Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Franck Adama Yao, Abdoul-Azize Millogo, Patric Stephane Epopa, Ace North, Florian Noulin, Koulmaga Dao, Mouhamed Drabo, Charles Guissou, Souleymane Kekele, Moussa Namountougou, Robert Kossivi Ouedraogo, Lea Pare, Nourou Barry, Roger Sanou, Haida Wandaogo, Roch K. Dabire, Andrew McKemey, Frederic Tripet, Abdoulaye Diabate
Summary: The release of genetically-modified sterile mosquitoes shows potential for malaria control, but its effectiveness has not been tested in the field. This study demonstrates that genetically-modified mosquitoes have reduced survival and dispersal compared to wild-types. These findings provide crucial information for the development of more effective strains of malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lionel Feugere, Gabriella Gibson, Nicholas C. Manoukis, Olivier Roux
Summary: The study shows that female mosquitoes cannot detect swarm sounds at long distances due to their hearing limitations, restricting acoustic communication to close-range interactions. In addition, free-flying mosquitoes demonstrated higher sensitivity to sound compared to tethered ones.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Bretta Hixson, Xiao-Li Bing, Xiaowei Yang, Alessandro Bonfini, Peter Nagy, Nicolas Buchon
Summary: With the help of Aegypti-Atlas, we have gained insights into mosquito biology, including the regionalization of gut function, blood feeding response, and immune defenses. We have also observed that digestive and immune specializations are conserved across different mosquito species.
Article
Ecology
Serge Bewadeyir Poda, Bruno Buatois, Benoit Lapeyre, Laurent Dormont, Abdoulaye Diabate, Olivier Gnankine, Roch K. Dabire, Olivier Roux
Summary: This article discusses the cues involved in mate seeking and recognition in mosquitoes and attempts to prove the existence of long-range sex pheromones driving this behavior. However, despite using various methods and efforts, the results support the absence of long-range sex pheromones involved in swarm detection and recognition by mosquitoes.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olayinka G. David, Kevin M. Sanchez, Andrea V. Arce, Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva, Anthony J. Bellantuono, Matthew DeGennaro
Summary: Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes undergo multiple reproductive cycles, and understanding the maintenance of reproductive success across these cycles can help identify ways to reduce mosquito population growth. Researchers found that the orco gene, involved in the olfactory receptor pathway, affects fertility in female mosquitoes after the first reproductive cycle. The fertility reduction phenotype was reversed by editing the orco mutant locus with CRISPR-Cas9, but the embryos produced by orco mutant females showed developmental defects, reduced hatching, and changes in ion channel signaling gene transcription.
Article
Microbiology
Aditi Kulkarni, Ashmita Pandey, Patrick Trainor, Samantha Carlisle, Jainder S. Chhilar, Wanqin Yu, Alex Moon, Jiannong Xu
Summary: Mosquitoes have developed an effective innate immune system through interactions with gut microbes, with resident bacteria serving a crucial role in priming basal immunity. Priming mosquitoes with specific bacteria enhances antibacterial immunity and confers protection with a certain degree of specificity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that priming with bacteria triggers a coordinated systemic regulation that results in enhanced immunity against subsequent challenges, with the involvement of not only typical immune pathways but also lysosome and metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cedric S. Bationo, Jean Gaudart, Sokhna Dieng, Mady Cissoko, Paul Taconet, Boukary Ouedraogo, Anthony Some, Issaka Zongo, Dieudonne D. Soma, Gauthier Tougri, Roch K. Dabire, Alphonsine Koffi, Cedric Pennetier, Nicolas Moiroux
Summary: This study in the Diebougou health district of Burkina Faso identified spatial and temporal heterogeneities in malaria cases, detected hotspots, and predicted high-risk areas and high-transmission periods using a combination of hotspot distribution and meteorological modeling.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Jacques Derek Charlwood
Summary: Treating both male and female Anopheles gambiae as if they are boids (a computer program that mimics flocking in birds) explains much of the swarming and mating behavior in this important group of malaria vectors. It is suggested that species specific swarm sites act as the mate recognition system in anophelines and it is proposed that virgin females respond to the swarm site per se rather than the swarm itself. Given the high operational sex ratio and the inability of any male to dominate all females within the swarm, it is considered that chance, rather than sexual selection, is the most important determinant of mating. The male being in the swarm may be a sufficiently strong signal to the female of his fitness, so that more elaborate sexual selection is unnecessary. The possibility of alternative mechanisms for mating may also exist but need to be investigated further. Given the importance of swarms as the isolating mechanism between species, emphasis should be placed on determining the characteristics of swarm sites and markers between them.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Luigi Sedda, Robert S. McCann, Alinune N. Kabaghe, Steven Gowelo, Monicah M. Mburu, Tinashe A. Tizifa, Michael G. Chipeta, Henk van den Berg, Willem Takken, Michele van Vugt, Kamija S. Phiri, Russell Cain, Julie-Anne A. Tangena, Christopher M. Jones
Summary: This study employed a mechanistic-stochastic algorithm to identify super-spreader houses and their related hotspots of malaria. The results showed that the number of super-spreaders and hotspots depended on the spatial configuration of the villages. Super-spreader houses were associated with house characteristics such as livestock and family composition. Wind played a significant role in malaria transmission. The findings contribute to the development of targeted malaria interventions in hotspot areas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shilimat Ayele, Teklu Wegayehu, Nigatu Eligo, Girum Tamiru, Bernt Lindtjorn, Fekadu Massebo
Summary: This study found that maize pollen has a positive impact on the development, longevity, survival, and infectivity of malaria mosquitoes. This suggests that malaria transmission in maize-growing villages should be closely monitored.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Georgios D. Mastronikolos, Apostolos Kapranas, George K. Balatsos, Charalampos Ioannou, Dimitrios P. Papachristos, Panagiotis G. Milonas, Arianna Puggioli, Igor Pajovic, Dusan Petric, Romeo Bellini, Antonios Michaelakis, Nikos T. Papadopoulos
Summary: Genetic based mosquito control methods have the potential to effectively suppress or replace vector populations without causing environmental damage or public health risks. The quality of sterilized male mosquitoes is crucial for the success of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) control programs. Transportation, especially for long durations, can negatively impact the performance of sterilized males and needs to be carefully managed.
Article
Entomology
Thomas P. Agyekum, John Arko-Mensah, Paul K. Botwe, Jonathan N. Hogarh, Ibrahim Issah, Duah Dwomoh, Maxwell K. Billah, Samuel K. Dadzie, Thomas G. Robins, Julius N. Fobil
Summary: This study investigated the effects of elevated temperatures on the growth and development of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The findings showed that increasing temperature significantly decreased the mosquitoes' lifespan, fecundity, body size, and proboscis length.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Lauren J. Cator, Claudia A. S. Wyer, Laura C. Harrington
Summary: The field of mosquito mating biology has expanded significantly in the past decade, revealing key insights into specific aspects of mating behavior and physiology. Recent research has classified mosquito swarming systems as polygynous, with male mating success influenced by competition between males and female choice. Incorporating this new understanding will enhance the implementation and long-term stability of reproductive control tools.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Livia Gerber, Richard C. Connor, Simon J. Allen, Kay Horlacher, Stephanie L. King, William B. Sherwin, Erik P. Willems, Samuel Wittwer, Michael Kruetzen
Summary: Understanding the factors that determine differential reproductive success is crucial in evolutionary biology. Social relationships, particularly in males, play a significant role in fitness and reproductive opportunities. A study on unrelated male bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia revealed that well-integrated males with more homogeneous social bonds achieved higher paternities. This highlights the adaptive value of social bonds in polyadic cooperation among unrelated males.
Article
Biology
Kelsey L. Adams, Simon P. Sawadogo, Charles Nignan, Abdoulaye Niang, Douglas G. Paton, W. Robert Shaw, Adam South, Jennifer Wang, Maurice A. Itoe, Kristine Werling, Roch K. Dabire, Abdoulaye Diabate, Flaminia Catteruccia
Summary: The study found that cuticular hydrocarbons may play a role in mating success of Anopheles coluzzii females, as well as influencing insecticide resistance levels. This suggests that sexual selection may be a factor in shaping cuticular hydrocarbon abundance, impacting both mating success and resistance to insecticides.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)