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underestimating malaria risk under variable temperatures. 200919706496
simple and fast classification of non-ltr retrotransposons based on phylogeny of their rt domain protein sequences.rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes requires fast and accurate computational tools for analysis of different transposable elements (tes). in this paper we focus on a rapid and reliable procedure for classification of autonomous non-ltr retrotransposons based on alignment and clustering of their reverse transcriptase (rt) domains. typically, the rt domain protein sequences encoded by different non-ltr retrotransposons are similar to each other in terms of significant blastp e-values. ther ...200919651192
origin and evolution of y chromosomes: drosophila tales.classically, y chromosomes are thought to originate from x chromosomes through a process of degeneration and gene loss. now, the availability of 12 drosophila genomes provides an opportunity to study the origin and evolution of y chromosomes in an informative phylogenetic context. surprisingly, the majority of drosophila y-linked genes are recent acquisitions from autosomes and y chromosome gene gains are more frequent than gene losses. moreover, the drosophila pseudoobscura y chromosome lacks h ...200919443075
identification, distribution and molecular evolution of the pacifastin gene family in metazoa.members of the pacifastin family are serine peptidase inhibitors, most of which are produced as multi domain precursor proteins. structural and biochemical characteristics of insect pacifastin-like peptides have been studied intensively, but only one inhibitor has been functionally characterised. recent sequencing projects of metazoan genomes have created an unprecedented opportunity to explore the distribution, evolution and functional diversification of pacifastin genes in the animal kingdom.200919435517
towards evolution-proof malaria control with insecticides.as many strategies to control malaria use insecticides against adult mosquitoes, control is undermined by the continual evolution of resistant mosquitoes. here we suggest that using alternative insecticides, or conventional insecticides in alternative ways might enable effective control, but delay considerably or prevent the evolution of resistance. our reasoning relies on an epidemiological and an evolutionary principle: (i) the epidemiology of malaria is strongly influenced by the life-span of ...200925567892
the cytochrome p450 (cyp) gene superfamily in daphnia pulex.cytochrome p450s (cyps) in animals fall into two categories: those that synthesize or metabolize endogenous molecules and those that interact with exogenous chemicals from the diet or the environment. the latter form a critical component of detoxification systems.200919383150
insights into long-lasting protection induced by rts,s/as02a malaria vaccine: further results from a phase iib trial in mozambican children.the pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine rts,s/as02a has shown to confer protection against clinical malaria for at least 21 months in a trial in mozambican children. efficacy varied between different endpoints, such as parasitaemia or clinical malaria; however the underlying mechanisms that determine efficacy and its duration remain unknown. we performed a new, exploratory analysis to explore differences in the duration of protection among participants to better understand the protection afforded b ...200919365567
imgd: an integrated platform supporting comparative genomics and phylogenetics of insect mitochondrial genomes.sequences and organization of the mitochondrial genome have been used as markers to investigate evolutionary history and relationships in many taxonomic groups. the rapidly increasing mitochondrial genome sequences from diverse insects provide ample opportunities to explore various global evolutionary questions in the superclass hexapoda. to adequately support such questions, it is imperative to establish an informatics platform that facilitates the retrieval and utilization of available mitocho ...200919351385
molecular and functional characterization of adipokinetic hormone receptor and its peptide ligands in bombyx mori.neuropeptides of the adipokinetic hormone (akh) family are among the best studied hormone peptides, but its signaling pathways remain to be elucidated. in this study, we molecularly characterized the signaling of bombyx akh receptor (akhr) and its peptide ligands in hek293 cells. in hek293 cells stably expressing akhr, akh1 stimulation not only led to a ligand concentration dependent mobilization of intracellular ca(2+) and camp accumulation, but also elicited transient activation of extracellul ...200919345219
mitochondrial pseudogenes in the nuclear genome of aedes aegypti mosquitoes: implications for past and future population genetic studies.mitochondrial dna (mtdna) is widely used in population genetic and phylogenetic studies in animals. however, such studies can generate misleading results if the species concerned contain nuclear copies of mtdna (numts) as these may amplify in addition to, or even instead of, the authentic target mtdna. the aim of this study was to determine if numts are present in aedes aegypti mosquitoes, to characterise any numts detected, and to assess the utility of using mtdna for population genetics studie ...200919267896
household possession, use and non-use of treated or untreated mosquito nets in two ecologically diverse regions of nigeria--niger delta and sahel savannah.current use of treated mosquito nets for the prevention of malaria falls short of what is expected in sub-saharan africa (ssa), though research within the continent has indicated that the use of these commodities can reduce malaria morbidity by 50% and malaria mortality by 20%. governments in sub-sahara africa are investing substantially in scaling-up treated mosquito net coverage for impact. however, certain significant factors still prevent the use of the treated mosquito nets, even among thos ...200919228422
characterization of the yellow fever mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 like 3 gene and ligand-bound protein structure.the sterol carrier protein-2 like 3 gene (aescp-2l3), a new member of the scp-2 protein family, is identified from the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti. the predicted molecular weight of aescp-2l3 is 13.4 kda with a calculated pi of 4.98. aescp-2l3 transcription occurs in the larval feeding stages and the mrna levels decrease in pupae and adults. the highest levels of aescp-2l3 gene expression are found in the body wall, and possibly originated in the fat body. this is the first report of a ...200919130179
cryptic species within anopheles longipalpis from southern africa and phylogenetic comparison with members of the an. funestus group.house-resting anopheles mosquitoes are targeted for vector control interventions; however, without proper species identification, the importance of these anopheles to malaria transmission is unknown. anopheles longipalpis, a non-vector species, has been found in significant numbers resting indoors in houses in southern zambia, potentially impacting on the utilization of scarce resources for vector control. the identification of an. longipalpis is currently based on classical morphology using min ...200818715522
microsatellite data suggest significant population structure and differentiation within the malaria vector anopheles darlingi in central and south america.anopheles darlingi is the most important malaria vector in the neotropics. an understanding of a. darlingi's population structure and contemporary gene flow patterns is necessary if vector populations are to be successfully controlled. we assessed population genetic structure and levels of differentiation based on 1,376 samples from 31 localities throughout the peruvian and brazilian amazon and central america using 5-8 microsatellite loci.200818366795
spatial effects of mosquito bednets on child mortality.insecticide treated nets (itn) have been proven to be an effective tool in reducing the burden of malaria. few randomized clinical trials examined the spatial effect of itns on child mortality at a high coverage level, hence it is essential to better understand these effects in real-life situation with varying levels of coverage. we analyzed for the first time data from a large follow-up study in an area of high perennial malaria transmission in southern tanzania to describe the spatial effects ...200818854021
integrated vector management: the zambian experience.the zambian malaria control programme with the roll back malaria (rbm) partners have developed the current national malaria strategic plan (nmsp 2006-2011) which focuses on prevention based on the integrated vector management (ivm) strategy. the introduction and implementation of an ivm strategy was planned in accordance with the world health organization (who) steps towards ivm implementation namely introduction phase, consolidation phase and expansion phase.200818752658
unforeseen misuses of bed nets in fishing villages along lake victoria.to combat malaria, the kenya ministry of health and nongovernmental organizations (ngos) have distributed insecticide-treated nets (itns) for use over beds, with coverage for children under five years of age increasing rapidly. nevertheless, residents of fishing villages have started to use these bed nets for drying fish and fishing in lake victoria. this study investigated the extent of bed net misuse in fishing villages.200818752662
malaria incidence in limpopo province, south africa, 1998-2007.malaria is endemic in the low-altitude areas of the northern and eastern parts of south africa with seasonal transmission. the aim of this descriptive study is to give an overview of the malaria incidence and mortality in limpopo province for the seasons 1998-1999 to 2006-2007 and to detect trends over time and place.200818724866
markets, voucher subsidies and free nets combine to achieve high bed net coverage in rural tanzania.tanzania has a well-developed network of commercial itn retailers. in 2004, the government introduced a voucher subsidy for pregnant women and, in mid 2005, helped distribute free nets to under-fives in small number of districts, including rufiji on the southern coast, during a child health campaign. contributions of these multiple insecticide-treated net delivery strategies existing at the same time and place to coverage in a poor rural community were assessed.200818518956
spatio-seasonal modeling of the incidence rate of malaria in mozambique.the objective was to study the seasonal effect on the spatial distribution of the incidence of malaria in children under 10 years old living in the manhiça district, mozambique.200818976458
multiple waves of recent dna transposon activity in the bat, myotis lucifugus.dna transposons, or class 2 transposable elements, have successfully propagated in a wide variety of genomes. however, it is widely believed that dna transposon activity has ceased in mammalian genomes for at least the last 40 million years. we recently reported evidence for the relatively recent activity of hat and helitron elements, two distinct groups of dna transposons, in the lineage of the vespertilionid bat myotis lucifugus. here, we describe seven additional families that have also been ...200818340040
analysis of repetitive dna distribution patterns in the tribolium castaneum genome.insect genomes vary widely in size, a large fraction of which is often devoted to repetitive dna. re-association kinetics indicate that up to 42% of the genome of the red flour beetle, tribolium castaneum, is repetitive. analysis of the abundance and distribution of repetitive dna in the recently sequenced genome of t. castaneum is important for understanding the structure and function of its genome.200818366801
snps and hox gene mapping in ciona intestinalis.the tunicate ciona intestinalis (enterogona, ascidiacea), a major model system for evolutionary and developmental genetics of chordates, harbours two cryptic species. to assess the degree of intra- and inter-specific genetic variability, we report the identification and analysis of c. intestinalis snp (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers. a snp subset was used to determine the genetic distance between hox-5 and -10 genes.200818221512
revealing pancrustacean relationships: phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal protein genes places collembola (springtails) in a monophyletic hexapoda and reinforces the discrepancy between mitochondrial and nuclear dna markers.in recent years, several new hypotheses on phylogenetic relations among arthropods have been proposed on the basis of dna sequences. one of the challenged hypotheses is the monophyly of hexapods. this discussion originated from analyses based on mitochondrial dna datasets that, due to an unusual positioning of collembola, suggested that the hexapod body plan evolved at least twice. here, we re-evaluate the position of collembola using ribosomal protein gene sequences.200818366624
an insight into the sialotranscriptome of the non-blood feeding toxorhynchites amboinensis mosquito.all adult mosquitoes take sugar meals, and most adult females also take blood meals to develop eggs. salivary glands (sg) of males are thus much smaller and do not contain many of the antihemostatic and antiinflammatory compounds found in females. in the past 5 years, transcriptome analyses have identified nearly 70 different genes expressed in adult female sg. for most of these, no function can be assigned in either blood or sugar feeding. exceptionally, toxorhynchites mosquitoes are unusual in ...200818405828
exploring the origin and degree of genetic isolation of anopheles gambiae from the islands of são tomé and príncipe, potential sites for testing transgenic-based vector control.the evolutionary processes at play between island and mainland populations of the malaria mosquito vector anopheles gambiae sensu stricto are of great interest as islands may be suitable sites for preliminary application of transgenic-based vector control strategies. são tomé and príncipe, located off the west african coast, have received such attention in recent years. this study investigates the degree of isolation of an. gambiae s.s. populations between these islands and the mainland based on ...200825567803
comparative genomics of small rna regulatory pathway components in vector mosquitoes.small rna regulatory pathways (srrps) control key aspects of development and anti-viral defense in metazoans. members of the argonaute family of catalytic enzymes degrade target rnas in each of these pathways. srrps include the microrna, small interfering rna (sirna) and piwi-type gene silencing pathways. mosquitoes generate viral sirnas when infected with rna arboviruses. however, in some mosquitoes, arboviruses survive antiviral rna interference (rnai) and are transmitted via mosquito bite to ...200818801182
gene expression studies in mosquitoes.research on gene expression in mosquitoes is motivated by both basic and applied interests. studies of genes involved in hematophagy, reproduction, olfaction, and immune responses reveal an exquisite confluence of biological adaptations that result in these highly-successful life forms. the requirement of female mosquitoes for a bloodmeal for propagation has been exploited by a wide diversity of viral, protozoan and metazoan pathogens as part of their life cycles. identifying genes involved in h ...200819161831
integrated vector management for malaria control.integrated vector management (ivm) is defined as "a rational decision-making process for the optimal use of resources for vector control" and includes five key elements: 1) evidence-based decision-making, 2) integrated approaches 3), collaboration within the health sector and with other sectors, 4) advocacy, social mobilization, and legislation, and 5) capacity-building. in 2004, the who adopted ivm globally for the control of all vector-borne diseases. important recent progress has been made in ...200819091038
the insecticide resistance status of malaria vectors in the mekong region.knowledge on insecticide resistance in target species is a basic requirement to guide insecticide use in malaria control programmes. malaria transmission in the mekong region is mainly concentrated in forested areas along the country borders, so that decisions on insecticide use should ideally be made at regional level. consequently, cross-country monitoring of insecticide resistance is indispensable to acquire comparable baseline data on insecticide resistance.200818534006
status of insecticide susceptibility in anopheles gambiae sensu lato and anopheles funestus mosquitoes from western kenya.the status of resistance was investigated in anopheles gambiae sensu lato and an. funestus (diptera: culicidae) mosquitoes from western kenya to four classes of insecticides approved by world health organization for indoor residual spraying. the prevalence of the knockdown-resistance (kdr) mutation associated with resistance to pyrethroids and ddt was determined in an. gambiae s.l.. standard world health organization diagnostic bioassay kits for ddt (an organochlorine), fenitrothion (an organoph ...200820345290
insulin regulates aging and oxidative stress in anopheles stephensi.observations from nematodes to mammals indicate that insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (iis) regulates lifespan. as in other organisms, iis is conserved in mosquitoes and signaling occurs in multiple tissues. during bloodfeeding, mosquitoes ingest human insulin. this simple observation suggested that exogenous insulin could mimic the endogenous hormonal control of aging in mosquitoes, providing a new model to examine this phenomenon at the organismal and cellular levels. to this end, ...200818281336
diversity of bacterial communities in container habitats of mosquitoes.we investigated the bacterial diversity of microbial communities in water-filled, human-made and natural container habitats of the mosquitoes aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus in suburban landscapes of new orleans, louisiana in 2003. we collected water samples from three classes of containers, including tires (n = 12), cemetery urns (n = 23), and miscellaneous containers that included two tree holes (n = 19). total genomic dna was extracted from water samples, and 16s ribosomal dna fragments (o ...200818373113
malaria: progress, perils, and prospects for eradication.there are still approximately 500 million cases of malaria and 1 million deaths from malaria each year. yet recently, malaria incidence has been dramatically reduced in some parts of africa by increasing deployment of anti-mosquito measures and new artemisinin-containing treatments, prompting renewed calls for global eradication. however, treatment and mosquito control currently depend on too few compounds and thus are vulnerable to the emergence of compound-resistant parasites and mosquitoes. a ...200818382739
shifting patterns: malaria dynamics and rainfall variability in an african highland.the long-term patterns of malaria in the east african highlands typically involve not only a general upward trend in cases but also a dramatic increase in the size of epidemic outbreaks. the role of climate variability in driving epidemic cycles at interannual time scales remains controversial, in part because it has been seen as conflicting with the alternative explanation of purely endogenous cycles exclusively generated by the nonlinear dynamics of the disease. we analyse a long temporal reco ...200817999952
evidence for divergent selection between the molecular forms of anopheles gambiae: role of predation.the molecular forms of anopheles gambiae are undergoing speciation. they are characterized by a strong assortative mating and they display partial habitat segregation. the m form is mostly found in flooded/irrigated areas whereas the s form dominates in the surrounding areas, but the ecological factors that shape this habitat segregation are not known. resource competition has been demonstrated between species undergoing divergent selection, but resource competition is not the only factor that c ...200818190719
synergy and specificity of two na+-aromatic amino acid symporters in the model alimentary canal of mosquito larvae.the nutrient amino acid transporter (nat) subfamily is the largest subdivision of the sodium neurotransmitter symporter family (snf; also known as slc6; hugo). there are seven members of the nat population in the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae, two of which, agnat6 and agnat8, preferably transport indole- and phenyl-branched substrates, respectively. the relative expression and distribution of these aromatic nats were examined with transporter-specific antibodies in xenopus oocytes a ...200818456887
abandoning small-scale fish farming in western kenya leads to higher malaria vector abundance.fishponds become abandoned due to lack of access to both young fish and technical support and faster economic returns from other activities. certain conditions found in abandoned fishponds, such as absence of fish and presence of aquatic vegetation, are conducive to the presence of malaria vectors. we conducted a district-wide fishpond census to determine the maintenance status and mosquito populations of fishponds in kisii central district in western kenya. two hundred and sixty one fishponds w ...200818068136
nature limits filarial transmission.abstract: lymphatic filariasis, caused by wuchereria bancrofti, brugia malayi and b. timori is a public health problem of considerable magnitude of the tropics and subtropics. presently 1.3 billion people are at risk of lymphatic filariasis (lf) infection and about 120 million people are affected in 83 countries. in this context it is worth mentioning that 'nature' itself limits filarial transmission to a great extent in a number of ways such as by reducing vector populations, parasitic load and ...200818500974
cloning, characterization, and expression of micrornas from the asian malaria mosquito, anopheles stephensi.micrornas (mirnas) are non-coding rnas that are now recognized as a major class of gene-regulating molecules widely distributed in metozoans and plants. mirnas have been found to play important roles in apoptosis, cancer, development, differentiation, inflammation, longevity, and viral infection. there are a few reports describing mirnas in the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae, on the basis of similarity to known mirnas from other species. an. stephensi is the most important malaria v ...200818500992
comparison of male reproductive success in malaria-refractory and susceptible strains of anopheles gambiae.in female mosquitoes that transmit malaria, the benefits of being refractory to the plasmodium parasite are balanced by the immunity costs in the absence of infection. male mosquitoes, however, gain no advantage from being refractory to blood-transmitted parasites, so that any costs associated with an enhanced immune system in the males limit the evolution of female refractoriness and has practical implications for the release of transgenic males.200818534029
african water storage pots for the delivery of the entomopathogenic fungus metarhizium anisopliae to the malaria vectors anopheles gambiae s.s. and anopheles funestus.we studied the use of african water storage pots for point source application of metarhizium anisopliae against the malaria vectors anopheles gambiae s.s. and an. funestus. clay pots were shown to be attractive resting sites for male and female an. gambiae s.s. and were not repellent after impregnation with fungus. m. anisopliae was highly infective and virulent after spray application inside pots. at a dosage of 4 x 10(10) conidia/m(2), an average of 95 +/- 1.2% of an. gambiae s.s. obtained a f ...200818541768
bionomics of malaria vectors and relationship with malaria transmission and epidemiology in three physiographic zones in the senegal river basin.following the implementation of two dams in the senegal river, entomological and parasitological studies were conducted in three different ecological zones in the senegal river basin (the low valley of senegal river, the guiers lake area and the low valley of ferlo) every 3 month in june 2004, september 2004, december 2004 and march 2005. the objective of this work was to study the influence of environmental heterogeneities on vector bionomics and malaria epidemiology. mosquitoes were collected ...200818068685
novel peptide marker corresponding to salivary protein gsg6 potentially identifies exposure to anopheles bites.in order to improve malaria control, and under the aegis of who recommendations, many efforts are being devoted to developing new tools for identifying geographic areas with high risk of parasite transmission. evaluation of the human antibody response to arthropod salivary proteins could be an epidemiological indicator of exposure to vector bites, and therefore to risk of pathogen transmission. in the case of malaria, which is transmitted only by anopheline mosquitoes, maximal specificity could ...200818575604
humoral responses to plasmodium falciparum blood-stage antigens and association with incidence of clinical malaria in children living in an area of seasonal malaria transmission in burkina faso, west africa.there is longstanding evidence that immunoglobulin g (igg) has a role in protection against clinical malaria, and human antibodies of the cytophilic subclasses are thought to be particularly critical in this respect. in this cohort study, 286 burkinabè children 6 months to 15 years old were kept under malaria surveillance in order to assess the protective role of antibody responses against four antigens which are currently being evaluated as vaccine candidates: apical membrane antigen 1 (ama1), ...200818070896
regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and flight performance by a hypertrehalosaemic hormone in the mosquito anopheles gambiae.the role of adipokinetic hormones (akhs) in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and flight performance was evaluated for females of the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae. injection of various dosages of synthetic anoga-akh-i increased carbohydrate levels in the haemolymph and reduced glycogen reserves in sugar-fed females but did not affect lipid levels. anoga-akh-i enhanced the flight performance of both intact and decapitated sugar-fed females, during a 4 h flight per ...200818062987
ovipositional periodicity of caged anopheles gambiae individuals.abstract:200818221544
over expression of a cytochrome p450 (cyp6p9) in a major african malaria vector, anopheles funestus, resistant to pyrethroids.anopheles funestus giles is one of the major african malaria vectors. it has previously been implicated in a major outbreak of malaria in kwazulu/natal, south africa, during the period 1996 to 2000. the re-emergence of this vector was associated with monooxygenase-based resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. we have identified a gene from the monooxygenase cyp6 family, cyp6p9, which is over expressed in a pyrethroid resistant strain originating from mozambique. quantitative real-time pcr shows t ...200818237281
chikungunya fever, mauritius, 2006. 200818258136
the molecular evolution of four anti-malarial immune genes in the anopheles gambiae species complex.if the insect innate immune system is to be used as a potential blocking step in transmission of malaria, then it will require targeting one or a few genes with highest relevance and ease of manipulation. the problem is to identify and manipulate those of most importance to malaria infection without the risk of decreasing the mosquito's ability to stave off infections by microbes in general. molecular evolution methodologies and concepts can help identify such genes. within the setting of a comp ...200818325105
recent reduction in the water level of lake victoria has created more habitats for anopheles funestus.the water level of lake victoria has fallen more than 1.5 m since 1998, revealing a narrow strip of land along the shore. this study determined whether the recent drop in the water level has created additional breeding grounds for malaria vectors.200818598355
nutrient content of diet affects the signaling activity of the insulin/target of rapamycin/p70 s6 kinase pathway in the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.regulation of female mosquito feeding and reproduction plays a central role in their disease-vector competence. in this study we show that anopheles gambiae mosquitoes engorged on albumin, amino acid and saline meals the same way as on blood, whereas sucrose evoked a typical plant nectar feeding response. among the artificial diets, only the albumin-containing ones allowed follicular development. the target of rapamycin (tor)/p70 s6 kinase (s6k) pathway has been identified as an essential nutrie ...200818634792
ethnobotanical study of some of mosquito repellent plants in north-eastern tanzania.the use of plant repellents against nuisance biting insects is common and its potential for malaria vector control requires evaluation in areas with different level of malaria endemicity. the essential oils of ocimum suave and ocimum kilimandscharicum were evaluated against malaria vectors in north-eastern tanzania.200818687119
abundance of immature anopheles and culicines (diptera: culicidae) in different water body types in the urban environment of malindi, kenya.in this study we 1) describe the abundance of anopheles and culicine immatures in different water body types in urban malindi, kenya, 2) compare anopheles immature density in relation to culicine immature density, and 3) identify characteristics that influence the likelihood of water bodies being co-colonized by anopheles and culicines. entomological and environmental cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2001 and 2002 were used in the analysis. a total of 889 anopheles and 7,217 culicine immatur ...200818697313
dry season ecology of anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes in the gambia.malaria in the gambia is highly seasonal, with transmission occurring as anopheles gambiae s.l. populations expand during and immediately after a single annual rainy season that lasts from june to october. there has been very limited investigation of the ecology of vectors during the dry season, when numbers are very limited and distributions may be restricted.200818710559
establishment of a large semi-field system for experimental study of african malaria vector ecology and control in tanzania.medical entomologists increasingly recognize that the ability to make inferences between laboratory experiments of vector biology and epidemiological trends observed in the field is hindered by a conceptual and methodological gap occurring between these approaches which prevents hypothesis-driven empirical research from being conducted on relatively large and environmentally realistic scales. the development of semi-field systems (sfs) has been proposed as the best mechanism for bridging this ga ...200818715508
malaria transmission in dakar: a two-year survey.according to entomological studies conducted over the past 30 years, there was low malaria transmission in suburb of dakar but little evidence of it in the downtown area. however; there was some evidence of local transmission based on reports of malaria among permanent residents. an entomological evaluation of malaria transmission was conducted from may 2005 to october 2006 in two areas of dakar.200818796138
the molecular forms of anopheles gambiae: a phenotypic perspective.the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae is undergoing speciation, being split into the m and s molecular forms. speciation is the main process promoting biological diversity, thus, new vector species might complicate disease transmission. genetic differentiation between the molecular forms has been extensively studied, but phenotypic differences between them, the evolutionary forces that generated divergence, and the mechanisms that maintain their genetic isolation have only recently been ...200818640289
hyaluronidase of bloodsucking insects and its enhancing effect on leishmania infection in mice.salivary hyaluronidases have been described in a few bloodsucking arthropods. however, very little is known about the presence of this enzyme in various bloodsucking insects and no data are available on its effect on transmitted microorganisms. here, we studied hyaluronidase activity in thirteen bloodsucking insects belonging to four different orders. in addition, we assessed the effect of hyaluronidase coinoculation on the outcome of leishmania major infection in balb/c mice.200818820742
operational impact of ddt reintroduction for malaria control on anopheles arabiensis in mozambique.abstract with the increase in indoor residual spraying in many internationally and nationally funded malaria control programs, and affirmation by world health organization (who) that ddt is appropriate for use in the absence of longer lasting insecticide formulations in some malaria endemic settings, ddt has been reintroduced as a major malaria control intervention in africa. indoor residual spraying with ddt was reintroduced into mozambique for malaria control in 2005, and it is increasingly be ...200818826031
d- and l-lactate dehydrogenases during invertebrate evolution.the l-lactate and d-lactate dehydrogenases, which are involved in the reduction of pyruvate to l(-)-lactate and d(+)-lactate, belong to evolutionarily unrelated enzyme families. the genes encoding l-ldh have been used as a model for gene duplication due to the multiple paralogs found in eubacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes. phylogenetic studies have suggested that several gene duplication events led to the main isozymes of this gene family in chordates, but little is known about the evolut ...200818828920
a tool box for operational mosquito larval control: preliminary results and early lessons from the urban malaria control programme in dar es salaam, tanzania.as the population of africa rapidly urbanizes, large populations could be protected from malaria by controlling aquatic stages of mosquitoes if cost-effective and scalable implementation systems can be designed.200818218148
intra-specific variation of sperm length in the malaria vector anopheles gambiae: males with shorter sperm have higher reproductive success.intra-specific variation in sperm length influences male reproductive success in several species of insects. in males of the malaria vector anopheles gambiae, sperm length is highly variable but the significance of this variation is unknown. understanding what determines the reproductive success of male mosquitoes is critical for controlling malaria, and in particular for replacing natural populations with transgenic, malaria-resistant mosquitoes.200818939985
distribution of anopheles in vietnam, with particular attention to malaria vectors of the anopheles minimus complex.the distribution of anopheline mosquitoes in vietnam was examined, with a particular interest for the two sibling species of the anopheles minimus complex (cellia: myzomyia), an. minimus and anopheles harrisoni, respectively former species a and c. because the morphological identification of both sibling species is difficult and may lead to misidentifications, accurate data on their respective distribution are missing. this is of fundamental importance since the two species seem to exhibit diffe ...200818190697
pwrn1, a novel ty3/gypsy-like retrotransposon of paragonimus westermani: molecular characters and its differentially preserved mobile potential according to host chromosomal polyploidy.retrotransposons have been known to involve in the remodeling and evolution of host genome. these reverse transcribing elements, which show a complex evolutionary pathway with diverse intermediate forms, have been comprehensively analyzed from a wide range of host genomes, while the information remains limited to only a few species in the phylum platyhelminthes.200818851759
the effect of a single blood meal on the phenotypic expression of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus.anopheles funestus is a major malaria vector in southern africa. vector control relies on the use of insecticide chemicals to significantly reduce the number of malaria vectors by targeting that portion of the female population that takes blood meals and subsequently rests indoors. it has been suggested that the intake of a blood meal may assist female mosquitoes to tolerate higher doses of insecticide through vigour tolerance. it is hypothesized that during the process of blood digestion, detox ...200818973704
impact of urban agriculture on malaria vectors in accra, ghana.to investigate the impact of urban agriculture on malaria transmission risk in urban accra larval and adult stage mosquito surveys, were performed. local transmission was implicated as anopheles spp. were found breeding and infected anopheles mosquitoes were found resting in houses in the study sites. the predominant anopheles species was anopheles gambiae s.s.. the relative proportion of molecular forms within a subset of specimens was 86% s-form and 14% m-form. anopheles spp. and culex quinque ...200818680565
host choice and multiple blood feeding behaviour of malaria vectors and other anophelines in mwea rice scheme, kenya.studies were conducted between april 2004 and february 2006 to determine the blood-feeding pattern of anopheles mosquitoes in mwea kenya.200818312667
anopheles gambiae apl1 is a family of variable lrr proteins required for rel1-mediated protection from the malaria parasite, plasmodium berghei.we previously identified by genetic mapping an anopheles gambiae chromosome region with strong influence over the outcome of malaria parasite infection in nature. candidate gene studies in the genetic interval, including functional tests using the rodent malaria parasite plasmodium berghei, identified a novel leucine-rich repeat gene, apl1, with functional activity against p. berghei.200818989366
pcr-based detection of plasmodium in anopheles mosquitoes: a comparison of a new high-throughput assay with existing methods.detection of the four malaria-causing plasmodium species (plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium vivax, plasmodium ovale and plasmodium malariae) within their mosquito hosts is an essential component of vector control programmes. several pcr protocols have been developed for this purpose. many of these methods, while sensitive, require multiple pcr reactions to detect and discriminate all four plasmodium species. in this study a new high-throughput assay was developed and compared with three previous ...200818793416
expression of the cytochrome p450s, cyp6p3 and cyp6m2 are significantly elevated in multiple pyrethroid resistant populations of anopheles gambiae s.s. from southern benin and nigeria.insecticide resistance in anopheles mosquitoes is threatening the success of malaria control programmes. this is particularly true in benin where pyrethroid resistance has been linked to the failure of insecticide treated bed nets. the role of mutations in the insecticide target sites in conferring resistance has been clearly established. in this study, the contribution of other potential resistance mechanisms was investigated in anopheles gambiae s.s. from a number of localities in southern ben ...200819014539
inheritance of pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector in southern africa, anopheles funestus. 200818348783
snp discovery and molecular evolution in anopheles gambiae, with special emphasis on innate immune system.anopheles innate immunity affects plasmodium development and is a potential target of innovative malaria control strategies. the extent and distribution of nucleotide diversity in immunity genes might provide insights into the evolutionary forces that condition pathogen-vector interactions. the discovery of polymorphisms is an essential step towards association studies of susceptibility to infection.200818489733
spatially-explicit risk profiling of plasmodium falciparum infections at a small scale: a geostatistical modelling approach.there is a renewed political will and financial support to eradicate malaria. spatially-explicit risk profiling will play an important role in this endeavour. patterns of plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence were examined among schoolchildren in a highly malaria-endemic area.200818570685
a synthetic resilin is largely unstructured.proresilin is the precursor protein for resilin, an extremely elastic, hydrated, cross-linked insoluble protein found in insects. we investigated the secondary-structure distribution in solution of a synthetic proresilin (an16), based on 16 units of the consensus proresilin repeat from anopheles gambiae. raman spectroscopy was used to verify that the secondary-structure distributions in cross-linked an16 resilin and in an16 proresilin are similar, and hence that solution techniques (such as nmr ...200818586853
clinical malaria in african pregnant women.there is a widespread notion, based on limited information, that in areas of stable malaria transmission most pregnant women with plasmodium falciparum infection are asymptomatic. this study aim to characterize the clinical presentation of malaria in african pregnant women and to evaluate the adequacy of case management based on clinical complaints.200818234078
anopheles gambiae complex along the gambia river, with particular reference to the molecular forms of an. gambiae s.s.the geographic and temporal distribution of m and s molecular forms of the major afrotropical malaria vector species anopheles gambiae s.s. at the western extreme of their range of distribution has never been investigated in detail.200818803885
the complete mitochondrial genome of the antarctic springtail cryptopygus antarcticus (hexapoda: collembola).mitogenomics data, i.e. complete mitochondrial genome sequences, are popular molecular markers used for phylogenetic, phylogeographic and ecological studies in different animal lineages. their comparative analysis has been used to shed light on the evolutionary history of given taxa and on the molecular processes that regulate the evolution of the mitochondrial genome. a considerable literature is available in the fields of invertebrate biochemical and ecophysiological adaptation to extreme envi ...200818593463
ortholog-based protein-protein interaction prediction and its application to inter-species interactions.the rapid growth of protein-protein interaction (ppi) data has led to the emergence of ppi network analysis. despite advances in high-throughput techniques, the interactomes of several model organisms are still far from complete. therefore, it is desirable to expand these interactomes with ortholog-based and other methods.200819091010
pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles arabiensis from gwave, a malaria-endemic area in zimbabwe.insecticide resistance can present a major obstacle to malaria control programmes. following the recent detection of ddt resistance in anopheles arabiensis in gokwe, zimbabwe, the underlying resistance mechanisms in this population were studied.200819038063
a new method for forensic dna analysis of the blood meal in chagas disease vectors demonstrated using triatoma infestans from chuquisaca, bolivia.feeding patterns of the vector are important in the epidemiology of chagas disease, the leading cause of heart disease in latin america. chagas disease is caused by the parasite, trypanasoma cruzi, which is transmitted by blood feeding insects. historically, feeding behaviours of haematophagous insects have been investigated using serological reactions, which have detection limits in terms of both taxonomic resolution, and quantity and quality of the blood meal. they are labor intensive, require ...200818974787
variations in entomological indices in relation to weather patterns and malaria incidence in east african highlands: implications for epidemic prevention and control.malaria epidemics remain a significant public health issue in the east african highlands. the aim of this study was to monitor temporal variations in vector densities in relation to changes in meteorological factors and malaria incidence at four highland sites in kenya and uganda and to evaluate the implications of these relationships for epidemic prediction and control.200818983649
a pre-intervention study of malaria vector abundance in rio muni, equatorial guinea: their role in malaria transmission and the incidence of insecticide resistance alleles.following the success of the malaria control intervention on the island of bioko, malaria control by the use of indoor residual spraying (irs) and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (llitn) was extended to rio muni, on the mainland part of equatorial guinea. this manuscript reports on the malaria vectors present and the incidence of insecticide resistant alleles prior to the onset of the programme.200818823554
evidence of increasing leu-phe knockdown resistance mutation in anopheles gambiae from niger following a nationwide long-lasting insecticide-treated nets implementation.at the end of 2005, a nationwide long-lasting insecticide-treated net (llin) distribution targeting the most vulnerable populations was implemented throughout niger. a large number of studies in africa have reported the existence of anopheline populations resistant to various insecticides, partly due to knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations, but few operational wide-scale control programmes were coupled with the monitoring of such mutations. the distribution of the kdr-west (kdr-w) leu-phe mutati ...200818817574
dynamics of transmission of plasmodium falciparum by anopheles arabiensis and the molecular forms m and s of anopheles gambiae in dielmo, senegal.the adaptation of anopheles gambiae to humans and its environment involves an ongoing speciation process that can be best demonstrated by the existence of various chromosomal forms adapted to different environments and of two molecular forms known as incipient taxonomic units.200818651944
a country-wide malaria survey in mozambique. i. plasmodium falciparum infection in children in different epidemiological settings.across tropical africa the bulk of malaria-related morbidity and mortality is particularly high during childhood. classical malariometric surveys have relied on assessing malaria infection prevalence. the last comprehensive evaluation of the malaria situation in mozambique was carried out during the 1950s. this study aims to characterize the malaria transmission intensities and to estimate the disease burden that may help guide control programme.200818950486
mosquito abundance, bed net coverage and other factors associated with variations in sporozoite infectivity rates in four villages of rural tanzania.entomological surveys are of great importance in decision-making processes regarding malaria control strategies because they help to identify associations between vector abundance both species-specific ecology and disease intervention factors associated with malaria transmission. sporozoite infectivity rates, mosquito host blood meal source, bed net coverage and mosquito abundance were assessed in this study.200818423018
an experimental hut evaluation of olyset nets against anopheline mosquitoes after seven years use in tanzanian villages.long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) are advocated by who for protection against malaria. of the three brands of llins currently approved by who, olyset(r) is the only one currently granted full recommendation. with this type of llin, the insecticide (permethrin) is incorporated into the polyethylene fibre during manufacture and diffuses from the core to the surface, thereby maintaining surface concentrations. it has not been determined for how long olyset nets remain protective against mosqui ...200818307802
towards a sterile insect technique field release of anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes in sudan: irradiation, transportation, and field cage experimentation.the work described in this article forms part of a study to suppress a population of the malaria vector anopheles arabiensis in northern state, sudan, with the sterile insect technique. no data have previously been collected on the irradiation and transportation of anopheline mosquitoes in africa, and the first series of attempts to do this in sudan are reported here. in addition, experiments in a large field cage under near-natural conditions are described.200818439238
antibody-mediated growth inhibition of plasmodium falciparum: relationship to age and protection from parasitemia in kenyan children and adults.antibodies that impair plasmodium falciparum merozoite invasion and intraerythrocytic development are one of several mechanisms that mediate naturally acquired immunity to malaria. attempts to correlate anti-malaria antibodies with risk of infection and morbidity have yielded inconsistent results. growth inhibition assays (gia) offer a convenient method to quantify functional antibody activity against blood stage malaria.200818958285
a randomized placebo-controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women in the context of insecticide treated nets delivered through the antenatal clinic.current recommendations to prevent malaria in african pregnant women rely on insecticide treated nets (itns) and intermittent preventive treatment (iptp). however, there is no information on the safety and efficacy of their combined use.200818398460
characterisation of ddt, pyrethroid and carbamate resistance in anopheles funestus from obuasi, ghana.indoor-resting anopheline mosquitoes were collected from obuasi, ghana, and were identified morphologically and by pcr as anopheles funestus giles. wild-caught females were induced to lay eggs. samples of f1 progeny from each family were divided into cohorts and were either exposed to ddt and permethrin or were stored for biochemical analysis. bioassay data by family show evidence of ddt and pyrethroid resistance in the parent a. funestus population. the sodium channel gene of ddt survivors and ...200818405930
topi, an is630/tc1/mariner-type transposable element in the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae.is630/tc1/mariner elements are diverse and widespread within insects. the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae, contains over 30 families of is630/tc1/mariner elements although few have been studied in any detail. to examine the history of topi elements in an. gambiae populations, topi elements (n=73) were sampled from five distinct populations of an. gambiae from eastern and western africa and evaluated with respect to copy number, nucleotide diversity and insertion site-occupancy freque ...200818634859
dynamics of multiple insecticide resistance in the malaria vector anopheles gambiae in a rice growing area in south-western burkina faso.insecticide resistance of the main malaria vector, anopheles gambiae, has been reported in south-western burkina faso, west africa. cross-resistance to ddt and pyrethroids was conferred by alterations at site of action in the sodium channel, the leu-phe kdr mutation; resistance to organophosphates and carbamates resulted from a single point mutation in the oxyanion hole of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme designed as ace-1r.200818817564
malaria in rural mozambique. part i: children attending the outpatient clinic.malaria represents a huge burden for the health care services across africa. describing malaria attending health services contributes to quantify the burden and describe the epidemiology and clinical presentation.200818302770
global warming and malaria: knowing the horse before hitching the cart.speculations on the potential impact of climate change on human health frequently focus on malaria. predictions are common that in the coming decades, tens - even hundreds - of millions more cases will occur in regions where the disease is already present, and that transmission will extend to higher latitudes and altitudes. such predictions, sometimes supported by simple models, are persuasive because they are intuitive, but they sidestep factors that are key to the transmission and epidemiology ...200819091037
use of integrated malaria management reduces malaria in kenya.during an entomological survey in preparation for malaria control interventions in mwea division, the number of malaria cases at the kimbimbi sub-district hospital was in a steady decline. the underlying factors for this reduction were unknown and needed to be identified before any malaria intervention tools were deployed in the area. we therefore set out to investigate the potential factors that could have contributed to the decline of malaria cases in the hospital by analyzing the malaria cont ...200819115000
heavy metals in mosquito larval habitats in urban kisumu and malindi, kenya, and their impact.concentrations and distribution of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc in mosquito larval habitats in urban kisumu and malindi, kenya and their effect on the presence of anopheles gambiae, aedes aegypti, culex quinquefasciatus and anopheles funestus larvae were investigated. manganese and iron were the most prevalent heavy metals in water of larval habitats in urban kisumu and malindi, respectively. iron was the most prevalent heavy metal in bottom sediments in larval habit ...200817532467
the epidemiology of malaria in adults in a rural area of southern mozambique.epidemiological studies of malaria in adults who live in malaria endemic areas are scarce. more attention to the natural history of malaria affecting adults is needed to understand the dynamics of malaria infection and its interaction with the immune system. the present study was undertaken to investigate the clinical, parasitological and haematological status of adults exposed to malaria, and to characterize parasites in these individuals who progressively acquire protective immunity.200717233881
contributions of anopheles larval control to malaria suppression in tropical africa: review of achievements and potential.malaria vector control targeting the larval stages of mosquitoes was applied successfully against many species of anopheles (diptera: culicidae) in malarious countries until the mid-20th century. since the introduction of ddt in the 1940s and the associated development of indoor residual spraying (irs), which usually has a more powerful impact than larval control on vectorial capacity, the focus of malaria prevention programmes has shifted to the control of adult vectors. in the afrotropical reg ...200717373942
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