Publications

quantification of ortholog losses in insects and vertebrates.	the increasing number of sequenced insect and vertebrate genomes of variable divergence enables refined comparative analyses to quantify the major modes of animal genome evolution and allows tracing of gene genealogy (orthology) and pinpointing of gene extinctions (losses), which can reveal lineage-specific traits.	18021399
inferring genome-scale rearrangement phylogeny and ancestral gene order: a drosophila case study.	a simple, fast, and biologically inspired computational approach for inferring genome-scale rearrangement phylogeny and ancestral gene order has been developed. this has been applied to eight drosophila genomes. existing techniques are either limited to a few hundred markers or a small number of taxa. this analysis uses over 14,000 genomic loci and employs discrete elements consisting of pairs of homologous genetic elements. the results provide insight into evolutionary chromosomal dynamics and ...	17996033
the significance of ratios of detritus types and micro-organism productivity to competitive interactions between aquatic insect detritivores.	investigations of competitive interactions emphasize non-detrital resources, even though detritus is a major component of most food webs. studies of competing species focus usually on single resource types, although consumers in nature are likely to encounter mixtures of resource types that may affect whether competition results in exclusion or coexistence. the invasive mosquito aedes albopictus is capable of excluding the native mosquito ochlerotatus triseriatus in competition for single detrit ...	17922707
surprising complexity of the ancestral apoptosis network.	apoptosis, one of the main types of programmed cell death, is regulated and performed by a complex protein network. studies in model organisms, mostly in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans, identified a relatively simple apoptotic network consisting of only a few proteins. however, analysis of several recently sequenced invertebrate genomes, ranging from the cnidarian sea anemone nematostella vectensis, representing one of the morphologically simplest metazoans, to the deuterostomes sea urchin ...	17958905
biological and molecular properties of dengue 2 strains isolated during the dhf/dss cuban epidemic, 1981.	to study some biological and molecular properties of nine denv-2 strains isolated during the 1981 cuban epidemic, temperature sensitivity, viral plaque size, the kinetic of virus replication in newborn mice inoculated by intracerebral route, the influence of ph medium on virus-cell attachment phase and the restriction enzyme pattern were studied. strains were classified in two patterns according to temperature sensitivity, plaque size, and virus replication in mouse brain and cell culture and re ...	23675036
using fluorescently labelled m13-tailed primers to isolate 45 novel microsatellite loci from the arboviral vector culex tarsalis.	culex tarsalis coquillett (diptera: culicidae) is a highly efficient arbovirus vector. spatial and temporal heterogeneity have been observed in cx tarsalis for phenotypic traits including autogeny, virus susceptibility and host preference. genetic differences between populations may in part explain these observations. using the m13-tailed primer method, we identified 45 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers from microsatellite-enriched cx tarsalis genomic libraries. the m13-tailed primer meth ...	17550440
dengue fever seroprevalence and risk factors, texas-mexico border, 2004.	reported autochthonous dengue fever transmission in the united states has been limited to 5 south texas border counties since 1980. we conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey in brownsville, texas, and matamoros, tamaulipas, mexico (n = 600), in 2004 to assess dengue seroprevalence. recent dengue infection was detected in 2% (95% confidence interval [ci] 0.5%-3.5%) and 7.3% (95% ci 4.3%-10.3%) of residents in brownsville and matamoros, respectively. past infection was detected in 40% (95% ci 34%- ...	18257990
defeating dengue: a difficult task ahead.		18038050
primary dengue haemorrhagic fever in patients from northeast of brazil is associated with high levels of interferon-β during acute phase.	dengue is an acute febrile disease caused by the mosquito-borne dengue virus (denv) that according to clinical manifestations can be classified as asymptomatic, mild or severe dengue. severe dengue cases have been associated with an unbalanced immune response characterised by an over secretion of inflammatory cytokines. in the present study we measured type i interferon (ifn-i) transcript and circulating levels in primary and secondary denv infected patients. we observed that dengue fever (df) a ...	27223651
genomic mapping of suppressor of hairy-wing binding sites in drosophila.	insulator elements are proposed to play a key role in the organization of the regulatory architecture of the genome. in drosophila, one of the best studied is the gypsy retrotransposon insulator, which is bound by the suppressor of hairy-wing (su [hw]) transcriptional regulator. immunolocalization studies suggest that there are several hundred su(hw) sites in the genome, but few of these endogenous su(hw) binding sites have been identified.	17705839
drosophila by the dozen.		17634150
within-host viral dynamics of dengue serotype 1 infection.	dengue, the most common mosquito-borne viral infection of humans, is endemic across much of the world, including much of tropical asia and is increasing in its geographical range. here, we present a mathematical model of dengue virus dynamics within infected individuals, detailing the interaction between virus and a simple immune response. we fit this model to measurements of plasma viral titre from cases of primary and secondary denv 1 infection in vietnam. we show that variation in model param ...	24829280
[environmental pollution, climate variability and climate change: a review of health impacts on the peruvian population].	this article is a review of the pollution of water, air and the effect of climate change on the health of the peruvian population. a major air pollutant is particulate matter less than 2.5 μ (pm 2.5). in lima, 2,300 premature deaths annually are attributable to this pollutant. another problem is household air pollution by using stoves burning biomass fuels, where excessive indoor exposure to pm 2.5 inside the household is responsible for approximately 3,000 annual premature deaths among adults, ...	25418656
temporal correlations between mosquito-based dengue virus surveillance measures or indoor mosquito abundance and dengue case numbers in mérida city, méxico.	surveillance of dengue virus (denv) in aedes (stegomyia) aegypti (l.) females is of potential interest because human denv infections are commonly asymptomatic, which decreases the effectiveness of dengue case surveillance to provide early warning of building outbreaks. our primary aim was to examine if mosquito-based virological measures--monthly percentages of examined ae. aegypti females infected with denv or examined homes from which at least one denv-infected ae. aegypti female was collected ...	25118425
what does not kill them makes them stronger: larval environment and infectious dose alter mosquito potential to transmit filarial worms.	for organisms with complex life cycles, larval environments can modify adult phenotypes. for mosquitoes and other vectors, when physiological impacts of stressors acting on larvae carry over into the adult stage they may interact with infectious dose of a vector-borne pathogen, producing a range of phenotypes for vector potential. investigation of impacts of a common source of stress, larval crowding and intraspecific competition, on adult vector interactions with pathogens may increase our unde ...	24827444
dengue: moving from current standard of care to state-of-the-art treatment.	treatment of dengue remains supportive in the absence of targeted antiviral therapy or approved vaccines. responsive fluid management is key to preventing progression to shock or other severe manifestations. the dynamic natural history of dengue infection and its influence on hemodynamic homeostasis needs to be carefully considered in the planning of individualized therapy. though largely self-limiting, the sheer burden of dengue disease on the global population will result in atypical manifesta ...	25999799
accuracy of dengue reporting by national surveillance system, brazil.		26812472
the origin and evolution of six miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements in bombyx mori and rhodnius prolixus.	miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (mites) are a specific group of nonautonomous dna transposons, and they are distributed in a wide range of hosts. however, the origin and evolutionary history of mites in eukaryotic genomes remain unclear. in this study, six mites were identified in the silkworm (bombyx mori). five elements are grouped into four known superfamilies of dna transposons, and one represents a novel class of mites. unexpectedly, six similar mites are also present in the ...	24115603
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
pupal productivity & nutrient reserves of aedes mosquitoes breeding in sewage drains & other habitats of kolkata, india: implications for habitat expansion & vector management.	the quality of breeding sites is reflected through the pupal productivity and the life history traits of aedes mosquitoes. using nutrient reserves and pupal productivity of aedes as indicators, the larval habitats including sewage drains were characterized to highlight the habitat expansion and vector management.	26905248
spatial distribution & physicochemical characterization of the breeding habitats of aedes aegypti in & around kolkata, west bengal, india.	dengue infection is endemic in several areas and the dengue virus is transmitted by aedes mosquitoes. thus, it becomes important to understand the breeding ecology of dengue vector and characterize the physicochemical parameters of its breeding habitat. the objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical parameters of the breeding habitat of the dengue vector and to find out the nutrient composition of the habitat in and around kolkata, west bengal. in addition, a geographic informati ...	26905247
chikungunya outbreak in atmakur village, medak district, telangana state, india.		26905235
assessment of blood collection from the lateral saphenous vein for microfilaria counts in mongolian gerbils (meriones unguiculatus) infected with brugia pahangi.	the nih guidelines for survival bleeding of mice and rats note that using the retroorbital plexus has a greater potential for complications than do other methods of blood collection and that this procedure should be performed on anesthetized animals. lateral saphenous vein puncture has a low potential for complications and can be performed without anesthesia. mongolian gerbils (meriones unguiculatus) are the preferred rodent model for filarial parasite research. to monitor microfilaria counts in ...	26678366
methods for talen evaluation, use, and mutation detection in the mosquito aedes aegypti.	the generation and study of transgenic aedes aegypti mosquitoes provides an essential tool for elucidating the complex molecular biology of this important vector. within the field, genetic manipulation has surpassed the proof of principle stage and is now utilized in both applied and theoretical vector control strategies. the application of new instruments, technologies and techniques allows ever more controlled experiments to be conducted. in this text we describe microinjection of ae. aegypti ...	26443221
the fielding h. garrison lecture: "break-bone" fever in philadelphia, 1780: reflections on the history of disease.	in the autumn of 1780 an epidemic hit the city of philadelphia. the symptoms of the disease resembled those of present day dengue fever, and subsequent observers argued that the disease was in fact dengue. but was it? the question forces us to confront the challenges of retrospective epidemiology and how we examine the history of a disease. this paper examines the 1780 epidemic from two perspectives. first, it looks at evidence that the disease was dengue and examines what this tells us about th ...	27374846
evaluation of mosquito repellent activity of isolated oleic acid, eicosyl ester from thalictrum javanicum.	to evaluate the traditional use, the mosquito repellent property of thalictrum javanicum and to confirm the predicted larvicidal activity of the isolated compound, oleic acid, eicosyl ester from its aerial parts by pass software, the present study was carried out using 4th instar stage larvae of the mosquitoes, aedes aegypti (dengue vector) and culex quinquefasciatus (filarial vector). insecticidal susceptibility tests were conducted and the mortality rate was observed after 24 h exposure. the c ...	27168688
global distribution and environmental suitability for chikungunya virus, 1952 to 2015.	chikungunya fever is an acute febrile illness caused by the chikungunya virus (chikv), which is transmitted to humans by aedes mosquitoes. although chikungunya fever is rarely fatal, patients can experience debilitating symptoms that last from months to years. here we comprehensively assess the global distribution of chikungunya and produce high-resolution maps, using an established modelling framework that combines a comprehensive occurrence database with bespoke environmental correlates, inclu ...	27239817
virulence and resistance in a mosquito-microsporidium interaction.	we review the results of a series of experiments involving aedes aegypti and its microsporidian parasite vavraia culicis to illustrate how intra-specific competition and parasitism shape life history traits. more specifically these experiments showed that some major components of virulence are host condition-dependent in this system, while others are not. we also briefly discuss the ways through which v. culicis modifies the physiological functioning of its host. we discuss the implications of t ...	25567490
neuroscience: love hangover.		18172487
purification and characterization of recombinant lipid storage protein-2 from drosophila melanogaster.	lipid storage protein 2 (lsd 2) is a conserved insect protein that belongs to the small pat family of proteins. pat proteins are found associated to the lipid droplets of adipocytes and play significant roles in the regulation of triacylglycerides metabolism. here we describe the expression and purification of lsd2, its reconstitution in lipoprotein particles, the location of putative lipid binding sites and its secondary structure. this study provides the starting point for future studies on th ...	18991782
ageing in a eusocial insect: molecular and physiological characteristics of life span plasticity in the honey bee.	commonly held views assume that ageing, or senescence, represents an inevitable, passive, and random decline in function that is strongly linked to chronological age. in recent years, genetic intervention of life span regulating pathways, for example, in drosophila as well as case studies in non-classical animal models, have provided compelling evidence to challenge these views.rather than comprehensively revisiting studies on the established genetic model systems of ageing, we here focus on an ...	18728759
a cumulative feeding threshold required for vitellogenesis can be obviated with juvenile hormone treatment in lubber grasshoppers.	developmental thresholds can ensure that an adequate condition has been attained to proceed through major transitions (e.g. initiation of reproduction, metamorphosis). nutrition is critical to attaining most thresholds, because it is needed for both growth and storage. attaining a threshold typically stimulates the release of hormones that commit the animal to the developmental transition, yet the relationships between the nutrition needed for developmental thresholds and these endocrine signals ...	18083735
circatidal activity rhythm in the mangrove cricket apteronemobius asahinai.	mangrove forests are influenced by tidal flooding and ebbing for a period of approximately 12.4 hours (tidal cycle). mangrove crickets (apteronemobius asahinai) forage on mangrove forest floors only during low tide. under constant darkness, most crickets showed a clear bimodal daily pattern in their locomotor activity for at least 24 days; the active phases of approximately 10 hours alternated with inactive phases of approximately 2 hours, which coincided with the time of high tide in the field. ...	18302994
dengue: where are we today?	dengue is considered the main arthropod-borne viral disease of humans. in the last few years, an increasing number of reports of mild and severe cases have been reported. the growing dengue incidence observed in recent years has been accompanied by reports of new observations, findings and global initiatives with an improvement in our understanding of this phenomenon. the epidemiology and new clinical classification of dengue, advances in the diagnostic and pathogenesis knowledge, and vaccine de ...	22589659
a phylogenetic approach to gene expression data: evidence for the evolutionary origin of mammalian leukocyte phenotypes.	the evolution of multicellular organisms involved the evolution of specialized cell types performing distinct functions; and specialized cell types presumably arose from more generalized ancestral cell types as a result of mutational event, such as gene duplication and changes in gene expression. we used characters based on gene expression data to reconstruct evolutionary relationships among 11 types of lymphocytes by the maximum parsimony method. the resulting phylogenetic tree showed expected ...	19601972
urban structure and dengue fever in puntarenas, costa rica.	dengue is currently the most important arboviral disease globally and is usually associated with built environments in tropical areas. remotely sensed information can facilitate the study of urban mosquito-borne diseases by providing multiple temporal and spatial resolutions appropriate to investigate urban structure and ecological characteristics associated with infectious disease. in this study, coarse, medium and fine resolution satellite imagery (moderate resolution imaging spectrometer, adv ...	20161131
defeating dengue: new mosquito genome, old promise?		18438504
egg formation in lepidoptera.	reproductive biology in the twentieth century produced comprehensive descriptions of the mechanisms of egg formation in most of the major orders of insects. while many general principles of ovarian development and physiology emerged, every order turned out to have a set of its own special motifs. discovery of the lepidopteran motifs is summarized in this essay. the emphasis is on developmental mechanisms, beginning with the early growth and differentiation of female germ cells and ending, after ...	20050770
3-(arylthiomethyl)isoxazole-4,5-dicarboxamides: chemoselective nucleophilic chemistry and insecticidal activity.	a collection of 91 3-(arylthiomethyl)isoxazole-4,5-dicarboxamides was prepared starting from dimethyl 3-(chloromethyl)isoxazole-4,5-dicarboxylate. the thioether moieties in these compounds were subsequently oxidized to give the corresponding 3-(arylsulfonylmethyl)isoxazole-4,5-dicarboxamides. by carefully controlling stoichiometry and reaction conditions, the c4 and c5 carbomethoxy groups could be differentially derivatized to carboxamides. a total of 182 trisubstituted isoxazoles are reported a ...	19624156
comparative digestive physiology.	in vertebrates and invertebrates, morphological and functional features of gastrointestinal (gi) tracts generally reflect food chemistry, such as content of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and material(s) refractory to rapid digestion (e.g., cellulose). the expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters approximately matches the dietary load of their respective substrates, with relatively modest excess capacity. mechanisms explaining differences in hydrolase activity between population ...	23720328
wide spread cross resistance to pyrethroids in aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae) from veracruz state mexico.	seven f1 strains of aedes aegypti (l.) were evaluated by bottle bioassay for resistance to the pyrethroids d-phenothrin, permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyalothrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, and z-cypermethrin. the new orleans strain was used as a susceptible control. mortality rates after a 1 h exposure and after a 24 h recovery period were determined. the resistance ratio between the 50% knockdown values (rr(kc50)) of the f1 and new orleans strains indicated high levels of ...	23786088
the impact of co2 on collection of aedes aegypti (linnaeus) and culex quinquefasciatus say by bg-sentinel® traps in manaus, brazil.	carbon dioxide (co2) is an important component for activating and attracting host-seeking mosquitoes. the bg-sentinel® trap is a well-established monitoring tool for capturing culicidae, but co2 role for the trap effectiveness has not been evaluated in highly urbanised areas. the objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of bg-sentinel traps baited with and without co2 for capturing urban mosquitoes. fifteen areas were selected within the city of manaus, brazil, where four bg-sentinels were op ...	23579804
the divergence, actions, roles, and relatives of sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters.	the mammalian slc4 (solute carrier 4) family of transporters is a functionally diverse group of 10 multi-spanning membrane proteins that includes three cl-hco3 exchangers (ae1-3), five na(+)-coupled hco3(-) transporters (ncbts), and two other unusual members (ae4, btr1). in this review, we mainly focus on the five mammalian ncbts-nbce1, nbce2, nbcn1, ndcbe, and nbcn2. each plays a specialized role in maintaining intracellular ph and, by contributing to the movement of hco3(-) across epithelia, i ...	23589833
an analysis on model development for climatic factors influencing prediction of dengue incidences in urban cities.		23703353
cost-effectiveness of novel system of mosquito surveillance and control, brazil.	of all countries in the western hemisphere, brazil has the highest economic losses caused by dengue fever. we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a novel system of vector surveillance and control, monitoramento inteligente da dengue (intelligent dengue monitoring system [mid]), which was implemented in 21 cities in minas gerais, brazil. traps for adult female mosquitoes were spaced at 300-m intervals throughout each city. in cities that used mid, vector control was conducted specifically at high ...	23628282
genetic relatedness of dengue viruses in key west, florida, usa, 2009-2010.	sequencing of dengue virus type 1 (denv-1) strains isolated in key west/monroe county, florida, indicate endemic transmission for >2 years of a distinct and predominant sublineage of the american-african genotype. denv-1 strains isolated elsewhere in florida grouped within a separate central american lineage. findings indicate endemic transmission of denv into the continental united states.	23632064
serotonin-induced high intracellular ph aids in alkali secretion in the anterior midgut of larval yellow fever mosquito aedes aegypti l.	the anterior midgut of the larval yellow fever mosquito aedes aegypti generates a luminal ph in excess of 10 in vivo and similar values are attained by isolated and perfused anterior midgut segments after stimulation with submicromolar serotonin. in the present study we investigated the mechanisms of strong luminal alkalinization using the intracellular fluorescent indicator bcecf-am. following stimulation with serotonin, we observed that intracellular ph (ph(i)) of the anterior midgut increased ...	19648402
biological effects of some natural and chemical compounds on the potato tuber moth, phthorimaea operculella zell. (lepidoptera:gelechiidae).	the olfactory reaction of larvae and moths was investigated towards 18 oils (6 natural oils and 12 commercial chemical oils). some of these oils such as peppermint and camphor (natural oils) and eugenol and camphene (commercial oils) were repellent to both larvae and moths. other oils such as strawberry and d-limonene were attractive to both larvae and moths. some of the repellent oils were, therefore, tested for their effect on certain biological aspects of the insects. eugenol and peppermint o ...	23961036
metabolic function in drosophila melanogaster in response to hypoxia and pure oxygen.	this study examined the metabolic response of drosophila melanogaster exposed to o(2) concentrations ranging from 0 to 21% and at 100%. the metabolic rate of flies exposed to graded hypoxia remained nearly constant as o(2) tensions were reduced from normoxia to approximately 3 kpa. there was a rapid, approximately linear reduction in fly metabolic rate at p(o(2))s between 3 and 0.5 kpa. the reduction in metabolic rate was especially pronounced at p(o(2)) levels <0.5 kpa, and at a p(o(2)) of 0.1 ...	19749106
do viruses use vectors to penetrate mucus barriers?	i propose a mechanism by which viruses successfully infect new individuals, despite being immotile particles with no ability for directed movement. within cells, viral particle movements are directed by motors and elements of the cytoskeleton, but how viruses cross extracellular barriers, like mucus, remains a mystery. i propose that viruses cross these barriers by hitch-hiking on bacteria or sperm cells which can transport themselves across mucosal layers designed to protect the underlying cell ...	20190864
study of oostatic peptide uptake and metabolism in developing ovaries of the flesh fly, neobellieria bullata.	the uptake and metabolism of the oostatic pentapeptide analogue of trypsin modulating oostatic factor (tmof), h-tyr-asp-pro-ala-pro-oh (5p), in ovaries of neobellieria bullata (parker) (diptera: sarcophagidae) were analyzed during their developmental stages. during selected stages of yolk deposition, the fate of [3hpro(3)]5p after its in vivo injection was compared to its uptake after in vitro incubation of dissected ovaries. the ovaries were analyzed from 30 s to 180 min after incubation. a det ...	20572785
a road map for integrating eco-evolutionary processes into biodiversity models.	the demand for projections of the future distribution of biodiversity has triggered an upsurge in modelling at the crossroads between ecology and evolution. despite the enthusiasm around these so-called biodiversity models, most approaches are still criticised for not integrating key processes known to shape species ranges and community structure. developing an integrative modelling framework for biodiversity distribution promises to improve the reliability of predictions and to give a better un ...	23679011
germline excision of transgenes in aedes aegypti by homing endonucleases.	aedes (ae.) aegypti is the primary vector for dengue viruses (serotypes1-4) and chikungunya virus. homing endonucleases (hes) are ancient selfish elements that catalyze double-stranded dna breaks (dsb) in a highly specific manner. in this report, we show that the hes y2-i-anii, i-crei and i-scei are all capable of catalyzing the excision of genomic segments from the ae. aegypti genome in a heritable manner. y2-i-anii demonstrated the highest efficiency at two independent genomic targets, with 20 ...	23549343
functional role of stim1 and orai1 in silkmoth (bombyx mori) sex pheromone production.	store-operated ca(2+) influx has recently been shown to require the activation of two proteins, stromal interaction molecule 1 (stim1) and orai1. in mammals the putative channel ion selectivity filter is thought to comprise conserved charged residues in the first and third transmembrane domains of orai1 in addition to three residues in the first extracellular loop. the latter residues, however, are not conserved in either of the bombyx mori orai1 variants or in most insects, suggesting that sele ...	20714403
molecular basis of calcium signaling in lymphocytes: stim and orai.	ca(2+) entry into cells of the peripheral immune system occurs through highly ca(2+)-selective channels known as crac (calcium release-activated calcium) channels. crac channels are a very well-characterized example of store-operated ca(2+) channels, so designated because they open when the endoplasmic reticulum (er) ca(2+) store becomes depleted. physiologically, ca(2+) is released from the er lumen into the cytoplasm when activated receptors couple to phospholipase c and trigger production of ...	20307213
whither drosophila?		20606015
can daytime use of bed nets not treated with insecticide reduce the risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever among children in vietnam?	the purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bed net use and elucidate the effect of daytime bed net use on preventing dengue hemorrhagic fever (dhf) among children in vietnam. we conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey and a matched case-control study in khanh hoa province where not only some pre-schoolchildren but also some school children, who take a nap during lunch break prior to returning to school, used bed nets during the day. among 36,901 children 2-10 year ...	20519617
the locust genome provides insight into swarm formation and long-distance flight.	locusts are one of the world's most destructive agricultural pests and represent a useful model system in entomology. here we present a draft 6.5 gb genome sequence of locusta migratoria, which is the largest animal genome sequenced so far. our findings indicate that the large genome size of l. migratoria is likely to be because of transposable element proliferation combined with slow rates of loss for these elements. methylome and transcriptome analyses reveal complex regulatory mechanisms invo ...	24423660
genomic approaches with natural fish populations.	natural populations v. inbred stocks provide a much richer resource for identifying the effects of nucleotide substitutions because natural populations have greater polymorphism. additionally, natural populations offer an advantage over most common research organisms because they are subject to natural selection, and analyses of these adaptations can be used to identify biologically important changes. among fishes, these analyses are enhanced by having a wide diversity of species (>28 000 specie ...	20409163
a divergent p element and its associated mite, but5, generate chromosomal inversions and are widespread within the drosophila repleta species group.	the transposon but5 caused two chromosomal inversions fixed in two drosophila species of the repleta group, d. mojavensis and d. uniseta. but5 copies are approximately 1-kb long, lack any coding capacity, and do not resemble any other transposable element (te). because of its elusive features, but5 has remained unclassified to date. to fully characterize but5, we carried out bioinformatic similarity searches in available sequenced genomes, including 21 drosophila species. significant hits were o ...	23682154
infections with the microbe cardinium in the dolichopodidae and other empidoidea.	maternally transmitted reproductive parasites such as wolbachia and cardinium can drastically reshape reproduction in their hosts. beyond skewing sex ratios towards females, these microbes can also cause cytoplasmic incompatibility. wolbachia probably infects two thirds of insects, but far less is known about the occurrence or action of other bacteria with potentially similar effects. in contrast with the two more widespread reproductive parasites, wolbachia and spiroplasma, far less is known of ...	23909372
genetic control of aedes mosquitoes.	aedes mosquitoes include important vector species such as aedes aegypti, the major vector of dengue. genetic control methods are being developed for several of these species, stimulated by an urgent need owing to the poor effectiveness of current methods combined with an increase in chemical pesticide resistance. in this review we discuss the various genetic strategies that have been proposed, their present status, and future prospects. we focus particularly on those methods that are already bei ...	23816508
in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of extracts, fractions and a substance isolated from the amazonian plant tachia grandiflora (gentianaceae).	tachia sp. are used as antimalarials in the amazon region and in vivo antimalarial activity of a tachia sp. has been previously reported. tachia grandiflora maguire and weaver is an amazonian antimalarial plant and herein its cytotoxicity and antimalarial activity were investigated. spectral analysis of the tetraoxygenated xanthone decussatin and the iridoid aglyone amplexine isolated, respectively, from the chloroform fractions of root methanol and leaf ethanol extracts was performed. in vitro ...	23827996
hidden magicians of genome evolution.	transposable elements (tes) represent genome's dynamic component, causing mutations and genetic variations. transposable elements can invade eukaryotic genomes in a short span; these are silenced by homology-dependent gene silencing and some functional parts of silenced elements are utilized to perform novel cellular functions. however, during the past two decades, major interest has been focused on the positive contribution of these elements in the evolution of genomes. the interaction between ...	23852286
oviposition habitat selection by container-dwelling mosquitoes: responses to cues of larval and detritus abundances in the field.	insects' oviposition responses to resource and larval densities can be important factors determining distributions and competitive interactions of larvae. aedes albopictus (skuse) and aedes aegypti (l.) (diptera: culicidae) show aggregated distributions of larvae in the field, larval interactions that are affected by detritus resources, and oviposition responses to resource and density cues in the laboratory. we conducted field experiments testing whether these species choose oviposition sites i ...	24678139
spontaneous splenic rupture: a rare presentation of dengue fever.	spontaneous rupture of the spleen with hemoperitoneum is a very rare, but serious manifestation of dengue fever (df). we report a case of a young female who was presented with atraumatic abdominal pain, hypovolemic shock, anemia, ascites and hepatosplenomegaly with a recent history of a febrile illness. subsequent investigations proved the presence of hemoperitoneum with spontaneous splenic rupture with seropositivity for df. early diagnosis and conservative management in this case resulted in a ...	24678156
clove (syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice.	clove (syzygium aromaticum) is one of the most valuable spices that has been used for centuries as food preservative and for many medicinal purposes. clove is native of indonesia but nowadays is cultured in several parts of the world including brazil in the state of bahia. this plant represents one of the richest source of phenolic compounds such as eugenol, eugenol acetate and gallic acid and posses great potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and agricultural applications. this review in ...	25182278
essential oils from two eucalyptus from tunisia and their insecticidal action on orgyia trigotephras (lepidotera, lymantriidae).	essential oils extracted from aromatic and medicinal plants have many biological properties and are therefore an alternative to the use of synthetic products. the chemical composition of essential oils from two medicinal plants (eucalyptus globulus and e. lehmannii) was determined and, their insecticidal effects on the third and fourth larval stages of orgyia trigotephras were assessed.	25204015
origin of the dengue virus outbreak in martin county, florida, usa 2013.	after a 75-year absence from florida, substantial local transmission of dengue virus (denv) occurred in key west, monroe county, florida in 2009 and continued in 2010. the outbreak culminated in 85 reported cases. in 2011 and 2012, only isolated cases of local denv transmission were reported in florida, none were reported in key west. in 2013, a new outbreak occurred, but this time in martin county about 275 miles north of key west with 22 reported cases. as the key west and martin county outbre ...	25664240
dengue human infection models supporting drug development.	dengue is a arboviral infection that represents a major global health burden. there is an unmet need for effective dengue therapeutics to reduce symptoms, duration of illness and incidence of severe complications. here, we consider the merits of a dengue human infection model (dhim) for drug development. a dhim could allow experimentally controlled studies of candidate therapeutics in preselected susceptible volunteers, potentially using smaller sample sizes than trials that recruited patients w ...	24872399
the role of the mosquito in a dengue human infection model.	recent efforts to combat the growing global threat of dengue disease, including deployment of phase iib vaccine trials, has continued to be hindered by uncertainty surrounding equitable immune responses of serotypes, relative viral fitness of vaccine vs naturally occurring strains, and the importance of altered immune environments due to natural delivery routes. human infection models can significantly improve our understanding of the importance of certain phenotypic characteristics of viral str ...	24872400
chemical composition and biological activity of star anise illicium verum extracts against maize weevil, sitophilus zeamais adults.	this study aims to develop eco-friendly botanical pesticides. dried fruits of star anise (illicium verum hook.f. (austrobaileyales: schisandraceae)) were extracted with methyl alcohol (ma), ethyl acetate (ea), and petroleum ether (pe) at 25°c. the constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the repellency and contact toxicity of the extracts against sitophilus zeamais motschulsky (coleoptera: curculionidae) adults were tested. forty-four compounds, whose concentrati ...	25368036
modified technique of wolbachia removal from malaysian aedes albopictus.	to develop an artificial and modified wolbachia removal technique using tetracycline from naturally wolbachia infected aedes albopictus (ae. albopictus) so as to be able to produce generations of wolbachia free offsprings.	25183276
[the incorporation of activities to control dengue by community health agents].	to evaluate the performance of community health agents when dengue control activities were added to their tasks.	24789644