The Experts below are selected from a list of 306 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Alessandra Della Torre - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • A proteomic investigation of soluble olfactory proteins in Anopheles Gambiae.
    PloS one, 2013
    Co-Authors: Guido Mastrobuoni, Alessandra Della Torre, Beniamino Caputo, Huili Qiao, Immacolata Iovinella, Simona Sagona, Alberto Niccolini, Francesca Boscaro, Marta Rodriguez Orejuela, Stefan Kempa
    Abstract:

    Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are small soluble polypeptides that bind semiochemicals in the lymph of insect chemosensilla. In the genome of Anopheles Gambiae, 66 genes encode OBPs and 8 encode CSPs. Here we monitored their expression through classical proteomics (2D gel-MS analysis) and a shotgun approach. The latter method proved much more sensitive and therefore more suitable for tiny biological samples as mosquitoes antennae and eggs. Females express a larger number and higher quantities of OBPs in their antennae than males (24 vs 19). OBP9 is the most abundant in the antennae of both sexes, as well as in larvae, pupae and eggs. Of the 8 CSPs, 4 were detected in antennae, while SAP3 was the only one expressed in larvae. Our proteomic results are in fairly good agreement with data of RNA expression reported in the literature, except for OBP4 and OBP5, that we could not identify in our analysis, nor could we detect in Western Blot experiments. The relatively limited number of soluble olfactory proteins expressed at relatively high levels in mosquitoes makes further studies on the coding of chemical messages at the OBP level more accessible, providing for few specific targets. Identification of such proteins in Anopheles Gambiae might facilitate future studies on host finding behavior in this important disease vector.

  • Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles amharicus, new members of the Anopheles Gambiae complex.
    Zootaxa, 2013
    Co-Authors: Maureen Coetzee, Richard C Wilkerson, Richard H. Hunt, Alessandra Della Torre, Mamadou B. Coulibaly, Nora J. Besansky
    Abstract:

    Two new species within the Anopheles Gambiae complex are here described and named. Based on molecular and bionomical evidence, the An. Gambiae molecular "M form" is named Anopheles coluzzii Coetzee & Wilkerson sp. n., while the "S form" retains the nominotypical name Anopheles Gambiae Giles. Anopheles quadriannulatus is retained for the southern African populations of this species, while the Ethiopian species is named Anopheles amharicus Hunt, Wilkerson & Coetzee sp. n., based on chromosomal, cross-mating and molecular evidence.

  • Anopheles Gambiae complex along The Gambia river, with particular reference to the molecular forms of An. Gambiae s.s.
    Malaria journal, 2008
    Co-Authors: Beniamino Caputo, Lassana Konate, Vincenzo Petrarca, Davis Nwakanma, Musa Jawara, Majidah Adiamoh, Ibrahima Dia, David J. Conway, Alessandra Della Torre
    Abstract:

    Background The geographic and temporal distribution of M and S molecular forms of the major Afrotropical malaria vector species Anopheles Gambiae s.s. at the western extreme of their range of distribution has never been investigated in detail.

  • Distribution and chromosomal characterization of the Anopheles Gambiae complex in Angola.
    The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2008
    Co-Authors: Maria Calzetta, Alessandra Della Torre, Federica Santolamazza, Gian Carlo Carrara, Pedro Jorge Cani, Filomeno Fortes, Maria Angela Di Deco, Vincenzo Petrarca
    Abstract:

    Mosquitoes of the Anopheles Gambiae complex (N = 1,336) were sampled (2001-2005) across Angola to identify taxa, study inversion polymorphisms, and detect the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. Anopheles Gambiae s.s. was found in all sites; it was characterized as M-form in localities of the tropical dry and semi-desertic belts, whereas the S-form was predominant in comparatively more humid and less anthropized sites. Both forms were characterized by low degrees of chromosomal polymorphism based solely on the 2La inversion, a pattern usually associated with An. Gambiae populations from forested, humid, and derived savanna areas. Unexpectedly, this pattern was also observed in M-form populations collected in dry/pre-desertic areas, where this form largely predominates over An. arabiensis, which was also detected in central/inland sites. Anopheles melas was found in northern coastal sites. Three of 534 An. Gambiae s.s. were positive for P. falciparum CS-protein, whereas none of the 105 An. melas were positive.

  • Speciation Within Anopheles Gambiae-- the Glass Is Half Full
    Science (New York N.Y.), 2002
    Co-Authors: Alessandra Della Torre, Nora J. Besansky, Carlo Costantini, Adalgisa Caccone, Vincenzo Petrarca, Jeffrey R. Powell, Mario Coluzzi
    Abstract:

    Restrictions to gene flow among molecular forms of the mosquito Anopheles Gambiae sensu stricto reveal an ongoing speciation process affecting the epidemiology of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ulrike Fillinger - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

John M. Vulule - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Response of Anopheles Gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) to larval habitat age in western Kenya highlands
    Parasites & vectors, 2013
    Co-Authors: Stephen Munga, John M. Vulule, Eliningaya J Kweka
    Abstract:

    Background Larval control is of paramount importance in the reduction of vector populations. Previous observations have suggested that, larvae of Anopheles Gambiae s.l occur more often in small temporary habitats while other studies showed that long-lasting stable habitats are more productive than unstable habitats. In addition, the physical and biological conditions and stability of larval habitats can change rapidly in natural conditions. Therefore, we examined the effect of larval habitat age on productivity, larval survival and oviposition preference of Anopheles Gambiae.

  • Ovipositional periodicity of caged Anopheles Gambiae individuals
    Journal of circadian rhythms, 2008
    Co-Authors: Megan L. Fritz, Juan Huang, Edward D. Walker, M. Nabie Bayoh, John M. Vulule, James R. Miller
    Abstract:

    Background Anopheles Gambiae s.s. Giles is a major malaria vector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies of the basic biology of this mosquito, including oviposition, provide a background for assessing which attributes might be exploited for suppressing A. Gambiae populations. Here, we report on when during the diel cycle A. Gambiae individuals deposit eggs as compared to the ovipositional patterns of groups.

  • Pupal habitat productivity of Anopheles Gambiae complex mosquitoes in a rural village in western Kenya.
    The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2006
    Co-Authors: Francis M. Mutuku, Edward D. Walker, M. Nabie Bayoh, John M. Vulule, John E. Gimnig, Luna Kamau, Ephantus W. Kabiru, William A. Hawley
    Abstract:

    The productivity of larval habitats of the malaria vector Anopheles Gambiae for pupae (the stage preceding adult metamorphosis) is poorly known, yet adult emergence from habitats is the primary determinant of vector density. To assess it, we used absolute sampling methods in four studies involving daily sampling for 25 days in 6 habitat types in a village in western Kenya. Anopheles Gambiae s.s. comprised 82.5% of emergent adults and Anopheles arabiensis the remainder. Pupal production occurred from a subset of habitats, primarily soil burrow pits, and was discontinuous in time, even when larvae occupied all habitats continuously. Habitat stability was positively associated with pupal productivity. In a dry season, pupal productivity was distributed between burrow pits and pools in streambeds. Overall, these data support the notion that source reduction measures against recognizably productive habitats would be a useful component of an integrated management program for An. Gambiae in villages.

Christos Louis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • The Anopheles Gambiae genome: an update
    Trends in parasitology, 2004
    Co-Authors: Emmanuel Mongin, Christos Louis, Robert A. Holt, Ewan Birney, Frank H. Collins
    Abstract:

    As a result of an international collaborative effort, the first draft of the Anopheles Gambiae genome sequence and its preliminary annotation were published in October 2002. Since then, the assembly, annotation and means of accession of the An. Gambiae genome have been under continuous development. This article reviews progress and considers limitations in the current sequence assembly and gene annotation, as well as approaches to address these problems and outstanding issues that users of the data must bear in mind.

  • AnoXcel: an Anopheles Gambiae protein database.
    Insect molecular biology, 2004
    Co-Authors: Jose M C Ribeiro, Pantelis Topalis, Christos Louis
    Abstract:

    The proteome of the mosquito Anopheles Gambiae was organized on a hyperlinked spreadsheet format containing one protein per row and several pieces of information in each column. The information for each protein ranges from the presence or absence of signal peptide indicative of secretion, presence of transmembrane domains, similarities to several databases, chromosomal location, and relatedness to other An. Gambiae proteins, etc. Hosted by AnoBase (http://www.anobase.org/), the whole spreadsheet or segments of it can be downloaded or searched from http://www.anobase.org/AnoBase/Genes/Ano-Xcel by the scientist dealing with the annotation of proteome subsets such as those deriving from transcriptomes, nucleotide microarrays or high throughput mass spectrometry data.

  • Molecular identification of chromosomal forms of Anopheles Gambiae sensu stricto.
    Parassitologia, 1999
    Co-Authors: Guido Favia, Christos Louis
    Abstract:

    The Afrotropical malaria vectors Anopheles Gambiae sensu stricto and An. arabiensis, responsible for more than 3/4 of the world Plasmodium falciparum inoculations, are members of the Anopheles Gambiae complex, a group consisting of six sibling species. The nominal species (An. Gambiae s.s.) is by far the most anthropophilic vector and its adaptation to man and his environment involves further ongoing speciation processes. This fact is shown by the existence of a number of incipient taxonomic units characterised by different chromosomal arrangements derived from the presence of polymorphic paracentric inversions. This speciation process is centered in West Africa, where five so-called 'chromosomal forms' have been described, designated with a non-Linnean nomenclature: Forest, Bissau, Savanna, Bamako, and Mopti. Studies on the distribution and the ecology of these incipient species have highlighted specific adaptations to eco-ethological parameters, which might reflect on their relative efficiency as malaria vectors. Cytogenetic analysis, in spite of some inherent difficulties, has proved to be a powerful tool for the identification of An. Gambiae sibling species and the individual chromosomal forms. Yet, modern molecular tools are now available, providing alternative faster low-cost technologies, and we discuss here their relative merits.

Vincenzo Petrarca - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Anopheles Gambiae complex along The Gambia river, with particular reference to the molecular forms of An. Gambiae s.s.
    Malaria journal, 2008
    Co-Authors: Beniamino Caputo, Lassana Konate, Vincenzo Petrarca, Davis Nwakanma, Musa Jawara, Majidah Adiamoh, Ibrahima Dia, David J. Conway, Alessandra Della Torre
    Abstract:

    Background The geographic and temporal distribution of M and S molecular forms of the major Afrotropical malaria vector species Anopheles Gambiae s.s. at the western extreme of their range of distribution has never been investigated in detail.

  • Distribution and chromosomal characterization of the Anopheles Gambiae complex in Angola.
    The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2008
    Co-Authors: Maria Calzetta, Alessandra Della Torre, Federica Santolamazza, Gian Carlo Carrara, Pedro Jorge Cani, Filomeno Fortes, Maria Angela Di Deco, Vincenzo Petrarca
    Abstract:

    Mosquitoes of the Anopheles Gambiae complex (N = 1,336) were sampled (2001-2005) across Angola to identify taxa, study inversion polymorphisms, and detect the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. Anopheles Gambiae s.s. was found in all sites; it was characterized as M-form in localities of the tropical dry and semi-desertic belts, whereas the S-form was predominant in comparatively more humid and less anthropized sites. Both forms were characterized by low degrees of chromosomal polymorphism based solely on the 2La inversion, a pattern usually associated with An. Gambiae populations from forested, humid, and derived savanna areas. Unexpectedly, this pattern was also observed in M-form populations collected in dry/pre-desertic areas, where this form largely predominates over An. arabiensis, which was also detected in central/inland sites. Anopheles melas was found in northern coastal sites. Three of 534 An. Gambiae s.s. were positive for P. falciparum CS-protein, whereas none of the 105 An. melas were positive.

  • Speciation Within Anopheles Gambiae-- the Glass Is Half Full
    Science (New York N.Y.), 2002
    Co-Authors: Alessandra Della Torre, Nora J. Besansky, Carlo Costantini, Adalgisa Caccone, Vincenzo Petrarca, Jeffrey R. Powell, Mario Coluzzi
    Abstract:

    Restrictions to gene flow among molecular forms of the mosquito Anopheles Gambiae sensu stricto reveal an ongoing speciation process affecting the epidemiology of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.