Review
Environmental Sciences
Laura Carvajal-Lago, Maria Jose Ruiz-Lopez, Jordi Figuerola, Josue Martinez-de la Puente
Summary: Studies have shown that the environment directly and indirectly influences many traits of mosquitoes, with the availability of food resources being a key factor. The diet of mosquitoes can impact their survival, reproduction, and transmission of pathogens.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Virology
Abdullah A. Alomar, Barry W. Alto
Summary: The influence of temperature and time on Mayaro virus (MAYV) infection and replication in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes was evaluated. Higher temperature facilitated the transmission of MAYV, and the salivary gland barrier in Florida Ae. aegypti limited the risk of transmission.
Article
Agronomy
Dong-jing Zhang, Yan Sun, Hanano Yamada, Yu Wu, Gang Wang, Qing-deng Feng, Dilinuer Paerhande, Hamidou Maiga, Jeremy Bouyer, Jun Qian, Zhong-dao Wu, Xiao-ying Zheng
Summary: In this study, a Wolbachia-free Ae. albopictus GT strain was developed and its fitness and radio-sensitivity were evaluated. It was found that the GT strain can be distinguished from wild mosquitoes based on Wolbachia status and shows comparable fitness and sterility. The results suggest the feasibility of using the GT strain in SIT programs.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniella A. Lefteri, Steven R. Bryden, Marieke Pingen, Sandra Terry, Emily F. Beswick, Georgi Georgiev, Marleen Van der Laan, Valeria Mastrullo, Paola Campagnolo, Robert Waterhouse, Margus Varjak, Andres Merits, Rennos Fragkoudis, Stephen Griffin, Kave Shams, Emilie Pondeville, Clive S. McKimmie
Summary: Viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes are a significant global cause of disease. The enhancement of virus infection by mosquito saliva is mediated by a gene product called sialokinin, which rapidly reduces endothelial barrier integrity. This mechanism is absent in Anopheles mosquitoes, explaining their incompetence in transmitting arthropod-borne viruses. Therapeutic strategies targeting sialokinin have potential in reducing disease severity following infection with Aedes-mosquito-borne viruses.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Virology
Cassie C. Jansen, Jonathan M. Darbro, Frances A. Birrell, Martin A. Shivas, Andrew F. van den Hurk
Summary: COVID-19 mitigation measures in Queensland, Australia, led to more mosquito-borne diseases being acquired near residential areas due to limited human movement. A significant decrease in international passenger flights resulted in a reduction of imported dengue and malaria cases.
Article
Entomology
Diana I. Ortiz, Marta Piche-Ovares, Luis M. Romero-Vega, Joseph Wagman, Adriana Troyo
Summary: This article reviews and analyzes the current knowledge and potential impacts of deforestation, urbanization, and other land use changes on mosquito-borne and tick-borne disease transmission in Central America. The article highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of the complex ecological interactions and environmental changes in the region, in order to improve prevention and control strategies. The article also emphasizes the challenges faced by Central America in developing effective strategies and investing in public health infrastructure for disease prevention and control.
Review
Virology
Rafaela dos S. Peinado, Raphael J. Eberle, Carolina C. Pacca, Raghuvir K. Arni, Monika A. Coronado
Summary: This article discusses arboviruses, which are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by arthropods, primarily mosquitoes. These viruses, such as Dengue, Zika, Saint Louis Encephalitis, and others, are associated with various neurological, viscerotropic, and hemorrhagic diseases. Researchers have used a variety of methods, including genomics and proteomics, to study the structures of these viruses and their interactions with hosts, which is crucial for the development of future antiviral therapies.
Article
Cell Biology
Judith Mary Reyes Ballista, Kerri L. Miazgowicz, Marissa D. Acciani, Ariana R. Jimenez, Ryan S. Belloli, Katherine E. Havranek, Melinda A. Brindley
Summary: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes chikungunya fever and currently there are no licensed vaccines or antivirals available. Therefore, preventing viral attachment to host cells is a potential intervention strategy.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Imke Visser, Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt, Marion P. G. Koopmans, Barry Rockx
Summary: Due to climate changes, new potential public health threats emerge as mosquito species expand their geographical distributions and carry arbovirus infections to new areas. Mosquito saliva plays a crucial role in enhancing arbovirus pathogenesis in the skin, but the specific immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of various mosquito species' saliva need further exploration. Understanding the impact of mosquito saliva on the vector-virus-host relationship helps predict the transmission risk and severity of emerging vector-borne diseases.
Review
Parasitology
Alina Soto, Leen Delang
Summary: Culex modestus is a mosquito species found in temperate regions, predominantly breeding in rice paddies and marshes. They are potentially significant vectors for diseases such as West Nile virus and Usutu virus. Despite their widespread presence and role as disease vectors, further research is needed to understand and implement targeted control measures.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cihan Yang, Fei Wang, Doudou Huang, Haixia Ma, Lu Zhao, Guilin Zhang, Hailong Li, Qian Han, Dennis Bente, Ferdinand Villanueva Salazar, Zhiming Yuan, Han Xiai
Summary: The global impact of mosquito-borne diseases has increased in recent decades. This study found that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have the potential to spread Ebinur Lake virus (EBIV) through biting, with a transmission rate of up to 11.8%. The study also revealed a complex interplay between EBIV and the mosquito's immune system, which could affect its vector competence.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Akib Jahir, Najat F. Kahamba, Tom O. Knols, Gordon Jackson, Nila F. A. Patty, Sonu Shivdasani, Fredros O. Okumu, Bart G. J. Knols
Summary: Globalization of trade and travel, along with climate change, has led to the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Reliance on chemical pesticides has resulted in resistance, posing a threat to disease risk management. This study demonstrates that human odor-baited mosquito traps, combined with controlling mosquito larvae, can effectively eliminate mosquito populations on small islands in an affordable and environmentally friendly manner.
Article
Microbiology
Fengjuan Tian, Jimin He, Shanlin Shang, Zhongyan Chen, Yumei Tang, Man Lu, Changzhi Huang, Xiaofang Guo, Yigang Tong
Summary: Mosquitoes play a significant role in spreading complex pathogens, particularly through their feeding habits on mammalian blood. Surveillance of mosquito-borne viruses is crucial in preventing and controlling arboviral diseases. This study focused on the neighborhoods along the Sino-Vietnam border in Yunnan Province, China, and identified various mosquito species and mosquito-borne viruses, including some previously unreported viruses in China. These findings emphasize the importance of viral surveillance and prevention measures in border areas to prevent future outbreaks.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
David P. Tchouassi, Baldwyn Torto, Rosemary Sang, Corinna Riginos, Vanessa O. Ezenwa
Summary: Loss of biodiversity can affect the transmission of infectious diseases by altering host and vector abundance or by influencing host and vector behavior. Research showed that large herbivore loss can impact mosquito vector abundance and feeding behavior, leading to counterintuitive outcomes for human disease risk, such as the potential for disease transmission doubling in the presence of large herbivores.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Shifan Wang, Huijuan Guo, Feng Ge, Yucheng Sun
Summary: Apoptosis and autophagy are two important processes for host intracellular immunity against virus infection. A study on tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) infected whiteflies revealed that the virus hijacks a master regulator called PEBP4 to activate apoptosis and autophagy simultaneously. The viral coat protein (CP) captures membrane-localized PEBP4, stabilizing its association with RAF1. This triple complex blocks a MAPK phosphorylation cascade and triggers apoptosis. At the same time, the CP competes for PEBP4 binding, promoting the disassociation of PEBP4 from ATG8 and initiating autophagy. Apoptosis increases the viral load, while autophagy degrades the virus. Only a balanced immune response involving both apoptosis and autophagy allows long-term coexistence between vectors and arboviruses.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jordan Peccia, Alessandro Zulli, Doug E. Brackney, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Edward H. Kaplan, Arnau Casanovas-Massana, Albert I. Ko, Amyn A. Malik, Dennis Wang, Mike Wang, Joshua L. Warren, Daniel M. Weinberger, Wyatt Arnold, Saad B. Omer
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Scott C. Williams, Kirby C. Stafford, Megan A. Linske, Douglas E. Brackney, Andrew M. LaBonte, Heidi R. Stuber, Duncan W. Cozens
Summary: The study demonstrates that topical treatment of 10% permethrin delivered via 4-poster devices effectively reduces the A. americanum population in Norwalk, Connecticut and significantly decreases parasitizing ticks on white-tailed deer. It also shows that the prevalence of two ehrlichial species of public health importance can be controlled to a certain extent.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Rohit Sharma, Duncan W. Cozens, Philip M. Armstrong, Douglas E. Brackney
Summary: The study shows that non-Ixodes tick species can effectively acquire POWV II by feeding on viremic hosts, maintain infection through molting, and successfully transmit the virus to naive hosts at comparable rates across all three species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yuxiang Wang, Anthony Griffiths, Douglas E. Brackney, Paulo H. Verardi
Summary: This study demonstrates a rapid and efficient method for producing and purifying arbovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) using a recombinant vaccinia virus expression system. The researchers successfully detected and expressed arbovirus genes of interest, and observed the formation of VLPs that resemble native virions. They were also able to improve the secretion of VLPs by modifying the signal sequence within the capsid gene. This research provides valuable insights into the production and modification of arbovirus VLPs for use as vaccines.
Editorial Material
Entomology
Doug E. Brackney, Chantal B. F. Vogels
Summary: Powassan virus, the only North American member of the tick-borne encephalitis sero-complex, has seen an increase in incidence rates in recent years, posing a growing epidemiological threat. With no available vaccines or therapeutics, intervention primarily relies on tick habitat reduction, acaricide application, and public awareness programs. A comprehensive understanding of the virus's ecology is crucial for effective control strategies.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Karen M. Holcomb, Noelle Khalil, Duncan W. Cozens, Jamie L. Cantoni, Doug E. Brackney, Megan A. Linske, Scott C. Williams, Goudarz Molaei, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: Tick-borne diseases pose a continuous threat to human health in the United States. This study compared active and passive tick surveillance methods to assess their concordance in measuring tick and pathogen presence, infection prevalence, and tick abundance. The findings showed consistent estimates of tick and pathogen presence and infection prevalence, but variable comparisons for tick abundance estimates.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca M. Johnson, Duncan W. Cozens, Zannatul Ferdous, Philip M. Armstrong, Doug E. Brackney
Summary: This study examines the impact of mosquito feeding behavior on the transmission of dengue virus (DENV) and the damage to midgut basal lamina. The researchers found that the number and size of blood meals taken by mosquitoes are proportional to the dissemination rates and basal lamina damage. This study provides important insights into the understanding of mosquito-borne virus transmission and can guide the design of laboratory experiments and the creation of more accurate models of virus spread.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Chantal B. F. Vogels, Anne E. Watkins, Christina A. Harden, Doug E. Brackney, Jared Shafer, Jianhui Wang, Cesar Caraballo, Chaney C. Kalinich, Isabel M. Ott, Joseph R. Fauver, Eriko Kudo, Peiwen Lu, Arvind Venkataraman, Maria Tokuyama, Adam J. Moore, M. Catherine Muenker, Arnau Casanovas-Massana, John Fournier, Santos Bermejo, Melissa Campbell, Rupak Datta, Allison Nelson, Charles S. Dela Cruz, Albert Ko, Akiko Iwasaki, Harlan M. Krumholz, J. D. Matheus, Pei Hui, Chen Liu, Shelli F. Farhadian, Robby Sikka, Anne L. Wyllie, Nathan D. Grubaugh
Summary: SalivaDirect simplifies saliva-based diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating high positive agreement with traditional swab testing. This innovative approach can make large scale testing more accessible and affordable, offering an alternative solution to supply chain issues.