| vasa genes: emerging roles in the germ line and in multipotent cells. | sexually reproducing metazoans establish a cell lineage during development that is ultimately dedicated to gamete production. work in a variety of animals suggests that a group of conserved molecular determinants act in this germ line maintenance and function. the most universal of these genes are vasa and vasa-like dead-box rna helicase genes. however, recent evidence indicates that vasa genes also function in other cell types, distinct from the germ line. here we evaluate our current understan ... | 0 | 20586054 |
| effect of incentives on insecticide-treated bed net use in sub-saharan africa: a cluster randomized trial in madagascar. | insecticide-treated bed nets (itns) have been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality due to malaria in sub-saharan africa. strategies using incentives to increase itn use could be more efficient than traditional distribution campaigns. to date, behavioural incentives have been studied mostly in developed countries. no study has yet looked at the effect of incentives on the use of itns. reported here are the results of a cluster randomized controlled trial testing household-level incentives for ... | 2010 | 20579392 |
| sleeping arrangement and house structure affect bed net use in villages along lake victoria. | although insecticide-treated bed nets are effective tools, use often does not follow ownership. house structure and space arrangements may make the attempt to use bed nets difficult, especially for school age children. the objectives of this study were to explore whether an individual's sleeping arrangements and house structure affect bed net use in villages along lake victoria in western kenya. | 2010 | 20569459 |
| the complete mitochondrial genome of the fall webworm, hyphantria cunea (lepidoptera: arctiidae). | the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the fall webworm, hyphantria cunea (lepidoptera: arctiidae) was determined. the genome is a circular molecule 15 481 bp long. it presents a typical gene organization and order for completely sequenced lepidopteran mitogenomes, but differs from the insect ancestral type for the placement of trna(met). the nucleotide composition of the genome is also highly a + t biased, accounting for 80.38%, with a slightly positive at skewness (0.010), indicatin ... | 2010 | 20376208 |
| development of a snp resource and a genetic linkage map for atlantic cod (gadus morhua). | atlantic cod (gadus morhua) is a species with increasing economic significance for the aquaculture industry. the genetic improvement of cod will play a critical role in achieving successful large-scale aquaculture. while many microsatellite markers have been developed in cod, the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) is currently limited. here we report the identification of snps from sequence data generated by a large-scale expressed sequence tag (est) program, focusing on fish origi ... | 2010 | 20307277 |
| policy development in malaria vector management in mozambique, south africa and zimbabwe. | indoor residual spraying (irs) and insecticide-treated nets (itns), two principal malaria control strategies, are similar in cost and efficacy. we aimed to describe recent policy development regarding their use in mozambique, south africa and zimbabwe. | 2010 | 20176574 |
| islands of speciation or mirages in the desert? examining the role of restricted recombination in maintaining species. | over the past decade, many studies documented high genetic divergence between closely related species in genomic regions experiencing restricted recombination in hybrids, such as within chromosomal rearrangements or areas adjacent to centromeres. such regions have been called 'islands of speciation' because of their presumed role in maintaining the integrity of species despite gene flow elsewhere in the genome. here, we review alternative explanations for such patterns. segregation of ancestral ... | 0 | 19920849 |
| predicting the impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on malaria transmission: the devil is in the detail. | insecticide-treated bed nets (itns), including long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins), play a primary role in global campaigns to roll back malaria in tropical africa. effectiveness of treated nets depends on direct impacts on individual mosquitoes including killing and excite-repellency, which vary considerably among vector species due to variations in host-seeking behaviours. while monitoring and evaluation programmes of itns have focuses on morbidity and all-cause mortality in humans, local e ... | 2009 | 19917119 |
| functional expression of an arachnid sodium channel reveals residues responsible for tetrodotoxin resistance in invertebrate sodium channels. | tetrodotoxin (ttx) is a potent blocker of voltage-gated sodium channels, but not all sodium channels are equally sensitive to inhibition by ttx. the molecular basis of differential ttx sensitivity of mammalian sodium channels has been largely elucidated. in contrast, our knowledge about the sensitivity of invertebrate sodium channels to ttx remains poor, in part because of limited success in functional expression of these channels. in this study, we report the functional characterization in xeno ... | 2009 | 19828457 |
| denis burkitt and the african lymphoma. | burkitt lymphoma has provided a model for the understanding of the epidemiology, the molecular abnormalities that induce tumours, and the treatment of other lymphomas. it is important to remember that the early phases of this work were conducted in africa where today, unfortunately, the disease usually results in death because of limited resources, even though most children in more developed countries are cured. this must be changed. in addition, it is time to re-explore, with modern techniques, ... | 2009 | 22276020 |
| underestimating malaria risk under variable temperatures. | | 2009 | 19706496 |
| simple and fast classification of non-ltr retrotransposons based on phylogeny of their rt domain protein sequences. | rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes requires fast and accurate computational tools for analysis of different transposable elements (tes). in this paper we focus on a rapid and reliable procedure for classification of autonomous non-ltr retrotransposons based on alignment and clustering of their reverse transcriptase (rt) domains. typically, the rt domain protein sequences encoded by different non-ltr retrotransposons are similar to each other in terms of significant blastp e-values. ther ... | 2009 | 19651192 |
| dimorphic olfactory lobes in the arthropoda. | specialized olfactory lobe glomeruli relating to sexual or caste differences have been observed in at least five orders of insects, suggesting an early appearance of this trait in insect evolution. dimorphism is not limited to nocturnal species, but occurs even in insects that are known to use vision for courtship. other than a single description, there is no evidence for similar structures occurring in the crustacea, suggesting that the evolution of dimorphic olfactory systems may typify terres ... | 0 | 19686183 |
| origin and evolution of y chromosomes: drosophila tales. | classically, y chromosomes are thought to originate from x chromosomes through a process of degeneration and gene loss. now, the availability of 12 drosophila genomes provides an opportunity to study the origin and evolution of y chromosomes in an informative phylogenetic context. surprisingly, the majority of drosophila y-linked genes are recent acquisitions from autosomes and y chromosome gene gains are more frequent than gene losses. moreover, the drosophila pseudoobscura y chromosome lacks h ... | 2009 | 19443075 |
| identification, distribution and molecular evolution of the pacifastin gene family in metazoa. | members of the pacifastin family are serine peptidase inhibitors, most of which are produced as multi domain precursor proteins. structural and biochemical characteristics of insect pacifastin-like peptides have been studied intensively, but only one inhibitor has been functionally characterised. recent sequencing projects of metazoan genomes have created an unprecedented opportunity to explore the distribution, evolution and functional diversification of pacifastin genes in the animal kingdom. | 2009 | 19435517 |
| towards evolution-proof malaria control with insecticides. | as many strategies to control malaria use insecticides against adult mosquitoes, control is undermined by the continual evolution of resistant mosquitoes. here we suggest that using alternative insecticides, or conventional insecticides in alternative ways might enable effective control, but delay considerably or prevent the evolution of resistance. our reasoning relies on an epidemiological and an evolutionary principle: (i) the epidemiology of malaria is strongly influenced by the life-span of ... | 2009 | 25567892 |
| the cytochrome p450 (cyp) gene superfamily in daphnia pulex. | cytochrome p450s (cyps) in animals fall into two categories: those that synthesize or metabolize endogenous molecules and those that interact with exogenous chemicals from the diet or the environment. the latter form a critical component of detoxification systems. | 2009 | 19383150 |
| insights into long-lasting protection induced by rts,s/as02a malaria vaccine: further results from a phase iib trial in mozambican children. | the pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine rts,s/as02a has shown to confer protection against clinical malaria for at least 21 months in a trial in mozambican children. efficacy varied between different endpoints, such as parasitaemia or clinical malaria; however the underlying mechanisms that determine efficacy and its duration remain unknown. we performed a new, exploratory analysis to explore differences in the duration of protection among participants to better understand the protection afforded b ... | 2009 | 19365567 |
| imgd: an integrated platform supporting comparative genomics and phylogenetics of insect mitochondrial genomes. | sequences and organization of the mitochondrial genome have been used as markers to investigate evolutionary history and relationships in many taxonomic groups. the rapidly increasing mitochondrial genome sequences from diverse insects provide ample opportunities to explore various global evolutionary questions in the superclass hexapoda. to adequately support such questions, it is imperative to establish an informatics platform that facilitates the retrieval and utilization of available mitocho ... | 2009 | 19351385 |
| molecular and functional characterization of adipokinetic hormone receptor and its peptide ligands in bombyx mori. | neuropeptides of the adipokinetic hormone (akh) family are among the best studied hormone peptides, but its signaling pathways remain to be elucidated. in this study, we molecularly characterized the signaling of bombyx akh receptor (akhr) and its peptide ligands in hek293 cells. in hek293 cells stably expressing akhr, akh1 stimulation not only led to a ligand concentration dependent mobilization of intracellular ca(2+) and camp accumulation, but also elicited transient activation of extracellul ... | 2009 | 19345219 |
| mitochondrial pseudogenes in the nuclear genome of aedes aegypti mosquitoes: implications for past and future population genetic studies. | mitochondrial dna (mtdna) is widely used in population genetic and phylogenetic studies in animals. however, such studies can generate misleading results if the species concerned contain nuclear copies of mtdna (numts) as these may amplify in addition to, or even instead of, the authentic target mtdna. the aim of this study was to determine if numts are present in aedes aegypti mosquitoes, to characterise any numts detected, and to assess the utility of using mtdna for population genetics studie ... | 2009 | 19267896 |
| household possession, use and non-use of treated or untreated mosquito nets in two ecologically diverse regions of nigeria--niger delta and sahel savannah. | current use of treated mosquito nets for the prevention of malaria falls short of what is expected in sub-saharan africa (ssa), though research within the continent has indicated that the use of these commodities can reduce malaria morbidity by 50% and malaria mortality by 20%. governments in sub-sahara africa are investing substantially in scaling-up treated mosquito net coverage for impact. however, certain significant factors still prevent the use of the treated mosquito nets, even among thos ... | 2009 | 19228422 |
| characterization of the yellow fever mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 like 3 gene and ligand-bound protein structure. | the sterol carrier protein-2 like 3 gene (aescp-2l3), a new member of the scp-2 protein family, is identified from the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti. the predicted molecular weight of aescp-2l3 is 13.4 kda with a calculated pi of 4.98. aescp-2l3 transcription occurs in the larval feeding stages and the mrna levels decrease in pupae and adults. the highest levels of aescp-2l3 gene expression are found in the body wall, and possibly originated in the fat body. this is the first report of a ... | 2009 | 19130179 |
| revisiting the impact of inversions in evolution: from population genetic markers to drivers of adaptive shifts and speciation? | there is a growing appreciation that chromosome inversions affect rates of adaptation, speciation, and the evolution of sex chromosomes. comparative genomic studies have identified many new paracentric inversion polymorphisms. population models suggest that inversions can spread by reducing recombination between alleles that independently increase fitness, without epistasis or coadaptation. areas of linkage disequilibrium extend across large inversions but may be interspersed by areas with littl ... | 0 | 20419035 |
| effect of a fall in malaria transmission on morbidity and mortality in kilifi, kenya. | as efforts to control malaria are expanded across the world, understanding the role of transmission intensity in determining the burden of clinical malaria is crucial to the prediction and measurement of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce transmission. furthermore, studies comparing several endemic sites led to speculation that as transmission decreases morbidity and mortality caused by severe malaria might increase. we aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in ... | 0 | 18984188 |
| spatio-seasonal modeling of the incidence rate of malaria in mozambique. | the objective was to study the seasonal effect on the spatial distribution of the incidence of malaria in children under 10 years old living in the manhiça district, mozambique. | 2008 | 18976458 |
| spatial effects of mosquito bednets on child mortality. | insecticide treated nets (itn) have been proven to be an effective tool in reducing the burden of malaria. few randomized clinical trials examined the spatial effect of itns on child mortality at a high coverage level, hence it is essential to better understand these effects in real-life situation with varying levels of coverage. we analyzed for the first time data from a large follow-up study in an area of high perennial malaria transmission in southern tanzania to describe the spatial effects ... | 2008 | 18854021 |
| integrated vector management: the zambian experience. | the zambian malaria control programme with the roll back malaria (rbm) partners have developed the current national malaria strategic plan (nmsp 2006-2011) which focuses on prevention based on the integrated vector management (ivm) strategy. the introduction and implementation of an ivm strategy was planned in accordance with the world health organization (who) steps towards ivm implementation namely introduction phase, consolidation phase and expansion phase. | 2008 | 18752658 |
| unforeseen misuses of bed nets in fishing villages along lake victoria. | to combat malaria, the kenya ministry of health and nongovernmental organizations (ngos) have distributed insecticide-treated nets (itns) for use over beds, with coverage for children under five years of age increasing rapidly. nevertheless, residents of fishing villages have started to use these bed nets for drying fish and fishing in lake victoria. this study investigated the extent of bed net misuse in fishing villages. | 2008 | 18752662 |
| malaria incidence in limpopo province, south africa, 1998-2007. | malaria is endemic in the low-altitude areas of the northern and eastern parts of south africa with seasonal transmission. the aim of this descriptive study is to give an overview of the malaria incidence and mortality in limpopo province for the seasons 1998-1999 to 2006-2007 and to detect trends over time and place. | 2008 | 18724866 |
| markets, voucher subsidies and free nets combine to achieve high bed net coverage in rural tanzania. | tanzania has a well-developed network of commercial itn retailers. in 2004, the government introduced a voucher subsidy for pregnant women and, in mid 2005, helped distribute free nets to under-fives in small number of districts, including rufiji on the southern coast, during a child health campaign. contributions of these multiple insecticide-treated net delivery strategies existing at the same time and place to coverage in a poor rural community were assessed. | 2008 | 18518956 |
| multiple waves of recent dna transposon activity in the bat, myotis lucifugus. | dna transposons, or class 2 transposable elements, have successfully propagated in a wide variety of genomes. however, it is widely believed that dna transposon activity has ceased in mammalian genomes for at least the last 40 million years. we recently reported evidence for the relatively recent activity of hat and helitron elements, two distinct groups of dna transposons, in the lineage of the vespertilionid bat myotis lucifugus. here, we describe seven additional families that have also been ... | 2008 | 18340040 |
| analysis of repetitive dna distribution patterns in the tribolium castaneum genome. | insect genomes vary widely in size, a large fraction of which is often devoted to repetitive dna. re-association kinetics indicate that up to 42% of the genome of the red flour beetle, tribolium castaneum, is repetitive. analysis of the abundance and distribution of repetitive dna in the recently sequenced genome of t. castaneum is important for understanding the structure and function of its genome. | 2008 | 18366801 |
| snps and hox gene mapping in ciona intestinalis. | the tunicate ciona intestinalis (enterogona, ascidiacea), a major model system for evolutionary and developmental genetics of chordates, harbours two cryptic species. to assess the degree of intra- and inter-specific genetic variability, we report the identification and analysis of c. intestinalis snp (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers. a snp subset was used to determine the genetic distance between hox-5 and -10 genes. | 2008 | 18221512 |
| diversity of preferred nucleotide sequences around the translation initiation codon in eukaryote genomes. | understanding regulatory mechanisms of protein synthesis in eukaryotes is essential for the accurate annotation of genome sequences. kozak reported that the nucleotide sequence gccgcc(a/g)ccaugg (aug is the initiation codon) was frequently observed in vertebrate genes and that this 'consensus' sequence enhanced translation initiation. however, later studies using invertebrate, fungal and plant genes reported different 'consensus' sequences. in this study, we conducted extensive comparative analy ... | 2007 | 18086709 |
| cost-sharing strategies combining targeted public subsidies with private-sector delivery achieve high bednet coverage and reduced malaria transmission in kilombero valley, southern tanzania. | cost-sharing schemes incorporating modest targeted subsidies have promoted insecticide-treated nets (itns) for malaria prevention in the kilombero valley, southern tanzania, since 1996. here we evaluate resulting changes in bednet coverage and malaria transmission. | 2007 | 17961211 |
| varying efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in infants in two similar trials: public health implications. | intermittent preventive treatment (ipti) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (sp) in infants resulted in different estimates of clinical malaria protection in two trials that used the same protocol in ifakara, tanzania, and manhiça, mozambique. understanding the reasons for the discrepant results will help to elucidate the action mechanism of this intervention, which is essential for rational policy formulation. | 2007 | 17897454 |
| absence of in vivo selection for k13 mutations after artemether-lumefantrine treatment in uganda. | individual drug treatment may select resistant parasites in the human body, a process termed in vivo selection. some single nucleotide polymorphisms in plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistance transporter (pfcrt) and multidrug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1) genes have been reportedly selected after artemether-lumefantrine treatment. however, there is a paucity of data regarding in vivo selection of p. falciparum kelch propeller domain (pfkelch13) polymorphisms, responsible for artemisinin-resist ... | 2017 | 28068997 |
| impact of mosquito gene drive on malaria elimination in a computational model with explicit spatial and temporal dynamics. | the renewed effort to eliminate malaria and permanently remove its tremendous burden highlights questions of what combination of tools would be sufficient in various settings and what new tools need to be developed. gene drive mosquitoes constitute a promising set of tools, with multiple different possible approaches including population replacement with introduced genes limiting malaria transmission, driving-y chromosomes to collapse a mosquito population, and gene drive disrupting a fertility ... | 2016 | 28028208 |
| patterns and determinants of malaria risk in urban and peri-urban areas of blantyre, malawi. | although malaria disease in urban and peri-urban areas of sub-saharan africa is a growing concern, the epidemiologic patterns and drivers of transmission in these settings remain poorly understood. factors associated with variation in malaria risk in urban and peri-urban areas were evaluated in this study. | 2016 | 27931234 |
| rnai-mediated mortality of the whitefly through transgenic expression of double-stranded rna homologous to acetylcholinesterase and ecdysone receptor in tobacco plants. | the whitefly bemisia tabaci (genn.) is a pest and vector of plant viruses to crop and ornamental plants worldwide. using rna interference (rnai) to down regulate whitefly genes by expressing their homologous double stranded rnas in plants has great potential for management of whiteflies to reduce plant virus disease spread. using a tobacco rattle virus-derived plasmid for in planta transient expression of double stranded rna (dsrna) homologous to the acetylcholinesterase (ache) and ecdysone rece ... | 2016 | 27929123 |
| susceptibility of anopheles gambiae to insecticides used for malaria vector control in rwanda. | the widespread emergence of resistance to pyrethroids is a major threat to the gains made in malaria control. to monitor the presence and possible emergence of resistance against a variety of insecticides used for malaria control in rwanda, nationwide insecticide resistance surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2013. | 2016 | 27905919 |
| a bibliometric analysis of literature on malaria vector resistance: (1996 - 2015). | emergence of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is a real threat to future goals of elimination and control of malaria. therefore, the objective of this study was to assess research trend on insecticide resistance of anopheles mosquito. in specific, number of publications, countries, institutions, and authors' research profile, citation analysis, international collaborations, and impact of journals publishing documents on insecticide resistance will be presented. it was conducted via scop ... | 2016 | 27884199 |
| malaria elimination campaigns in the lake kariba region of zambia: a spatial dynamical model. | as more regions approach malaria elimination, understanding how different interventions interact to reduce transmission becomes critical. the lake kariba area of southern province, zambia, is part of a multi-country elimination effort and presents a particular challenge as it is an interconnected region of variable transmission intensities. in 2012-13, six rounds of mass test-and-treat drug campaigns were carried out in the lake kariba region. a spatial dynamical model of malaria transmission in ... | 2016 | 27880764 |
| evidence of a multiple insecticide resistance in the malaria vector anopheles funestus in south west nigeria. | knowing the extent and spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is vital to successfully manage insecticide resistance in africa. this information in the main malaria vector, anopheles funestus sensu stricto, is completely lacking in the most populous country in africa, nigeria. this study reports the insecticide susceptibility status and the molecular basis of resistance of an. funestus as well as its involvement in malaria transmission in akaka-remo, a farm settlement village in sou ... | 2016 | 27876039 |
| increasing insecticide resistance in anopheles funestus and anopheles arabiensis in malawi, 2011-2015. | susceptibility of principal anopheles malaria vectors to common insecticides was monitored over a 5-year period across malawi to inform and guide the national malaria control programme. | 2016 | 27876046 |
| studies on mosquito biting risk among migratory rice farmers in rural south-eastern tanzania and development of a portable mosquito-proof hut. | subsistence rice farmers in south-eastern tanzania are often migratory, spending weeks or months tending to crops in distant fields along the river valleys and living in improvised structures known as shamba huts, not fully protected from mosquitoes. these farmers also experience poor access to organized preventive and curative services due to long distances. mosquito biting exposure in these rice fields, relative to main village residences was assessed, then a portable mosquito-proof hut was de ... | 2016 | 27876050 |
| phylosymbiosis: relationships and functional effects of microbial communities across host evolutionary history. | phylosymbiosis was recently proposed to describe the eco-evolutionary pattern, whereby the ecological relatedness of host-associated microbial communities parallels the phylogeny of related host species. here, we test the prevalence of phylosymbiosis and its functional significance under highly controlled conditions by characterizing the microbiota of 24 animal species from four different groups (peromyscus deer mice, drosophila flies, mosquitoes, and nasonia wasps), and we reevaluate the phylos ... | 2016 | 27861590 |
| genome of the asian longhorned beetle (anoplophora glabripennis), a globally significant invasive species, reveals key functional and evolutionary innovations at the beetle-plant interface. | relatively little is known about the genomic basis and evolution of wood-feeding in beetles. we undertook genome sequencing and annotation, gene expression assays, studies of plant cell wall degrading enzymes, and other functional and comparative studies of the asian longhorned beetle, anoplophora glabripennis, a globally significant invasive species capable of inflicting severe feeding damage on many important tree species. complementary studies of genes encoding enzymes involved in digestion o ... | 2016 | 27832824 |
| high prevalence of plasmodium falciparum gametocyte infections in school-age children using molecular detection: patterns and predictors of risk from a cross-sectional study in southern malawi. | in endemic areas, many people experience asymptomatic plasmodium infections, particularly older children and adults, but their transmission contribution is unknown. though not the exclusive determinant of infectiousness, transmission from humans to mosquitoes requires blood meals containing gametocytes. gametocytes often occur at submicroscopic densities, challenging measurement in human populations. more sensitive molecular techniques allow better characterization of gametocyte epidemiologic pa ... | 2016 | 27809907 |
| transcriptome analysis of green peach aphid (myzus persicae): insight into developmental regulation and inter-species divergence. | green peach aphid (myzus persicae) and pea aphid (acyrthosiphon pisum) are two phylogenetically closely related agricultural pests. while pea aphid is restricted to fabaceae, green peach aphid feeds on hundreds of plant species from more than 40 families. transcriptome comparison could shed light on the genetic factors underlying the difference in host range between the two species. furthermore, a large scale study contrasting gene expression between immature nymphs and fully developed adult aph ... | 2016 | 27812361 |
| communication for behavioural impact in enhancing utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets among mothers of under-five children in rural north sudan: an experimental study. | malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sudan. the entire population is at risk of contracting malaria to different levels. this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of communication for behavioural impact (combi) strategy in enhancing the utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) among mothers of under-five children in rural areas. | 2016 | 27756314 |
| impact of highland topography changes on exposure to malaria vectors and immunity in western kenya. | it is almost an axiom that in the african highlands (above 1,500 m) transmission of plasmodium falciparum is limited primarily by low ambient temperature and that small changes in temperature could result in temporary favorable conditions for unstable transmission within populations that have acquired little functional immunity. the pattern of malaria transmission in the highland plateau ecosystems is less distinct due to the flat topography and diffuse hydrology resulting from numerous streams. ... | 2016 | 27790610 |
| spatio-temporal heterogeneity of malaria vectors in northern zambia: implications for vector control. | despite large reductions in malaria burden across zambia, some regions continue to experience extremely high malaria transmission. in nchelenge district, luapula province, northern zambia, almost half the human population carries parasites. intervention coverage has increased substantially over the past decade, but comprehensive district-wide entomological studies to guide delivery of vector control measures are lacking. this study describes the bionomics and spatio-temporal patterns of malaria ... | 2016 | 27655231 |
| multiple insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus in southern ghana: implications for malaria control. | understanding the dynamics of insecticide resistance in african malaria vectors is crucial for successful implementation of resistance management strategies in the continent. this study reports a high and multiple insecticide resistance in anopheles funestus from southern ghana which could compromise the malaria operational plan in this country, if not tackled. adult anopheles mosquitoes were collected in obuasi and adawukwa, in southern ghana. plasmodium infection rates, susceptibility to the m ... | 2016 | 27628765 |
| malaria and large dams in sub-saharan africa: future impacts in a changing climate. | sub-saharan africa (ssa) has embarked on a new era of dam building to improve food security and promote economic development. nonetheless, the future impacts of dams on malaria transmission are poorly understood and seldom investigated in the context of climate and demographic change. | 2016 | 27592590 |
| eave tubes for malaria control in africa: initial development and semi-field evaluations in tanzania. | presented here are a series of preliminary experiments evaluating "eave tubes"-a technology that combines house screening with a novel method of delivering insecticides for control of malaria mosquitoes. | 2016 | 27586055 |
| a prospective cohort study to assess the micro-epidemiology of plasmodium falciparum clinical malaria in ilha josina machel (manhiça, mozambique). | after the decrease in clinical malaria incidence observed in mozambique until 2009, a steady resurgence of cases per year has been reported nationally, reaching alarming levels in 2014. however, little is known about the clinical profile of the cases presented, or the possible epidemiological factors contributing to the resurgence of cases. | 2016 | 27577880 |
| reviewing south africa's malaria elimination strategy (2012-2018): progress, challenges and priorities. | with a sustained national malaria incidence of fewer than one case per 1000 population at risk, in 2012 south africa officially transitioned from controlling malaria to the ambitious goal of eliminating malaria within its borders by 2018. this review assesses the progress made in the 3 years since programme re-orientation while highlighting challenges and suggesting priorities for moving the malaria programme towards elimination. | 2016 | 27567642 |
| synergistic and compensatory effects of two point mutations conferring target-site resistance to fipronil in the insect gaba receptor rdl. | insecticide resistance can arise from a variety of mechanisms, including changes to the target site, but is often associated with substantial fitness costs to insects. here we describe two resistance-associated target-site mutations that have synergistic and compensatory effects that combine to produce high and persistent levels of resistance to fipronil, an insecticide targeting on γ-aminobytyric acid (gaba) receptors. in nilaparvata lugens, a major pest of rice crops in many parts of asia, we ... | 2016 | 27557781 |
| influence of the agrochemicals used for rice and vegetable cultivation on insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in southern côte d'ivoire. | vector control can contribute to the development of resistance to insecticides in malaria vectors. as the swamps and wetlands used for some agricultural activities constitute productive breeding sites for many mosquito species, agricultural pest control may increase the selection pressure for insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. understanding the use of agrochemicals by farmers is important to plan and initiate effective integrated pest and vector management interventions. | 2016 | 27553959 |
| the impact of pyrethroid resistance on the efficacy and effectiveness of bednets for malaria control in africa. | long lasting pyrethroid treated bednets are the most important tool for preventing malaria. pyrethroid resistant anopheline mosquitoes are now ubiquitous in africa, though the public health impact remains unclear, impeding the deployment of more expensive nets. meta-analyses of bioassay studies and experimental hut trials are used to characterise how pyrethroid resistance changes the efficacy of standard bednets, and those containing the synergist piperonyl butoxide (pbo), and assess its impact ... | 2016 | 27547988 |
| towards malaria elimination in the mosaswa (mozambique, south africa and swaziland) region. | the substantial impact of cross-border collaborative control efforts on the burden of malaria in southern africa has previously been demonstrated through the successes of the lubombo spatial development initiative. increases in malaria cases recorded in the three partner countries (mozambique, south africa, swaziland) since termination of that programme in 2011 have provided impetus for the resuscitation of cooperation in the form of the mosaswa malaria initiative. mosaswa, launched in 2015, see ... | 2016 | 27538990 |
| multiple insecticide resistance in an infected population of the malaria vector anopheles funestus in benin. | knowledge on the spread and distribution of insecticide resistance in major malaria vectors such as anopheles funestus is key to implement successful resistance management strategies across africa. here, by assessing the susceptibility status of an inland population of an. funestus giles (kpome) and investigating molecular basis of resistance, we show that multiple resistance and consistent plasmodium infection rate are present in anopheles funestus populations from kpome. | 2016 | 27531125 |
| prevalence of crt and mdr-1 mutations in plasmodium falciparum isolates from grande comore island after withdrawal of chloroquine. | in comoros, the widespread of chloroquine (cq)-resistant plasmodium falciparum populations was a major obstacle to malaria control, which led to the official withdrawal of cq in 2004. continuous monitoring of cq-resistant markers of the p. falciparum cq resistant transporter (pfcrt) and the p. falciparum multiple drug resistance 1 (pfmdr-1) is necessary inder to obtain first-hand information on cq susceptibility of parasite populations in the field. the objective of this study is to assess the p ... | 2016 | 27527604 |
| insecticide-treated net campaign and malaria transmission in western kenya: 2003-2015. | insecticide-treated nets (itns) are among the three major intervention measures that have reduced malaria transmission in the past decade. however, increased insecticide resistance in vectors, together with outdoor transmission, has limited the efficacy of the itn scaling-up efforts. observations on longitudinal changes in itn coverage and its impact on malaria transmission allow policy makers to make informed adjustments to control strategies. we analyzed field surveys on itn ownership, malaria ... | 2016 | 27574601 |
| investigating molecular basis of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in an anopheles funestus population from senegal. | anopheles funestus is one of the major malaria vectors in tropical africa, notably in senegal. the highly anthropophilic and endophilic behaviours of this mosquito make it a good target for vector control operations through the use of insecticide treated nets, long-lasting insecticide nets and indoor residual spraying. however, little is known about patterns of resistance to insecticides and the underlying resistance mechanisms in field populations of this vector in senegal. | 2016 | 27519696 |
| tafenoquine and its potential in the treatment and relapse prevention of plasmodium vivax malaria: the evidence to date. | despite declining global malaria incidence, the disease continues to be a threat to people living in endemic regions. in 2015, an estimated 214 million new malaria cases and 438,000 deaths due to malaria were recorded. plasmodium vivax is the second most common cause of malaria next to plasmodium falciparum. vivax malaria is prevalent especially in southeast asia and the horn of africa, with enormous challenges in controlling the disease. some of the challenges faced by vivax malaria-endemic cou ... | 2016 | 27528800 |
| mass mosquito trapping for malaria control in western kenya: study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster-randomised trial. | increasing levels of insecticide resistance as well as outdoor, residual transmission of malaria threaten the efficacy of existing vector control tools used against malaria mosquitoes. the development of odour-baited mosquito traps has led to the possibility of controlling malaria through mass trapping of malaria vectors. through daily removal trapping against a background of continued bed net use it is anticipated that vector populations could be suppressed to a level where continued transmissi ... | 2016 | 27460054 |
| genetic structure of water chestnut beetle: providing evidence for origin of water chestnut. | water chestnut beetle (galerucella birmanica jacoby) is a pest of the water chestnut (trapa natans l.). to analyze the phylogeny and biogeography of the beetle and provide evidence for the origin of t. natans in china, we conducted this by using three mitochondrial genes (coi, coii and cytb) and nuclear its2 ribosomal dna of g. birmanica. as for mtdna genes, the beetle could be subdivided into three groups: northeastern china (nec), central-northern-southern china (cc-nc-sc) and southwestern chi ... | 2016 | 27459279 |
| modelling the influence of temperature and rainfall on the population dynamics of anopheles arabiensis. | malaria continues to be one of the most devastating diseases in the world, killing more humans than any other infectious disease. malaria parasites are entirely dependent on anopheles mosquitoes for transmission. for this reason, vector population dynamics is a crucial determinant of malaria risk. consequently, it is important to understand the biology of malaria vector mosquitoes in the study of malaria transmission. temperature and precipitation also play a significant role in both aquatic and ... | 2016 | 27421769 |
| the p450 cyp6z1 confers carbamate/pyrethroid cross-resistance in a major african malaria vector beside a novel carbamate-insensitive n485i acetylcholinesterase-1 mutation. | carbamates are increasingly used for vector control notably in areas with pyrethroid resistance. however, a cross-resistance between these insecticides in major malaria vectors such as anopheles funestus could severely limit available resistance management options. unfortunately, the molecular basis of such cross-resistance remains uncharacterized in an. funestus, preventing effective resistance management. here, using a genomewide transcription profiling, we revealed that metabolic resistance t ... | 2016 | 27135886 |
| high susceptibility of wild anopheles funestus to infection with natural plasmodium falciparum gametocytes using membrane feeding assays. | anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-saharan africa. however, because it is difficult to colonize, research on this mosquito species has lagged behind other vectors, particularly the understanding of its susceptibility and interactions with the plasmodium parasite. the present study reports one of the first experimental infections of progeny from wild-caught an. funestus with the p. falciparum parasite providing a realistic avenue for the characterisation of immune responses as ... | 2016 | 27301693 |
| distribution of plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and malaria-attributable fraction of fever episodes along an altitudinal transect in western cameroon. | highland areas are hypoendemic zones of malaria and are therefore prone to epidemics, due to lack of protective immunity. so far, cameroon has not succeeded in implementing a convenient and effective method to detect, prevent and forecast malaria epidemic in these peculiar zones. this monitoring and evaluation study aims to assess the operational feasibility of using the human malaria infectious reservoir (hmir) and the malaria-attributable fraction of fever episodes (mafe) as indicators, in des ... | 2015 | 25889511 |
| sugarcane giant borer transcriptome analysis and identification of genes related to digestion. | sugarcane is a widely cultivated plant that serves primarily as a source of sugar and ethanol. its annual yield can be significantly reduced by the action of several insect pests including the sugarcane giant borer (telchin licus licus), a lepidopteran that presents a long life cycle and which efforts to control it using pesticides have been inefficient. although its economical relevance, only a few dna sequences are available for this species in the genbank. pyrosequencing technology was used t ... | 2015 | 25706301 |
| bayesian variable selection in modelling geographical heterogeneity in malaria transmission from sparse data: an application to nouna health and demographic surveillance system (hdss) data, burkina faso. | quantification of malaria heterogeneity is very challenging, partly because of the underlying characteristics of mosquitoes and also because malaria is an environmentally driven disease. furthermore, in order to assess the spatial and seasonal variability in malaria transmission, vector data need to be collected repeatedly over time (at fixed geographical locations). measurements collected at locations close to each other and over time tend to be correlated because of common exposures such as en ... | 2015 | 25888970 |
| comparative structural and functional analysis of the larval and adult dorsal vessel and its role in hemolymph circulation in the mosquito anopheles gambiae. | hemolymph circulation in insects is driven primarily by the contractile action of a dorsal vessel, which is divided into an abdominal heart and a thoracic aorta. as holometabolous insects, mosquitoes undergo striking morphological and physiological changes during metamorphosis. this study presents a comprehensive structural and functional analysis of the larval and adult dorsal vessel in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae. using intravital video imaging we show that, unlike the adult heart, ... | 2014 | 25524976 |
| outdoor-sleeping and other night-time activities in northern ghana: implications for residual transmission and malaria prevention. | despite targeted indoor residual spraying (irs) over a six-year period and free mass distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (itns), malaria rates in northern ghana remain high. outdoor sleeping and other night-time social, cultural and economic activities that increase exposure to infective mosquito bites are possible contributors. this study was designed to document these phenomena through direct observation, and to explore the context in which they occur. | 2015 | 25627277 |
| human-to-mosquito transmission efficiency increases as malaria is controlled. | the efficiency of malaria transmission between human and mosquito has been shown to be influenced by many factors in the laboratory, although their impact in the field and how this changes with disease endemicity are unknown. here we estimate how human-mosquito transmission changed as malaria was controlled in dielmo, senegal. mathematical models were fit to data collected between 1990 and the start of vector control in 2008. results show that asexual parasite slide prevalence in humans has redu ... | 2015 | 25597498 |
| effects of starvation on deltamethrin tolerance in bed bugs, cimex lectularius l. (hemiptera: cimicidae). | bed bugs, cimex lectularius l., are a major pest in the urban environment. their presence often results in physical, psychological, and financial distress of homeowners and apartment dwellers. although many insecticide bioassays have been performed on this pest, little attention has been paid to bed bug feeding status, which is closely linked to metabolism, molting, and mass. therefore, we evaluated the toxicity of topically applied deltamethrin on insecticide susceptible adult male bed bugs fed ... | 2015 | 26463068 |
| comparison of a mobile phone-based malaria reporting system with source participant register data for capturing spatial and temporal trends in epidemiological indicators of malaria transmission collected by community health workers in rural zambia. | timeliness, completeness, and accuracy are key requirements for any surveillance system to reliably monitor disease burden and guide efficient resource prioritization. evidence that electronic reporting of malaria cases by community health workers (chws) meet these requirements remains limited. | 2014 | 25495698 |
| cost-effectiveness of larviciding for urban malaria control in tanzania. | larviciding for malaria control can contribute to an integrated vector management (ivm) approach. this intervention is currently supported in settings where breeding habitats are 'few, fixed, and findable', such as urban areas of sub-saharan africa, but the knowledge base regarding the cost-effectiveness of larviciding is non-existent. | 2014 | 25476586 |
| high levels of asymptomatic and subpatent plasmodium falciparum parasite carriage at health facilities in an area of heterogeneous malaria transmission intensity in the kenyan highlands. | in endemic settings, health facility surveys provide a convenient approach to estimating malaria transmission intensity. typically, testing for malaria at facilities is performed on symptomatic attendees, but asymptomatic infections comprise a considerable proportion of the parasite reservoir. we sampled individuals attending five health facilities in the western kenyan highlands. malaria prevalence by rapid diagnostic test (rdt) was 8.6-32.9% in the health facilities. of all polymerase chain re ... | 2014 | 25331807 |
| de novo sequencing, assembly and characterization of antennal transcriptome of anomala corpulenta motschulsky (coleoptera: rutelidae). | anomala corpulenta is an important insect pest and can cause enormous economic losses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. it is widely distributed in china, and both larvae and adults can cause serious damage. it is difficult to control this pest because the larvae live underground. any new control strategy should exploit alternatives to heavily and frequently used chemical insecticides. however, little genetic research has been carried out on a. corpulenta due to the lack of genomic reso ... | 2014 | 25461610 |
| differential antibody response to the anopheles gambiae gsg6 and ce5 salivary proteins in individuals naturally exposed to bites of malaria vectors. | mosquito saliva plays crucial roles in blood feeding but also evokes in hosts an anti-saliva antibody response. the igg response to the anopheles gambiae salivary protein gsg6 was previously shown to be a reliable indicator of human exposure to afrotropical malaria vectors. we analyzed here the humoral response to the salivary anti-thrombin ce5 in a group of individuals from a malaria hyperendemic area of burkina faso. | 2014 | 25428638 |
| serological markers for monitoring historical changes in malaria transmission intensity in a highly endemic region of western kenya, 1994-2009. | monitoring local malaria transmission intensity is essential for planning evidence-based control strategies and evaluating their impact over time. anti-malarial antibodies provide information on cumulative exposure and have proven useful, in areas where transmission has dropped to low sustained levels, for retrospectively reconstructing the timing and magnitude of transmission reduction. it is unclear whether serological markers are also informative in high transmission settings, where intervent ... | 2014 | 25416454 |
| namibia's path toward malaria elimination: a case study of malaria strategies and costs along the northern border. | low malaria transmission in namibia suggests that elimination is possible, but the risk of imported malaria from angola remains a challenge. this case study reviews the early transition of a program shift from malaria control to elimination in three northern regions of namibia that comprise the trans-kunene malaria initiative (tkmi): kunene, omusati, and ohangwena. | 2014 | 25409682 |
| multisensor earth observations to characterize wetlands and malaria epidemiology in ethiopia. | malaria is a major global public health problem, particularly in sub-saharan africa. the spatial heterogeneity of malaria can be affected by factors such as hydrological processes, physiography, and land cover patterns. tropical wetlands, for example, are important hydrological features that can serve as mosquito breeding habitats. mapping and monitoring of wetlands using satellite remote sensing can thus help to target interventions aimed at reducing malaria transmission. the objective of this ... | 2014 | 25653462 |
| transcriptome-based identification of abc transporters in the western tarnished plant bug lygus hesperus. | atp-binding cassette (abc) transporters are a large superfamily of proteins that mediate diverse physiological functions by coupling atp hydrolysis with substrate transport across lipid membranes. in insects, these proteins play roles in metabolism, development, eye pigmentation, and xenobiotic clearance. while abc transporters have been extensively studied in vertebrates, less is known concerning this superfamily in insects, particularly hemipteran pests. we used rna-seq transcriptome sequencin ... | 2014 | 25401762 |
| high-resolution melting analysis reveals low plasmodium parasitaemia infections among microscopically negative febrile patients in western kenya. | microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (rdts) are common tools for diagnosing malaria, but are deficient in detecting low plasmodium parasitaemia. a novel molecular diagnostic tool (npcr-hrm) that combines the sensitivity and specificity of nested pcr (npcr) and direct pcr-high resolution melting analysis (dpcr-hrm) was developed. to evaluate patterns of anti-malarial drug administration when no parasites are detected, npcr-hrm was employed to screen blood samples for low parasitaemia from febril ... | 2014 | 25399409 |
| genome-wide patterns of polymorphism in an inbred line of the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae. | anopheles gambiae is a major mosquito vector of malaria in africa. although increased use of insecticide-based vector control tools has decreased malaria transmission, elimination is likely to require novel genetic control strategies. it can be argued that the absence of an a. gambiae inbred line has slowed progress toward genetic vector control. in order to empower genetic studies and enable precise and reproducible experimentation, we set out to create an inbred line of this species. we found ... | 2014 | 25377942 |
| the behaviour of mosquitoes in relation to humans under holed bednets: the evidence from experimental huts. | the physical integrity of bednets is a concern of national malaria control programs, as it is a key factor in determining the rate of replacement of bednets. it is largely assumed that increased numbers of holes will result in a loss of protection of sleepers from potentially infective bites. experimental hut studies are valuable in understanding mosquito behaviour indoors, particularly as it relates to blood feeding and mortality. this review summarises findings from experimental hut studies, f ... | 0 | 25410994 |
| evaluation of the accuracy of the easytest™ malaria pf/pan ag, a rapid diagnostic test, in uganda. | in recent years, rapid diagnostic tests (rdts) have been widely used for malaria detection, primarily because of their simple operation, fast results, and straightforward interpretation. the asan easytest™ malaria pf/pan ag is one of the most commonly used malaria rdts in several countries, including korea and india. in this study, we tested the diagnostic performance of this rdt in uganda to evaluate its usefulness for field diagnosis of malaria in this country. microscopic and pcr analyses, an ... | 2014 | 25352698 |
| a multicopper oxidase-related protein is essential for insect viability, longevity and ovary development. | typical multicopper oxidases (mcos) have ten conserved histidines and one conserved cysteine that coordinate four copper atoms. these copper ions are required for oxidase activity. during our studies of insect mcos, we discovered a gene that we named multicopper oxidase-related protein (mcorp). mcorps share sequence similarity with mcos, but lack many of the copper-coordinating residues. we identified mcorp orthologs in many insect species, but not in other invertebrates or vertebrates. we predi ... | 2014 | 25330116 |
| clinical malaria case definition and malaria attributable fraction in the highlands of western kenya. | in african highland areas where endemicity of malaria varies greatly according to altitude and topography, parasitaemia accompanied by fever may not be sufficient to define an episode of clinical malaria in endemic areas. to evaluate the effectiveness of malaria interventions, age-specific case definitions of clinical malaria needs to be determined. cases of clinical malaria through active case surveillance were quantified in a highland area in kenya and defined clinical malaria for different ag ... | 2014 | 25318705 |
| widespread pyrethroid and ddt resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus in east africa is driven by metabolic resistance mechanisms. | establishing the extent, geographical distribution and mechanisms of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is a prerequisite for resistance management. here, we report a widespread distribution of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector an. funestus across uganda and western kenya under the control of metabolic resistance mechanisms. | 2014 | 25333491 |
| the red imported fire ant (solenopsis invicta buren) kept y not f: predicted snpy endogenous ligands deorphanize the short npf (snpf) receptor. | neuropeptides and their receptors play vital roles in controlling the physiology and behavior of animals. short neuropeptide f (snpf) signaling regulates several physiological processes in insects such as feeding, locomotion, circadian rhythm and reproduction, among others. previously, the red imported fire ant (solenopsis invicta) snpf receptor (s. invicta snpfr), a g protein-coupled receptor, was immunolocalized in queen and worker brain and queen ovaries. differential distribution patterns of ... | 2014 | 25310341 |
| insecticide resistance and role in malaria transmission of anopheles funestus populations from zambia and zimbabwe. | two mitochondrial dna clades have been described in anopheles funestus populations from southern africa. clade i is common across the continent while clade ii is known only from mozambique and madagascar. the specific biological status of these clades is at present unknown. we investigated the possible role that each clade might play in the transmission of plasmodium falciparum and the insecticide resistance status of an. funestus from zimbabwe and zambia. | 2014 | 25293669 |
| modeling the cost effectiveness of malaria control interventions in the highlands of western kenya. | tools that allow for in silico optimization of available malaria control strategies can assist the decision-making process for prioritizing interventions. the openmalaria stochastic simulation modeling platform can be applied to simulate the impact of interventions singly and in combination as implemented in rachuonyo south district, western kenya, to support this goal. | 2014 | 25290939 |
| the highly polymorphic cyp6m7 cytochrome p450 gene partners with the directionally selected cyp6p9a and cyp6p9b genes to expand the pyrethroid resistance front in the malaria vector anopheles funestus in africa. | pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector anopheles funestus is rapidly expanding across southern africa. it remains unknown whether this resistance has a unique origin with the same molecular basis or is multifactorial. knowledge of the origin, mechanisms and evolution of resistance are crucial to designing successful resistance management strategies. | 2014 | 25261072 |