Publications

pathogenicity of fusarium oxysporum against the larvae of culex quinquefasciatus (say) and anopheles stephensi (liston) in laboratory.	the entomopathogenic fungi fusarium oxysporum are the next generation mosquito controlling agent. f. oxysporum basically contains unique toxin and can be a selectively good agent in tropical countries. we are reporting here the efficacy of the metabolites of f. oxysporum against the larvae of anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus in the laboratory. f. oxysporum was grown on czapek dox broth. the bioassays were run at five different concentrations (1.30, 1.60, 1.77, 1.90, and 2.00 ppm). ...	2010	20499096
trypsin-like serine proteases in lutzomyia longipalpis--expression, activity and possible modulation by leishmania infantum chagasi.	midgut enzymatic activity is one of the obstacles that leishmania must surpass to succeed in establishing infection. trypsins are abundant digestive enzymes in most insects. we have previously described two trypsin cdnas of l. longipalpis: one (lltryp1) with a bloodmeal induced transcription pattern, the other (lltryp2) with a constitutive transcription pattern. we have now characterized the expression and activity of trypsin-like proteases of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral l ...	2010	20502532
comparison of plasmodium berghei challenge models for the evaluation of pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines and their effect on perceived vaccine efficacy.	the immunological mechanisms responsible for protection against malaria infection vary among plasmodium species, host species and the developmental stage of parasite, and are poorly understood. a challenge with live parasites is the most relevant approach to testing the efficacy of experimental malaria vaccines. nevertheless, in the mouse models of plasmodium berghei and plasmodium yoelii, parasites are usually delivered by intravenous injection. this route is highly artificial and particularly ...	2010	20507620
presence of two alternative kdr-like mutations, l1014f and l1014s, and a novel mutation, v1010l, in the voltage gated na+ channel of anopheles culicifacies from orissa, india.	knockdown resistance in insects resulting from mutation(s) in the voltage gated na+ channel (vgsc) is one of the mechanisms of resistance against ddt and pyrethroids. recently a point mutation leading to leu-to-phe substitution in the vgsc at residue 1014, a most common kdr mutation in insects, was reported in anopheles culicifacies-a major malaria vector in the indian subcontinent. this study reports the presence of two additional amino acid substitutions in the vgsc of an an. culicifacies popu ...	2010	20509922
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine impairs plasmodium falciparum gametocyte infectivity and anopheles mosquito survival.	sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (sp) is currently the drug of choice for intermittent preventive treatment of plasmodium falciparum both in pregnancy and infancy. a prolonged parasite clearance time conferred by dhfr and dhps mutations is believed to be responsible for increased gametocyte prevalence in sp treated individuals. however, using a direct feeding assay in mali, we showed that gametocytes present in peripheral venous blood post-sp treatment had reduced infectivity for anopheles gambiae sens ...	2010	20515695
crystal structure of arginase from plasmodium falciparum and implications for l-arginine depletion in malarial infection .	the 2.15 a resolution crystal structure of arginase from plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes cerebral malaria, is reported in complex with the boronic acid inhibitor 2(s)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (abh) (k(d) = 11 microm). this is the first crystal structure of a parasitic arginase. various protein constructs were explored to identify an optimally active enzyme form for inhibition and structural studies and to probe the structure and function of two polypeptide insertions unique to ...	2010	20527960
cloning, expression and transmission-blocking activity of anti-pvwarp, malaria vaccine candidate, in anopheles stephensi mysorensis.	notwithstanding progress in recent years, a safe, an effective and affordable malaria vaccine is not available yet. ookinete-secreted protein, plasmodium vivax von willebrand factor a domain-related protein (pvwarp), is a candidate for malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (tbvs).	2010	20537198
identification of three single nucleotide polymorphisms in anopheles gambiae immune signaling genes that are associated with natural plasmodium falciparum infection.	laboratory studies have demonstrated that a variety of immune signaling pathways regulate malaria parasite infection in anopheles gambiae, the primary vector species in africa.	2010	20540770
laboratory evaluation of dimethyl phthalate treated wristbands against three predominant mosquito (diptera: culicidae) vectors of disease.	objectives and materials and methods: the repellent efficacy of dimethyl phthalate (dmp) treated wristband was determined against mosquitoes, viz anopheles stephensi liston, aedes aegypti linnaeus, culex quinquefasciatus say at two concentrations viz., 1.5 and 2.0 mg/cm2 under the laboratory conditions. dmp treated wristband had shown variable degrees of repellency impact against different mosquito species. results: its offered higher reduction of man landing rate against anopheles stephensi at ...	2010	20556923
estimating the global clinical burden of plasmodium falciparum malaria in 2007.	the epidemiology of malaria makes surveillance-based methods of estimating its disease burden problematic. cartographic approaches have provided alternative malaria burden estimates, but there remains widespread misunderstanding about their derivation and fidelity. the aims of this study are to present a new cartographic technique and its application for deriving global clinical burden estimates of plasmodium falciparum malaria for 2007, and to compare these estimates and their likely precision ...	2010	20563310
metamorphosis of the malaria parasite in the liver is associated with organelle clearance.	malaria parasites encounter diverse conditions as they cycle between their vertebrate host and mosquito vector. within these distinct environments, the parasite undergoes drastic transformations, changing both its morphology and metabolism. plasmodium species that infect mammals must first take up residence in the liver before initiating red blood cell infection. following penetration into hepatocytes, the parasite converts from an invasion-competent, motile, elongated sporozoite to a metabolica ...	2010	20567259
mosquito-bacteria symbiosis: the case of anopheles gambiae and asaia.	the symbiotic relationship between asaia, an α-proteobacterium belonging to the family acetobacteriaceae, and mosquitoes has been studied mainly in the asian malaria vector anopheles stephensi. thus, we have investigated the nature of the association between asaia and the major afro-tropical malaria vector anopheles gambiae. we have isolated asaia from different wild and laboratory reared colonies of a. gambiae, and it was detected by pcr in all the developmental stages of the mosquito and in al ...	2010	20571792
reduced susceptibility to selected synthetic pyrethroids in urban malaria vector anopheles stephensi: a case study in mangalore city, south india.	synthetic pyrethroids are potent insecticides most commonly used in the vector control programme. these are applied for indoor residual sprays, space sprays and in impregnated bed nets. resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticides. thus, the susceptibility status of the target vector(s) is monitored routinely to select the effective ones. a study was undertaken in a malaria endemic coastal city mangalore, karnataka, south india, against the known malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	2010	20573246
glutathione reductase-null malaria parasites have normal blood stage growth but arrest during development in the mosquito.	malaria parasites contain a complete glutathione (gsh) redox system, and several enzymes of this system are considered potential targets for antimalarial drugs. through generation of a gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-gcs)-null mutant of the rodent parasite plasmodium berghei, we previously showed that de novo gsh synthesis is not critical for blood stage multiplication but is essential for oocyst development. in this study, phenotype analyses of mutant parasites lacking expression of gl ...	2010	20573956
chemotherapy, within-host ecology and the fitness of drug-resistant malaria parasites.	a major determinant of the rate at which drug-resistant malaria parasites spread through a population is the ecology of resistant and sensitive parasites sharing the same host. drug treatment can significantly alter this ecology by removing the drug-sensitive parasites, leading to competitive release of resistant parasites. here, we test the hypothesis that the spread of resistance can be slowed by reducing drug treatment and hence restricting competitive release. using the rodent malaria model ...	2010	20584075
the plasmodium eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha kinase ik2 controls the latency of sporozoites in the mosquito salivary glands.	sporozoites, the invasive form of malaria parasites transmitted by mosquitoes, are quiescent while in the insect salivary glands. sporozoites only differentiate inside of the hepatocytes of the mammalian host. we show that sporozoite latency is an active process controlled by a eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha (eif2alpha) kinase (ik2) and a phosphatase. ik2 activity is dominant in salivary gland sporozoites, leading to an inhibition of translation and accumulation of stalled mrnas into granul ...	2010	20584882
cytogenetic map for anopheles nili: application for population genetics and comparative physical mapping.	anopheles nili is one of the major malaria vectors in africa with a wide geographic distribution. however, the taxonomic and population genetic studies on this species are scarce. new research tools are urgently needed to genetically characterize this important malaria vector. in this study, a high-resolution cytogenetic map was developed for an. nili polytene chromosomes. chromosomes were straightened and subdivided into 46 numbered divisions according to the banding pattern. population analysi ...	2010	20603229
high-resolution cytogenetic map for the african malaria vector anopheles gambiae.	cytogenetic and physical maps are indispensible for precise assembly of genome sequences, functional characterization of chromosomal regions, and population genetic and taxonomic studies. we have created a new cytogenetic map for anopheles gambiae by using a high-pressure squash technique that increases overall band clarity. to link chromosomal regions to the genome sequence, we attached genome coordinates, based on 302 markers of bacterial artificial chromosome, cdna clones, and pcr-amplified g ...	2010	20609021
invasion of mosquito salivary glands by malaria parasites: prerequisites and defense strategies.	the interplay between vector and pathogen is essential for vector-borne disease transmission. dissecting the molecular basis of refractoriness of some vectors may pave the way to novel disease control mechanisms. a pathogen often needs to overcome several physical barriers, such as the peritrophic matrix, midgut epithelium and salivary glands. additionally, the arthropod vector elicites immune responses that can severely limit transmission success. one important step in the transmission of most ...	2010	20621627
activity of a trisubstituted pyrrole in inhibiting sporozoite invasion and blocking malaria infection.	malaria infection is initiated by plasmodium sporozoites infecting the liver. preventing sporozoite infection would block the obligatory first step of the infection and perhaps reduce disease severity. in addition, such an approach would decrease plasmodium vivax hypnozoite formation and therefore disease relapses. here we describe the activity of a trisubstituted pyrrole, 4-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(1-methylpiperidine-4-yl)-1h-pyrrol-3-yl] pyridine, in inhibiting motility, invasion, and consequent ...	2010	20643897
extreme cd8 t cell requirements for anti-malarial liver-stage immunity following immunization with radiation attenuated sporozoites.	radiation-attenuated plasmodium sporozoites (ras) are the only vaccine shown to induce sterilizing protection against malaria in both humans and rodents. importantly, these "whole-parasite" vaccines are currently under evaluation in human clinical trials. studies with inbred mice reveal that ras-induced cd8 t cells targeting liver-stage parasites are critical for protection. however, the paucity of defined t cell epitopes for these parasites has precluded precise understanding of the specific ch ...	2010	20657824
aedes aegypti saliva alters leukocyte recruitment and cytokine signaling by antigen-presenting cells during west nile virus infection.	west nile virus (wnv) is transmitted during mosquito bloodfeeding. consequently, the first vertebrate cells to contact wnv are cells in the skin, followed by those in the draining lymph node. macrophages and dendritic cells are critical early responders in host defense against wnv infection, not just because of their role in orchestrating the immune response, but also because of their importance as sites of early peripheral viral replication. antigen-presenting cell (apc) signals have a profound ...	2010	20661470
activation of akt signaling reduces the prevalence and intensity of malaria parasite infection and lifespan in anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.	malaria (plasmodium spp.) kills nearly one million people annually and this number will likely increase as drug and insecticide resistance reduces the effectiveness of current control strategies. the most important human malaria parasite, plasmodium falciparum, undergoes a complex developmental cycle in the mosquito that takes approximately two weeks and begins with the invasion of the mosquito midgut. here, we demonstrate that increased akt signaling in the mosquito midgut disrupts parasite dev ...	2010	20664791
development of larval thermotolerance and its impact on adult susceptibility to malathion insecticide and plasmodium vivax infection in anopheles stephensi.	the effect of the range of temperature on the thermal adaptation in anopheles stephensi liston 1901 was evaluated in the laboratory. late third instar larvae of an. stephensi were exposed to variable temperatures viz. 37°c, 39°c, 41°c, 43°c and 45°c, and their lethal time to cause 50% mortality (ltm(50)) values were calculated. all larvae survived up to 39°c of exposure. however, at 45°c, they died within 30 min of exposure. pre-exposure to variable temperatures and re-exposure to higher tempera ...	2010	20676682
salivary polytene chromosome map of anopheles darlingi, the main vector of neotropical malaria.	new photomap of anopheles (nyssorhynchus) darlingi root, 1926, is described for a population from guajará-mirim, state of rondonia, brazil. the number of sections in the previous a. darlingi reference map was maintained and new subsections were added to the five chromosome arms. breakage points of paracentric inversions had been previously incorporated into the photomap of this species. an additional inversion is reported, called 3lc, totaling 14 inversions in the a. darlingi chromosome arms. th ...	2010	20682862
influence of climate on malaria transmission depends on daily temperature variation.	malaria transmission is strongly influenced by environmental temperature, but the biological drivers remain poorly quantified. most studies analyzing malaria-temperature relations, including those investigating malaria risk and the possible impacts of climate change, are based solely on mean temperatures and extrapolate from functions determined under unrealistic laboratory conditions. here, we present empirical evidence to show that, in addition to mean temperatures, daily fluctuations in tempe ...	2010	20696913
insecticide control of vector-borne diseases: when is insecticide resistance a problem?	many of the most dangerous human diseases are transmitted by insect vectors. after decades of repeated insecticide use, all of these vector species have demonstrated the capacity to evolve resistance to insecticides. insecticide resistance is generally considered to undermine control of vector-transmitted diseases because it increases the number of vectors that survive the insecticide treatment. disease control failure, however, need not follow from vector control failure. here, we review eviden ...	2010	20700451
correction: activation of akt signaling reduces the prevalence and intensity of malaria parasite infection and lifespan in anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.	malaria (plasmodium spp.) kills nearly one million people annually and this number will likely increase as drug and insecticide resistance reduces the effectiveness of current control strategies. the most important human malaria parasite, plasmodium falciparum, undergoes a complex developmental cycle in the mosquito that takes approximately two weeks and begins with the invasion of the mosquito midgut. here, we demonstrate that increased akt signaling in the mosquito midgut disrupts parasite dev ...	2010	20714345
transgene-mediated suppression of dengue viruses in the salivary glands of the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti.	controlled sex-, stage- and tissue-specific expression of antipathogen effector molecules is important for genetic engineering strategies to control mosquito-borne diseases. adult female salivary glands are involved in pathogen transmission to human hosts and are target sites for expression of antipathogen effector molecules. the aedes aegypti 30k a and 30k b genes are expressed exclusively in adult female salivary glands and are transcribed divergently from start sites separated by 263 nucleoti ...	2010	20738425
production of a transgenic mosquito expressing circumsporozoite protein, a malarial protein, in the salivary gland of anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae).	we are producing a transgenic mosquito, a flying syringe, to deliver a vaccine protein to human beings via the saliva the mosquito deposits in the skin while biting. the mosquito produces a vaccine protein in the salivary gland (sg) and deposits the protein into the host's skin when it takes the host's blood. we chose circumsporozoite protein (csp), currently the most promising malaria vaccine candidate, to be expressed in the sg of anopheles stephensi. to transform the mosquitoes, plasmid conta ...	2010	20802540
replacing adenoviral vector hvr1 with a malaria b cell epitope improves immunogenicity and circumvents preexisting immunity to adenovirus in mice.	although adenovirus (ad) has been regarded as an excellent vaccine vector, there are 2 major drawbacks to using this platform: (a) ad-based vaccines induce a relatively weak humoral response against encoded transgenes, and (b) preexisting immunity to ad is highly prevalent among the general population. to overcome these obstacles, we constructed an ad-based malaria vaccine by inserting a b cell epitope derived from a plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite (cs) protein (referred to as the pycs-b epit ...	2010	20811151
multiple antigen peptide vaccines against plasmodium falciparum malaria.	the multiple antigen peptide (map) approach is an effective method to chemically synthesize and deliver multiple t-cell and b-cell epitopes as the constituents of a single immunogen. here we report on the design, chemical synthesis, and immunogenicity of three plasmodium falciparum map vaccines that incorporated antigenic epitopes from the sporozoite, liver, and blood stages of the life cycle. antibody and cellular responses were determined in three inbred (c57bl/6, balb/c, and a/j) strains, one ...	2010	20823210
naturally occurring triggers that induce apoptosis-like programmed cell death in plasmodium berghei ookinetes.	several protozoan parasites have been shown to undergo a form of programmed cell death that exhibits morphological features associated with metazoan apoptosis. these include the rodent malaria parasite, plasmodium berghei. malaria zygotes develop in the mosquito midgut lumen, forming motile ookinetes. up to 50% of these exhibit phenotypic markers of apoptosis; as do those grown in culture. we hypothesised that naturally occurring signals induce many ookinetes to undergo apoptosis before midgut t ...	2010	20844583
experimental evolution, genetic analysis and genome re-sequencing reveal the mutation conferring artemisinin resistance in an isogenic lineage of malaria parasites.	classical and quantitative linkage analyses of genetic crosses have traditionally been used to map genes of interest, such as those conferring chloroquine or quinine resistance in malaria parasites. next-generation sequencing technologies now present the possibility of determining genome-wide genetic variation at single base-pair resolution. here, we combine in vivo experimental evolution, a rapid genetic strategy and whole genome re-sequencing to identify the precise genetic basis of artemisini ...	2010	20846421
seasonal abundance and host-feeding patterns of anopheline vectors in malaria endemic area of iran.	seasonal abundance and tendency to feed on humans are important parameters to measure for effective control of malaria vectors. the objective of this study was to describe relation between feeding pattern, abundance, and resting behavior of four malaria vectors in southern iran. this study was conducted in ten indicator villages (based on malaria incidence and entomological indices) in mountainous/hilly and plain regions situated south and southeastern iran. mosquito vectors were collected from ...	2010	21559055
molecular evidence for multiple infections as revealed by typing of asaia bacterial symbionts of four mosquito species.	the recent increased detection of acetic acid bacteria (aab) of the genus asaia as symbionts of mosquitoes, such as anopheles spp. and aedes spp., prompted us to investigate the diversity of these symbionts and their relationships in different mosquito species and populations. following cultivation-dependent and -independent techniques, we investigated the microbiota associated with four mosquito species, anopheles stephensi, anopheles gambiae, aedes aegypti, and aedes albopictus, which are impo ...	2010	20851960
molecular genetics evidence for the in vivo roles of the two major nadph-dependent disulfide reductases in the malaria parasite.	malaria-associated pathology is caused by the continuous expansion of plasmodium parasites inside host erythrocytes. to maintain a reducing intracellular milieu in an oxygen-rich environment, malaria parasites have evolved a complex antioxidative network based on two central electron donors, glutathione and thioredoxin. here, we dissected the in vivo roles of both redox pathways by gene targeting of the respective nadph-dependent disulfide reductases. we show that plasmodium berghei glutathione ...	2010	20852334
2-hexadecynoic acid inhibits plasmodial fas-ii enzymes and arrests erythrocytic and liver stage plasmodium infections.	acetylenic fatty acids are known to display several biological activities, but their antimalarial activity has remained unexplored. in this study, we synthesized the 2-, 5-, 6-, and 9-hexadecynoic acids (hdas) and evaluated their in vitro activity against erythrocytic (blood) stages of plasmodium falciparum and liver stages of plasmodium yoelii infections. since the type ii fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (pffas-ii) has recently been shown to be indispensable for liver stage malaria parasites, t ...	2010	20855214
constitutive activation of the midgut response to bacillus thuringiensis in bt-resistant spodoptera exigua.	bacillus thuringiensis is the most effective microbial control agent for controlling numerous species from different insect orders. the main threat for the long term use of b. thuringiensis in pest control is the ability of insects to develop resistance. thus, the identification of insect genes involved in conferring resistance is of paramount importance. a colony of spodoptera exigua (lepidoptera: noctuidae) was selected for 15 years in the laboratory for resistance to xentari™, a b. thuringien ...	2010	20862260
infection of anopheles gambiae mosquitoes with entomopathogenic fungi: effect of host age and blood-feeding status.	physiological characteristics of insects can influence their susceptibility to fungal infection of which age and nutritional status are among the most important. an understanding of host-pathogen interaction with respect to these physiological characteristics of the host is essential if we are to develop fungal formulations capable of reducing malaria transmission under field conditions. here, two independent bioassays were conducted to study the effect of age and blood-feeding status on fungal ...	2010	20872014
development of the malaria parasite in the skin of the mammalian host.	the first step of plasmodium development in vertebrates is the transformation of the sporozoite, the parasite stage injected by the mosquito in the skin, into merozoites, the stage that invades erythrocytes and initiates the disease. the current view is that, in mammals, this stage conversion occurs only inside hepatocytes. here, we document the transformation of sporozoites of rodent-infecting plasmodium into merozoites in the skin of mice. after mosquito bite, ∼50% of the parasites remain in t ...	2010	20921402
larvicidal activity of metabolites from the endophytic podospora sp. against the malaria vector anopheles gambiae.	in a screening for natural products with mosquito larvicidal activities, the endophytic fungus podospora sp. isolated from the plant laggera alata (asteraceae) was conspicuous. two xanthones, sterigmatocystin (1) and secosterigmatocystin (2), and an anthraquinone derivative (3) 13-hydroxyversicolorin b were isolated after fermentation on m(2) medium. these compounds were characterised using spectroscopic and x-ray analysis and examined against third instar larvae of anopheles gambiae. the result ...	2010	20922412
past, present and future research directions with pichia anomala.	the first international pichia anomala symposium provided a survey of past, recent and ongoing research on this yeast. the research community working with this yeast has focussed on several areas. based on molecular data, a revision of the taxonomy is required: the name p. anomala is no longer applicable, as the genus pichia is polyphyletic. the current debate centres on whether the yeast should be designated as wickerhamomyces anomalus or if the previous name, hansenula anomala, should be re-in ...	2010	20924674
plasmodium ovale infection in malaysia: first imported case.	plasmodium ovale infection is rarely reported in malaysia. this is the first imported case of p. ovale infection in malaysia which was initially misdiagnosed as plasmodium vivax.	2010	20929588
reproduction-longevity trade-off in anopheles gambiae (diptera: culicidae).	reduced survival and future reproduction due to of current reproduction is a trade-off known as the cost of reproduction. surprisingly, only a few studies have assessed the cost of reproduction in arthropod disease vectors, despite its effect on longevity, and thus on vectorial capacity. we evaluated the cost of reproduction on survival of anopheles gambiae giles by comparing mosquitoes that were denied exposure to the other sex, hereafter named virgins, and those that were allowed exposure to t ...	2010	20939369
the systematic functional analysis of plasmodium protein kinases identifies essential regulators of mosquito transmission.	although eukaryotic protein kinases (epks) contribute to many cellular processes, only three plasmodium falciparum epks have thus far been identified as essential for parasite asexual blood stage development. to identify pathways essential for parasite transmission between their mammalian host and mosquito vector, we undertook a systematic functional analysis of epks in the genetically tractable rodent parasite plasmodium berghei. modeling domain signatures of conventional epks identified 66 put ...	2010	20951971
a kunitz protease inhibitor from dermacentor variabilis, a vector for spotted fever group rickettsiae, limits rickettsia montanensis invasion.	a defining facet of tick-rickettsia symbioses is the molecular strategy employed by each partner to ensure its own survival. ticks must control rickettsial colonization to avoid immediate death. in the current study, we show that rickettsial abundance in the tick midgut increases once the expression of a kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor from the american dog tick (dermacentor variabilis) (dvkpi) is suppressed by small interfering rna (sirna). a series of in vitro invasion assays suggested t ...	2010	20956566
larvicidal efficacy of medicinal plant extracts against anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae).	mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. natural products of plant origin with insecticidal properties have been used in recent years for control of a variety of pest insects and vectors. the present study was based on assessments of the larvicidal activity to determine the efficacies of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of ten medicinal plants tested against fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, anopheles stephensi listo ...	2010	20962718
evaluation of selected south african ethnomedicinal plants as mosquito repellents against the anopheles arabiensis mosquito in a rodent model.	this study was initiated to establish whether any south african ethnomedicinal plants (indigenous or exotic), that have been reported to be used traditionally to repel or kill mosquitoes, exhibit effective mosquito repellent properties.	2010	21029442
the small gtpase rheb is a key component linking amino acid signaling and tor in the nutritional pathway that controls mosquito egg development.	mosquitoes transmit numerous devastating human diseases because they require blood feeding for egg development. previously, we have shown that the nutritional target-of-rapamycin (tor) pathway mediates blood-meal activation of mosquito reproductive cycles. blood-derived amino acid (aa) signaling through the nutrient-sensitive tor kinase is critical for the transcriptional activation of the major yolk protein precursor (ypp) gene, vitellogenin (vg), initiation of vitellogenesis and egg developmen ...	2010	21035549
ranking of elimination feasibility between malaria-endemic countries.	experience gained from the global malaria eradication program (1955-72) identified a set of shared technical and operational factors that enabled some countries to successfully eliminate malaria. spatial data for these factors were assembled for all malaria-endemic countries and combined to provide an objective, relative ranking of countries by technical, operational, and combined elimination feasibility. the analysis was done separately for plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax, and the li ...	2010	21035838
a physical map for an asian malaria mosquito, anopheles stephensi.	physical mapping is a useful approach for studying genome organization and evolution as well as for genome sequence assembly. the availability of polytene chromosomes in malaria mosquitoes provides a unique opportunity to develop high-resolution physical maps. we report a 0.6-mb-resolution physical map consisting of 422 dna markers hybridized to 379 chromosomal sites of the anopheles stephensi polytene chromosomes. this makes an. stephensi second only to anopheles gambiae in density of a physica ...	2010	21036831
plasmodium falciparum malaria challenge by the bite of aseptic anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: results of a randomized infectivity trial.	experimental infection of malaria-naïve volunteers by the bite of plasmodium falciparum-infected mosquitoes is a preferred means to test the protective effect of malaria vaccines and drugs. the standard model relies on the bite of five infected mosquitoes to induce malaria. we examined the efficacy of malaria transmission using mosquitoes raised aseptically in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cgmps).	2010	21042404
odorant-binding proteins of the malaria mosquito anopheles funestus sensu stricto.	the mosquito anopheles funestus is one of the major malaria vector species in sub-saharan africa. olfaction is essential in guiding mosquito behaviors. odorant-binding proteins (obps) are highly expressed in insect olfactory tissues and involved in the first step of odorant reception. an improved understanding of the function of malaria mosquito obps may contribute to identifying new attractants/repellents and assist in the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly mosquito cont ...	2010	21042539
pseudoxanthomonas icgebensis sp. nov., isolated from the midgut of anopheles stephensi field-collected larvae.	a gram-negative, aerobic, golden yellow, rod-shaped bacterium, a strain designated icgeb-l15(t), was isolated from the larval midgut of anopheles stephensi captured in district jhajjar, haryana, india. the strain icgeb-l15(t) grows at 30-50°c (optimum 30-37°c), ph 6.5-8.5 (optimum 7.0-8.0) and in the presence of 2% nacl. the major fatty acids were iso-c(15:0) (22.5% of total fatty acid), anteiso-c(15:0) (16.5%), iso-c(17:1) 9c (10.3%), iso-c(16:0) (7.3%), c(16:0) (6.1%), and iso-c(11:0) (5.3%). ...	2010	21046337
identification and characterization of a liver stage-specific promoter region of the malaria parasite plasmodium.	during the blood meal of a plasmodium-infected mosquito, 10 to 100 parasites are inoculated into the skin and a proportion of these migrate via the bloodstream to the liver where they infect hepatocytes. the plasmodium liver stage, despite its clinical silence, represents a highly promising target for antimalarial drug and vaccine approaches. successfully invaded parasites undergo a massive proliferation in hepatocytes, producing thousands of merozoites that are transported into a blood vessel t ...	2010	21048918
population biology of malaria within the mosquito: density-dependent processes and potential implications for transmission-blocking interventions.	the combined effects of multiple density-dependent, regulatory processes may have an important impact on the growth and stability of a population. in a malaria model system, it has been shown that the progression of plasmodium berghei through anopheles stephensi and the survival of the mosquito both depend non-linearly on parasite density. these processes regulating the development of the malaria parasite within the mosquito may influence the success of transmission-blocking interventions (tbis) ...	2010	21050427
detection of 1014f kdr mutation in four major anopheline malaria vectors in indonesia.	malaria is a serious public health problem in indonesia, particularly in areas outside java and bali. the spread of resistance to the currently available anti-malarial drugs or insecticides used for mosquito control would cause an increase in malaria transmission. to better understand patterns of transmission and resistance in indonesia, an integrated mosquito survey was conducted in three areas with different malaria endemicities, purworejo in central java, south lampung district in sumatera an ...	2010	21054903
malaria imc1 membrane skeleton proteins operate autonomously and participate in motility independently of cell shape.	plasmodium imc1 (inner membrane complex 1) proteins comprise components of the subpellicular network, a lattice of intermediate filaments that form a structural part of the pellicle in the zoite stages of malaria parasites. family members imc1a and imc1b are differentially expressed in sporozoites and ookinetes, respectively, but have functionally equivalent roles affecting cell morphology, strength, motility, and infectivity. because of the coincident effects of previous imc1 gene disruptions o ...	2010	21098480
efficacy of an insecticide paint against insecticide-susceptible and resistant mosquitoes - part 1: laboratory evaluation.	the main malaria vector anopheles gambiae and the urban pest nuisance culex quinquefasciatus are increasingly resistant to pyrethroids in many african countries. there is a need for new products and strategies. insecticide paint inesfly 5a igr™, containing two organophosphates (ops), chlorpyrifos and diazinon, and insect growth regulator (igr), pyriproxyfen, was tested under laboratory conditions for 12 months following whopes phase i procedures.	2010	21108819
effects of plasmodium gallinaceum on hemolymph physiology of aedes aegypti during parasite development.	insect disease vectors show diminished fecundity when infected with plasmodium. this phenomenon has already been demonstrated in laboratory models such as aedes aegypti, anopheles gambiae and anopheles stephensi. this study demonstrates several changes in physiological processes of a. aegypti occurring upon infection with plasmodium gallinaceum, such as reduced ecdysteroid levels in hemolymph as well as altered expression patterns for genes involved in vitellogenesis, lipid transport and immune ...	2010	21112329
microrna mir-275 is indispensable for blood digestion and egg development in the mosquito aedes aegypti.	the mosquito aedes aegypti is the major vector of arboviral diseases, particularly of dengue fever, of which there are more than 100 million cases annually. mosquitoes, such as a. aegypti, serve as vectors for disease pathogens because they require vertebrate blood for their egg production. pathogen transmission is tightly linked to repeated cycles of obligatory blood feeding and egg maturation. thus, the understanding of mechanisms governing egg production is necessary to develop approaches tha ...	2010	21115818
nonspecific patterns of vector, host and avian malaria parasite associations in a central african rainforest.	malaria parasites use vertebrate hosts for asexual multiplication and culicidae mosquitoes for sexual and asexual development, yet the literature on avian malaria remains biased towards examining the asexual stages of the life cycle in birds. to fully understand parasite evolution and mechanism of malaria transmission, knowledge of all three components of the vector-host-parasite system is essential. little is known about avian parasite-vector associations in african rainforests where numerous s ...	2010	21134011
the function and three-dimensional structure of a thromboxane a2/cysteinyl leukotriene-binding protein from the saliva of a mosquito vector of the malaria parasite.	the highly expressed d7 protein family of mosquito saliva has previously been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory mediator by binding host biogenic amines and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cyslts). in this study we demonstrate that anst-d7l1, a two-domain member of this group from anopheles stephensi, retains the cyslt binding function seen in the homolog aed7 from aedes aegypti but has lost the ability to bind biogenic amines. unlike any previously characterized members of the d7 family, anst-d7l1 h ...	2010	21152418
intradermal immunization of mice with radiation-attenuated sporozoites of plasmodium yoelii induces effective protective immunity.	intravenous injection of mice with attenuated plasmodium berghei sporozoites induces sterile immunity to challenge with viable sporozoites. non-intravenous routes have been reported to yield poor immunity. because intravenous immunization has been considered to be unacceptable for large scale vaccination of humans, assessment was made of the results of intradermal immunization of mice with plasmodium yoelii, a rodent malaria parasite whose infectivity resembles that of human malaria.	2010	21159170
a constitutive pan-hexose permease for the plasmodium life cycle and transgenic models for screening of antimalarial sugar analogs.	glucose is considered essential for erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite, plasmodium falciparum. importance of sugar and its permease for hepatic and sexual stages of plasmodium, however, remains elusive. moreover, increasing global resistance to current antimalarials necessitates the search for novel drugs. here, we reveal that hexose transporter 1 (ht1) of plasmodium berghei can transport glucose (k(m)~87 μm), mannose (k(i)~93 μm), fructose (k(i)~0.54 mm), and galactose (k(i)~5 mm) in l ...	2010	21169382
malaria parasites form filamentous cell-to-cell connections during reproduction in the mosquito midgut.	physical contact is important for the interaction between animal cells, but it can represent a major challenge for protists like malaria parasites. recently, novel filamentous cell-cell contacts have been identified in different types of eukaryotic cells and termed nanotubes due to their morphological appearance. nanotubes represent small dynamic membranous extensions that consist of f-actin and are considered an ancient feature evolved by eukaryotic cells to establish contact for communication. ...	2010	21173797
bacterial endosymbiont localization in hyalesthes obsoletus, the insect vector of bois noir in vitis vinifera.	one emerging disease of grapevine in europe is bois noir (bn), a phytoplasmosis caused by "candidatus phytoplasma solani" and spread in vineyards by the planthopper hyalesthes obsoletus (hemiptera: cixiidae). here we present the first full characterization of the bacterial community of this important disease vector collected from bn-contaminated areas in piedmont, italy. length heterogeneity pcr and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis targeting the 16s rrna gene revealed the presenc ...	2010	21183640
insecticide resistance and malaria transmission: infection rate and oocyst burden in culex pipiens mosquitoes infected with plasmodium relictum.	the control of most vectors of malaria is threatened by the spread of insecticide resistance. one factor that has been hitherto largely overlooked is the potential effects of insecticide resistance on the ability of mosquitoes to transmit malaria: are insecticide-resistant mosquitoes as good vectors of plasmodium as susceptible ones? the drastic physiological changes that accompany the evolution of insecticide resistance may indeed alter the ability of vectors to transmit diseases, a possibility ...	2010	21194433
transfection and mutagenesis of target genes in mosquito cells by locked nucleic acid-modified oligonucleotides.	plasmodium parasites, the causative agent of malaria, are transmitted through the bites of infected anopheles mosquitoes resulting in over 250 million new infections each year. despite decades of research, there is still no vaccine against malaria, highlighting the need for novel control strategies. one innovative approach is the use of genetically modified mosquitoes to effectively control malaria parasite transmission. deliberate alterations of cell signaling pathways in the mosquito, via targ ...	2010	21206476
molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of an estrogen receptor-related receptor homologue in the cricket, teleogryllus emma.	the estrogen receptor-related receptors (errs) are a group of nuclear receptors that were originally identified on the basis of sequence similarity to estrogen receptors. the three mammalian err genes have been implicated in diverse physiological processes ranging from placental development to maintenance of bone density, but the function and regulation of errs in invertebrates are not well understood. a homologue of human err was isolated from the cricket teleogryllus emma (ohmachi and matsumur ...	2010	21265615
effects of andrographis paniculata nees on growth, development and reproduction of malarial vector anopheles stephensi liston (diptera: culicidae).	the use of environment friendly and easily biodegradable natural insecticides of plant origin has received progressively more attention as insecticide alternatives for the control of medically important mosquito vectors. the ethanol and methanol extracts of andrographis paniculata nees were evaluated for its effects on growth, development and reproduction of malarial vector anopheles stephensi liston. after 8 days of treatment, 88.60 and 85.25% of the larvae treated at 35p.p.m. failed to emerge ...	2010	21399593
larvicidal efficacy of latex and extract of calotropis procera (gentianales: asclepiadaceae) against culex quinquefasciatus and anopheles stephensi (diptera: culicidae).		2010	20834091
chemical composition and larvicidal activity of the essential oil of plectranthus amboinicus (lour.) spreng against anopheles stephensi: a malarial vector mosquito.	essential oil of plectranthus amboinicus was studied for its chemical composition and larvicidal potential against the malarial vector mosquito anopheles stephensi. totally 26 compounds were identified by gc and gc-ms. the major chemical compounds were carvacrol (28.65%) followed by thymol (21.66%), α-humulene (9.67%), undecanal (8.29%), γ-terpinene (7.76%), ρ-cymene (6.46%), caryophyllene oxide (5.85%), α-terpineol (3.28%) and β-selinene (2.01%). the larvicidal assay was conducted to record the ...	2010	20668876
induced chromosomal aberrations and linkage group-chromosome correlation in anopheles stephensi.	genetic and cytogenetic investigations of 14 strains of anopheles stephensi with induced chromosomal aberrations have resulted in the assignment of the three linkage groups to their respective chromosomes. in addition, the correlation between the ovarian polytene chromosomes and the mitotic chromosomes was demonstrated. indirect evidence for the presence of heterochromatic segments in the chromosomal complement was found.	2010	6886374
linkage group iii in the malaria vector, anopheles stephensi.	the linkage relationships among four loci in linkage group iii of anopheles stephensi liston have been investigated. the data indicate that the sequence is sp-dp-bl-dl, and the observed recombination frequencies are as follows: sp-dp = 35.88 percent, dp-bl = 19.48 percent, bl-dl = 21.77 percent, and sp-dl = 77.13 percent.	2010	7153498
evaluation of indigenous plant extracts against the malarial vector, anopheles stephensi (liston) (diptera: culicidae).	since ancient times, plant and microbial products were used in various aspects. however, their use against insects decreased when chemical products became developed. recently, concerns increased with respect to public health and environmental security requiring detection of natural products that may be used against insects. in this study, mosquito larvicidal and ovicidal activity of crude hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, chloroform, and methanol extracts of the leaf of three plants, eclipta alba, ...	2011	21181188
in vitro isolation and characterization of biolarvicidal compounds from micropropagated plants of spilanthes acmella.	spilanthes acmella (family: asteraceae) commonly known as "toothache plant" is known to possess strong insecticidal and larvicidal properties. experiments have been conducted to isolate and characterise the biolarvicidal compounds from the flower head extract of micropropagated s. acmella plants employing various tools like ft-ir, tlc, cc, nmr. ft-ir spectroscopy of the crude hexane extract sample revealed the presence of amide (secondary metabolite) as functional group in s. acmella flower head ...	2011	20859747
effect of leaf essential oil of coccinia indica on egg hatchability and different larval instars of malarial mosquito anopheles stephensi.	to assess the larvicidal and egg hatching inhibition property of the leaf essential oil of coccinia indica (c. indica) against anopheles stephensi (an. stephensi).	2011	22118029
mosquito adulticidal and repellent activities of botanical extracts against malarial vector, anopheles stephensi liston (diptera: culicidae).	to determine the adulticidal and repellent activities of different solvent leaf extracts of eclipta alba (e. alba) and andrographis paniculata (a. paniculata) against malarial vector, anopheles stephensi (an. stephensi).	2011	22118028
salivary gland transcriptome analysis in response to sugar feeding in malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	in this study, we analyzed a small scale transcriptome of salivary glands in sugar fed female mosquitoes. thirty five percent of the transcripts could not be assigned a function. some of them may code for salivary gland specific products involved in sugar feeding. we identified and characterized two new putative cdnas encoding a sugar transporter and a camp generating dapit (diabetes-associated proteins in insulin sensitive tissues). down regulation of these two cdnas in response to blood feedin ...	2011	21787783
status of carbohydrate, protein and lipid profile in the mosquito larvae treated with certain phytoextracts.	to investigate the impact of the most potent petroleum ether extract of artemisia annua (a. annua) and azadirachta indica (az. indica) on total carbohydrate, lipid and protein level of anopheles stephensi and culex quinquefasciatus larvae.	2011	21771474
in vitro larvicidal potential against anopheles stephensi and antioxidative enzyme activities of ginkgo biloba, stevia rebaudiana and parthenium hysterophorous.	to investigate in vitro larvicidal and antioxidant enzymes potential of the medicinal plants ginkgo biloba (g. biloba), stevia rebaudiana (s. rebaudiana) and parthenium hysterophorous (p. hysterophorous) against anopheles stephensi (an. stephensi) 4th instars larvae.	2011	21771447
breeding propensity of anopheles stephensi in chlorinated and rainwater containers in kolkata city, india.		2011	21406739
wash resistance and efficacy of olyset net and permanet 2.0 against anopheles stephensi in india.	long-lasting insecticidal nets (llin) have been developed for wash resistance and long-lasting effects against mosquito vectors. in this study we evaluated 2 llin products, olyset net and permanet 2.0, washed for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 times, against anopheles stephensi, an urban malaria vector in india. we assessed the wash resistance and efficacy of these nets in relation to bloodfeeding inhibition and percent mortality in cone and tunnel test bioassays. both olyset and permanet showed >80% mort ...	2011	22329276
larvicidal activity of marine algae, sargassum swartzii and chondria dasyphylla, against malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	the objective of this study was to evaluate larvicidal activity of native marine algae against main malaria vector anopheles stephensi.	2011	22297288
chlorfenapyr: a new insecticide with novel mode of action can control pyrethroid resistant malaria vectors.	malaria vectors have acquired widespread resistance to many of the currently used insecticides, including synthetic pyrethroids. hence, there is an urgent need to develop alternative insecticides for effective management of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. in the present study, chlorfenapyr was evaluated against anopheles culicifacies and anopheles stephensi for its possible use in vector control.	2011	21266037
site-specific integration and expression of an anti-malarial gene in transgenic anopheles gambiae significantly reduces plasmodium infections.	diseases transmitted by mosquitoes have a devastating impact on global health and this is worsening due to difficulties with existing control measures and climate change. genetically modified mosquitoes that are refractory to disease transmission are seen as having great potential in the delivery of novel control strategies. historically the genetic modification of insects has relied upon transposable elements which have many limitations despite their successful use. to circumvent these limitati ...	2011	21283619
evidence that mutant pfcrt facilitates the transmission to mosquitoes of chloroquine-treated plasmodium gametocytes.	resistance of the human malarial parasite plasmodium falciparum to the antimalarial drug chloroquine has rapidly spread from several independent origins and is now widely prevalent throughout the majority of malaria-endemic areas. field studies have suggested that chloroquine-resistant strains might be more infective to mosquito vectors. to test the hypothesis that the primary chloroquine resistance determinant, mutations in pfcrt, facilitates parasite transmission under drug pressure, we have i ...	2011	21288823
development of a new version of the liverpool malaria model. i. refining the parameter settings and mathematical formulation of basic processes based on a literature review.	a warm and humid climate triggers several water-associated diseases such as malaria. climate- or weather-driven malaria models, therefore, allow for a better understanding of malaria transmission dynamics. the liverpool malaria model (lmm) is a mathematical-biological model of malaria parasite dynamics using daily temperature and precipitation data. in this study, the parameter settings of the lmm are refined and a new mathematical formulation of key processes related to the growth and size of t ...	2011	21314922
mosquito larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent properties of botanical extracts against anopheles stephensi, aedes aegypti, and culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae).	mosquito-borne diseases have an economic impact, including loss in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates; however, no part of the world is free from vector-borne diseases. in mosquito control programs, botanical origin may have the potential to be used successfully as eggs, larvae, and adult. the larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent activities of crude benzene and ethyl acetate extracts of leaf of ervatamia coronaria and caesalpinia pulcher ...	2011	21318385
energy metabolism affects susceptibility of anopheles gambiae mosquitoes to plasmodium infection.	previous studies showed that anopheles gambiae l3-5 females, which are refractory (r) to plasmodium infection, express higher levels of genes involved in redox-metabolism and mitochondrial respiration than susceptible (s) g3 females. our studies revealed that r females have reduced longevity, faster utilization of lipid reserves, impaired mitochondrial state-3 respiration, increased rate of mitochondrial electron leak and higher expression levels of several glycolytic enzyme genes. furthermore, ...	2011	21320598
analysis of two novel midgut-specific promoters driving transgene expression in anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.	tissue-specific promoters controlling the expression of transgenes in anopheles mosquitoes represent a valuable tool both for studying the interaction between these malaria vectors and the plasmodium parasites they transmit and for novel malaria control strategies based on developing plasmodium-refractory mosquitoes by expressing anti-parasitic genes. with this aim we have studied the promoter regions of two genes from the most important malaria vector, anopheles gambiae, whose expression is str ...	2011	21326609
development of metarhizium anisopliae and beauveria bassiana formulations for control of malaria mosquito larvae.	the entomopathogenic fungi metarhizium anisopliae and beauveria bassiana have demonstrated effectiveness against anopheline larvae in the laboratory. however, utilising these fungi for the control of anopheline larvae under field conditions, relies on development of effective means of application as well as reducing their sensitivity to uv radiation, high temperatures and the inevitable contact with water. this study was conducted to develop formulations that facilitate the application of metarh ...	2011	21342492
cutting edge: attrition of plasmodium-specific memory cd8 t cells results in decreased protection that is rescued by booster immunization.	sterile protection against infection with plasmodium sporozoites requires high numbers of memory cd8 t cells. however, infections with unrelated pathogens, as may occur in areas endemic to malaria, can dramatically decrease pre-existing memory cd8 t cells. it remains unknown whether unrelated infections will compromise numbers of plasmodium-specific memory cd8 t cells and thus limit the duration of antimalarial immunity generated by subunit vaccination. we show that p. berghei circumsporozoite-s ...	2011	21357257
inhibitory effect of tnf-+¦ on malaria pre-erythrocytic stage development: influence of host hepatocyte/parasite combinations.	the liver stages of malaria parasites are inhibited by cytokines such as interferon-+¦ or interleukin (il)-6. binding of these cytokines to their receptors at the surface of the infected hepatocytes leads to the production of nitric oxide (no) and radical oxygen intermediates (roi), which kill hepatic parasites. however, conflicting results were obtained with tnf-+¦ possibly because of differences in the models used. we have reassessed the role of tnf-+¦ in the different cellular systems used to ...	2011	21394207
anopheles stephensi saliva enhances progression of cerebral malaria in a murine model.	malaria accounts for the greatest morbidity and mortality of any arthropod-borne disease globally. recently, it was determined that the protective antisporozoite cd8+ t-cell response originates predominantly from cutaneous lymph nodes draining the site of parasite inoculation by an anopheles mosquito. the female mosquito inoculates sporozoites along with an assortment of salivary proteins into the skin of its mammalian host. mosquito saliva has demonstrable antihemostatic as well as various immu ...	2011	21395422
use of a selective inhibitor to define the chemotherapeutic potential of the plasmodial hexose transporter in different stages of the parasite's life cycle.	during blood infection, malarial parasites use d-glucose as their main energy source. the plasmodium falciparum hexose transporter (pfht), which mediates the uptake of d-glucose into parasites, is essential for survival of asexual blood-stage parasites. recently, genetic studies in the rodent malaria model, plasmodium berghei, found that the orthologous hexose transporter (pbht) is expressed throughout the parasite's development within the mosquito vector, in addition to being essential during i ...	2011	21402842
reactive oxygen species scavenging by catalase is important for female lutzomyia longipalpis fecundity and mortality.	the phlebotomine sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl), the disseminated and most serious form of the disease in central and south america. in the natural environment, most female l. longipalpis are thought to survive for less than 10 days and will feed on blood only once or twice during their lifetime. successful transmission of parasites occurs when a leishmania-infected female sand fly feeds on a new host. knowledge of factors aff ...	2011	21408075
identification of two new protective pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine antigen candidates.	despite years of effort, a licensed malaria vaccine is not yet available. one of the obstacles facing the development of a malaria vaccine is the extensive heterogeneity of many of the current malaria vaccine antigens. to counteract this antigenic diversity, an effective malaria vaccine may need to elicit an immune response against multiple malaria antigens, thereby limiting the negative impact of variability in any one antigen. since most of the malaria vaccine antigens that have been evaluated ...	2011	21410955