A5019452118- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Ion Transport and Channel Regulation
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
- Ecology and Conservation Studies
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
Mercer University
2023-2025
Johns Hopkins University
2007-2023
Johns Hopkins Medicine
2015
University of the West
2006
University of Notre Dame
2006
University of the West Indies
2006
Our previous morphological studies illustrated the association of sterols with Plasmodium infecting hepatocytes. Because malaria parasites cannot synthesize sterols, they must scavenge these lipids from host. In this paper, we have examined source/s for intrahepatic and evaluated importance liver stage development. We show that continuously diverts cholesterol hepatocytes until release merozoites. Removal plasma lipoproteins medium results in a 70% reduction content hepatic merozoites but...
Altered patterns of malaria endemicity reflect, in part, changes feeding behavior and climate adaptation mosquito vectors. Aquaporin (AQP) water channels are found throughout nature confer high-capacity flow through cell membranes. The genome the major vector Anopheles gambiae contains at least seven putative AQP sequences. Anticipating that transmembrane movements important during life cycle A. , we identified characterized aquaporin 1 (AgAQP1) protein is homologous to AQPs known humans,...
After being delivered by the bite from an infected mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites enter blood circulation and infect liver. Previous evidence suggests that Kupffer cells, a macrophage-like component of liver vessel lining, are traversed to initiate invasion. However, molecular determinants sporozoite–Kupffer cell interactions unknown. Understanding basis for this specific recognition may lead novel therapeutic strategies control malaria. Using phage display library screen, we identified...
Malaria transmission begins when an infected mosquito delivers Plasmodium sporozoites into the skin. The sporozoite subsequently enters circulation and infects liver by preferentially traversing Kupffer cells, a macrophage-like component of sinusoidal lining. By screening phage display library, we previously identified peptide designated P39 that binds to CD68 on surface cells blocks traversal. In this study, show is structural mimic glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) GAPDH...
Background Apolipophorin-III (ApoLp-III) is known to play an important role in lipid transport and innate immunity lepidopteran insects. However, there no evidence of involvement ApoLp-IIIs the immune responses dipteran insects such as Drosophila mosquitoes. Methodology/Principal Findings We report molecular functional characterization An. gambiae apolipophorin-III (AgApoLp-III). Mosquito have diverged extensively from those insects; however, predicted tertiary structure AgApoLp-III similar...
ABSTRACT Ticks are well‐known vectors of various diseases and widely distributed globally. In this study, we investigated the microbial community Haemaphysalis flava , a common tick species in Korea, using 16S rRNA gene analysis. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that adult ticks had higher richness complexity than nymphs, highest was observed females. Significant regional differences were also found, with samples from Jinju Boseong showing Jeju lower richness. Beta showed communities...
ABSTRACT Aedes albopictus is an important vector of various arboviruses, including dengue virus (DENV). The capacity for DENV has been studied in geographical regions, but information on Korean Ae. strains are limited. This study aimed to investigate the strain (Korea Disease Control and prevention Agency, KDCA) DENV‐2. Adult mosquitoes were orally infected with DENV‐2 dissected days 3 7 post‐infection. Viral RNA was extracted from midgut carcass tissues detected by RT‐PCR. results showed...
Abstract After inoculation by the bite of an infected mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites enter blood stream and infect liver, where each cell produces thousands merozoites. These in turn, red cells cause malaria symptoms. To initiate a productive infection, must exit circulation traversing lining liver vessels after which they hepatocytes with unique specificity. We screened phage display library for peptides that structurally mimic (mimotope) sporozoite ligand hepatocyte recognition....
Ticks are ectoparasites capable of directly damaging their hosts and transmitting vector-borne diseases. The ixodid tick Haemaphysalis flava has a broad distribution that extends from East to South Asia. This is reservoir severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) causes hemorrhagic disease, cases reported China, Japan Korea. Recently, the H. in Korea was found overlap occurrence SFTSV.This study undertaken discover molecular resources female ticks using Illumina HiSeq 4000...
Insects are responsible for the transmission of major infectious diseases. Recent advances in insect genomics and transformation technology provide new strategies control borne pathogen pest management. One such strategy is genetic modification insects with genes that block development. Another to suppress populations by releasing either sterile males or carrying female-specific dominant lethal into environment. Although significant progress has been made laboratory, further research needed...
Control of arthropod-borne diseases based on population replacement with genetically modified non-competent vectors has been proposed as a promising alternative to conventional control strategies. Due likely fitness costs associated manipulated carry anti-pathogen effector genes, the genes will need be coupled strong drive system rapidly sweep them into natural populations. Endogenous meiotic systems have and stable potential, previously reported in two mosquito species: Aedes aegypti Culex...
Malaria kills over half a million people every year and this number has not decreased in recent years. The development of new tools to combat disease is urgently needed. In article, we report the identification key molecule—HSP90—on surface parasite’s female gamete that required for fertilization occur completion parasite cycle mosquito. HSP90 promising candidate transmission-blocking vaccine.
Introduction Leishmaniasis comprises a complex group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from the Leishmania genus, presenting significant threat to human health. Infection starts release into skin metacyclic promastigote (MP) form parasite an infected sand fly. Soon after their release, MPs enter phagocytic host cell. This study focuses on finding peptides that can inhibit MP-phagocytic cell interaction. Methods We used phage display library screen for bind surface L. amazonensis...
WHO reported an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths in 85 countries 2022. A total of 94% occurred Africa, 80 % which were children under 5. In other words, one child dies every minute from malaria. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, that uses the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) to target sporozoite infection liver, achieved modest efficacy. Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (MVIP), coordinated by completed at end 2023, found immunization reduced mortality...
The WHO reported an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths in 85 countries 2022. A total of 94% occurred Africa, 80% which were children under 5. In other words, one child dies every minute from malaria. RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, uses the
Malaria is among the deadliest infectious diseases, and Plasmodium, causative agent, needs to complete a complex development cycle in its vector mosquito for transmission occur. Two promising strategies curb are transgenesis, consisting of genetically engineering mosquitoes express antimalarial effector molecules, paratransgenesis, introducing into commensal bacteria engineered molecules. Although both approaches restrict parasite mosquito, it not known how their effectiveness compares. Here...
Plasmodium sporozoite liver infection is an essential step for parasite development in its mammalian host. Previously, we used a phage display library to identify mimotope peptides that bind Kupffer cells and competitively inhibit sporozoite–Kupffer cell interaction. These led the identification of receptor—CD68—and ligand—GAPDH—that are required traversal subsequent hepatocytes. Here, report C-terminal end GAPDH interacts with CD68 receptor, two epitopes within this region as candidate...
Abstract Ticks are vectors that cause disease by transmitting bacteria, viruses, and protozoa to humans or animals. The Asian longhorned tick Haemaphysalis longicornis , a vector of medical veterinary importance, is widely distributed in the Korean peninsula can transmit various pathogens including Rickettsia spp ., Borrelia Francisella Coxiella severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTS virus). Despite abundance studies on microbiome H. Korea limiting. Here we first report...
An endogenous meiotic drive system was previously reported to be segregating in the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) population Trinidad. The driver ( M D ) is tightly linked male determining locus and selectively targets sensitive responders female allele, causing fragmentation of gametes. This results highly male-biased progeny. initially studied as a genetic tool for control with limited success, but recently interest has focused on its potential replacement....
Abstract Aedes vexans is the inland floodwater mosquito widely distributed in every continent excepting Antarctica and South America. They are opportunistic feeders preferring blood meal of larger animals including cattle, horses, deer, humans. Further, species a compatible vector several diseases, West Nile virus dog heartworm. In this study, we performed transcriptome characterization Ae. using Illumina HiSeq 4,000 sequencing assembly sequenced reads Trinity. A total 55,813,852 raw read...
Liver infection by Plasmodium sporozoites is a required step for of the organism. We found that alternate pathways sporozoite liver differentially influence cerebral malaria (CM) development.
Chagas is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. On order of seven million people are infected worldwide and current therapies limited, highlighting urgent need for new interventions. T. cruzi trypomastigotes can infect variety mammalian cells, recognition adhesion to host cell being critical entry. This study focuses on trypomastigote surface ligands involved in invasion. Three selection rounds phage peptide display library isolation phages that...