Publications

comparative susceptibility to permethrin of two anopheles gambiae s.l. populations from southern benin, regarding mosquito sex, physiological status, and mosquito age.	to investigate what kind of mosquito sample is necessary for the determination of insecticide susceptibility in malaria vectors.	25182557
preserving pyrethroids.		24700973
multimodal integration of carbon dioxide and other sensory cues drives mosquito attraction to humans.	multiple sensory cues emanating from humans are thought to guide blood-feeding female mosquitoes to a host. to determine the relative contribution of carbon dioxide (co2) detection to mosquito host-seeking behavior, we mutated the aaeggr3 gene, a subunit of the heteromeric co2 receptor in aedes aegypti mosquitoes. gr3 mutants lack electrophysiological and behavioral responses to co2. these mutants also fail to show co2-evoked responses to heat and lactic acid, a human-derived attractant, suggest ...	24581501
the central role of mosquito cytochrome p450 cyp6zs in insecticide detoxification revealed by functional expression and structural modelling.	the resistance of mosquitoes to chemical insecticides is threatening vector control programmes worldwide. cytochrome p450 monooxygenases (cyps) are known to play a major role in insecticide resistance, allowing resistant insects to metabolize insecticides at a higher rate. among them, members of the mosquito cyp6z subfamily, like aedes aegypti cyp6z8 and its anopheles gambiae orthologue cyp6z2, have been frequently associated with pyrethroid resistance. however, their role in the pyrethroid degr ...	23844938
bed bugs evolved unique adaptive strategy to resist pyrethroid insecticides.	recent advances in genomic and post-genomic technologies have facilitated a genome-wide analysis of the insecticide resistance-associated genes in insects. through bed bug, cimex lectularius transcriptome analysis, we identified 14 molecular markers associated with pyrethroid resistance. our studies revealed that most of the resistance-associated genes functioning in diverse mechanisms are expressed in the epidermal layer of the integument, which could prevent or slow down the toxin from reachin ...	23492626
cloning, expression analysis, and molecular modeling of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor alpha2 subunit gene from the common cutworm, spodoptera litura.	intensive research on the molecule structures of the gamma-nminobutyric acid (gaba) receptor in agricultural pests has great significance to the mechanism investigation, resistance prevention, and molecular design of novel pesticides. the gaba receptor a2 (slgabarα2) subunit gene in spodoptera litura (fabricius) (lepidoptera: noctuidae) was cloned using the technologies of reverse transcription pcr and rapid amplification of cdna ends. the gemonic dna sequence of slgabarα2 has 5164 bp with 8 exo ...	23909412
malaria, clinical features and acute crisis in children suffering from sickle cell disease in resource-limited settings: a retrospective description of 90 cases.	the prevalence of sickle cell disease (scd) is extremely high in the democratic republic of congo (drc). despite the high prevalence of this disease in our midst, there has been no report on the clinical features in the sickle cell pediatric population suffering from malaria in our midst.	23816320
nutrition-dependent control of insect development by insulin-like peptides.	in metazoans, members of the insulin-like peptide (ilp) family play a role in multiple physiological functions in response to the nutritional status. ilps have been identified and characterized in a wide variety of insect species. insect ilps that are mainly produced by several pairs of medial neurosecretory cells in the brain circulate in the hemolymph and act systemically on target tissues. physiological and biochemical studies in lepidoptera and genetic studies in the fruit fly have greatly e ...	26664828
heterochromatin, histone modifications, and nuclear architecture in disease vectors.	interactions between a pathogen and a vector are plastic and dynamic. such interactions can be more rapidly accommodated by epigenetic changes than by genetic mutations. gene expression can be affected by the proximity to the heterochromatin, by local histone modifications, and by the three-dimensional position within the nucleus. recent studies of disease vectors indicate that gene regulation by these factors can be important for susceptibility to pathogens, reproduction, immunity, development, ...	26097808
rift valley fever outbreak, southern mauritania, 2012.	after a period of heavy rainfall, an outbreak of rift valley fever occurred in southern mauritania during september-november 2012. a total of 41 human cases were confirmed, including 13 deaths, and 12 rift valley fever virus strains were isolated. moudjeria and temchecket departments were the most affected areas.	24447334
neuropeptidomics of the mosquito aedes aegypti.	neuropeptidomic data were collected on the mosquito ae. aegypti, which is considered the most tractable mosquito species for physiological and endocrine studies. the data were solely obtained by direct mass spectrometric profiling, including tandem fragmentation, of selected tissues from single specimens, which yielded a largely complete accounting of the putative bioactive neuropeptides; truncated neuropeptides with low abundance were not counted as mature peptides. differential processing with ...	20163154
molecular genetic manipulation of vector mosquitoes.	genetic strategies for reducing populations of vector mosquitoes or replacing them with those that are not able to transmit pathogens benefit greatly from molecular tools that allow gene manipulation and transgenesis. mosquito genome sequences and associated est (expressed sequence tags) databases enable large-scale investigations to provide new insights into evolutionary, biochemical, genetic, metabolic, and physiological pathways. additionally, comparative genomics reveals the bases for evolut ...	18996342
infravec: research capacity for the implementation of genetic control of mosquitoes.	mosquitoes represent a major and global cause of human suffering due to the diseases they transmit. these include parasitic diseases, i.e. malaria and filariasis, and viral infections such as dengue, encephalitis, and yellow fever. the threat of mosquito-borne diseases is not limited to tropical and subtropical regions of the world. trade and climate changes have opened new niches to tropical vectors in temperate areas of the world, thus putting previously unaffected regions at risk of disease t ...	24428829
the remarkable journey of adaptation of the plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite to new world anopheline mosquitoes.	plasmodium falciparum originated in africa, dispersed around the world as a result of human migration and had to adapt to several different indigenous anopheline mosquitoes. anophelines from the new world are evolutionary distant form african ones and this probably resulted in a more stringent selection of plasmodium as it adapted to these vectors. it is thought that plasmodium has been genetically selected by some anopheline species through unknown mechanisms. the mosquito immune system can gre ...	25185006
draft genome sequences of enterobacter sp. isolate ag1 from the midgut of the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae.	an isolate of enterobacter sp. was obtained from the microbial community within the gut of the anopheles gambiae mosquito, a major malaria vector in africa. this genome was sequenced and annotated. the genome sequences will facilitate subsequent efforts to characterize the mosquito gut microbiome.	22965099
anopheles darlingi polytene chromosomes: revised maps including newly described inversions and evidence for population structure in manaus.	salivary gland polytene chromosomes of 4th instar anopheles darlingi root were examined from multiple locations in the brazilian amazon. minor modifications were made to existing polytene photomaps. these included changes to the breakpoint positions of several previously described paracentric inversions and descriptions of four new paracentric inversions, two on the right arm of chromosome 3 and two on the left arm of chromosome 3 that were found in multiple locations. a total of 18 inversions o ...	27223867
comparative genomics of odorant binding proteins in anopheles gambiae, aedes aegypti, and culex quinquefasciatus.	about 1 million people in the world die each year from diseases spread by mosquitoes, and understanding the mechanism of host identification by the mosquitoes through olfaction is at stake. the role of odorant binding proteins (obps) in the primary molecular events of olfaction in mosquitoes is becoming an important focus of biological research in this area. here, we present a comprehensive comparative genomics study of obps in the three disease-transmitting mosquito species anopheles gambiae, a ...	23292137
insecticide-treated plastic sheeting for emergency malaria prevention and shelter among displaced populations: an observational cohort study in a refugee setting in sierra leone.	a double-blind phase iii malaria prevention trial was conducted in two refugee camps using pre-manufactured insecticide-treated plastic sheeting (itps) or untreated polyethylene sheeting (ups) randomly deployed to defined sectors of each camp. in largo camp the itps or ups was attached to inner walls and ceilings of shelters, whereas in tobanda the itps or ups was used to line only the ceiling and roof. in largo the plasmodium falciparum incidence rate in children up to 3 years of age who were c ...	22855753
seasonal variation in metabolic rate, flight activity and body size of anopheles gambiae in the sahel.	malaria in africa is vectored primarily by the anopheles gambiae complex. although the mechanisms of population persistence during the dry season are not yet known, targeting dry season mosquitoes could provide opportunities for vector control. in the sahel, it appears likely that m-form a. gambiae survive by aestivation (entering a dormant state). to assess the role of eco-physiological changes associated with dry season survival, we measured body size, flight activity and metabolic rate of wil ...	22623189
patterns of genomic differentiation between ecologically differentiated m and s forms of anopheles gambiae in west and central africa.	anopheles gambiae m and s are thought to be undergoing ecological speciation by adapting to different larval habitats. toward an improved understanding of the genetic determinants and evolutionary processes shaping their divergence, we used a 400,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism (snp) genotyping array to characterize patterns of genomic differentiation between four geographically paired m and s population samples from west and central africa. in keeping with recent studies based on more limite ...	23132896
diversity and convergence of sodium channel mutations involved in resistance to pyrethroids.	pyrethroid insecticides target voltage-gated sodium channels, which are critical for electrical signaling in the nervous system. the intensive use of pyrethroids in controlling arthropod pests and disease vectors has led to many instances of pyrethroid resistance around the globe. in the past two decades, studies have identified a large number of sodium channel mutations that are associated with resistance to pyrethroids. the purpose of this review is to summarize both common and unique sodium c ...	24019556
dose and developmental responses of anopheles merus larvae to salinity.	saltwater tolerance is a trait that carries both ecological and epidemiological significance for anopheles mosquitoes that transmit human malaria, as it plays a key role in determining their habitat use and ecological distribution, and thus their local contribution to malaria transmission. here, we lay the groundwork for genetic dissection of this trait by quantifying saltwater tolerance in three closely related cryptic species and malaria vectors from the afrotropical anopheles gambiae complex ...	23966587
evidence for stopping mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis in some, but not all local government areas of plateau and nasarawa states, nigeria.	an average of six annual rounds of ivermectin and albendazole were distributed in plateau and nasarawa states, nigeria, to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. from 2007 to 2008, population-based surveys were implemented in all 30 local government areas (lgas) of the two states to determine the prevalence of wuchereria bancrofti antigenemia to assess which lga mass drug administration (mda) could be halted. in total, 36,681 persons from 7,819 households were examined for filarial antigen as determine ...	22855758
monitoring malaria vector control interventions: effectiveness of five different adult mosquito sampling methods.	long-term success of ongoing malaria control efforts based on mosquito bed nets (long-lasting insecticidal net) and indoor residual spraying is dependent on continuous monitoring of mosquito vectors, and thus on effective mosquito sampling tools. the objective of our study was to identify the most efficient mosquito sampling tool(s) for routine vector surveillance for malaria and lymphatic filariasis transmission in coastal kenya. we evaluated relative efficacy of five collection methods--light ...	24180120
phylogeny of anopheline (diptera: culicidae) species in southern africa, based on nuclear and mitochondrial genes.	a phylogeny of anthropophilic and zoophilic anopheline mosquito species was constructed, using the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (its2) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit i (coi) genes. the its2 alignment, typically difficult due to its noncoding nature and large size variations, was aided by using predicted secondary structure, making this phylogenetically useful gene more amenable to investigation. this phylogeny is unique in explicitly including zoophilic, non-vector anophel ...	26047180
review of the malaria epidemiology and trends in zambia.	a comprehensive desk review of malaria trends was conducted between 2000-2010 in zambia to study malaria epidemiology and trends to guide strategies and approaches for effective malaria control. this review considered data from the national health information management system, malaria surveys and programme review reports and analyzed malaria in-patient cases and deaths in relation to intervention coverage for all ages. data showed three distinct epidemiological strata after a notable malaria re ...	23593585
competitive displacement and reduction.		17853612
variation in number and formation of repeat sequences in the rdna its2 region of five sibling species in the anopheles barbirostris complex in thailand.	repeat sequences of approximately 100 base pairs in length were found in the rdna its2 region of anopheles barbirostris van der wulp (diptera: culicidae) species a1, a2, a3, a4, and an. campestris-like in the an. barbirostris complex. variation in the number of repeats was observed among the five sibling species. specifically, 10 repeats were observed in a1, eight in a2, a4, and campestris-like, and three in a3. based on similarities in the sequences of the repeats, related repeats were classifi ...	22233453