Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Dylan C. Geldenhuys, Shane H. Josias, Willie Brink, Mulanga H. Makhubele, Cang Hui, Pietro H. Landi, Jeremy Bingham, John H. Hargrove, Marijn Hazelbag
Summary: We have successfully developed a method for automatically positioning landmarks on tsetse wings, enabling morphometric analysis of tsetse populations and providing a starting point for studying the wings of other insect species.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Hanano Yamada, Benewende Aristide Kabore, Nanwintoum Severin Bimbile Somda, Nonhlanhla L. L. Ntoyi, Chantel Janet de Beer, Jeremy Bouyer, Carlos Caceres, Robert L. L. Mach, Yeudiel Gomez-Simuta
Summary: The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environmentally friendly and species-specific method of pest control that involves mass production of target insects in a factory and sterilizing them using irradiation, typically gamma rays. As gamma sources become more difficult and expensive to obtain, and regulations surrounding their use become stricter, there is growing interest in alternative irradiation methods such as X-rays. A recent study found that X-rays can be used effectively to sterilize major SIT target insect species, making X-ray units suitable for small-to-medium-sized SIT programs.
Article
Parasitology
Yao Jean Rodrigue Konan, Djakaridja Berte, Bi Tra Dieudonne Ta, Jean-Paul Demoncheaux, Sylvie Sauzet, Stephanie Watier-Grillot, Koffi Alain De Marie Kouadio, Louis N'dri, Bamoro Coulibaly, Philippe Solano, Sophie Ravel, Adeline Segard, Dramane Kaba, Thierry De Meeus, Vincent Djohan, Vincent Jamonneau
Summary: African trypanosomoses, transmitted by tsetse flies, pose a threat to animal and human health. A study conducted at a military base in Cote d'Ivoire found that tsetse flies were unevenly distributed at the base and carried the risk of infection. The study also revealed the potential risk of introducing and transmitting human African trypanosomiasis.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mbaye Diouf, Babacar Thiendella Faye, El Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Kane Dia, Abdoulaye Konate, Fatou Ba Fall, Doudou Sene, Mame Birame Diouf, Libasse Gadiaga, Lassana Konate, Demba Anta Dione, Roger Clement Tine, Ousmane Faye
Summary: This study investigated the survival of different brands of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) in Senegal. The results showed that conical nets were more likely to be retained by households while rectangular nets had lower retention rates. Additionally, LLIN had higher survival rates in rural areas compared to urban areas.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qunfei Ma, Yunzhe Cong, Liting Feng, Chunyan Liu, Wenhui Yang, Yi Xin, Kaoshan Chen
Summary: Mixed culture fermentation enhances the competitiveness and biocontrol effectiveness of biocontrol micro-organisms by promoting nutrient substances metabolism and beneficial metabolites production. It is a more effective way to utilize biocontrol agents through resistance induction or synergistic control, which could potentially reduce production costs and have good commercial implementation prospects.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jean-Paul Demoncheaux, Hacene Medkour, Meriem Louni, Laurie Laugier, Christelle Pasqualini, Florence Fenollar, Bernard Davoust, Oleg Mediannikov
Summary: This study investigated the presence of Bartonella spp. in African giant pouched rats and their ectoparasites in Dakar, Senegal. The study found a high prevalence of Bartonella infection in both the fleas and blood samples of the rats, with isolated strains identified as B. massiliensis and two potential new species. These findings suggest that Cricetomys gambianus and its fleas may pose a public health risk in Dakar.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Moustapha Kebe, Alassane Traore, Manousos Ioannis Manousakas, Vasiliki Vasilatou, Ababacar Sadikhe Ndao, Ahmadou Wague, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
Summary: Identifying PM sources is crucial for assessing its effects on human health. This study in Dakar, Senegal used elemental composition and carbon content data to identify four PM sources. The study also estimated the air quality index and found that transported dust from desert regions has a significant impact on PM concentration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thierno Doumbia, Catherine Liousse, Marie-Roumy Ouafo-Leumbe, Seydi Ababacar Ndiaye, Eric Gardrat, Corinne Galy-Lacaux, Cyril Zouiten, Veronique Yoboue, Claire Granier
Summary: Due to population growth and rapid urbanization, West African cities have become major contributors to anthropogenic pollution. Saharan dust also plays a significant role, posing potential health risks to the population. This study examines the atmospheric composition and sources in Bamako, Mali and Dakar, Senegal. The findings show high levels of PM2.5 and PM10, with traffic being the predominant source in both cities, followed by dust, solid fuel combustion, and secondary aerosols in Bamako, and traffic, dust, sea salts, and industries in Dakar. This research provides important insights for future mitigation strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yarong Yang, Fan Song, Jie Ma, Zheng Wei, Lili Song, Wei Cao
Summary: Urban heat islands significantly impact the quality of urban habitats. The ongoing process of global urbanization has worsened the urban heat island effect, but urban forestry can help mitigate it. This study focused on Zhengzhou City, China, and measured the changes in the local urban heat island and vegetation coverage from 2006 to 2020. The results showed the expansion of the high-temperature zone in the city and the deterioration and subsequent improvement of the overall urban heat island. The development of vegetation coverage correlated with the improvement of the heat island. The study provides a theoretical basis for future urban and forest construction plans, as well as support for landscape optimization and heat island mitigation.
Article
Economics
Chuanyao Li, Junren Wang
Summary: This study proposes a new hierarchical two-step floating catchment area method based on the conventional enhanced two-step floating catchment area method, to analyze the accessibility to medical facilities in urban agglomerations. The research findings suggest the need for a new method to evaluate the accessibility to high-level medical facilities in urban agglomerations, as the healthcare accessibility in the core city is overestimated due to the ignorance of intensive competition between potential demands, and residents' medical preference has various impacts on healthcare accessibility in different regions.
JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marc Mari-Dell'Olmo, Merce Gotsens, M. Isabel Pasarin, Maica Rodriguez-Sanz, Lucia Artazcoz, Patricia Garcia de Olalla, Cristina Rius, Carme Borrell
Summary: The study found that during the first and second waves of the pandemic in Barcelona, women under 65 showed higher COVID-19 cumulative incidence, with the trend reversing after this age threshold. The incidence of the disease was higher in some poor neighborhoods, with the disease risk ratio (RR) increasing in the poorest groups compared to the richest ones, especially in the second wave.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shoubao Geng, Huamin Zhang, Fei Xie, Lanhui Li, Long Yang
Summary: This study used the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to analyze the spatiotemporal change and future trends of vegetation dynamics in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The results showed that the central urban areas had low NDVI values with high fluctuations, while the peripheral hilly mountains had high NDVI values with low fluctuations. Overall, the GBA exhibited an increasing trend in vegetation growth, with more areas showing improvement than degradation. Future vegetation change in most areas was predicted to continue the existing trends, with 80.06% of the GBA developing in a benign direction.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xinrui Pei, Peng Guo, Qiyi Chen, Junrong Li, Zifei Liu, Yanling Sun, Xiakun Zhang
Summary: This study proposes an improved multi-mode 2SFCA method to accurately measure urban park accessibility, using residential areas in the central city of Tianjin as the spatial unit. The results indicate that as the travel time from residential areas to urban parks increases, the urban park accessibility decreases. This study provides a comprehensive and realistic insight into understanding urban park accessibility.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Dailuo Zhang, Shifa Ma, Jianhong Fan, Dixiang Xie, Haiyan Jiang, Guanwei Wang
Summary: Ensuring equitable access to urban parks is crucial for promoting the sustainable development of cities. This study introduces an improved two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method to accurately assess park accessibility and spatial equity in Guangzhou, considering the 15-minute city perspective. The results reveal unequal park accessibility in Guangzhou, with low-access areas mainly distributed on the fringe of study area in both walking and cycling scenarios due to the limited park supply or high-density population. The work enhances the understanding of park accessibility and facilitate effective planning for sustainable development and reducing environmental injustice.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zakariae Naiji, Oujidi Mostafa, Najat Amarjouf, Halima Rezqi
Summary: Flood risk mapping is crucial in preventing damage caused by flooding in urban areas. This study utilized hydrological and hydraulic data to create a flood risk map, with factors such as precipitation, slope, depth, land use, urban density, and socio-economic conditions taken into account. The resulting map serves as a precautionary measure to alert the public, reduce flood risk in vulnerable areas, and aid decision-makers in developing strategies for flooding, land use, and urban development.
GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biology
Celia Lutrat, Roenick P. Olmo, Thierry Baldet, Jeremy Bouyer, Eric Marois
Summary: In this study, transgenic lines of Aedes albopictus expressing the Nix gene were established, and it was found that Nix is sufficient for full masculinization in these mosquitoes. Additionally, the transgenic strains with a fluorescence marker provide a valuable tool for automated sex sorting.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hamidou Maiga, Deng Lu, Wadaka Mamai, Nanwintoum Severin Bimbile Somda, Thomas Wallner, Mame Thierno Bakhoum, Odet Bueno Masso, Claudia Martina, Simran Singh Kotla, Hanano Yamada, Gustavo Salvador Herranz, Rafael Argiles Herrero, Chee Seng Chong, Cheong Huat Tan, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: This study aims to standardize the use of a rapid quality control flight test device and provide affordable, practical quality control tools for successful implementation of the sterile insect technique. Factors such as tube color, lure and fan use, mosquito species, and mosquito age and density were found to significantly impact escape rates. A cheaper version of the device was also designed and validated.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Enkelejda Velo, Fabrizio Balestrino, Perparim Kadriaj, Danilo Oliveira Carvalho, Ahmadou Dicko, Romeo Bellini, Arianna Puggioli, Dusan Petric, Antonios Michaelakis, Francis Schaffner, David Almenar, Igor Pajovic, Alfred Beqirllari, Migel Ali, Gjergji Sino, Elton Rogozi, Vjola Jani, Adelina Nikolla, Tanja Porja, Thanas Goga, Elena Falcua, Mihaela Kavran, Dubravka Pudar, Ognyan Mikov, Nadya Ivanova-Aleksandrova, Aleksandar Cvetkovikj, Muhammet Mustafa Akiner, Rados Mikovic, Lindita Tafaj, Silva Bino, Jeremy Bouyer, Wadaka Mamai
Summary: This study conducted a mark-release-recapture experiment with sterilized Asian tiger mosquitoes in Albania to estimate their dispersal capacity and field performance. The experiment provided valuable data for decision-making and planning of pilot sterile insect technique trials. Additionally, the study found that both BG traps and human landing catches were effective methods for monitoring adult mosquitoes.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fabrizio Balestrino, Arianna Puggioli, Marco Malfacini, Alessandro Albieri, Marco Carrieri, Jeremy Bouyer, Romeo Bellini
Summary: Mark-release-recapture (MRR) trials were conducted in Northern Italy to evaluate the survival, dispersal, and mating capacity of radio-sterilized Aedes albopictus males. Environmental factors such as barriers, shading, and vegetation seemed to have a greater influence on the survival and dispersal rates than weather parameters. The study confirmed a linear relationship between the daily survival rate of sterile males and relative humidity, and observed different dispersal capacities in low- and high-vegetated areas. The quality of the released males was not affected by irradiation and marking procedures. The data estimated different population densities of A. albopictus in the study areas.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nonhlanhla L. Ntoyi, Thabo Mashatola, Jeremy Bouyer, Carina Kraupa, Hamidou Maiga, Wadaka Mamai, Nanwintoum S. Bimbile-Somda, Thomas Wallner, Danilo O. Carvalho, Givemore Munhenga, Hanano Yamada
Summary: This study evaluated a mutant strain carrying a transgenic marker, which was crossed with a local strain in South Africa, as a reliable sexing tool.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ronan Brouazin, Iris Claudel, Renaud Lancelot, Guillaume Dupuy, Louis-Clement Gouagna, Marlene Dupraz, Thierry Baldet, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: This study provides insights into monitoring Aedes populations in La Reunion and suggests using black plastic ovitraps placed in vacoa trees for effective detection. The ovitraps located in the tree canopy showed higher detection and apparent density for Ae. aegypti, while Ae. albopictus showed a preference for blotting paper as the oviposition surface.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nanwintoum Severin Bimbile Somda, Hanano Yamada, Carina Kraupa, Wadaka Mamai, Hamidou Maiga, Simran Singh Kotla, Thomas Wallner, Claudia Martina, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: This study investigated the use of nitrogen in the irradiation of adult Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The results showed that nitrogen treatment improved the longevity of irradiated males but slightly reduced their flight ability. Nitrogen treatment was found to be a reliable method for adult mosquito immobilization.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Iris Claudel, Ronan Brouazin, Renaud Lancelot, Louis-Clement Gouagna, Marlene Dupraz, Thierry Baldet, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: This study aimed to identify the best trapping strategy for catching Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. The use of CO2 alone was found to increase the detection probability and apparent density of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Traps with BG-Lure-alone or in combination with CO2 did not improve the detection probability. For male Ae. albopictus and female Ae. albopictus, neither CO2 nor BG-Lure had a significant effect on their trapping. The apparent densities of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes were similar in both study sites.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Hanano Yamada, Benewende Aristide Kabore, Nanwintoum Severin Bimbile Somda, Nonhlanhla L. L. Ntoyi, Chantel Janet de Beer, Jeremy Bouyer, Carlos Caceres, Robert L. L. Mach, Yeudiel Gomez-Simuta
Summary: The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environmentally friendly and species-specific method of pest control that involves mass production of target insects in a factory and sterilizing them using irradiation, typically gamma rays. As gamma sources become more difficult and expensive to obtain, and regulations surrounding their use become stricter, there is growing interest in alternative irradiation methods such as X-rays. A recent study found that X-rays can be used effectively to sterilize major SIT target insect species, making X-ray units suitable for small-to-medium-sized SIT programs.
Article
Parasitology
Mahamat Hissene Mahamat, Adeline Segard, Jean-Baptiste Rayaisse, Rafael Argiles-Herrero, Andrew Gordon Parker, Philippe Solano, Adly Mohamed Mohamed Abd-Alla, Jeremy Bouyer, Sophie Ravel
Summary: Based on experimental data, the research found that sterile male tsetse flies cannot transmit Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The reliable evidence indicates that the release of large numbers of sterile male flies does not increase the potential risk of tsetse flies transmitting the parasite.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: Recent research by Evans et al. confirms compensation and overcompensation in Aedes mosquitoes under field conditions, where equal or increased densities of emerging adults may result from reduced larval densities. This article discusses the consequences of applying the sterile insect technique and provides recommendations to avoid counter-productive effects.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Hamidou Maiga, Mame Thierno Bakhoum, Wadaka Mamai, Gorgui Diouf, Nanwintoum Severin Bimbile Somda, Thomas Wallner, Claudia Martina, Simran Singh Kotla, Odet Bueno Masso, Hanano Yamada, Bazoumana B. D. Sow, Assane Gueye Fall, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: This study developed and assessed a novel method for long-distance shipments of sterile male mosquitoes from the laboratory to the field. The new mass transport protocol allowed the successful shipment of 50,000 sterile male mosquitoes for up to four days, maintaining good survival rates and flight ability. This novel system can be used worldwide for shipping sterile males for journeys of two to four days.
Article
Biology
Celia Lutrat, Myriam Burckbuchler, Roenick Proveti Olmo, Remy Beugnon, Albin Fontaine, Omar S. S. Akbari, Rafael Argiles-Herrero, Thierry Baldet, Jeremy Bouyer, Eric Marois
Summary: Four new transgenic sexing strains have been developed to identify and sort male and female Aedes mosquitoes using fluorescence markers linked to the sex-determining loci. These strains provide a more efficient and cost-effective method for controlling disease vectoring mosquitoes. They enable faster and more accurate sex separation, allowing for the production of non-transgenic males. This technology can greatly enhance control programs against these important vectors.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Soumaila Pagabeleguem, Oumar Koughuindida, Ernest Wendemanegde Salou, Geoffrey Gimonneau, Ange Irenee Toe, Benewende Aristide Kabore, Kiswend-sida Mikhailou Dera, Hamidou Maiga, Adrien Marie Gaston Belem, Gisele Marie Sophie Sanou-Ouedraogo, Marc J. B. Vreysen, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: African animal trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne disease that causes significant livestock losses in sub-Saharan Africa. In our study, we evaluated the effect of irradiation on the fecundity of Glossina palpalis gambiensis, a major vector of this disease, to identify the optimal dose for inducing sterility while maintaining biological performance. The results showed that a dose of 120 Gy induced 97-99% sterility in male tsetse flies after mating with virgin females.
Article
Parasitology
Hanano Yamada, Hamidou Maiga, Carina Kraupa, Nanwintoum Severin Bimbile Somda, Wadaka Mamai, Thomas Wallner, Jeremy Bouyer
Summary: Balancing process efficiency and adult sterile male biological quality is crucial in the success of the sterile insect technique against insect pest populations. For SIT against mosquitoes, optimizing the irradiation step and considering dose fractionation can significantly improve male mating competitiveness. Fractionating the dose showed positive effects on male longevity and mating competitiveness, but the added labor in SIT programs for mosquito vector management may not outweigh the benefits.
