A5042071284- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Literature Analysis and Criticism
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Experimental Learning in Engineering
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Neonatal Health and Biochemistry
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
2015-2024
Australian e-Health Research Centre
2024
The University of Queensland
2006-2024
District University of Bogotá
2024
Queensland Health
2006
The wMel strain of Wolbachia bacteria is known to prevent dengue and Zika virus transmission in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Accordingly, release wMel-infected A. aegypti endemic regions has been recommended by World Health Organization as a potential strategy for controlling outbreaks. However, utility this approach could be limited if high temperatures aquatic habitats where develop are detrimental Wolbachia. We exposed eggs larvae fluctuating daily 30-40°C three, five, or seven days...
Significance With over 40% of humans at risk from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, the development environmentally friendly mosquito-control tools is critical. The release reproductively incompatible male mosquitoes carrying a Wolbachia bacterium can drive mating events that kill eggs. Through replicated treatment control experiments in northern Australia, regular releases Aedes aegypti males infected with albopictus was shown to strong population...
Age is a critical determinant of an adult female mosquito's ability to transmit range human pathogens. Despite its central importance, relatively few methods exist with which accurately determine chronological age field-caught mosquitoes. This fact major constraint on our fully understand the relative importance vector longevity disease transmission in different ecological contexts. It also limits evaluate novel control strategies that specifically target mosquito longevity. We report...
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was recently applied to age-grade and differentiate laboratory reared Anopheles gambiae sensu strico arabiensis sibling species of lato complex. In this study, we report further on the accuracy tool for simultaneously estimating age class differentiating morphologically indistinguishable An. s.s. from semi-field releases wild populations. Nine different ages (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 d) eight 10, 12 maintained in 250 x 60 40 cm cages within a large-cage...
Abstract Flaviviruses, including Zika virus (ZIKV), utilise host mRNA degradation machinery to produce subgenomic flaviviral RNA (sfRNA). In mammalian hosts, this noncoding facilitates replication and pathogenesis of flaviviruses by inhibiting IFN-signalling, whereas the function sfRNA in mosquitoes remains largely elusive. Herein, we conduct a series vitro vivo experiments define role ZIKV infected Aedes aegypti employing viruses deficient production sfRNA. We show that sfRNA-deficient have...
The release of Wolbachia infected mosquitoes is likely to form a key component disease control strategies in the near future. We investigated potential using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) simultaneously detect and identify two strains pipientis (wMelPop wMel) male female laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Our aim find faster, cheaper alternatives for monitoring those releases than molecular diagnostic techniques that are currently use. findings indicate NIRS can differentiate...
Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently emerged and is the etiological agent of congenital syndrome (CZS), a spectrum abnormalities arising from neural tissue infections in utero. Herein, we describe de novo generation new ZIKV isolate, ZIKVNatal, using modified circular polymerase extension reaction protocol sequence data obtained ZIKV-infected fetus with microcephaly. ZIKVNatal thus no laboratory passage history unequivocally associated CZS. could be used to establish fetal brain infection model...
The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation.
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the leading cause of viral in Asia. Until 2022, only six locally transmitted human JE cases had been reported Australia; five northern Queensland and one Northern Territory. Thus, was mainly considered to be a disease travellers. On 4 March declared 'Communicable Disease Incident National Significance' when acquired case confirmed southern Queensland. By 11 May 41 notified four states Australia, areas where has never detected before. From this perspective, we...
Abstract In Australia, Japanese encephalitis virus circulated in tropical north Queensland between 1995 and 2005. 2022, a dramatic range expansion across the southern states has resulted 30 confirmed human cases 6 deaths. We discuss outbreak drivers estimate potential size of population at risk.
The survival characteristics of the mosquito Aedes aegypti affect transmission rates dengue because requires infected mosquitoes to survive long enough for virus infect salivary glands. Mosquito is assumed be high in tropical, endemic, countries like Vietnam. However, wild populations are seldom measured due difficulty predicting age. Hon Mieu Island central Vietnam site a pilot release Ae. with strain Wolbachia pipientis bacteria (wMelPop) that induces interference and life-shortening. We...
Background Recent epidemics of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Pacific and Americas have highlighted its potential as an emerging pathogen global importance. Both Aedes (Ae.) aegypti Ae. albopictus are known to transmit ZIKV but variable vector competence has been observed between mosquito populations from different geographical regions strains. Since Australia remains at risk introduction, we evaluated local for a Brazilian epidemic strain. In addition, impact daily temperature fluctuations around...
Background Interventions to interrupt transmission of malaria from humans mosquitoes represent an appealing approach assist elimination. A limitation has been the lack systems test efficacy such interventions before proceeding trials in field. We have previously demonstrated feasibility induced blood stage (IBSM) infection with Plasmodium vivax. In this study, we report further validation IBSM model, and its evaluation for assessment P. vivax Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Methods Six...
Estimating the age distribution of mosquito populations is crucial for assessing their capacity to transmit disease and evaluating efficacy available vector control programs. This study reports on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique rapidly predict ages principal dengue Zika vector, Aedes aegypti. The wild-type males females, females infected with wMel wMelPop strains Wolbachia pipientis were characterized using this method. Calibrations developed spectra collected from heads...
We report on the accuracy of using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict age Anopheles mosquitoes reared from wild larvae and a mixed age-wild adult population collected pit traps after exposure pyrethroids. The were estimated as <7 or ≥7 d old with an overall 79%. categories that not exposed insecticide papers predicted 78% whereas resistant, susceptible control 82%, 79% accuracy, respectively. ages 85% wild-collected mixed-age by NIRS ≤8 for both resistant groups. structure was...
Dengue cases in Bangladesh have surged recent years. The existing insecticide-based control program is challenged by issues of insufficient household coverage and high levels insecticide resistance the primary dengue virus (DENV) vector, Aedes aegypti. A more sustainable, effective alternative could be implementation a Wolbachia-mediated disease management strategy. Hence, we created characterised Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti strain with Dhaka wild-type genetic background, compared its...
Abstract To date, no methodology has been described for predicting the age of Aedes albopictus Skuse mosquitoes, commonly known as Asian tiger mosquitoes. In this study, we report potential near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique characterizing female laboratory reared Ae . Using leave-one-out cross-validation analysis on a training set, mosquitoes preserved in RNA later up to month were assessed at 1, 3, 7, 9, 13, 16, 20 and 25 days post emergence. Mosquitoes (N = 322) differentiated...
The endosymbiont Wolbachia is known to block replication of several important arboviruses, including dengue virus (DENV), in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. So far, exact mechanism this viral inhibition not fully understood. A recent study Drosophila melanogaster has demonstrated an interaction between pelo gene and C virus. In study, we explored possible involvement protein, that involved protein translation, Wolbachia-mediated antiviral response mosquito-DENV interaction. We found...
Abstract Background Effective vector control measures are essential in a world where many mosquito-borne diseases have no vaccines or drug therapies available. Insecticidal tools remain the mainstay of most vector-borne disease management programmes, although their use for both agricultural and public health purposes has resulted selection resistance. Despite this, little is known about fitness costs associated with specific insecticide-resistant genotypes implications In Aedes aegypti ,...
Biological control of mosquito vectors using the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia is an emerging strategy for management human arboviral diseases. We recently described development a strain Aedes aegypti infected with wAlbB (referred to as wAlbB2-F4 strain) through simple backcrossing wild type Australian mosquitoes Ae. from USA. Field releases male resulted in successful suppression populations trial sites by exploiting strain's Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility. now demonstrate...
Binjari virus (BinJV) is a lineage II or dual-host affiliated insect-specific flavivirus previously demonstrated as replication-deficient in vertebrate cells. Previous studies have shown that BinJV tolerant to exchanging its structural proteins (prM-E) with pathogenic flaviviruses, making it safe backbone for vaccines. Here, we report generation by circular polymerase extension reaction of expressing zsGreen mCherry fluorescent protein. Recovered reporter viruses grew high titres (107−8...