Publications

the zika outbreak of the 21st century.	the zika virus outbreak has captivated the attention of the global audience and information has spread rapidly and wildly through the internet and other media channels. this virus was first identified in 1947, when it was isolated from a sentinel rhesus monkey placed by british scientists working at the yellow fever research laboratory located in the zika forest area of uganda, hence its name, and is transmitted primarily by the mosquito vector, aedes aegypti. the fact that the rhesus macaque is ...	2016	26925496
mefenamic acid in combination with ribavirin shows significant effects in reducing chikungunya virus infection in vitro and in vivo.	chikungunya virus (chikv) infection is a persistent problem worldwide due to efficient adaptation of the viral vectors, aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes. therefore, the absence of effective anti-chikv drugs to combat chikungunya outbreaks often leads to a significant impact on public health care. in this study, we investigated the antiviral activity of drugs that are used to alleviate infection symptoms, namely, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids), on the premise that ...	2016	26794398
evidence of vertical transmission and co-circulation of chikungunya and dengue viruses in field populations of aedes aegypti (l.) from guerrero, mexico.	we report results of the entomo-virological surveillance system in aedes aegypti local populations performed by the ministry of health of guerrero.	2016	26711697
toxin stability improvement and toxicity increase against dipteran and lepidopteran larvae of bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein cry2aa.	bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins are the most widely used biopesticides for controlling economically important crop pests and disease vectors. improving their efficacy is of great benefit. here, an improvement in cry2aa δ-endotoxin toxicity was attempted via a cry gene over expression system using p20 from b. thuringiensis israelensis.	2016	26910489
local mosquito-borne transmission of zika virus - miami-dade and broward counties, florida, june-august 2016.	during the first 6 months of 2016, large outbreaks of zika virus disease caused by local mosquito-borne transmission occurred in puerto rico and other u.s. territories, but local mosquito-borne transmission was not identified in the continental united states (1,2). as of july 22, 2016, the florida department of health had identified 321 zika virus disease cases among florida residents and visitors, all occurring in either travelers from other countries or territories with ongoing zika virus tran ...	2016	27684886
one-pot biogenic fabrication of silver nanocrystals using quisqualis indica: effectiveness on malaria and zika virus mosquito vectors, and impact on non-target aquatic organisms.	currently, mosquito vector control is facing a number of key challenges, including the rapid development of resistance to synthetic pesticides and the recent spread of aggressive arbovirus outbreaks. the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (agnps) is currently considered an environmental friendly alternative to the employ of pyrethroids, carbamates and microbial agents (e.g. bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis), since agnps are easy to produce, effective and stable in the aquatic environmen ...	2016	27491031
receptors are affected by selection with each bacillus thuringiensis israelensis cry toxin but not with the full bti mixture in aedes aegypti.	bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (bti) toxins are increasingly used for mosquito control, but little is known about the precise mode of action of each of these toxins, and how they interact to kill mosquito larvae. by using rna sequencing, we investigated change in gene transcription level and polymorphism variations associated with resistance to each bti cry toxin and to the full bti toxin mixture in the dengue vector aedes aegypti. the up-regulation of genes related to chitin metabolism in a ...	2016	27418233
the use of aedes aegypti larvae attractants to enhance the effectiveness of larvicides.	aedes aegypti (l.) is an important dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever vector. immature stages of this species inhabit human-made containers placed in residential landscapes, and the application of larvicides inside containers that cannot be eliminated is still considered a priority in control programs. larvicidal efficacy is influenced by several factors, including the formulation used, the water quality, and the susceptibility of larvae, among others. if an attractant can be incorporated int ...	2016	26922177
dibenzo-α-pyrones: a new class of larvicidal metabolites against aedes aegypti from the endophytic fungus hyalodendriella sp. ponipodef12.	in our search for new agrochemicals from endophytic fungi, the crude extract of the endophytic hyalodendriella sp. ponipodef12 associated with the hybrid 'neva' of populus deltoides marsh × p. nigra l. was found to possess larvicidal activity against aedes aegypti.	2016	27862895
importance of thr(328) and thr(369) for functional maintenance of two receptor-binding β-hairpins of the bacillus thuringiensis cry4ba toxin: implications for synergistic interactions with cyt2aa2.	bacillus thuringiensis cry4ba mosquito-active toxin was previously shown to utilize two critical loop-residues, tyr(332) and phe(364) which are respectively located in β2-β3 and β4-β5 loops, for synergistic interactions with its alternative receptor-cyt2aa2. here, structural analysis of the cry4ba-receptor-binding domain revealed that its n-terminal subdomain encompasses β2-β3 and β4-β5 hairpins which are stabilized by inter-hairpin hydrogen bonding between thr(328) in β2 and thr(369) in β5. fun ...	2016	26692482
alkaline phosphatases are involved in the response of aedes aegypti larvae to intoxication with bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis cry toxins.	bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (bti) is a natural pathogen of dipterans widely used as a biological insecticide for mosquito control. to characterize the response of mosquitoes to intoxication with bti, the transcriptome profile of bti-exposed susceptible aedes aegypti larvae was analysed using illumina rna-seq. gene expression of 11 alkaline phosphatases (alps) was further investigated by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and alp activity was measured in the susceptibl ...	2016	26663676
identification and characterization of ige-binding tropomyosins in aedes aegypti.	the mosquito aedes aegypti is a potential source of important clinically relevant allergens. however, the allergenicity and cross-reactivity of most of these has not been fully described.	2016	27355916
optimal repellent usage to combat dengue fever.	dengue fever is one of the most important vector-borne diseases. it is transmitted by aedes stegomyia aegypti, and one of the most effective strategies to combat the disease is the reduction of exposure to bites of these mosquitoes. in this paper, we present a game-theoretical model in which individuals choose their own level of protection against mosquito bites in order to maximize their own benefits, effectively balancing the cost of protection and the risk of contracting the dengue fever. we ...	2016	27142427
comparison of two detailed models of aedes aegypti population dynamics.	the success of control programs for mosquito borne diseases can be enhanced by crucial information provided by models of the mosquito populations. models, however, can differ in their structure, complexity and biological assumptions, and these differences impact their predictions. unfortunately, it is typically difficult to determine why two complex models make different predictions because we lack structured side-by-side comparisons of models using comparable parameterization. here we present a ...	2016	28462011
[the ability of sumah virus of the ukuniemi group to reproduce in aedes aegypti mosquitoes].		2016	5141615
[limits of the possibilities of acquisition of resistance to ddt of a strain of aedes aegypti subjected to known larval selection for 11 successive generations].		2016	13886805
[increased artificial resistance to ddt in adult aedes aegypti by contact of larvae with the insecticide].		2016	13585041
[findings on the biology of culicidae in hanoï (tonkin, north vietnam). i. comparative larval development of various strains of aedes albopictus, aedes aegypti, culex fatigans & armigeres obturans].		2016	13559861
[aedes aegypti eradication campaign in chile].		2016	12977855
[the filaria dipetalonema dessetae: phenomena of regulation and parasite yield in the aedes vector].	numerical observations were made on the various steps of the cycle of dipetalonema dessetae in aedes aegypti: -- ingestion of microfilariae: the numbers of the ingested microfilariae correspond to a negative binomial distribution, but the over-dispersion is less important than in the bancroft's filaria as observed by pichon; in this last case the microfilariae are thicker and thus are more slowed in the capillari; -- crossing of the stomach wall: the "limitation" is caused by a precociously esta ...	2016	754621
[effect of pyriproxyfen for the aedes (s) aegypti control (diptera: culicidae) in strains with various degrees of temephos resistance].	the continuous use of the organophosphate temephos for aedes (stegomyia) aegypti (linnaeus, 1762) has prompted the emergence of resistance to this product in several countries. pyriproxyfen is an analogue of the juvenile hormone recommended by the world health organization as one of the alternative regulators of the dengue vector in drinking waters.	2016	23437553
whatch'em: a weather-driven energy balance model for determining water height and temperature in container habitats for aedes aegypti.	the mosquito virus vector aedes (ae.) aegypti exploits a wide range of containers as sites for egg laying and development of the immature life stages, yet the approaches for modeling meteorologically sensitive container water dynamics have been limited. this study introduces the water height and temperature in container habitats energy model (whatch'em), a state-of-the-science, physically based energy balance model of water height and temperature in containers that may serve as development sites ...	2016	29123363
dengue fever outbreaks in eritrea, 2005-2015: a case for strengthening surveillance, control and reporting.	the geographic distribution and burden of dengue is increasing globally. this study aims to evaluate dengue outbreaks and to substantiate the need for strengthened surveillance, reporting and control in eritrea.	2016	29202065
phylogenetic analysis of aedes aegypti based on mitochondrial nd4 gene sequences in almadinah, saudi arabia.	aedes aegypti is the main vector of the yellow fever and dengue virus. this mosquito has become the major indirect cause of morbidity and mortality of the human worldwide. dengue virus activity has been reported recently in the western areas of saudi arabia. there is no vaccine for dengue virus until now, and the control of the disease depends on the control of the vector.	2016	28959327
knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dengue infection among public sector healthcare providers in machala, ecuador.	dengue fever is a rapidly emerging infection throughout the tropics and subtropics with extensive public health burden. adequate training of healthcare providers is crucial to reducing infection incidence through patient education and collaboration with public health authorities. we examined how public sector healthcare providers in a dengue-endemic region of ecuador view and manage dengue infections, with a focus on the 2009 world health organization (who) dengue guidelines.	2016	28883952
a review of swertia chirayita (gentianaceae) as a traditional medicinal plant.	swertia chirayita (gentianaceae), a popular medicinal herb indigenous to the temperate himalayas is used in traditional medicine to treat numerous ailments such as liver disorders, malaria, and diabetes and are reported to have a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. its medicinal usage is well-documented in indian pharmaceutical codex, the british, and the american pharmacopeias and in different traditional medicine such as the ayurveda, unani, siddha, and other conventional medical syst ...	2015	26793105
hessian fly larval feeding triggers enhanced polyamine levels in susceptible but not resistant wheat.	hessian fly (mayetiola destructor), a member of the gall midge family, is one of the most destructive pests of wheat (triticum aestivum) worldwide. probing of wheat plants by the larvae results in either an incompatible (avirulent larvae, resistant plant) or a compatible (virulent larvae, susceptible plant) interaction. virulent larvae induce the formation of a nutritive tissue, resembling the inside surface of a gall, in susceptible wheat. these nutritive cells are a rich source of proteins and ...	2015	25592131
proteomic analysis of interaction between a plant virus and its vector insect reveals new functions of hemipteran cuticular protein.	numerous viruses can be transmitted by their corresponding vector insects; however, the molecular mechanisms enabling virus transmission by vector insects have been poorly understood, especially the identity of vector components interacting with the virus. here, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to study proteomic interactions of a plant virus (rice stripe virus, rsv, genus tenuivirus) with its vector insect, small brown planthopper (laodelphax striatellus). sixty-six proteins of l. striatellu ...	2015	26091699
purification and characterization of a novel nad(p)+-farnesol dehydrogenase from polygonum minus leaves.	juvenile hormones have attracted attention as safe and selective targets for the design and development of environmentally friendly and biorational insecticides. in the juvenile hormone iii biosynthetic pathway, the enzyme farnesol dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidation of farnesol to farnesal. in this study, farnesol dehydrogenase was extracted from polygonum minus leaves and purified 204-fold to apparent homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography using deae-toyopearl, sp-toyopearl, and super-q ...	2015	26600471
cecropins from plutella xylostella and their interaction with metarhizium anisopliae.	cecropins are the most potent induced peptides to resist invading microorganisms. in the present study, two full length cdna encoding cecropin2 (px-cec2) and cecropin3 (px-cec3) were obtained from p. xylostella by integrated analysis of genome and transcriptome data. qrt-pcr analysis revealed the high levels of transcripts of px-cecs (px-cec1, px-cec2 and px-cec3) in epidermis, fat body and hemocytes after 24, 30 and 36 h induction of metarhizium anisopliae, respectively. silencing of spätzle an ...	2015	26544076
lipopeptides as the antifungal and antibacterial agents: applications in food safety and therapeutics.	a lot of crops are destroyed by the phytopathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and yeast leading to economic losses to the farmers. members of the bacillus genus are considered as the factories for the production of biologically active molecules that are potential inhibitors of growth of phytopathogens. plant diseases constitute an emerging threat to global food security. many of the currently available antimicrobial agents for agriculture are highly toxic and nonbiodegradable and thus cause extend ...	2015	25632392
sweetgum: an ancient source of beneficial compounds with modern benefits.	sweetgum trees are large, deciduous trees found in asia and north america. sweetgum trees are important resources for medicinal and other beneficial compounds. many of the medicinal properties of sweetgum are derived from the resinous sap that exudes when the outer bark of the tree has been damaged. the sap, known as storax, has been used for centuries to treat common ailments such as skin problems, coughs, and ulcers. more recently, storax has proven to be a strong antimicrobial agent even agai ...	2015	26009686
the mutualistic side of wolbachia-isopod interactions: wolbachia mediated protection against pathogenic intracellular bacteria.	wolbachia is a vertically transmitted endosymbiont whose radiative success is mainly related to various host reproductive manipulations that led to consider this symbiont as a conflictual reproductive parasite. however, lately, some wolbachia have been shown to act as beneficial symbionts by protecting hosts against a broad range of parasites. still, this protection has been mostly demonstrated in artificial wolbachia-host associations between partners that did not co-evolved together. here, we ...	2015	26733946
ornamental exterior versus therapeutic interior of madagascar periwinkle (catharanthus roseus): the two faces of a versatile herb.	catharanthus roseus (l.) known as madagascar periwinkle (mp) is a legendary medicinal plant mostly because of possessing two invaluable antitumor terpenoid indole alkaloids (tias), vincristine and vinblastine. the plant has also high aesthetic value as an evergreen ornamental that yields prolific blooms of splendid colors. the plant possesses yet another unique characteristic as an amiable experimental host for the maintenance of the smallest bacteria found on earth, the phytoplasmas and spiropl ...	2015	25667940
nmr structure and function of helicoverpa armigera sterol carrier protein-2, an important insecticidal target from the cotton bollworm.	the cotton bollworm, helicoverpa armigera, has developed strong resistance to many insecticides. sterol carrier protein-2 (scp-2) is an important non-specific lipid transfer protein in insects and appears to be a potential new target. in order to elucidate the structure and function of helicoverpa armigera scp-2 (hascp-2), nmr spectroscopy, docking simulations, mutagenesis and bioassays were performed. hascp-2 composed of five α-helices and four stranded β-sheets. the folds of α-helices and β-sh ...	2015	26655641
variation in the ribosome interacting loop of the sec61α from giardia lamblia.	the interaction between the ribosome and the endoplasmic reticulum-located sec61 protein translocon is mediated through an arginine residue of sec61α, which is conserved in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic orthologues characterized to date. using in silico approaches we report that instead of arginine, this ribosome-interaction function is most likely discharged by a lysine residue in the protist giardia lamblia. this functional substitution of the r with a k in glsec61α may have taken place to ac ...	2015	26424409
no time to waste--the ethical challenges created by crispr: crispr/cas, being an efficient, simple, and cheap technology to edit the genome of any organism, raises many ethical and regulatory issues beyond the use to manipulate human germ line cells.		2015	26450575
aerobic bacterial flora of biotic and abiotic compartments of a hyperendemic zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (zcl) focus.	identification of the microflora of the sand fly gut and the environmental distribution of these bacteria are important components for paratransgenic control of leishmania transmission by sand flies.	2015	25630498
bacterial diversity associated with wild caught anopheles mosquitoes from dak nong province, vietnam using culture and dna fingerprint.	microbiota of anopheles midgut can modulate vector immunity and block plasmodium development. investigation on the bacterial biodiversity in anopheles, and specifically on the identification of bacteria that might be used in malaria transmission blocking approaches, has been mainly conducted on malaria vectors of africa. vietnam is an endemic country for both malaria and bancroftian filariasis whose parasitic agents can be transmitted by the same anopheles species. no information on the microbio ...	2015	25747513
paratransgenesis: a promising new strategy for mosquito vector control.	the three main mosquito genera, anopheles, aedes and culex, transmit respectively malaria, dengue and lymphatic filariasis. current mosquito control strategies have proved unsuccessful, and there still is a substantial number of morbidity and mortality from these diseases. genetic control methods have now arisen as promising alternative strategies, based on two approaches: the replacement of a vector population by disease-refractory mosquitoes and the release of mosquitoes carrying a lethal gene ...	2015	26104575
the genome of diuraphis noxia, a global aphid pest of small grains.	the russian wheat aphid, diuraphis noxia kurdjumov, is one of the most important pests of small grains throughout the temperate regions of the world. this phytotoxic aphid causes severe systemic damage symptoms in wheat, barley, and other small grains as a direct result of the salivary proteins it injects into the plant while feeding.	2015	26044338
mutualism breakdown by amplification of wolbachia genes.	most insect species are associated with vertically transmitted endosymbionts. because of the mode of transmission, the fitness of these symbionts is dependent on the fitness of the hosts. therefore, these endosymbionts need to control their proliferation in order to minimize their cost for the host. the genetic bases and mechanisms of this regulation remain largely undetermined. the maternally inherited bacteria of the genus wolbachia are the most common endosymbionts of insects, providing some ...	2015	25668031
evolutionary history of the photolyase/cryptochrome superfamily in eukaryotes.	photolyases and cryptochromes are evolutionarily related flavoproteins, which however perform distinct physiological functions. photolyases (phr) are evolutionarily ancient enzymes. they are activated by light and repair dna damage caused by uv radiation. although cryptochromes share structural similarity with dna photolyases, they lack dna repair activity. cryptochrome (cry) is one of the key elements of the circadian system in animals. in plants, cry acts as a blue light receptor to entrain ci ...	2015	26352435
oviposition responses of aedes mosquitoes to bacterial isolates from attractive bamboo infusions.	the mosquitoes aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus are vectors of pathogenic viruses that cause major human illnesses including dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. both mosquito species are expanding their geographic distributions and now occur worldwide in temperate and tropical climates. collection of eggs in oviposition traps (ovitraps) is commonly used for monitoring and surveillance of container-inhabiting aedes populations by public health agencies charged with managing mosquito-transmitt ...	2015	26399712
nanoparticles as potential new generation broad spectrum antimicrobial agents.	the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains to conventional antimicrobial agents has complicated and prolonged infection treatment and increased mortality risk globally. furthermore, some of the conventional antimicrobial agents are unable to cross certain cell membranes thus, restricting treatment of intracellular pathogens. therefore, the disease-causing-organisms tend to persist in these cells. however, the emergence of nanoparticle (np) technology has come with the promising broad ...	2015	26329777
the waal gene mutation compromised the inhabitation of enterobacter sp. ag1 in the mosquito gut environment.	the mosquito gut harbors a variety of bacteria that are dynamically associated with mosquitoes in various contexts. however, little is known about bacterial factors that affect bacterial inhabitation in the gut microbial community. enterobacter sp. ag1 is a predominant gram negative bacterium in the mosquito midgut.	2015	26306887
the dimerization state of the mammalian high mobility group protein at-hook 2 (hmga2).	the mammalian high mobility group protein at-hook 2 (hmga2) is a chromosomal architectural transcription factor involved in cell transformation and oncogenesis. it consists of three positively charged "at-hooks" and a negatively charged c-terminus. sequence analyses, circular dichroism experiments, and gel-filtration studies showed that hmga2, in the native state, does not have a defined secondary or tertiary structure. surprisingly, using combined approaches of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) ...	2015	26114780
the wolbachia wo bacteriophage proteome in the aedes albopictus c/wstr1 cell line: evidence for lytic activity?	wolbachia pipientis (rickettsiales), an obligate intracellular alphaproteobacterium in insects, manipulates host reproduction to maximize invasion of uninfected insect populations. modification of host population structure has potential applications for control of pest species, particularly if wolbachia can be maintained, manipulated, and genetically engineered in vitro. although wolbachia maintains an obligate mutualism with genome stability in nematodes, arthropods can be co-infected with dist ...	2015	26427709
dengue virus infection of aedes aegypti requires a putative cysteine rich venom protein.	dengue virus (denv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes serious human disease and mortality worldwide. there is no specific antiviral therapy or vaccine for denv infection. alterations in gene expression during denv infection of the mosquito and the impact of these changes on virus infection are important events to investigate in hopes of creating new treatments and vaccines. we previously identified 203 genes that were ≥5-fold differentially upregulated during flavivirus infection of the ...	2015	26491875
an insight into the functional role of thioredoxin reductase, a selenoprotein, in maintaining normal native microbiota in the gulf coast tick (amblyomma maculatum).	tick selenoproteins have been associated with antioxidant activity in ticks. thioredoxin reductase (trxr), also a selenoprotein, belongs to the pyridine nucleotide-disulphide oxidoreductase family of proteins and is an important antioxidant. molecular interactions between native microbiota and tick hosts have barely been investigated to date. in this study, we determined the functional role of trxr in tick feeding and in maintenance of the native microbial community. trxr transcript levels remai ...	2015	26184979
nuclease tudor-sn is involved in tick dsrna-mediated rna interference and feeding but not in defense against flaviviral or anaplasma phagocytophilum rickettsial infection.	tudor staphylococcal nuclease (tudor-sn) and argonaute (ago) are conserved components of the basic rna interference (rnai) machinery with a variety of functions including immune response and gene regulation. the rnai machinery has been characterized in tick vectors of human and animal diseases but information is not available on the role of tudor-sn in tick rnai and other cellular processes. our hypothesis is that tick tudor-sn is part of the rnai machinery and may be involved in innate immune r ...	2015	26186700
movement of regulatory rna between animal cells.	recent studies suggest that rna can move from one cell to another and regulate genes through specific base-pairing. mechanisms that modify or select rna for secretion from a cell are unclear. secreted rna can be stable enough to be detected in the extracellular environment and can enter the cytosol of distant cells to regulate genes. mechanisms that import rna into the cytosol of an animal cell can enable uptake of rna from many sources including other organisms. this role of rna is akin to that ...	2015	26138457
infectious uveitis.	infectious uveitis is one of the most common and visually devastating causes of uveitis in the us and worldwide. this review provides a summary of the identification, treatment, and complications associated with certain forms of viral, bacterial, fungal, helminthic, and parasitic uveitis. in particular, this article reviews the literature on identification and treatment of acute retinal necrosis due to herpes simplex virus, varicella virus, and cytomegalovirus. while no agreed-upon treatment has ...	2015	26618074
abstracts from the 38th annual meeting of the society of general internal medicine.		2015	25869016
anopheles midgut epithelium evades human complement activity by capturing factor h from the blood meal.	hematophagous vectors strictly require ingesting blood from their hosts to complete their life cycles. exposure of the alimentary canal of these vectors to the host immune effectors necessitates efficient counteractive measures by hematophagous vectors. the anopheles mosquito transmitting the malaria parasite is an example of hematophagous vectors that within seconds can ingest human blood double its weight. the innate immune defense mechanisms, like the complement system, in the human blood sho ...	2015	25679788
prolyl oligopeptidase from the blood fluke schistosoma mansoni: from functional analysis to anti-schistosomal inhibitors.	blood flukes of the genus schistosoma cause schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that infects over 240 million people worldwide, and for which there is a need to identify new targets for chemotherapeutic interventions. our research is focused on schistosoma mansoni prolyl oligopeptidase (smpop) from the serine peptidase family s9, which has not been investigated in detail in trematodes.	2015	26039195
non-specific esterases in several organs of aedes aegypti (l.) during female adult life.		2015	4709581
developmental effects of ionizing radiation in aedes aegypti.		2015	5080436
[effects of 2 antimetabolites on the development of aedes aegypti larvae].		2015	4662010
infectious chikungunya virus in the saliva of mice, monkeys and humans.	chikungunya virus (chikv) is a reemerging, ordinarily mosquito-transmitted, alphavirus that occasionally produces hemorrhagic manifestations, such as nose bleed and bleeding gums, in human patients. interferon response factor 3 and 7 deficient (irf3/7-/-) mice, which are deficient for interferon α/β responses, reliably develop hemorrhagic manifestations after chikv infection. here we show that infectious virus was present in the oral cavity of chikv infected irf3/7-/- mice, likely due to hemorrh ...	2015	26447467
tracking dengue virus intra-host genetic diversity during human-to-mosquito transmission.	dengue virus (denv) infection of an individual human or mosquito host produces a dynamic population of closely-related sequences. this intra-host genetic diversity is thought to offer an advantage for arboviruses to adapt as they cycle between two very different host species, but it remains poorly characterized. to track changes in viral intra-host genetic diversity during horizontal transmission, we infected aedes aegypti mosquitoes by allowing them to feed on denv2-infected patients. we then p ...	2015	26325059
in-depth characterization of trypsin-like serine peptidases in the midgut of the sugar fed culex quinquefasciatus.	culex quinquefasciatus is a hematophagous insect from the culicidae family that feeds on the blood of humans, dogs, birds and livestock. this species transmits a wide variety of pathogens between humans and animals. the midgut environment is the first location of pathogen-vector interactions for blood-feeding mosquitoes and the expression of specific peptidases in the early stages of feeding could influence the outcome of the infection. trypsin-like serine peptidases belong to a multi-gene famil ...	2015	26174750
detection of persistent chikungunya virus rna but not infectious virus in experimental vertical transmission in aedes aegypti from malaysia.	vertical transmission may contribute to the maintenance of arthropod-borne viruses, but its existence in chikungunya virus (chikv) is unclear. experimental vertical transmission of infectious clones of chikv in aedes aegypti mosquitoes from malaysia was investigated. eggs and adult progeny from the second gonotrophic cycles of infected parental mosquitoes were tested. using polymerase chain reaction (pcr), 56.3% of pooled eggs and 10% of adult progeny had detectable chikv rna, but no samples had ...	2015	26598564
the phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine receptor cd300a binds dengue virus and enhances infection.	dengue virus (denv) is the etiological agent of the major human arboviral disease. we previously demonstrated that the tim and tam families of phosphatidylserine (ptdser) receptors involved in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells mediate denv entry into target cells. we show here that human cd300a, a recently identified phospholipid receptor, also binds directly denv particles and enhances viral entry. cd300a facilitates infection of the four denv serotypes, as well as of other mosquito-borne vir ...	2015	26468529
direct pcr of indigenous and invasive mosquito species: a time- and cost-effective technique of mosquito barcoding.	millions of people die each year as a result of pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. however, the morphological identification of mosquito species can be difficult even for experts. the identification of morphologically indistinguishable species, such as members of the anopheles maculipennis complex (diptera: culicidae), and possible hybrids, such as culex pipiens pipiens/culex pipiens molestus (diptera: culicidae), presents a major problem. in addition, the detection and discrimination of newly ...	2015	26663040
chikungunya nsp2 protease is not a papain-like cysteine protease and the catalytic dyad cysteine is interchangeable with a proximal serine.	chikungunya virus is the pathogenic alphavirus that causes chikungunya fever in humans. in the last decade millions of cases have been reported around the world from africa to asia to the americas. the alphavirus nsp2 protein is multifunctional and is considered to be pivotal to viral replication, as the nsp2 protease activity is critical for proteolytic processing of the viral polyprotein during replication. classically the alphavirus nsp2 protease is thought to be papain-like with the enzyme r ...	2015	26597768
antiviral phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers are protective against chikungunya virus infection on cell-based and murine models.	chikungunya virus (chikv) infection in human is associated with debilitating and persistent arthralgia and arthritis. currently, there is no specific vaccine or effective antiviral available. anti-chikv phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (cpmo) was evaluated for its antiviral efficacy and cytotoxcity in human cells and neonate murine model. two cpmos were designed to block translation initiation of a highly conserved sequence in chikv non-structural and structural polyprotein, respectively. ...	2015	26224141
circumsporozoite protein as a potential target for antimalarials.	since the discovery of circumsporozoite protein (csp), a major sporozoite surface antigen, by ruth nussenzweig and victor nussenzweig in the early 1980s, the role of csp in protection against malaria has been extensively investigated. several monoclonal antibodies against csp have been generated to date, with some of them mediating antimalarial protection upon passive transfer into animals. genetically engineered transgenic mosquitoes producing the anti-csp antibody have recently been generated ...	2015	26081442
sequence-independent characterization of viruses based on the pattern of viral small rnas produced by the host.	virus surveillance in vector insects is potentially of great benefit to public health. large-scale sequencing of small and long rnas has previously been used to detect viruses, but without any formal comparison of different strategies. furthermore, the identification of viral sequences largely depends on similarity searches against reference databases. here, we developed a sequence-independent strategy based on virus-derived small rnas produced by the host response, such as the rna interference ...	2015	26040701
the baculovirus antiapoptotic p35 protein functions as an inhibitor of the host rna interference antiviral response.	rna interference (rnai) is considered an ancient antiviral defense in diverse organisms, including insects. virus infections generate double-strand rnas (dsrnas) that trigger the rnai machinery to process dsrnas into virus-derived short interfering rnas (vsirnas), which target virus genomes, mrnas, or replication intermediates. viruses, in turn, have evolved viral suppressors of rnai (vsrs) to counter host antiviral rnai. following recent discoveries that insects mount an rnai response against d ...	2015	26018163
a neuron-specific antiviral mechanism prevents lethal flaviviral infection of mosquitoes.	mosquitoes are natural vectors for many etiologic agents of human viral diseases. mosquito-borne flaviviruses can persistently infect the mosquito central nervous system without causing dramatic pathology or influencing the mosquito behavior and lifespan. the mechanism by which the mosquito nervous system resists flaviviral infection is still largely unknown. here we report that an aedes aegypti homologue of the neural factor hikaru genki (aahig) efficiently restricts flavivirus infection of the ...	2015	25915054
a small antigenic determinant of the chikungunya virus e2 protein is sufficient to induce neutralizing antibodies which are partially protective in mice.	the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus (chikv) causes high fever and severe joint pain in humans. it is expected to spread in the future to europe and has recently reached the usa due to globalization, climate change and vector switch. despite this, little is known about the virus life cycle and, so far, there is no specific treatment or vaccination against chikungunya infections. we aimed here to identify small antigenic determinants of the chikv e2 protein able to induce neutralizing immune resp ...	2015	25905779
the hub protein loquacious connects the microrna and short interfering rna pathways in mosquitoes.	aedes aegypti mosquitoes vector several arboviruses of global health significance, including dengue viruses and chikungunya virus. rna interference (rnai) plays an important role in antiviral immunity, gene regulation and protection from transposable elements. double-stranded rna binding proteins (dsrbps) are important for efficient rnai; in drosophila functional specialization of the mirna, endo-sirna and exo-sirna pathway is aided by the dsrbps loquacious (loqs-pb, loqs-pd) and r2d2, respectiv ...	2015	25765650
impacts of the creation, expansion and management of english wetlands on mosquito presence and abundance - developing strategies for future disease mitigation.	the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases is increasing in europe, partly due to the incursion of a number of invasive species known to be vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses, but also due to the involvement of native species in the transmission of west nile virus and malaria. for some of these pathogens, there is a risk of the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases that were once widespread in europe, but declined partly due to large-scale land-drainage projects. some mosquito species explo ...	2015	25889666
rapid selection against arbovirus-induced apoptosis during infection of a mosquito vector.	millions of people are infected each year by arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) such as chikungunya, dengue, and west nile viruses, yet for reasons that are largely unknown, only a relatively small number of mosquito species are able to transmit arboviruses. understanding the complex factors that determine vector competence could facilitate strategies for controlling arbovirus infections. apoptosis is a potential antiviral defense response that has been shown to be important in other virus-ho ...	2015	25713358
small interfering rna pathway modulates initial viral infection in midgut epithelium of insect after ingestion of virus.	numerous viruses are transmitted in a persistent manner by insect vectors. persistent viruses establish their initial infection in the midgut epithelium, from where they disseminate to the midgut visceral muscles. although propagation of viruses in insect vectors can be controlled by the small interfering rna (sirna) antiviral pathway, whether the sirna pathway can control viral dissemination from the midgut epithelium is unknown. infection by a rice virus (southern rice black streaked dwarf vir ...	2015	26537672
arbovirus-mosquito interactions: rnai pathway.	arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses infect hematophagous arthropods (vectors) to maintain virus transmission between vertebrate hosts. the mosquito vector actively controls arbovirus infection to minimize its fitness costs. the rna interference (rnai) pathway is the major antiviral response vectors use to restrict arbovirus infections. we know this because depleting rnai gene products profoundly impacts arbovirus replication, the antiviral rnai pathway genes undergo positive, diversifying selection a ...	2015	26629932
ixodes scapularis and ixodes ricinus tick cell lines respond to infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus: transcriptomic and proteomic analysis.	ixodid ticks are important vectors of a wide variety of viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. although several studies have elucidated tick responses to bacteria, little is known about the tick response to viruses. to gain insight into the response of tick cells to flavivirus infection, the transcriptomes and proteomes of two ixodes spp cell lines infected with the flavivirus tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) were analysed.	2015	26582129
the impact of wolbachia on virus infection in mosquitoes.	mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue, west nile and chikungunya viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality in human populations. since current methods are not sufficient to control disease occurrence, novel methods to control transmission of arboviruses would be beneficial. recent studies have shown that virus infection and transmission in insects can be impeded by co-infection with the bacterium wolbachia pipientis. wolbachia is a maternally inherited endosymbiont that is commonly found ...	2015	26556361
identifying the role of e2 domains on alphavirus neutralization and protective immune responses.	chikungunya virus (chikv) and other alphaviruses are the etiologic agents of numerous diseases in both humans and animals. despite this, the viral mediators of protective immunity against alphaviruses are poorly understood, highlighted by the lack of a licensed human vaccine for any member of this virus genus. the alphavirus e2, the receptor-binding envelope protein, is considered to be the predominant target of the protective host immune response. although envelope protein domains have been stu ...	2015	26473963
kinetic characterization of trans-proteolytic activity of chikungunya virus capsid protease and development of a fret-based hts assay.	chikungunya virus (chikv) capsid protein (cvcp) is a serine protease that possesses cis-proteolytic activity essential for the structural polyprotein processing and plays a key role in the virus life cycle. chikv being an emerging arthropod-borne pathogenic virus, is a public health concern worldwide. no vaccines or specific antiviral treatment is currently available for chikungunya disease. thus, it is important to develop inhibitors against chikv enzymes to block key steps in viral reproductio ...	2015	26439734
nonhuman primate models of chikungunya virus infection and disease (chikv nhp model).	chikungunya virus (chikv) is a positive-sense rna virus transmitted by aedes mosquitoes. chikv is a reemerging alphavirus that causes acute febrile illness and severe and debilitating polyarthralgia of the peripheral joints. huge epidemics and the rapid spread of chikv seen in india and the indian ocean region established chikv as a global health concern. this concern was further solidified by the recent incursion of the virus into the western hemisphere, a region without pre-existing immunity. ...	2015	26389957
distinct sets of piwi proteins produce arbovirus and transposon-derived pirnas in aedes aegypti mosquito cells.	the piwi-interacting rna (pirna) pathway is essential for transposon silencing in many model organisms. its remarkable efficiency relies on a sophisticated amplification mechanism known as the ping-pong loop. in alphavirus-infected aedes mosquitoes, pirnas with sequence features that suggest ping-pong-dependent biogenesis are produced from viral rna. the piwi family in aedes mosquitoes is expanded when compared to other model organisms, raising the possibility that individual piwi proteins have ...	2015	26068474
interplay between the virus and host in rift valley fever pathogenesis.	rift valley fever virus (rvfv) belongs to the genus phlebovirus, family bunyaviridae, and carries single-stranded tripartite rna segments. the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and has caused large outbreaks among ruminants and humans in sub-saharan african and middle east countries. the disease is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, photophobia, and weakness. in most cases, patients recover from the disease after a period of weeks, but some also develop ...	2015	25766761
the role of rna interference (rnai) in arbovirus-vector interactions.	rna interference (rnai) was shown over 18 years ago to be a mechanism by which arbovirus replication and transmission could be controlled in arthropod vectors. during the intervening period, research on rnai has defined many of the components and mechanisms of this antiviral pathway in arthropods, yet a number of unexplored questions remain. rnai refers to rna-mediated regulation of gene expression. originally, the term described silencing of endogenous genes by introduction of exogenous double- ...	2015	25690800
suppression of shrimp melanization during white spot syndrome virus infection.	the melanization cascade, activated by the prophenoloxidase (propo) system, plays a key role in the production of cytotoxic intermediates, as well as melanin products for microbial sequestration in invertebrates. here, we show that the propo system is an important component of the penaeus monodon shrimp immune defense toward a major viral pathogen, white spot syndrome virus (wssv). gene silencing of pmpropo(s) resulted in increased cumulative shrimp mortality after wssv infection, whereas incuba ...	2015	25572398
of elic and evolution.		2015	25548134
insect-specific virus discovery: significance for the arbovirus community.	arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), especially those transmitted by mosquitoes, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in humans and animals worldwide. recent discoveries indicate that mosquitoes are naturally infected with a wide range of other viruses, many within taxa occupied by arboviruses that are considered insect-specific. over the past ten years there has been a dramatic increase in the literature describing novel insect-specific virus detection in mosquitoes, which has p ...	2015	26378568
insect-specific flaviviruses: a systematic review of their discovery, host range, mode of transmission, superinfection exclusion potential and genomic organization.	there has been a dramatic increase in the number of insect-specific flaviviruses (isfs) discovered in the last decade. historically, these viruses have generated limited interest due to their inability to infect vertebrate cells. this viewpoint has changed in recent years because some isfs have been shown to enhance or suppress the replication of medically important flaviviruses in co-infected mosquito cells. additionally, comparative studies between isfs and medically important flaviviruses can ...	2015	25866904
global climate anomalies and potential infectious disease risks: 2014-2015.	the el niño/southern oscillation (enso) is a global climate phenomenon that impacts human infectious disease risk worldwide through droughts, floods, and other climate extremes. throughout summer and fall 2014 and winter 2015, el niño watch, issued by the us national oceanic and atmospheric administration, assessed likely el niño development during the northern hemisphere fall and winter, persisting into spring 2015.	2015	25685635
dissecting the role of e2 protein domains in alphavirus pathogenicity.	alphaviruses represent a diverse set of arboviruses, many of which are important pathogens. chikungunya virus (chikv), an arthritis-inducing alphavirus, is the cause of a massive ongoing outbreak in the caribbean and south america. in contrast to chikv, other related alphaviruses, such as venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (veev) and semliki forest virus (sfv), can cause encephalitic disease. e2, the receptor binding protein, has been implicated as a determinant in cell tropism, host range, pa ...	2015	26676771
resource limitation, controphic ostracod density and larval mosquito development.	aquatic environments can be restricted with the amount of available food resources especially with changes to both abiotic and biotic conditions. mosquito larvae, in particular, are sensitive to changes in food resources. resource limitation through inter-, and intra-specific competition among mosquitoes are known to affect both their development and survival. however, much less is understood about the effects of non-culicid controphic competitors (species that share the same trophic level). to ...	2015	26558896
larval temperature-food effects on adult mosquito infection and vertical transmission of dengue-1 virus.	temperature-food interactions in the larval environment can affect life history and population growth of container mosquitoes aedes aegypti (l.) and aedes albopictus skuse, the primary vectors of chikungunya and dengue viruses. we used ae. aegypti, ae. albopictus, and dengue-1 virus (denv-1) from florida to investigate whether larval rearing temperature can alter the effects of larval food levels on ae. aegypti and ae. albopictus life history and denv-1 infection and vertical transmission. altho ...	2015	26489999
ross river virus: many vectors and unusual hosts make for an unpredictable pathogen.		2015	26335937
a potent neutralizing igm mab targeting the n218 epitope on e2 protein protects against chikungunya virus pathogenesis.	chikungunya virus (chikv) is a medically important human viral pathogen that causes chikungunya fever accompanied with debilitating and persistent joint pain. host-elicited or passively-transferred monoclonal antibodies (mab) are essential mediators of chikv clearance. therefore, this study aimed to generate and characterize a panel of mabs for their neutralization efficacy against chikv infection in a cell-based and murine model. to evaluate their antigenicity and neutralization profile, indire ...	2015	26305993
the usual suspects: comparison of the relative roles of potential urban chikungunya virus vectors in australia.	the global re-emergence of chikungunya virus (chikv) over the last decade presents a serious public health risk to australia. an increasing number of imported cases further underline the potential for local transmission to occur if local mosquitoes bite an infected traveller. laboratory experiments have identified a number of competent australian mosquito species, including the primary vectors of chikv abroad, aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus, and local endemic species aedes vigilax and aedes ...	2015	26247366
the chikungunya virus capsid protein contains linear b cell epitopes in the n- and c-terminal regions that are dependent on an intact c-terminus for antibody recognition.	chikungunya virus (chikv) is an arthropod-borne agent that causes severe arthritic disease in humans and is considered a serious health threat in areas where competent mosquito vectors are prevalent. chikv has recently been responsible for several millions of cases of disease, involving over 40 countries. the recent re-emergence of chikv and its potential threat to human health has stimulated interest in better understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of the virus, and requirement for impro ...	2015	26061335
alphaviruses in gene therapy.	alphavirus vectors present an attractive approach for gene therapy applications due to the rapid and simple recombinant virus particle production and their broad range of mammalian host cell transduction. mainly three types of alphavirus vectors, namely naked rna, recombinant particles and dna/rna layered vectors, have been subjected to preclinical studies with the goal of achieving prophylactic or therapeutic efficacy, particularly in oncology. in this context, immunization with alphavirus vect ...	2015	25961488
native wolbachia from aedes albopictus blocks chikungunya virus infection in cellulo.	wolbachia, a widespread endosymbiont of terrestrial arthropods, can protect its host against viral and parasitic infections, a phenotype called "pathogen blocking". however, in some cases wolbachia may have no effect or even enhance pathogen infection, depending on the host-wolbachia-pathogen combination. the tiger mosquito aedes albopictus is naturally infected by two strains of wolbachia, walba and walbb, and is a competent vector for different arboviruses such as dengue virus (denv) and chiku ...	2015	25923352
fighting arbovirus transmission: natural and engineered control of vector competence in aedes mosquitoes.	control of aedine mosquito vectors, either by mosquito population reduction or replacement with refractory mosquitoes, may play an essential role in the fight against arboviral diseases. in this review, we will focus on the development and application of biological approaches, both natural or engineered, to limit mosquito vector competence for arboviruses. the study of mosquito antiviral immunity has led to the identification of a number of host response mechanisms and proteins that are required ...	2015	26463078