is a prerequisite for the successful development of any vector control strategy. before the implementation of any strategy it is essential to have comprehensive information on the bionomics of species in the targeted area. the aims of this study were to conduct regular entomological surveillance and to determine the relative abundance of anopheline species in the northern kruger national park. in addition to this, the impact of weather c ...	2014	24460920
a genotypically distinct, melanic variant of anopheles arabiensis in sudan is associated with arid environments.	anopheles arabiensis, an important malaria vector in sudan and other countries in sub-saharan africa, exhibits considerable ecological and behavioural plasticity allowing it to survive in the harsh conditions of arid regions. it has been shown that adult populations of an. arabiensis in the semi-desert habitat of western khartoum state survive through the long dry season in a state of partial aestivation, characterized by limited feeding activity and a degree of arrested ovarian development. ano ...	2014	25496059
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
reemergence of anopheles funestus as a vector of plasmodium falciparum in western kenya after long-term implementation of insecticide-treated bed nets.	historically, the malaria vectors in western kenya have been anopheles funestus, anopheles gambiae s.s., and anopheles arabiensis. of these species, an. funestus populations declined the most after the introduction of insecticide-treated bed nets (itns) in the 1990s in asembo, and collections of an. funestus in the region remained low until at least 2008. contrary to findings during the early years of itn use in asembo, the majority of the anopheles collected here in 2010 and 2011 were an. funes ...	2014	24470562
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
2d and 3d chromosome painting in malaria mosquitoes.	fluorescent in situ hybridization (fish) of whole arm chromosome probes is a robust technique for mapping genomic regions of interest, detecting chromosomal rearrangements, and studying three-dimensional (3d) organization of chromosomes in the cell nucleus. the advent of laser capture microdissection (lcm) and whole genome amplification (wga) allows obtaining large quantities of dna from single cells. the increased sensitivity of wga kits prompted us to develop chromosome paints and to use them ...	2014	24429496
analysis of the genitalia rotation in the male anopheles funestus (diptera: culicidae).	anopheles funestus is a major malaria vector in africa. insecticide resistance has developed in populations of this species in several african countries, prompting the need to develop additional vector control methods such as the sterile insect technique (sit). this technique requires an understanding of those underlying physiological events that lead to sexual maturity of an. funestus males, the rotation of their genitalia in particular. the aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitati ...	2014	23932945
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
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
spatial abundance and human biting rate of anopheles arabiensis and anopheles funestus in savannah and rice agro-ecosystems of central tanzania.	this study was carried out to determine the spatial variations in malaria mosquito abundance and human biting rate in five villages representing rice-irrigation and savannah ecosystems in kilosa district, central tanzania. the study involved five villages namely tindiga and malui (wetland/rice irrigation), twatwatwa and mbwade (dry savannah) and kimamba (wet savannah). indoor mosquitoes were sampled using centers for disease control and prevention light traps in three houses in each village. ano ...	2015	26054517
early biting of the anopheles gambiae s.s. and its challenges to vector control using insecticide treated nets in western kenya highlands.	long term use of insecticides in malaria vector control has been shown to alter the behavior of vectors. such behavioral shifts have the potential of undermining the effectiveness of insecticide-based control interventions. the effects of insecticide treated nets (itns) use on the composition, biting/feeding and sporozoite rates of anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes in musilongo village, vihiga county of western kenya highlands were investigated. adult mosquitoes were collected in selected sleepi ...	2015	26209103
efficacy and safety of the mosquitocidal drug ivermectin to prevent malaria transmission after treatment: a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial.	artemisinin combination therapy effectively clears asexual malaria parasites and immature gametocytes but does not prevent posttreatment malaria transmission. ivermectin (ivm) may reduce malaria transmission by killing mosquitoes that take blood meals from ivm-treated humans.	2015	25414262
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
sugarcane giant borer transcriptome analysis and identification of genes related to digestion.	sugarcane is a widely cultivated plant that serves primarily as a source of sugar and ethanol. its annual yield can be significantly reduced by the action of several insect pests including the sugarcane giant borer (telchin licus licus), a lepidopteran that presents a long life cycle and which efforts to control it using pesticides have been inefficient. although its economical relevance, only a few dna sequences are available for this species in the genbank. pyrosequencing technology was used t ...	2015	25706301
bayesian variable selection in modelling geographical heterogeneity in malaria transmission from sparse data: an application to nouna health and demographic surveillance system (hdss) data, burkina faso.	quantification of malaria heterogeneity is very challenging, partly because of the underlying characteristics of mosquitoes and also because malaria is an environmentally driven disease. furthermore, in order to assess the spatial and seasonal variability in malaria transmission, vector data need to be collected repeatedly over time (at fixed geographical locations). measurements collected at locations close to each other and over time tend to be correlated because of common exposures such as en ...	2015	25888970
effects of starvation on deltamethrin tolerance in bed bugs, cimex lectularius l. (hemiptera: cimicidae).	bed bugs, cimex lectularius l., are a major pest in the urban environment. their presence often results in physical, psychological, and financial distress of homeowners and apartment dwellers. although many insecticide bioassays have been performed on this pest, little attention has been paid to bed bug feeding status, which is closely linked to metabolism, molting, and mass. therefore, we evaluated the toxicity of topically applied deltamethrin on insecticide susceptible adult male bed bugs fed ...	2015	26463068
associations between urbanicity and malaria at local scales in uganda.	sub-saharan africa is expected to show the greatest rates of urbanization over the next 50 years. urbanization has shown a substantial impact in reducing malaria transmission due to multiple factors, including unfavourable habitats for anopheles mosquitoes, generally healthier human populations, better access to healthcare, and higher housing standards. statistical relationships have been explored at global and local scales, but generally only examining the effects of urbanization on single mala ...	2015	26415959
bio-efficacy of new long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets against anopheles funestus and anopheles gambiae from central and northern mozambique.	long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (llins) are one of the main methods used for controlling malaria transmission in mozambique. the proliferation of several types of llins and the re-emergence of insecticide resistance in the local vector populations poses challenges to the local malaria control programme on selecting suitable insecticide-based vector control products. therefore, this study evaluated the insecticide susceptibility and bio-efficacy of selected new llins against wild population ...	2015	26377825
comparative evaluation of the sticky-resting-box-trap, the standardised resting-bucket-trap and indoor aspiration for sampling malaria vectors.	understanding mosquito resting behaviour is important for the control of vector-borne diseases, but this remains a challenge because of the paucity of efficient sampling tools. we evaluated two novel sampling methods in the field: the sticky resting box (srb) and the resting bucket trap (rbu) to test their efficiency for sampling malaria vectors resting outdoors and inside houses in rural tanzania. the performance of rbu and srb was compared outdoors, while indoors srb were compared with the bac ...	2015	26383620
prevalence of the dhfr and dhps mutations among pregnant women in rural burkina faso five years after the introduction of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.	the emergence and spread of drug resistance represents one of the biggest challenges for malaria control in endemic regions. sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (sp) is currently deployed as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (iptp) to prevent the adverse effects of malaria on the mother and her offspring. nevertheless, its efficacy is threatened by sp resistance which can be estimated by the prevalence of dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) and dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) mutations. this was m ...	2015	26368675
antimalarial drug resistance: literature review and activities and findings of the icemr network.	antimalarial drugs are key tools for the control and elimination of malaria. recent decreases in the global malaria burden are likely due, in part, to the deployment of artemisinin-based combination therapies. therefore, the emergence and potential spread of artemisinin-resistant parasites in southeast asia and changes in sensitivities to artemisinin partner drugs have raised concerns. in recognition of this urgent threat, the international centers of excellence for malaria research (icemrs) are ...	2015	26259943
identifying genomic changes associated with insecticide resistance in the dengue mosquito aedes aegypti by deep targeted sequencing.	the capacity of mosquitoes to resist insecticides threatens the control of diseases such as dengue and malaria. until alternative control tools are implemented, characterizing resistance mechanisms is crucial for managing resistance in natural populations. insecticide biodegradation by detoxification enzymes is a common resistance mechanism; however, the genomic changes underlying this mechanism have rarely been identified, precluding individual resistance genotyping. in particular, the role of ...	2015	26206155
nuclear receptor signaling atlas: opening access to the biology of nuclear receptor signaling pathways.	signaling pathways involving nuclear receptors (nrs), their ligands and coregulators, regulate tissue-specific transcriptomes in diverse processes, including development, metabolism, reproduction, the immune response and neuronal function, as well as in their associated pathologies. the nuclear receptor signaling atlas (nursa) is a consortium focused around a hub website (www.nursa.org) that annotates and integrates diverse 'omics datasets originating from the published literature and nursa-fund ...	2015	26325041
pesticide exposures in a malarious and predominantly farming area in central ghana.	in areas where malaria is endemic, pesticides are widely deployed for vector control, which has contributed to reductions in malaria deaths. pesticide use for agrarian purposes reduces pest populations, thus improving crop production and post-harvest losses. however, adverse health effects have been associated with pesticide exposure, ranging from skin irritation to neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity. though misuse of these pesticides can lead to widespread potential dangers, the debilitating eff ...	2015	27239261
nano-enabled delivery of diverse payloads across complex biological barriers.	complex biological barriers are major obstacles for preventing and treating disease. nanocarriers are designed to overcome such obstacles by enhancing drug delivery through physiochemical barriers and improving therapeutic indices. this review critically examines both biological barriers and nanocarrier payloads for a variety of drug delivery applications. a spectrum of nanocarriers is discussed that have been successfully developed for improving tissue penetration for preventing or treating a r ...	2015	26315817
chloroquine sensitivity: diminished prevalence of chloroquine-resistant gene marker pfcrt-76 13 years after cessation of chloroquine use in msambweni, kenya.	plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine (cq) denied healthcare providers access to a cheap and effective anti-malarial drug. resistance has been proven to be due to point mutations on the parasite's pfcrt gene, particularly on codon 76, resulting in an amino acid change from lysine to threonine. this study sought to determine the prevalence of the pfcrt k76t mutation 13 years after cq cessation in msambweni, kenya.	2015	26296743
effectiveness and safety of artemether-lumefantrine versus artesunate-amodiaquine for unsupervised treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in patients of all age groups in nanoro, burkina faso: a randomized open label trial.	several studies have reported high efficacy and safety of artemisinin-based combination therapy (act) mostly under strict supervision of drug intake and limited to children less than 5 years of age. patients over 5 years of age are usually not involved in such studies. thus, the findings do not fully reflect the reality in the field. this study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of act in routine treatment of uncomplicated malaria among patients of all age groups in nanoro, burkina fas ...	2015	26289949
spatial patterns of incident malaria cases and their household contacts in a single clinic catchment area of chongwe district, zambia.	reactive case detection (racd) for malaria is a strategy that may be used to complement passive surveillance, as passive surveillance fails to identify infections that are asymptomatic or do not seek care. the spatial and seasonal patterns of incident (index) cases reported at a single clinic in chongwe district were explored.	2015	26246383
the impact of six annual rounds of mass drug administration on wuchereria bancrofti infections in humans and in mosquitoes in mali.	wuchereria bancrofti prevalence and transmission were assessed in six endemic villages in sikasso, mali prior to and yearly during mass drug administration (mda) with albendazole and ivermectin from 2002 to 2007. microfilaremia was determined by calibrated thick smear of night blood in adult volunteers and circulating filarial antigen was measured using immunochromatographic card test in children < 5 years of age. mosquitoes were collected by human landing catch from july to december. none of th ...	2015	26033027
strengthening tactical planning and operational frameworks for vector control: the roadmap for malaria elimination in namibia.	namibia has made tremendous gains in malaria control and the epidemiological trend of the disease has changed significantly over the past years. in 2010, the country reoriented from the objective of reducing disease morbidity and mortality to the goal of achieving malaria elimination by 2020. this manuscript outlines the processes undertaken in strengthening tactical planning and operational frameworks for vector control to facilitate expeditious malaria elimination in namibia.	2015	26242587
functional development of carbon dioxide detection in the maxillary palp of anopheles gambiae.	olfactory information drives several behaviours critical for the survival and persistence of insect pests and vectors. insect behaviour is variable, linked to their biological needs, and regulated by physiological dynamics. for mosquitoes, co2 is an important cue that signifies the presence of a host, and which elicits activation and attraction. to investigate the genetic basis of olfactory modulation in mosquitoes, we assayed changes in co2 detection from receptor gene expression through physio ...	2015	26056246
malaria eradication and elimination: views on how to translate a vision into reality.	although global efforts in the past decade have halved the number of deaths due to malaria, there are still an estimated 219 million cases of malaria a year, causing more than half a million deaths. in this forum article, we asked experts working in malaria research and control to discuss the ways in which malaria might eventually be eradicated. their collective views highlight the challenges and opportunities, and explain how multi-factorial and integrated processes could eventually make malari ...	2015	26208740
high nucleotide diversity and limited linkage disequilibrium in helicoverpa armigera facilitates the detection of a selective sweep.	insecticides impose extreme selective pressures on populations of target pests and so insecticide resistance loci of these species may provide the footprints of 'selective sweeps'. to lay the foundation for future genome-wide scans for selective sweeps and inform genome-wide association study designs, we set out to characterize some of the baseline population genomic parameters of one of the most damaging insect pests in agriculture worldwide, helicoverpa armigera. to this end, we surveyed nine ...	2015	26174024
dynamical malaria models reveal how immunity buffers effect of climate variability.	assessing the influence of climate on the incidence of plasmodium falciparum malaria worldwide and how it might impact local malaria dynamics is complex and extrapolation to other settings or future times is controversial. this is especially true in the light of the particularities of the short- and long-term immune responses to infection. in sites of epidemic malaria transmission, it is widely accepted that climate plays an important role in driving malaria outbreaks. however, little is known a ...	2015	26124134
preventing malaria transmission by indoor residual spraying in malawi: grappling with the challenge of uncertain sustainability.	in the past decade, there has been rapid scale-up of insecticide-based malaria vector control in the context of integrated vector management (ivm) according to world health organization recommendations. endemic countries have deployed indoor residual spraying (irs) and long-lasting insecticidal nets as hallmark vector control interventions. this paper discusses the successes and continued challenges and the way forward for the irs programme in malawi.	2015	26104657
the complete mitochondrial genome of the beet webworm, spoladea recurvalis (lepidoptera: crambidae) and its phylogenetic implications.	the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the beet webworm, spoladea recurvalis has been sequenced. the circular genome is 15,273 bp in size, encoding 13 protein-coding genes (pcgs), two rrna genes, and 22 trna genes and containing a control region with gene order and orientation identical to that of other ditrysian lepidopteran mitogenomes. the nucleotide composition of the mitogenome shows a high a+t content of 80.9%, and the at skewness is slightly negative (-0.023). all pcgs start wi ...	2015	26091291
surveillance of malaria vector population density and biting behaviour in western kenya.	malaria is a great public health burden and africa suffers the largest share of malaria-attributed deaths. despite control efforts targeting indoor malaria transmission, such as insecticide-treated bed nets (itns) and deployment of indoor residual spraying, transmission of the parasite in western kenya is still maintained. this study was carried out to determine the impact of itns on indoor vector densities and biting behaviour in western kenya.	2015	26082138
evaluation of the toxicity and repellence of an organic fatty acids mixture (c8910) against insecticide susceptible and resistant strains of the major malaria vector anopheles funestus giles (diptera: culicidae).	malaria vector control relies principally on the use of insecticides, especially pyrethroids. because of the increasing occurrence of insecticide resistance in target vector populations, the development of new insecticides, particularly those with novel modes of action, is particularly important, especially in terms of managing insecticide resistance. the c8910 formulation is a patented mixture of compounds comprising straight-chain octanoic, nonanoic and decanoic saturated fatty acids. this com ...	2015	26062763
long-lasting insecticidal nets in zambia: a cross-sectional analysis of net integrity and insecticide content.	long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) are a mainstay of malaria prevention in africa. more llins are available now than in any time previously due to increases in funding for malaria control. llins are expected to last three to five years before they need to be replaced. reports of nets lasting less than three years are frequent in zambia, which, if true, will increase the number of llins needed to maintain universal coverage.	2015	26054336
absence of kdr resistance alleles in the union of the comoros, east africa.	knockdown resistance ( kdr) and cyp9k1 genotypes were detected by a moldi-tof based snp genotyping assay (sequenom iplex) in samples of anopheles gambiae collected at 13 sites throughout the union of the comoros and dar es salaam, tanzania during february and march 2011. all a. gambiae specimens collected in the comoros were homozygous for the susceptible kdr alleles (+/+) while 96% of a. gambiae from dar es salaam were homozygous for the east african kdr resistant genotype (e/e). in contrast, a ...	2015	26339473
characterization of the infectious reservoir of malaria with an agent-based model calibrated to age-stratified parasite densities and infectiousness.	elimination of malaria can only be achieved through removal of all vectors or complete depletion of the infectious reservoir in humans. mechanistic models can be built to synthesize diverse observations from the field collected under a variety of conditions and subsequently used to query the infectious reservoir in great detail.	2015	26037226
evaluation of icon maxx, a long-lasting treatment kit for mosquito nets: experimental hut trials against anopheline mosquitoes in tanzania.	insecticide-treated nets are the primary method of preventing malaria. to remain effective, the pyrethroid insecticide must withstand multiple washes over the lifetime of the net. icon(®) maxx is a 'dip-it-yourself' kit for long-lasting treatment of polyester nets. the twin-sachet kit contains a slow-release capsule suspension of lambda-cyhalothrin plus binding agent. to determine whether icon maxx meets the standards required by the world health organization pesticide evaluation scheme (whopes) ...	2015	26025026
impact of vegetable crop agriculture on anopheline agressivity and malaria transmission in urban and less urbanized settings of the south region of cameroon.	the use of inland valley swamps for vegetable crop agriculture contributes to food security in urban and less urbanized settings in africa. the impact of this agriculture on aggressive mosquitoes' diversity and malaria transmission in central africa is poorly documented. this study is aimed at assessing the impact of vegetable crop agriculture on these entomological parameters in urban and less urbanized settings of the forest area, south of cameroon.	2015	26017900
novel detection of insecticide resistance related p450 genes and transcriptome analysis of the hemimetabolous pest erthesina fullo (thunberg) (hemiptera: heteroptera).	erthesina fullo (thunberg, 1783) is an economically important heteropteran species in china. since only three nucleotide sequences of this species (coi, 16s rrna, and 18s rrna) appear in the genbank database so far, no analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying e. fullo's resistance to insecticide and environmental stress has been accomplished. we reported a de novo assembled and annotated transcriptome for adult e. fullo using the illumina sequence system. a total of 53,359,458 clean reads ...	2015	25955554
population-wide malaria testing and treatment with rapid diagnostic tests and artemether-lumefantrine in southern zambia: a community randomized step-wedge control trial design.	reducing the human reservoir of malaria parasites is critical for elimination. we conducted a community randomized controlled trial in southern province, zambia to assess the impact of three rounds of a mass test and treatment (mtat) intervention on malaria prevalence and health facility outpatient case incidence using random effects logistic regression and negative binomial regression, respectively. following the intervention, children in the intervention group had lower odds of a malaria infec ...	2015	25802434
molecular epidemiology and seroprevalence in asymptomatic plasmodium falciparum infections of malagasy pregnant women in the highlands.	malaria epidemiology in madagascar is classified into four different areas, ranging from unstable seasonal transmission in the highlands to hyperendemic perennial transmission areas in the costal level. most malaria studies in madagascar are focused on symptomatic children. however, because of the low transmission in some areas with correspondingly low level of semi-immunity, adults are also at risk, in particular pregnant women. the objective of this study was to gain information on the genetic ...	2015	25935753
parasites and vectors of malaria on rusinga island, western kenya.	there is a dearth of information on malaria endemicity in the islands of lake victoria in western kenya. in this study malaria prevalence and plasmodium sporozoite rates on rusinga island were investigated. the contribution of different anopheles species to indoor and outdoor transmission of malaria was also determined.	2015	25928743
lymphatic filariasis baseline survey in two sentinel sites of ogun state, nigeria.	in preparation for mass drug administration by national lymphatic filariasis elimination programme, a baseline epidemiological investigation on lymphatic filariasis (lf) was conducted in two sentinel sites of ogun state, nigeria. the study was carried out in ado-odo ota and abeokuta south local government areas (lgas) to determine lf prevalence, microfilarial density and the abundance of wucheraria bancrofti in the mosquito vectors.	2015	26185587
implementation of the integrated management of childhood illness with parasitological diagnosis of malaria in rural ghana: health worker perceptions.	timely and appropriate management of febrile illness among children under five years of age will contribute to achieving millennium development goal-4. the revised world health organization-global malaria programme's policy on test-based management of malaria must integrate effectively into the integrated management of childhood illness (imci). this study reports on perceptions of health workers on the health system factors influencing effective delivery of test-based diagnosis of malaria with i ...	2015	25899509
identification of candidate mimicry proteins involved in parasite-driven phenotypic changes.	endoparasites with complex life cycles are faced with several biological challenges, as they need to occupy various ecological niches throughout their development. host phenotypes that increase the parasite's transmission rate to the next host have been extensively described, but few mechanistic explanations have been proposed to describe their proximate causes. in this study we explore the possibility that host phenotypic changes are triggered by the production of mimicry proteins from the para ...	2015	25888917
malaria risk in nigeria: bayesian geostatistical modelling of 2010 malaria indicator survey data.	in 2010, the national malaria control programme with the support of roll back malaria partners implemented a nationally representative malaria indicator survey (mis), which assembled malaria burden and control intervention related data. the mis data were analysed to produce a contemporary smooth map of malaria risk and evaluate the control interventions effects on parasitaemia risk after controlling for environmental/climatic, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.	2015	25880096