Publications

an insight into the microbiome of the amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae).	the aim of this study was to survey the bacterial diversity of amblyomma maculatum koch, 1844, and characterize its infection with rickettsia parkeri. pyrosequencing of the bacterial 16s rrna was used to determine the total bacterial population in a. maculatum. pyrosequencing analysis identified rickettsia in a. maculatum midguts, salivary glands, and saliva, which indicates successful trafficking in the arthropod vector. the identity of rickettsia spp. was determined based on sequencing the ric ...	24605461
using the dfci gene index databases for biological discovery.	the dfci gene index web pages provide access to analyses of ests and gene sequences for nearly 114 species, as well as a number of resources derived from these. each species-specific database is presented using a common format with a home page. a variety of methods exist that allow users to search each species-specific database. methods implemented currently include nucleotide or protein sequence queries using wu-blast, text-based searches using various sequence identifiers, searches by gene, ti ...	20205187
a catalog for the transcripts from the venomous structures of the caterpillar lonomia obliqua: identification of the proteins potentially involved in the coagulation disorder and hemorrhagic syndrome.	accidents with the caterpillar lonomia obliqua are often associated with a coagulation disorder and hemorrhagic syndrome in humans. in the present study, we have constructed cdna libraries from two venomous structures of the caterpillar, namely the tegument and the bristle. high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed in parallel. over one thousand cdnas were obtained and clustered to produce a database of 538 contigs and singletons (clusters) for the tegument library an ...	16023793
insect seminal fluid proteins: identification and function.	seminal fluid proteins (sfps) produced in reproductive tract tissues of male insects and transferred to females during mating induce numerous physiological and behavioral postmating changes in females. these changes include decreasing receptivity to remating; affecting sperm storage parameters; increasing egg production; and modulating sperm competition, feeding behaviors, and mating plug formation. in addition, sfps also have antimicrobial functions and induce expression of antimicrobial peptid ...	20868282
the potential for adaptive maintenance of diversity in insect antimicrobial peptides.	genes involved in immune defence are among the fastest evolving in the genomes of many species. interestingly, however, genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (amps) have shown little evidence for adaptive divergence in arthropods, despite the centrality of these peptides in direct killing of microbial pathogens. this observation, coupled with a failure to detect phenotypic consequence of genetic variation in amps, has led to the hypothesis that individual amps make minor contributions to overall ...	27160594
neuropeptides in the antennal lobe of the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti.	for many insects, including mosquitoes, olfaction is the dominant modality regulating their behavioral repertoire. many neurochemicals modulate olfactory information in the central nervous system, including the primary olfactory center of insects, the antennal lobe. the most diverse and versatile neurochemicals in the insect nervous system are found in the neuropeptides. in the present study, we analyzed neuropeptides in the antennal lobe of the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti, a major vect ...	23897410
a survival and reproduction trade-off is resolved in accordance with resource availability by virgin female mosquitoes.	the first 2-4 days after an anopheles gambiae female mosquito emerges are critical to her survival and reproductive success. yet, the order of behavioural events (mating, sugar feeding, blood feeding) during this time has received little attention. we discovered that among female cohorts sampled from emergence, sugar feeding had a higher probability than blood feeding of occurring first, and mating rarely occurred before a meal was taken. the night after emergence, 48% of females fed on sugar in ...	21499504
the spread of malaria to southern europe in antiquity: new approaches to old problems.		16021928
a historical perspective on malaria control in brazil.	malaria has always been an important public health problem in brazil. the early history of brazilian malaria and its control was powered by colonisation by europeans and the forced relocation of africans as slaves. internal migration brought malaria to many regions in brazil where, given suitable anopheles mosquito vectors, it thrived. almost from the start, officials recognised the problem malaria presented to economic development, but early control efforts were hampered by still developing pub ...	26517649
malaria in brazil: what happens outside the amazonian endemic region.	brazil, a country of continental proportions, presents three profiles of malaria transmission. the first and most important numerically, occurs inside the amazon. the amazon accounts for approximately 60% of the nation's territory and approximately 13% of the brazilian population. this region hosts 99.5% of the nation's malaria cases, which are predominantly caused by plasmodium vivax (i.e., 82% of cases in 2013). the second involves imported malaria, which corresponds to malaria cases acquired ...	25185003
sterile-insect methods for control of mosquito-borne diseases: an analysis.	effective vector control, and more specifically mosquito control, is a complex and difficult problem, as illustrated by the continuing prevalence (and spread) of mosquito-transmitted diseases. the sterile insect technique and similar methods control certain agricultural insect pest populations in a species-specific, environmentally sound, and effective manner; there is increased interest in applying this approach to vector control. such an approach, like all others in use and development, is not ...	19725763
molecular phylogeny of neotropical anopheles (nyssorhynchus) albitarsis species complex (diptera: culicidae).	a phylogeny was reconstructed for four species belonging to the neotropical anopheles (nyssorhynchus) albitarsis complex using partial sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase i (coi) and nadh dehydrogenase 4 (nd4) genes and the ribosomal dna its2 and d2 expansion region of the 28s subunit. the basis for initial characterization of each member of the complex was by correlated random amplification of polymorphic dna-polymerase chain reaction (rapd-pcr) markers. analyses were carried ou ...	18079976
anopheles darlingi polytene chromosomes: revised maps including newly described inversions and evidence for population structure in manaus.	salivary gland polytene chromosomes of 4th instar anopheles darlingi root were examined from multiple locations in the brazilian amazon. minor modifications were made to existing polytene photomaps. these included changes to the breakpoint positions of several previously described paracentric inversions and descriptions of four new paracentric inversions, two on the right arm of chromosome 3 and two on the left arm of chromosome 3 that were found in multiple locations. a total of 18 inversions o ...	27223867
early origin and adaptive evolution of the gw182 protein family, the key component of rna silencing in animals.	the gw182 proteins are a key component of the mirna-dependent post-transcriptional silencing pathway in animals. they function as scaffold proteins to mediate the interaction of argonaute (ago)-containing complexes with cytoplasmic poly(a)-binding proteins (pabp) and pan2-pan3 and ccr4-not deadenylases. the ago-gw182 complexes mediate silencing of the target mrna through induction of translational repression and/or mrna degradation. although the gw182 proteins are a subject of extensive experime ...	26106978
cloning of the heat shock protein 60 gene from the stem borer, chilo suppressalis, and analysis of expression characteristics under heat stress.	heat shock protein 60 is an important chaperonin. in this paper, hsp60 of the stem borer, chilo suppressalis (walker) (lepidoptera: pyralidae), was cloned by rt-pcr and rapid amplification of cdna end (race) reactions. the full length cdna of hsp6 degrees consisted of 2142 bp, with an orf of 1719 bp, encoding 572 amino acid residues, with a 5'utr of 158 bp and a 3'utr of 265 bp. cluster analysis confirmed that the deduced amino acid sequence shared high identity with the reported sequences from ...	20673188
the sublethal effects of the entomopathic fungus leptolegnia chapmanii on some biological parameters of the dengue vector aedes aegypti.	the mosquito aedes aegypti (l.) (diptera: culicidae) is the primary vector of dengue in the americas. the use of chemical insecticides is recommended during outbreaks of dengue in order to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes; however, because ae. aegypti is highly synanthropic, the use of insecticides in densely populated areas is a dangerous practice. leptolegnia chapmanii seymour (straminipila: peronosporomycetes) is an entomopathogenic microorganism that has demonstrated marked pathogenicit ...	23901823
patterns of genomic differentiation between ecologically differentiated m and s forms of anopheles gambiae in west and central africa.	anopheles gambiae m and s are thought to be undergoing ecological speciation by adapting to different larval habitats. toward an improved understanding of the genetic determinants and evolutionary processes shaping their divergence, we used a 400,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism (snp) genotyping array to characterize patterns of genomic differentiation between four geographically paired m and s population samples from west and central africa. in keeping with recent studies based on more limite ...	23132896
comparative genomics of odorant binding proteins in anopheles gambiae, aedes aegypti, and culex quinquefasciatus.	about 1 million people in the world die each year from diseases spread by mosquitoes, and understanding the mechanism of host identification by the mosquitoes through olfaction is at stake. the role of odorant binding proteins (obps) in the primary molecular events of olfaction in mosquitoes is becoming an important focus of biological research in this area. here, we present a comprehensive comparative genomics study of obps in the three disease-transmitting mosquito species anopheles gambiae, a ...	23292137
insecticide-treated plastic sheeting for emergency malaria prevention and shelter among displaced populations: an observational cohort study in a refugee setting in sierra leone.	a double-blind phase iii malaria prevention trial was conducted in two refugee camps using pre-manufactured insecticide-treated plastic sheeting (itps) or untreated polyethylene sheeting (ups) randomly deployed to defined sectors of each camp. in largo camp the itps or ups was attached to inner walls and ceilings of shelters, whereas in tobanda the itps or ups was used to line only the ceiling and roof. in largo the plasmodium falciparum incidence rate in children up to 3 years of age who were c ...	22855753
genetic diversity of plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein-1 block 2 in sites of contrasting altitudes and malaria endemicities in the mount cameroon region.	the present study analyzed the relationship between the genetic diversity of plasmodium falciparum and parasitologic/entomologic indices in the mount cameroon region by using merozoite surface protein 1 as a genetic marker. blood samples were collected from asymptomatic children from three altitude zones (high, intermediate, and low). parasitologic and entomologic indices were determined by microscopy and landing catch mosquito collection/circumsporozoite protein-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa ...	22556072
effect of swamp cultivation on distribution of anopheline larval habitats in western kenya.	malaria resurgence in highland regions of east africa has been on increase. the spatio-temporal distribution of larval habitats of malaria vectors determines the distribution of adult vectors, hence, disease transmission. vector's ecology is necessary for strategic vector control through effective plan for source reduction. mapping of the larval habitats is necessary for targeted control measures. the purpose of this study is to assess and compare the spatial and seasonal variations in anophelin ...	22898476
seasonal variation in metabolic rate, flight activity and body size of anopheles gambiae in the sahel.	malaria in africa is vectored primarily by the anopheles gambiae complex. although the mechanisms of population persistence during the dry season are not yet known, targeting dry season mosquitoes could provide opportunities for vector control. in the sahel, it appears likely that m-form a. gambiae survive by aestivation (entering a dormant state). to assess the role of eco-physiological changes associated with dry season survival, we measured body size, flight activity and metabolic rate of wil ...	22623189
single-nucleotide polymorphisms for high-throughput genotyping of anopheles arabiensis in east and southern africa.	anopheles arabiensis patton is one of the principal vectors of malaria in sub-saharan africa, occupying a wide variety of ecological zones. this species is increasingly responsible for malaria transmission in africa and is becoming the dominant vector species in some localities. despite its growing importance, little is known about genetic polymorphisms in this species. multiple sequences of various gene fragments from an. arabiensis isolates from cameroon were obtained from genbank. in total, 2 ...	22493848
coalescent patterns for chromosomal inversions in divergent populations.	chromosomal inversions allow genetic divergence of locally adapted populations by reducing recombination between chromosomes with different arrangements. divergence between populations (or hybridization between species) is expected to leave signatures in the neutral genetic diversity of the inverted region. quantitative expectations for these patterns, however, have not been obtained. here, we develop coalescent models of neutral sites linked to an inversion polymorphism in two locally adapted p ...	22201172
elastomeric polypeptides.	elastomeric polypeptides are very interesting biopolymers and are characterized by rubber-like elasticity, large extensibility before rupture, reversible deformation without loss of energy, and high resilience upon stretching. their useful properties have motivated their use in a wide variety of materials and biological applications. this chapter focuses on elastin and resilin - two elastomeric biopolymers - and the recombinant polypeptides derived from them (elastin-like polypeptides and resili ...	21826606
influence of the timing of malaria infection during pregnancy on birth weight and on maternal anemia in benin.	abstract. although consequences of malaria in pregnancy are well known, the period of pregnancy in which infection has the highest impact is still unclear. in benin, we followed up a cohort of 1,037 women through pregnancy until delivery. the objective was to evaluate the relationship between the timing of infection and birth weight, and maternal anemia at delivery. at the beginning of pregnancy, peripheral infections were associated with a decrease in mean birth weight (-98.5 g; p = 0.03) and a ...	21813837
conquering malaria: enhancing the impact of effective interventions towards elimination in the diverse and changing epidemiology.	malaria remains a major global disease burden causing just under a million deaths each year, mainly of children and pregnant women in sub-saharan africa. it consumes up to 40% of public health expenditure of these poor countries, causing in africa us$ 12 billion in lost gdp every year. this should not be acceptable since malaria is preventable, and there is clear evidence that optimal use of current tools can reduce much of the suffering and deaths. three major factors allowing this to happen in ...	21731304
preventing childhood malaria in africa by protecting adults from mosquitoes with insecticide-treated nets.	malaria prevention in africa merits particular attention as the world strives toward a better life for the poorest. insecticide-treated nets (itns) represent a practical means to prevent malaria in africa, so scaling up coverage to at least 80% of young children and pregnant women by 2010 is integral to the millennium development goals (mdg). targeting individual protection to vulnerable groups is an accepted priority, but community-level impacts of broader population coverage are largely ignore ...	17608562
functional classification and central nervous projections of olfactory receptor neurons housed in antennal trichoid sensilla of female yellow fever mosquitoes, aedes aegypti.	mosquitoes are highly dependent on their olfactory system for, e.g. host location and identification of nectar-feeding and oviposition sites. odours are detected by olfactory receptor neurons (orns) housed in hair-shaped structures, sensilla, on the antennae and maxillary palps. in order to unravel the function of the olfactory system in the yellow fever vector, aedes aegypti, we performed single-sensillum recordings from trichoid sensilla on female antennae. these sensilla are divided into four ...	17880395
in-vivo parasitological response to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in pregnant women in southern malawi.	malaria in pregnancy is a significant cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. malawi adopted intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine (sp) for the control of malaria in pregnancy in 1993. however there is little information on the in-vivo sp efficacy in pregnant women. this study was conducted to determine: prevalence of malaria and anaemia at the first antenatal visit and rate of parasitological failure to sp in pregnancy.	23878625
towards abolition of immunogenic structures in insect cells: characterization of a honey-bee (apis mellifera) multi-gene family reveals both an allergy-related core alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase and the first insect lewis-histo-blood-group-related antigen-synthesizing enzyme.	glycoproteins from honey-bee (apis mellifera), such as phospholipase a2 and hyaluronidase, are well-known major bee-venom allergens. they carry n-linked oligosaccharide structures with two types of alpha1,3-fucosylation: the modification by alpha1,3-fucose of the innermost core glcnac, which constitutes an epitope recognized by ige from some bee-venom-allergic patients, and an antennal lewis-like galnacbeta1,4(fucalpha1,3)glcnac moiety. we now report the cloning and expression of two cdnas encod ...	17029591
arrestins: ubiquitous regulators of cellular signaling pathways.	in vertebrates, the arrestins are a family of four proteins that regulate the signaling and trafficking of hundreds of different g-protein-coupled receptors (gpcrs). arrestin homologs are also found in insects, protochordates and nematodes. fungi and protists have related proteins but do not have true arrestins. structural information is available only for free (unbound) vertebrate arrestins, and shows that the conserved overall fold is elongated and composed of two domains, with the core of eac ...	17020596
plotrep: a web tool for defragmentation and visual analysis of dispersed genomic repeats.	identification of dispersed or interspersed repeats, most of which are derived from transposons, retrotransposons or retrovirus-like elements, is an important step in genome annotation. software tools that compare genomic sequences with precompiled repeat reference libraries using sensitive similarity-based methods provide reliable means of finding the positions of fragments homologous to known repeats. however, their output is often incomplete and fragmented owing to the mutations (nucleotide s ...	16845104
evolutionary conservation of the u7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein in drosophila melanogaster.	the u7 snrnp involved in histone rna 3' end processing is related to but biochemically distinct from spliceosomal snrnps. in vertebrates, the sm core structure assembling around the noncanonical sm-binding sequence of u7 snrna contains only five of the seven standard sm proteins. the missing sm d1 and d2 subunits are replaced by u7-specific sm-like proteins lsm10 and lsm11, at least the latter of which is important for histone rna processing. so far, it was unknown if this special u7 snrnp compo ...	14624008
malaria.		12446541
know your enemy: some facts about the natural history of malawi's anopheles mosquitoes and implications for malaria control.	in this article i examine the relevance of environmental control techniques in malawi in the context of what we know about breeding, resting and feeding habits of the common anopheles species. i hope that this article may help to put to rest some common misconceptions concerning anopheles control as a malaria prevention strategy.	27528915
the malaria vectors of the lower shire valley, malawi.	the aim of this study was to characterise breeding sites and climatic factors that influence the abundance of malaria vectors in the lower shire valley, malawi. we regularly sampled adult and larval mosquitoes over the transition periods between the wet and dry seasons during 2000 and 2001. three potential malaria vectors, an. arabiensis, an. gambine sensu stricto and an. funestus, and a fourth non-vector species an. quadriannulatus, were identified. (this is the first record of an. quadriannula ...	27528914
heterogeneities in the transmission of infectious agents: implications for the design of control programs.	from an analysis of the distributions of measures of transmission rates among hosts, we identify an empirical relationship suggesting that, typically, 20% of the host population contributes at least 80% of the net transmission potential, as measured by the basic reproduction number, r0. this is an example of a statistical pattern known as the 20/80 rule. the rule applies to a variety of disease systems, including vector-borne parasites and sexually transmitted pathogens. the rule implies that co ...	8990210
a network population model of the dynamics and control of african malaria vectors.	a more robust assessment of malaria control through mosquito larval habitat destruction will come from a better understanding of the distribution, productivity and connectivity of breeding sites. the present study examines the significance of vector dispersal ability, larval habitat stability and productivity on the persistence and extinction of a mosquito population inhabiting a dynamic network of breeding sites. we use this novel method of vector modelling to show that when dispersal is limite ...	20813387
a behavioral mechanism underlying ecological divergence in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.	disruptive selection mediated by predation on aquatic immature stages has been proposed as a major force driving ecological divergence and fostering speciation between the m and s molecular forms of the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae. in the dry savannahs of west africa where both molecular forms co-occur, the s form thrives in temporary pools filled with rainwater, whereas the m form preferentially breeds in permanent freshwater habitats where predator pressure is higher. here, we ...	22476108
rem1, a new type of long terminal repeat retrotransposon in chlamydomonas reinhardtii.	a new long terminal repeat (ltr) retrotransposon, named rem1, has been identified in the green alga chlamydomonas reinhardtii. it was found in low copy number, highly methylated, and with an inducible transpositional activity. this retrotransposon is phylogenetically related to ty3-gypsy ltr retrotransposons and possesses new and unusual structural features. a regulatory module, orf3p, is present in an inverse transcriptional orientation to that of the polyprotein and contains phd-finger and chr ...	16287873
islands of speciation or mirages in the desert? examining the role of restricted recombination in maintaining species.	over the past decade, many studies documented high genetic divergence between closely related species in genomic regions experiencing restricted recombination in hybrids, such as within chromosomal rearrangements or areas adjacent to centromeres. such regions have been called 'islands of speciation' because of their presumed role in maintaining the integrity of species despite gene flow elsewhere in the genome. here, we review alternative explanations for such patterns. segregation of ancestral ...	19920849
dimorphic olfactory lobes in the arthropoda.	specialized olfactory lobe glomeruli relating to sexual or caste differences have been observed in at least five orders of insects, suggesting an early appearance of this trait in insect evolution. dimorphism is not limited to nocturnal species, but occurs even in insects that are known to use vision for courtship. other than a single description, there is no evidence for similar structures occurring in the crustacea, suggesting that the evolution of dimorphic olfactory systems may typify terres ...	19686183
revisiting the impact of inversions in evolution: from population genetic markers to drivers of adaptive shifts and speciation?	there is a growing appreciation that chromosome inversions affect rates of adaptation, speciation, and the evolution of sex chromosomes. comparative genomic studies have identified many new paracentric inversion polymorphisms. population models suggest that inversions can spread by reducing recombination between alleles that independently increase fitness, without epistasis or coadaptation. areas of linkage disequilibrium extend across large inversions but may be interspersed by areas with littl ...	20419035
effect of a fall in malaria transmission on morbidity and mortality in kilifi, kenya.	as efforts to control malaria are expanded across the world, understanding the role of transmission intensity in determining the burden of clinical malaria is crucial to the prediction and measurement of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce transmission. furthermore, studies comparing several endemic sites led to speculation that as transmission decreases morbidity and mortality caused by severe malaria might increase. we aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in ...	18984188
vasa genes: emerging roles in the germ line and in multipotent cells.	sexually reproducing metazoans establish a cell lineage during development that is ultimately dedicated to gamete production. work in a variety of animals suggests that a group of conserved molecular determinants act in this germ line maintenance and function. the most universal of these genes are vasa and vasa-like dead-box rna helicase genes. however, recent evidence indicates that vasa genes also function in other cell types, distinct from the germ line. here we evaluate our current understan ...	20586054
the behaviour of mosquitoes in relation to humans under holed bednets: the evidence from experimental huts.	the physical integrity of bednets is a concern of national malaria control programs, as it is a key factor in determining the rate of replacement of bednets. it is largely assumed that increased numbers of holes will result in a loss of protection of sleepers from potentially infective bites. experimental hut studies are valuable in understanding mosquito behaviour indoors, particularly as it relates to blood feeding and mortality. this review summarises findings from experimental hut studies, f ...	25410994
multimodal integration of carbon dioxide and other sensory cues drives mosquito attraction to humans.	multiple sensory cues emanating from humans are thought to guide blood-feeding female mosquitoes to a host. to determine the relative contribution of carbon dioxide (co2) detection to mosquito host-seeking behavior, we mutated the aaeggr3 gene, a subunit of the heteromeric co2 receptor in aedes aegypti mosquitoes. gr3 mutants lack electrophysiological and behavioral responses to co2. these mutants also fail to show co2-evoked responses to heat and lactic acid, a human-derived attractant, suggest ...	24581501
comparative susceptibility to permethrin of two anopheles gambiae s.l. populations from southern benin, regarding mosquito sex, physiological status, and mosquito age.	to investigate what kind of mosquito sample is necessary for the determination of insecticide susceptibility in malaria vectors.	25182557
the central role of mosquito cytochrome p450 cyp6zs in insecticide detoxification revealed by functional expression and structural modelling.	the resistance of mosquitoes to chemical insecticides is threatening vector control programmes worldwide. cytochrome p450 monooxygenases (cyps) are known to play a major role in insecticide resistance, allowing resistant insects to metabolize insecticides at a higher rate. among them, members of the mosquito cyp6z subfamily, like aedes aegypti cyp6z8 and its anopheles gambiae orthologue cyp6z2, have been frequently associated with pyrethroid resistance. however, their role in the pyrethroid degr ...	23844938
cloning, expression analysis, and molecular modeling of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor alpha2 subunit gene from the common cutworm, spodoptera litura.	intensive research on the molecule structures of the gamma-nminobutyric acid (gaba) receptor in agricultural pests has great significance to the mechanism investigation, resistance prevention, and molecular design of novel pesticides. the gaba receptor a2 (slgabarα2) subunit gene in spodoptera litura (fabricius) (lepidoptera: noctuidae) was cloned using the technologies of reverse transcription pcr and rapid amplification of cdna ends. the gemonic dna sequence of slgabarα2 has 5164 bp with 8 exo ...	23909412
malaria, clinical features and acute crisis in children suffering from sickle cell disease in resource-limited settings: a retrospective description of 90 cases.	the prevalence of sickle cell disease (scd) is extremely high in the democratic republic of congo (drc). despite the high prevalence of this disease in our midst, there has been no report on the clinical features in the sickle cell pediatric population suffering from malaria in our midst.	23816320
nutrition-dependent control of insect development by insulin-like peptides.	in metazoans, members of the insulin-like peptide (ilp) family play a role in multiple physiological functions in response to the nutritional status. ilps have been identified and characterized in a wide variety of insect species. insect ilps that are mainly produced by several pairs of medial neurosecretory cells in the brain circulate in the hemolymph and act systemically on target tissues. physiological and biochemical studies in lepidoptera and genetic studies in the fruit fly have greatly e ...	26664828
cloning and sequence analysis of chitin synthase gene fragments of demodex mites.	to our knowledge, few reports on demodex studied at the molecular level are available at present. in this study our group, for the first time, cloned, sequenced and analyzed the chitin synthase (chs) gene fragments of demodex folliculorum, demodex brevis, and demodex canis (three isolates from each species) from xi'an china, by designing specific primers based on the only partial sequence of the chs gene of d. canis from japan, retrieved from genbank. results show that amplification was successf ...	23024043
cloning and immunoreactivity of the 5-ht 1mac and 5-ht 2mac receptors in the central nervous system of the freshwater prawn macrobrachium rosenbergii.	biogenic amines are implicated in several mental disorders, many of which involve social interactions. simple model systems, such as crustaceans, are often more amenable than vertebrates for studying mechanisms underlying behaviors. although various cellular responses of biogenic amines have been characterized in crustaceans, the mechanisms linking these molecules to behavior remain largely unknown. observed effects of serotonin receptor agonists and antagonists in abdomen posture, escape respon ...	19184976
unlocking holocentric chromosomes: new perspectives from comparative and functional genomics?	the presence of chromosomes with diffuse centromeres (holocentric chromosomes) has been reported in several taxa since more than fifty years, but a full understanding of their origin is still lacking. comparative and functional genomics are nowadays furnishing new data to better understand holocentric chromosome evolution thus opening new perspectives to analyse karyotype rearrangements in species with holocentric chromosomes in particular evidencing unusual common features, such as the uniform ...	23372420
isoform-specific modulation of the chemical sensitivity of conserved trpa1 channel in the major honeybee ectoparasitic mite, tropilaelaps mercedesae.	we identified and characterized the trpa1 channel of tropilaelaps mercedesae (tmtrpa1), one of two major species of honeybee ectoparasitic mite. three tmtrpa1 isoforms with unique n-terminal sequences were activated by heat, and the isoform highly expressed in the mite's front legs, tmtrpa1b, was also activated by 27 plant-derived compounds including electrophiles. this suggests that the heat- and electrophile-dependent gating mechanisms as nocisensitive trpa1 channel are well conserved between ...	27307515
identification and characterisation of micrornas in young adults of angiostrongylus cantonensis via a deep-sequencing approach.	angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. micrornas (mirnas) are small non-coding rnas that participate in a wide range of biological processes. this study employed a deep-sequencing approach to study mirnas from young adults of a. cantonensis. based on 16,880,456 high-quality reads, 252 conserved mature mirnas including 10 antisense mirnas that belonging to 90 families, together with 10 antisense mirnas ...	24037191
misp is a novel plk1 substrate required for proper spindle orientation and mitotic progression.	precise positioning of the mitotic spindle determines the correct cell division axis and is crucial for organism development. spindle positioning is mediated through a cortical machinery by capturing astral microtubules, thereby generating pushing/pulling forces at the cell cortex. however, the molecular link between these two structures remains elusive. here we describe a previously uncharacterized protein, misp (c19orf21), as a substrate of plk1 that is required for correct mitotic spindle pos ...	23509069
mechanisms and dynamics of orphan gene emergence in insect genomes.	orphan genes are defined as genes that lack detectable similarity to genes in other species and therefore no clear signals of common descent (i.e., homology) can be inferred. orphans are an enigmatic portion of the genome because their origin and function are mostly unknown and they typically make up 10% to 30% of all genes in a genome. several case studies demonstrated that orphans can contribute to lineage-specific adaptation. here, we study orphan genes by comparing 30 arthropod genomes, focu ...	23348040
molecular evolution, structure, and function of peroxidasins.	peroxidasins represent the subfamily 2 of the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily and are closely related to chordata peroxidases (subfamily 1) and peroxinectins (subfamily 3). they are multidomain proteins containing a heme peroxidase domain with high homology to human lactoperoxidase that mediates one- and two-electron oxidation reactions. additional domains of the secreted and glycosylated metalloproteins are type c-like immunoglobulin domains, typical leucine-rich repeats, as well as a von ...	22976969
big data: the future of biocuration.		18769432
invertebrate specific d1-like dopamine receptor in control of salivary glands in the black-legged tick ixodes scapularis.	the control of tick salivary secretion, which plays a crucial role in compromising the host immune system, involves complex neural mechanisms. dopamine is known to be the most potent activator of salivary secretion, as a paracrine/autocrine factor. we describe the invertebrate-specific d1-like dopamine receptor (invd1l), which is highly expressed in tick salivary glands. the invd1l phylogenic clade was found only in invertebrates, suggesting that this receptor was lost in vertebrates during evol ...	24307522
an insight into the sialotranscriptome of triatoma matogrossensis, a kissing bug associated with fogo selvagem in south america.	triatoma matogrossensis is a hemiptera that belongs to the oliveirai complex, a vector of chagas' disease that feeds on vertebrate blood in all life stages. hematophagous insects' salivary glands (sgs) produce potent pharmacologic compounds that counteract host hemostasis, including anticlotting, antiplatelet, and vasodilatory molecules. exposure to t. matogrossensis was also found to be a risk factor associated with the endemic form of the autoimmune skin disease pemphigus foliaceus, which is d ...	22665609
invhogen: a database of homologous invertebrate genes.	classification of proteins into families of homologous sequences constitutes the basis of functional analysis or of evolutionary studies. here we present invertebrate homologous genes (invhogen), a database combining the available invertebrate protein genes from uniprot (consisting of swiss-prot and trembl) into gene families. for each family invhogen provides a multiple protein alignment, a maximum likelihood based phylogenetic tree and taxonomic information about the sequences. it is possible ...	16381884
an operational framework for insecticide resistance management planning.	arthropod vectors transmit organisms that cause many emerging and reemerging diseases, and their control is reliant mainly on the use of chemical insecticides. only a few classes of insecticides are available for public health use, and the increased spread of insecticide resistance is a major threat to sustainable disease control. the primary strategy for mitigating the detrimental effects of insecticide resistance is the development of an insecticide resistance management plan. however, few exa ...	27089119
expression of a toll signaling regulator serpin in a mycoinsecticide for increased virulence.	serpins are ubiquitously distributed serine protease inhibitors that covalently bind to target proteases to exert their activities. serpins regulate a wide range of activities, particularly those in which protease-mediated cascades are active. the drosophila melanogaster serpin spn43ac negatively controls the toll pathway that is activated in response to fungal infection. the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for inse ...	24837378
molecular determinants of odorant receptor function in insects.	the olfactory system of drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful model to study molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying function of a sensory system. in the 1970s siddiqi and colleagues pioneered the application of genetics to olfactory research and isolated several mutant drosophila with odorant-specific defects in olfactory behaviour, suggesting that odorants are detected differentially by the olfactory system. since then basic principles of olfactory system function and development ha ...	25116610
alkaline phosphatase from venom of the endoparasitoid wasp, pteromalus puparum.	using chromogenic substrates 5-bromo-4-chloro-3'-indolyl phosphate and nitro blue tetrazolium, alkaline phosphatase (alpase) was histochemically detected in the venom apparatus of an endoparasitoid wasp, pteromalus puparum l. (hymenoptera: pteromalidae). ultrastructural observations demonstrated its presence in the secretory vesicles and nuclei of the venom gland secretory cells. using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate to measure enzyme activity, the venom alpase was found to be temperature d ...	20575745
a comparative analysis of reproductive biology of insect vectors of human disease.	studying the reproductive strategies of insect species that transmit diseases to humans can identify new exploitable targets for the development of vector control methods. here we describe shared characteristics and individual features of the reproductive biology of three major disease vectors: anopheles gambiae, aedes aegypti and glossina morsitans. current studies are identifying i) species-specific molecular cascades that determine female monandrous behavior, ii) core aspects of egg developme ...	26140265
bracoviruses contain a large multigene family coding for protein tyrosine phosphatases.	the relationship between parasitic wasps and bracoviruses constitutes one of the few known mutualisms between viruses and eukaryotes. the virions produced in the wasp ovaries are injected into host lepidopteran larvae, where virus genes are expressed, allowing successful development of the parasite by inducing host immune suppression and developmental arrest. bracovirus-bearing wasps have a common phylogenetic origin, and contemporary bracoviruses are hypothesized to have been inherited by chrom ...	15542661
functional consequences of mutations in the drosophila histamine receptor hclb.	the gene hclb encodes a histamine-gated chloride channel subunit in drosophila melanogaster. mutations in hclb lead to defects in the visual system and altered sensitivity to the action of ivermectin. to investigate whether this member of the cys-loop receptors is common across the insecta, we analysed the genomes of seven other insect species (diptera, hymenoptera, coleoptera) and revealed orthologues of hclb in all of them. sequence comparisons showed high identity levels between the orthologu ...	19716373
cellular mechanisms of acid secretion in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito (aedes aegypti).	the gut contents of larval mosquitoes are alkalinized by the anterior midgut and reacidified by the posterior midgut. in the present study the cellular mechanisms of reacidification were studied in isolated, perfused posterior midgut by measuring the transepithelial voltage (v(te)) and the rate of acid secretion as indicated by the color change of m-cresol purple during intervals of perfusion stop. the lumen-positive v(te) and reacidification were significantly increased by serotonin (0.2 mumol ...	20038664
accelerated evolution of constraint elements for hematophagic adaptation in mosquitoes.	comparative genomics is a powerful approach that comprehensively interprets the genome. herein, we performed whole genome comparative analysis of 16 diptera genomes, including four mosquitoes and 12 drosophilae. we found more than 540 000 constraint elements (ces) in the diptera genome, with the majority found in the intergenic, coding and intronic regions. accelerated elements (aes) identified in mosquitoes were mostly in the protein-coding regions (>93%), which differs from vertebrates in geno ...	26646568
mosquito-specific microrna-1890 targets the juvenile hormone-regulated serine protease jha15 in the female mosquito gut.	females of the hematophagous mosquito species require a vertebrate blood meal to supply amino acids and other nutrients necessary for egg development, serving as the driving force for the spread of many vector-borne diseases in humans. blood digestion utilizes both early and late phase serine proteases (sps) that are differentially regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. to uncover the regulatory complexity of sps in the female mosquito midgut, we investigated involvemen ...	26488481
dna transposons and the evolution of eukaryotic genomes.	transposable elements are mobile genetic units that exhibit broad diversity in their structure and transposition mechanisms. transposable elements occupy a large fraction of many eukaryotic genomes and their movement and accumulation represent a major force shaping the genes and genomes of almost all organisms. this review focuses on dna-mediated or class 2 transposons and emphasizes how this class of elements is distinguished from other types of mobile elements in terms of their structure, ampl ...	18076328
community based vector control in malindi, kenya.	community involvement has become an important component of the national malaria control strategy in kenya, resulting in the organization of groups charged with addressing mosquito and malaria-related concerns within the community.	17604514
rnai knockdown of a salivary transcript leading to lethality in the pea aphid, acyrthosiphon pisum.	abstract injection of sirna (small interfering rna) into parthenogenetic adult pea aphids (acyrthosiphon pisum) is shown here to lead to depletion of a target salivary gland transcript. the sirna was generated from double stranded rna that covered most of the open reading frame of the transcript, which we have called coo2. the coo2 transcript level decreases dramatically over a 3-day period after injection of sirna. with a lag of 1 to 2 days, the sicoo2-rna injected insects died, on average 8 da ...	20233093
genomic organization and developmental expression of glutathione s-transferase genes of the diamondback moth, plutella xylostella.	in the present study, we cloned and sequenced the entire coding regions of two glutathione s-transferase (gst) genes encoding pxgsts and pxgste from the diamondback moth, plutella xylostella l. (lepidoptera: yponomeutidae), along with their respective 5' and 3' flanking regions. the pxgsts gene was composed of four exons and three introns. based on amino acid identity with gst genes from other insects, this gene was classified as a member of the sigma class. the gene encoding pxgste had an intro ...	20233073
immune pathways and defence mechanisms in honey bees apis mellifera.	social insects are able to mount both group-level and individual defences against pathogens. here we focus on individual defences, by presenting a genome-wide analysis of immunity in a social insect, the honey bee apis mellifera. we present honey bee models for each of four signalling pathways associated with immunity, identifying plausible orthologues for nearly all predicted pathway members. when compared to the sequenced drosophila and anopheles genomes, honey bees possess roughly one-third a ...	17069638
acetylcholinesterase genes within the diptera: takeover and loss in true flies.	it has recently been reported that the synaptic acetylcholinesterase (ache) in mosquitoes is encoded by the ace-1 gene, distinct and divergent from the ace-2 gene, which performs this function in drosophila. this is an unprecedented situation within the diptera order because both ace genes derive from an old duplication and are present in most insects and arthropods. nevertheless, drosophila possesses only the ace-2 gene. thus, a secondary loss occurred during the evolution of diptera, implying ...	17002944
a transcriptome analysis of the aedes aegypti vitellogenic fat body.	aedes (stegomyia) aegypti is an important dengue vector in tropical and subtropical zones throughout the world. a transcriptome of ae. aegypti vitellogenic fat bodies is described here. the fat body is a dynamic tissue that participates in multiple biochemical functions of intermediate metabolism. a total of 589 randomly selected cdnas were assembled into 262 clusters based on their primary sequence similarities. the putative translated proteins were classified into categories based on their fun ...	19537968
light-mediated control of rhodopsin movement in mosquito photoreceptors.	multiple mechanisms contribute to a photoreceptor's ability to adapt to ambient light conditions. the mosquito aedes aegypti expresses the long-wavelength rhodopsin aaop1 in all r1-r6 photoreceptors and most r8 photoreceptors. these photoreceptors alter the cellular location of aaop1 and reorganize their photosensitive rhabdomeric membranes on a daily basis. during daylight periods, aaop1 is excluded from the light-sensitive rhabdomeres and localized to multivesicular bodies (mvbs) within the ph ...	23035078
silencing of molt-regulating transcription factor gene, cihr3, affects growth and development of sugarcane stem borer, chilo infuscatellus.	rna interference (rnai) is a technology for conducting functional genomic studies and a potential tool for crop protection against insect pests. development of reliable methods for production and delivery of double-stranded rna (dsrna) is the major challenge for efficient pest control. in this study, chilo infuscatellus snellen (crambidae: lepidoptera) was fed with cihr3 dsrna expressed in bacteria or synthesized in vitro. the dsrna ingested by c. infuscatellus successfully triggered silencing o ...	23427912
definition of the minimal fragments of sti1 required for dimerization, interaction with hsp70 and hsp90 and in vivo functions.	the molecular chaperone hsp (heat-shock protein) 90 is critical for the activity of diverse cellular client proteins. in a current model, client proteins are transferred from hsp70 to hsp90 in a process mediated by the co-chaperone sti1/hop, which may simultaneously interact with hsp70 and hsp90 via separate tpr (tetratricopeptide repeat) domains, but the mechanism and in vivo importance of this function is unclear. in the present study, we used truncated forms of sti1 to determine the minimal r ...	17300223
biocomputational characterization and evolutionary analysis of bubaline dicer1 enzyme.	dicer, an ribonuclease type iii type endonuclease, is the key enzyme involved in biogenesis of micrornas (mirnas) and small interfering rnas (sirnas), and thus plays a critical role in rna interference through post transcriptional regulation of gene expression. this enzyme has not been well studied in the indian water buffalo, an important species known for disease resistance and high milk production. in this study, the primary coding sequence (5,778 bp) of bubaline dicer (genbank: ab969677.1) w ...	25925065
the impact of genomics on global health.	ensuring that advances in genomics are applied to the health improvement of people living in developing countries is an important contemporary challenge. in the near term, such advances are likely to alleviate infectious diseases, with longer-term benefits envisaged for chronic disorders. to ensure that benefits are shared by developing countries, attention must be paid to complex ethical, legal, social, and economic issues, as well as to public education and engagement. creative and equitable i ...	12084683
two drosophila deg/enac channel subunits have distinct functions in gustatory neurons that activate male courtship.	trimeric sodium channels of the deg/enac family have important roles in neurons, but the specific functions of different subunits present in heteromeric channels are poorly understood. we previously reported that the drosophila deg/enac subunit ppk25 is essential in a small subset of gustatory neurons for activation of male courtship behavior, likely through detection of female pheromones. here we show that, like mutations in ppk25, mutations in another drosophila deg/enac subunit gene, nope, sp ...	22915128
close encounters: contributions of carbon dioxide and human skin odour to finding and landing on a host in aedes aegypti.	in a wind-tunnel study, the upwind flight and source location of female aedes aegypti to plumes of carbon dioxide (co2) gas and odour from human feet is tested. both odour sources are presented singly and in combination. flight upwind along the plumes is evident for both co2 and odour from human feet when the odours are presented alone. likewise, both odour sources are located by more than 70% of mosquitoes in less than 3 min. when both co2 and odour from human feet are presented simultaneously ...	24839345
sexually dimorphic body size and development time plasticity in aedes mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae).	sexual size dimorphism (ssd) in insects often accompanies a sexual difference in development time, sexual bimaturism (sbm).	25663826
origin of ecdysosteroid udp-glycosyltransferases of baculoviruses through horizontal gene transfer from lepidoptera.	baculoviruses infecting lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) encodes an enzyme known as ecdysosteroid udp-glycosyltransferase (egt), which inactivates insect host ecdysosteroid hormones, thereby preventing molt and pupation and permitting a build-up of the viral population within the host. baculovirus egt shows evidence of homology to insect udp-glycosyltransferases, and a phylogenetic analysis supported the closest relative of baculovirus egt are the ugt33 and ugt34 families of lepidopteran udp- ...	24834437
targeting a dual detector of skin and co2 to modify mosquito host seeking.	female mosquitoes that transmit deadly diseases locate human hosts by detecting exhaled co2 and skin odor. the identities of olfactory neurons and receptors required for attraction to skin odor remain a mystery. here, we show that the co2-sensitive olfactory neuron is also a sensitive detector of human skin odorants in both aedes aegypti and anopheles gambiae. we demonstrate that activity of this neuron is important for attraction to skin odor, establishing it as a key target for intervention. w ...	24315103
circadian clock of aedes aegypti: effects of blood-feeding, insemination and rna interference.	mosquitoes are the culprits of some of the most important vector borne diseases. a species' potential as a vector is directly dependent on their pattern of behaviour, which is known to change according to the female's physiological status such as whether the female is virgin/mated and unfed/blood-fed. however, the molecular mechanism triggered by and/or responsible for such modulations in behaviour is poorly understood. clock genes are known to be responsible for the control of circadian behavio ...	24473806
genetic basis of triatomine behavior: lessons from available insect genomes.	triatomines have been important model organisms for behavioural research. diverse reports about triatomine host search, pheromone communication in the sexual, shelter and alarm contexts, daily cycles of activity, refuge choice and behavioural plasticity have been published in the last two decades. in recent times, a variety of molecular genetics techniques has allowed researchers to investigate elaborate and complex questions about the genetic bases of the physiology of insects. this, together w ...	24473804
circadian rhythms in insect disease vectors.	organisms from bacteria to humans have evolved under predictable daily environmental cycles owing to the earth's rotation. this strong selection pressure has generated endogenous circadian clocks that regulate many aspects of behaviour, physiology and metabolism, anticipating and synchronising internal time-keeping to changes in the cyclical environment. in haematophagous insect vectors the circadian clock coordinates feeding activity, which is important for the dynamics of pathogen transmission ...	24473802
aedes aegypti on madeira island (portugal): genetic variation of a recently introduced dengue vector.	the increasing population of aedes aegypti mosquitoes on madeira island (portugal) resulted in the first autochthonous dengue outbreak, which occurred in october 2012. our study establishes the first genetic evaluation based on the mitochondrial dna (mtdna) genes [cytochrome oxidase subunit i (coi) and nadh dehydrogenase subunit 4 (nd4)] and knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations exploring the colonisation history and the genetic diversity of this insular vector population. we included mosquito po ...	24473797
cell biological analysis of mosquito midgut invasion: the defensive role of the actin-based ookinete hood.	successful completion of the plasmodium lifecycle in the mosquito vector is critical for malaria transmission. it has been documented that the fate of plasmodium in the mosquito ultimately depends on a fine interplay of molecular mosquito factors that act as parasite agonists and antagonists. here we investigate whether the cellular responses of the invaded midgut epithelium can also determine the parasite fate and development. we show that the parasite hood, an actin-rich structure formed aroun ...	24428832
a phylogenetic study of drosophila splicing assembly chaperone rnp-4f associated u4-/u6-snrna secondary structure.	the rnp-4f gene in drosophila melanogaster encodes nuclear protein rnp-4f. this encoded protein is represented by homologs in other eukaryotic species, where it has been shown to function as an intron splicing assembly factor. here, rnp-4f is believed to initially bind to a recognition sequence on u6-snrna, serving as a chaperone to facilitate its association with u4-snrna by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. rna conformations are a key factor in spliceosome function, so that elucidation of chang ...	25419488
insights into the preservation of the homomorphic sex-determining chromosome of aedes aegypti from the discovery of a male-biased gene tightly linked to the m-locus.	the preservation of a homomorphic sex-determining chromosome in some organisms without transformation into a heteromorphic sex chromosome is a long-standing enigma in evolutionary biology. a dominant sex-determining locus (or m-locus) in an undifferentiated homomorphic chromosome confers the male phenotype in the yellow fever mosquito aedes aegypti. genetic evidence suggests that the m-locus is in a nonrecombining region. however, the molecular nature of the m-locus has not been characterized. u ...	24398378
the genome of mesobuthus martensii reveals a unique adaptation model of arthropods.	representing a basal branch of arachnids, scorpions are known as 'living fossils' that maintain an ancient anatomy and are adapted to have survived extreme climate changes. here we report the genome sequence of mesobuthus martensii, containing 32,016 protein-coding genes, the most among sequenced arthropods. although m. martensii appears to evolve conservatively, it has a greater gene family turnover than the insects that have undergone diverse morphological and physiological changes, suggesting ...	24129506