Abstract:
BACKGROUND:Release of gene-drive mutants to suppress Anopheles mosquito reproduction is a promising method of malaria control. However, many scientific, regulatory and ethical questions remain before transgenic mosquitoes can be utilised in the field. At a behavioural level, gene-drive carrying mutants should be at least as sexually attractive as the wildtype populations they compete against, with a key element of Anopheles copulation being acoustic courtship. We analysed sound emissions and acoustic preference in a doublesex mutant previously used to collapse Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) cages. METHODS:Anopheles rely on flight tones produced by the beating of their wings for acoustic mating communication. We assessed the impact of disrupting a female-specific isoform of the doublesex gene (dsxF) on the wing beat frequency (WBF; measured as flight tone) of males (XY) and females (XX) in homozygous dsxF- mutants (dsxF-/-), heterozygous dsxF- carriers (dsxF+/-) and G3 dsxF+ controls (dsxF+/+). To exclude non-genetic influences, we controlled for temperature and wing length. We used a phonotaxis assay to test the acoustic preferences of mutant and control mosquitoes. RESULTS:A previous study showed an altered phenotype only for dsxF-/- females, who appear intersex, suggesting that the female-specific dsxF allele is haplosufficient. We identified significant, dose-dependent increases in the WBF of both dsxF-/- and dsxF+/- females compared to dsxF+/+ females. All female WBFs remained significantly lower than male equivalents, though. Males showed stronger phonotactic responses to the WBFs of control dsxF+/+ females than to those of dsxF+/- and dsxF-/- females. We found no evidence of phonotaxis in any female genotype. No male genotypes displayed any deviations from controls. CONCLUSIONS:A prerequisite for anopheline copulation is the phonotactic attraction of males towards female flight tones within mating swarms. Reductions in mutant acoustic attractiveness diminish their mating efficiency and thus the efficacy of population control efforts. Caged population assessments may not successfully reproduce natural mating scenarios. We propose to amend existing testing protocols to better reflect competition between mutants and target populations. Our findings confirm that dsxF disruption has no effect on males; for some phenotypic traits, such as female WBFs, the effects of dsxF appear dose-dependent rather than haplosufficient.
journal_name
Parasit Vectorsjournal_title
Parasites & vectorsauthors
Su MP,Georgiades M,Bagi J,Kyrou K,Crisanti A,Albert JTdoi
10.1186/s13071-020-04382-xsubject
Has Abstractpub_date
2020-10-07 00:00:00pages
507issue
1issn
1756-3305pii
10.1186/s13071-020-04382-xjournal_volume
13pub_type
杂志文章abstract:BACKGROUND:Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii are protozoa with zoonotic and economic importance. Prevalences of antibodies to these agents were assessed in 173 horses from the north of Portugal. FINDINGS:Antibodies to L. infantum were detected by the direct agglutination test (DAT); seven (4.0%) horses were se...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-178
更新日期:2013-06-17 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The basic function of the immune system is to protect an organism against infection in order to minimize the fitness costs of being infected. According to life-history theory, energy resources are in a trade-off between the costly demands of immunity and other physiological demands. Concerning fish, both phy...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-120
更新日期:2011-06-27 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is the most widely distributed ixodid tick and is a vector of major canine and human pathogens. High-throughput technologies have revealed that individual ticks carry a high diversity of pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa and viruses. Currently, it is accepted ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3194-9
更新日期:2019-01-07 00:00:00
abstract::An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article. ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 已发布勘误
doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04349-y
更新日期:2020-09-22 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Publications are often used as a measure of success of research work. Leishmaniasis is considered endemic in 98 countries, most of which are developing. This article describes a bibliometric review of the literature on leishmaniasis research indexed in PubMed during a 66-year period. METHODS:Medline was use...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-55
更新日期:2013-03-07 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:In this study for the first time, a Dientamoeba fragilis protein profile by MALDI-TOF MS was created in order to identify specific markers for the application of this technology in the laboratory diagnosis of dientamoebiasis. In particular, one D. fragilis reference strain was used to create a reference spec...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2597-3
更新日期:2018-01-04 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is a dominant surface molecule of Leishmania promastigotes. Its species-specific polymorphisms are found mainly in the sugars that branch off the conserved Gal(β1,4)Man(α1)-PO4 backbone of repeat units. Leishmania amazonensis is one of the most important species causing human cutaneou...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2568-8
更新日期:2017-12-16 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Tick-borne relapsing fevers of humans are caused by spirochetes that must adapt to both warm-blooded vertebrates and cold-blooded ticks. In western North America, most human cases of relapsing fever are caused by Borrelia hermsii, which cycles in nature between its tick vector Ornithodoros hermsi and small m...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1170-1
更新日期:2015-10-21 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:A new isolate of Aura virus serendipitously discovered as a cell culture contaminant is reported in this manuscript. Aura virus belongs to the family Togaviridae and is classified in the genus Alphavirus. There are only two reports of Aura virus isolation from mosquitoes in the scientific literature, and the...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2907-4
更新日期:2018-05-29 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments (tRFs) have been widely identified in nature, functioning in diverse biological and pathological situations. Yet, the presence of these small RNAs in Plasmodium spp. remains unknown. Systematic identification and characterization of tRFs is therefore highly needed to und...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3301-6
更新日期:2019-01-15 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) is the largest national water conservancy project in China. However, the Eastern Route Project (ERP) of SNWDP will refer to the habitats of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. The present study was aimed at investigating the...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-5-52
更新日期:2012-03-20 00:00:00
abstract::The control of insects of medical importance, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are still the only effective way to prevent the transmission of diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Their control is performed mainly using chemical products; however, they often have low specificity to non-target orga...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04236-6
更新日期:2020-07-29 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis, being a cause of congenital disease and abortion in animals and humans. DNA vaccination as a promising vaccine remains a challenge for an improved delivery system. METHODS:In this study, attenuated Salmonella typhimurium BRD509 was used to deliver a DNA vaccine encodi...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-145
更新日期:2014-03-31 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The genus Bartonella is comprised of a rapidly increasing number of pathogenic species that induce a seemingly diverse spectrum of neurological symptoms. During the 12 year period that followed the initial onset of neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms, an 11 year-old girl experienced a spectrum of neur...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1547-9
更新日期:2016-05-10 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Entomopathogenic fungi are potential candidates for use in integrated vector management and many isolates are compatible with synthetic and natural insecticides. Neem oil was tested separately and in combination with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against larvae of the dengue vector Aedes...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1280-9
更新日期:2015-12-30 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:This laboratory study compared the efficacy of Bravecto™ (fluralaner), formulated as a chewable tablet, with the efficacy of Advocate® (imidacloprid/moxidectin), formulated for topical administration, against naturally acquired generalized demodicosis in dogs. METHODS:Sixteen dogs, all diagnosed with genera...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章,随机对照试验
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0775-8
更新日期:2015-03-28 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Correct species identification of blow flies is a crucial step for understanding their biology, which can be used not only for designing fly control programs, but also to determine the minimum time since death. Identification techniques are usually based on morphological and molecular characters. However, th...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2163-z
更新日期:2017-05-10 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Certain municipalities in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area (BHMA), Minas Gerais, Brazil, have the highest human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) mortality rates in the country and also demonstrate high canine seropositivity. In Brazil, the etiologic agent of VL is Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. The aim of ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0837-y
更新日期:2015-04-15 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Northeastern Italy is a hotspot for several tick-borne pathogens, transmitted to animals and humans mainly by Ixodes ricinus. Here we compare the results of molecular monitoring of ticks and zoonotic TBPs over a six-year period, with the monitoring of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in an endemic area. RESULTS:In...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2726-7
更新日期:2018-03-20 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The strongylid nematode Haemonchus contortus is a parasite of major concern for modern livestock husbandry because hostile environmental conditions may induce diapause in the early fourth-stage larvae. METHODS:A new gene Hc-daf-22 was identified which is the homologue of Ce-daf-22 and human SCPx. Genome wal...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1704-1
更新日期:2016-07-29 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Longicin is a defensin-like peptide, identified from the midgut epithelium of hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Several studies have already shown the antimicrobial and parasiticidal activities of longicin peptide and one of its synthetic partial analogs, longicin P4. In this study, longicin peptides were...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1344-5
更新日期:2016-02-02 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The present study was conducted to investigate the serological survey of Toxoplasma antibodies in local.horses from three major regions: a neighbourhood of a city in the North (Sidi Thabet), a neighbourhood of a city on the coast (Monastir) and a neighbourhood of a city in the middle (Battan) of Tunisia (Nor...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-218
更新日期:2011-11-22 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Sudan. It is caused by Leishmania major parasites and transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi sandflies. Recently, uncommon clinical manifestations of CL have been reported. Moreover, L. donovani parasites that cause Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) have been isolated from C...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-5-249
更新日期:2012-11-12 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Survival to dry season conditions of sub-Saharan savannahs is a major challenge for insects inhabiting such environments, especially regarding the desiccation threat they are exposed to. While extensive literature about insect seasonality has revealed morphologic, metabolic and physiological changes in many ...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1289-0
更新日期:2016-01-07 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The frequent outbreaks of human trichinellosis globally underscore the need to develop effective vaccine. We hypothesized that a novel vaccine could improve vaccine efficacy against Trichinella spiralis. METHODS:In this study, we developed virus-like particles (VLPs) containing the 53 KDa excretory/secretor...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1662-7
更新日期:2016-07-04 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:In East Africa, animal trypanosomiasis is caused by many tsetse transmitted protozoan parasites including Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense and subspecies of T. brucei s.l. (T. b. brucei and zoonotic human infective T. b. rhodesiense) that may co-circulate in domestic and wild animals. Accurate species-specif...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/1756-3305-3-82
更新日期:2010-09-06 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Dengue is a serious public health problem worldwide, including in Selangor, Malaysia. Being an important vector of dengue virus, Aedes aegypti are subjected to control measures which rely heavily on the usage of insecticides. Evidently, insecticide resistance in Ae. aegypti, which arise from several differen...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3472-1
更新日期:2019-05-16 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Surveillance of outdoor resting malaria vector populations is crucial to monitor possible changes in vector resting and feeding behaviour following the widespread use of indoor-based vector control interventions. However, it is seldom included in the routine vector surveillance system in Africa due to lack o...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3535-3
更新日期:2019-05-31 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Adult fleas are haematophagous ectoparasites of warm-blooded vertebrates, particularly mammals. Among them, the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and the human flea (Pulex irritans) have high veterinary-medical significance, owing to their cosmopolitan distribution and role in the transmission of important ve...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2798-4
更新日期:2018-04-02 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Bioclimatic variables play an integral part in the life-cycle of Ctenocephalides felis, the most common flea found on companion animals. It is essential that we understand the effects of climate on C. felis distribution as fleas are a major veterinary and public health concern. This study investigated the cu...
journal_title:Parasites & vectors
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3399-6
更新日期:2019-03-22 00:00:00