Publications

Development of a controlled-release mosquito RNAi yeast larvicide suitable for the sustained control of large water storage containers

December 6, 2024

Large household water storage containers are among the most productive habitats for Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), the primary mosquito vector for dengue and other arboviral pathogens. Increasing concerns for insecticide resistance and larvicide safety are limiting the successful treatment of large household water storage containers, which are among the most productive habitats for Aedes juveniles. The recent development of species-specific RNAi-based […]

Larvicidal and enzyme inhibition effects of Phoenix pusilla derived Methyl oleate and malathion on Aedes aegypti strains

November 27, 2024

The genus Aedes is well-known for its role in transmitting a wide range of arboviruses. Particularly, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (Linnaeus) has emerged as a crucial vector, contributing to the spread of infectious diseases that pose significant public health challenges worldwide. This species is a competent carrier of four major arboviruses-dengue virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, and Zika […]

Protein-energetic malnutrition hinders malaria vaccine-derived cellular and class-switched antibody responses against the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein in mice

November 21, 2024

Malaria continues to afflict hundreds of millions of lives annually, causing substantial fatalities despite available vaccines endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these vaccines lack efficacy against Plasmodium vivax (Pv). Concomitantly, a considerable part of residents from several Pv-endemic areas face malnutrition, compromising their immunity to diseases, including malaria. Faria, A. C., Fock, R. A., […]

A self-eliminating allelic-drive reverses insecticide resistance in Drosophila leaving no transgene in the population

November 18, 2024

Insecticide resistance (IR) poses a significant global challenge to public health and welfare. Here, we develop a locally-acting unitary self-eliminating allelic-drive system, inserted into the Drosophila melanogaster yellow (y) locus. The drive cassette encodes both Cas9 and a single gRNA to bias inheritance of the favored wild-type (1014 L) allele over the IR (1014 F) variant of the voltage-gated sodium […]

Malaria treatment for prevention: a modelling study of the impact of routine case management on malaria prevalence and burden

November 11, 2024

Testing and treating symptomatic malaria cases is crucial for case management, but it may also prevent future illness by reducing mean infection duration. Measuring the impact of effective treatment on burden and transmission via field studies or routine surveillance systems is difficult and potentially unethical. The most significant prevalence reduction – up to 50% – was […]