A5073776628- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Mast cells and histamine
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Digital Holography and Microscopy
University of Idaho
2018-2025
University of California, Davis
2009-2018
University of California Davis Medical Center
2010-2017
Texas A&M University
2016
Bipar
2006-2014
University of California, Los Angeles
2011
Virginia Tech
1999-2008
University of Pittsburgh
2003-2007
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
1998
National Cancer Institute
1998
We have discovered that the mosquito Anopheles stephensi, a natural vector of human malaria, limits parasite development with inducible synthesis nitric oxide (NO). Elevated expression A. stephensi NO synthase (NOS), which is highly homologous to characterized NOS genes, was detected in midgut and carcass soon after invasion by Plasmodium. Early induction likely primed bacterial growth blood meal. Later increases enzyme activity occurred at beginning sporozoite release. Circulating levels...
We report a portable lensless on-chip microscope that can achieve <1 µm resolution over wide field-of-view of ∼24 mm2 without the use any mechanical scanning. This compact weighs ∼95 g and is based on partially coherent digital in-line holography. Multiple fiber-optic waveguides are butt-coupled to light emitting diodes, which controlled by low-cost micro-controller sequentially illuminate sample. The resulting lensfree holograms then captured sensor-array rapidly processed using pixel...
We present evidence that a parasite with characteristics of Plasmodium vivax is being transmitted among Duffy blood group-negative inhabitants Kenya. Thirty-two 4,901 Anopheles gambiae and An. funestus (0.65%) collected in Nyanza Province were ELISA positive for the P. circumsporozoite protein VK 247. All positives found late rainy season, when predominated, disproportionately many at single village. A specific sequence SSU rRNA gene was amplified from three six ELISA-positive mosquitoes....
Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) kills nearly one million people annually and this number will likely increase as drug insecticide resistance reduces the effectiveness of current control strategies. The most important human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, undergoes a complex developmental cycle in mosquito that takes approximately two weeks begins with invasion midgut. Here, we demonstrate increased Akt signaling midgut disrupts parasite development concurrently duration mosquitoes are...
Abstract Background Anopheles stephensi is the key vector of malaria throughout Indian subcontinent and Middle East an emerging model for molecular genetic studies mosquito-parasite interactions. The type form species responsible majority urban transmission across its range. Results Here, we report genome sequence annotation strain An. . 221 Mb assembly represents more than 92% entire was produced using a combination 454, Illumina, PacBio sequencing. Physical mapping assigned 62% onto...
Abstract Shared epitopes among venom, ovarian, and viral proteins may indicate that related have similar functional roles during parasitization of Heliothis virescens by Campoletis sonorensis . Venom ovarian are introduced directly into the hemolymph where they target hemocytes or other components immune system. Polydnavirus expression has been detected in hemocytes, fat body, tissues but not earlier than 4 h after parasitization. Therefore, effects on at times be caused polydnavirus...
Non-typhoidal Salmonella serotypes (NTS) cause a self-limited gastroenteritis in immunocompetent individuals, while children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria can develop life-threatening disseminated infection. This co-infection is major source of child mortality sub-Saharan Africa. However, the mechanisms by which contributes to increased risk NTS bacteremia are incompletely understood. Here, we report that mouse model, parasite infection blunts inflammatory responses NTS, leading...
In Colombia for several years, the Urabá-Bajo Cauca and Alto Sinú region has registered highest numbers of malaria cases in country. Malaria vector incrimination characterization entomological parameters will allow a better understanding transmission dynamics design effective control strategies this region.We conducted longitudinal survey between November 2008 June 2010 to quantify (abundance biting activity) parameters, including infection rate (IR) inoculation (EIR), incriminate potential...
ABSTRACT Coinfection with malaria and nontyphoidal Salmonella serotypes (NTS) can cause life-threatening bacteremia in humans. is a recognized risk factor for invasive NTS, suggesting that impairs intestinal barrier function. Here, we investigated mechanisms strategies prevention of coinfection pathology mouse model. Our findings reveal malarial-parasite-infected mice, like humans, develop l -arginine deficiency, which associated mastocytosis, elevated levels histamine, enhanced...
Abstract Childhood malaria is a risk factor for disseminated infections with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) in sub-Saharan Africa. While hemolytic anemia and an altered cytokine environment have been implicated increased susceptibility to NTS, it not known whether affects resistance intestinal colonization NTS. To address this question, we utilized murine model of co-infection. Infection mice Plasmodium yoelii elicited infiltration inflammatory macrophages T cells into the mucosa expression...
The World Health Organization estimates that more than half of the world's population is at risk for vector-borne diseases, including arboviruses. Because many arboviruses are mosquito borne, investigation insect immune response will help identify targets to reduce spread Here, we use a genetic screening approach an insulin-like receptor as component arboviral infection. We determine vertebrate insulin reduces West Nile virus (WNV) replication in Drosophila melanogaster well WNV, Zika, and...
ABSTRACT Malaria parasite ( Plasmodium spp.) infection in the mosquito Anopheles stephensi induces significant expression of A. nitric oxide synthase (AsNOS) midgut epithelium as early 6 h postinfection and intermittently thereafter. This induction results synthesis inflammatory levels (NO) blood-filled that adversely impact development. In mammals, P. falciparum glycosylphosphatidylinositols (PfGPIs) can induce NOS immune endothelial cells are sufficient to reproduce major effects...
Accurate identification of anopheline species is essential for vector incrimination and implementation appropriate control strategies. Several are considered important malaria vectors in Colombia; however, determination complicated by cryptic morphology intra-individual variation. We describe polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences differentiation seven Anopheles collected a locality Antioquia, Colombia,...
Malaria is caused by infection with intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted Anopheles mosquitoes. Although a variety anti-parasite effector genes have been identified in anopheline mosquitoes, little known about signaling pathways regulate these responses during parasite development. Here we demonstrate MEK-ERK pathway controlled ingested human TGF-β1 and finely tunes mosquito innate immunity to infection. Specifically, was dose-dependently induced response...
ABSTRACT Severe pediatric malaria is an important risk factor for developing disseminated infections with nontyphoidal Salmonella serotypes (NTS). While recent animal studies on this subject are lacking, early work suggests that increased systemic NTS infection during caused by hemolytic anemia, which leads to reduced macrophage microbicidal activity. Here we established a model oral enterica serotype Typhimurium challenge in mice infected Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis . Initial...
Malaria is a serious health problem in the states of Córdoba and Antioquia, Northwestern Colombia, where 64.4% total Colombian cases were reported 2007. Because little entomological information available this region, aim work was to identify Anopheles species composition natural infectivity mosquitoes distributed seven localities with highest malaria transmission. A 1,768 collected using human landing catches from March 2007-July 2008. Ten identified; overall, nuneztovari s.l. most...
ABSTRACT We showed previously that ingested human insulin activates the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway in Anopheles stephensi and increases susceptibility of these mosquitoes to Plasmodium falciparum . In other organisms, can alter immune responsiveness through regulation NF-κB transcription factors, critical elements for innate immunity are also central mosquito immunity. show here decreased expression NF-κB-regulated genes cells stimulated with either bacterial or malarial soluble...
The overexpression of activated, myristoylated Akt in the midgut female transgenic Anopheles stephensi results resistance to infection with human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum but also decreased lifespan. In present study, understanding mitochondria-dependent homeostasis has been expanded explain this apparent paradox an insect major medical importance. Given that signaling is essential for cell growth and survival, we hypothesized sustained activation mosquito would alter balance...
Malaria parasites alter mosquito feeding behaviour in a way that enhances parasite transmission. This is widely considered prime example of manipulation host to increase onward transmission, but transient immune challenge the absence can induce same behavioural phenotype. Here, we show alterations depend on timing and dose relative blood ingestion these changes are functionally linked insulin signalling gut. These results suggest altered phenotypes derive from signalling-dependent resource...