• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mosquitoes

Search Result 126, Processing Time 0.023 seconds

Insect GPCRs and TRP Channels: Putative Targets for Insect Repellents

  • Kim, Sang Hoon
    • Interdisciplinary Bio Central
    • /
    • v.5 no.3
    • /
    • pp.6.1-6.7
    • /
    • 2013
  • Many insects such as mosquitoes cause life-threatening diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and West Nile virus. Malaria alone infects 500 million people annually and causes 1-3 million death per year. Volatile insect repellents, which are detected through the sense of smell, have long been used to protect humans against insect pests. Antifeed-ants are non-volatile aversive compounds that are detected through the sense of taste and prevent insects from feeding on plants. The molecular targets and signaling path-ways required for sensing insect repellents and antifeedants are poorly understood. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Ca2+-permeable cation channels exist in organisms ranging from C. elegans to D. melanogaster and Homo sapiens. Drosophila has 13 family members, which mainly function in sensory physiology such as vision, thermotaxis and chemotaxis. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) initiate olfactory signaling cascades in mammals and in nematodes C.elegans. However, the mechanisms of G protein signaling cascades in insect chemosensation are controversial. In this review, I will discuss the putative roles of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels as targets for insect repellents.

Characterization of a Mosquitocidal Delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. guiyangiensis strain 21-2(H serotype 43) (모기 살충성 내독소를 생산하는 Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. guiyangiensis 21-2균주(H serotype 43)의 특성)

  • 김위종;김광현
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
    • /
    • v.27 no.5
    • /
    • pp.359-363
    • /
    • 1999
  • To prevent appearance of resistant mosquitoes against $\delta$-endotoxin of bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) in field, a mosquitocidal Bacillus thuringiensis strain 21-2(Bt21-2) producing a new type of $\delta$-endotoxin was isolated. The strain Bt 21-2 belongs to H serotype 43, B. thuringiensis subsp. guiyangiensis (Btg). The $\delta$-endotoxins from the strain Bt 21-2 and the strain Bti were a cuboid shape morphologically, but the $\delta$-endotoxin of the strain Bt 21-2 was composed of 150, 90 and 70kDa proteins on SDS-PAGE, and the antigenicity of $\delta$-endotoxin of the strain Bt 21-2 was different from that of the strain Bti on immunoblot. The $\delta$-endotoxin gene of the strain Bt 21-2 was not amplified with specific primers of $\delta$-endotoxin gene (cry4A and cry4B) of the strain Bti on PCR.

  • PDF

Visualization of blood sucking phenomena of a female mosquito (암 모기 흡혈과정 가시화)

  • Kim, Bo-Heum;Lee, Sang-Joon
    • 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
    • /
    • 2007.11a
    • /
    • pp.114-115
    • /
    • 2007
  • As a carrier of malaria and sneak of blood, mosquitoes are regarded as an unpleasant insect. However, there are novel phenomena that happen inside a mosquito. Among them, we focused on the blood sucking function of a female mosquito. The main objective of this study was to investigate the mosquito's pumping mechanism in order to resolve the problem encountered when we inject or transport biologic fluids into a micro-chip. To analyze the pumping mechanism, we visualized the blood sucking process inside a female mosquito. Flow characteristics of blood flow in a proboscis were investigated experimentally using a micro-PIV velocity field measurement technique. The anatomical variation of head, thorax, abdomen which work as pumps and valves, was visualized using the syncrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique.

  • PDF

Repellent activity of aromatic medicinal plant extracts against Aedes aegypti(Diptera: Culicidae) (방향성 한방식물체 조추출물의 에짚트숲모기(Aedes aegypti)에 대한 기피활성에 관한 연구)

  • 최한영;양영철
    • Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
    • /
    • v.17 no.3
    • /
    • pp.110-114
    • /
    • 2002
  • The repellent activity of methanol extracts from 8 aromatic medicinal plant species and a steam distillate against blood-starved Aedes aegypti (L.) females was laboratory examined by skin test and compared with that of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet). Reponeses varied according to Plant species. At a dose of $0.1mg/\textrm{cm}^2$, potent repellency against adult mosquitoes was obtained with extracts of Cinnamomum camphora (94.1 %) Cinnamomum cassia bark (91.2%), Eugenia caryophyllata flower bud (72.2%), and Tilia amurensis (69.4%). Repellent activity of these plant extracts was comparable to that of deet (83.4%). The plants described merit further study as potential mosquito-repellent agents.

Orbital Dirofilariasis in Iran: A Case Report

  • Tavakolizadeh, Sepideh;Mobedi, Iraj
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
    • /
    • v.47 no.4
    • /
    • pp.397-399
    • /
    • 2009
  • Dirofilariasis is a common parasitic disease in both domestic and wild animals around the world, with canines as the principal reservoir host and mosquitoes as the vector. Human ophthalmic dirofilariasis is an uncommon condition, but there have been reports from many parts of the world, including Africa, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Ophthalmic involvement with Dirofilaria may present itself as periorbital, subconjunctival, orbital, or intraocular infections. In this report, we present a case of orbital dirofilariasis with lateral rectus muscle involvement. To our knowledge, this is the first orbital dirofilariasis case reported in Iran. Although debulking of the tumor usually leads to resolution, our patient showed an episode of recurrence after biopsy. Complete recovery was achieved after a spontaneous discharge, without the need for systemic medication.

restriction Site Polymorphism of mtDNA for differentiating Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Say) Sibling Species (미토콘드리아 DNA 제한효소 절단부위 변이에 의한 Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Say) 모기의 자매종 구별)

  • ;S.K. Narang
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
    • /
    • v.29 no.2
    • /
    • pp.132-135
    • /
    • 1990
  • Three mitochondrial cDNA probes from Aedes albopictus were used to demonstrate restriction site polymorphism in mtDNA of three sibling species of Anopheles quadrimaculatus(Say). It was shown by DNA hybridization to have substantial sequence homology betwen the mtDNA of different genus. The proves reveled local restriction site variation between members of the Anopheles quadrimaculatus sibling species complex. Mitochondrical DNA (mtDNA), isolated from individual mosquitoes was digested by type II restriction enzymes and four enzymes were found to be useful for the purpose. Hind III alone could be used to obtain a diagnostic restriction pattern.

  • PDF

Development of a Catch Basin Sump Insert to Reduce Mosquitoes

  • Kim, Dong Gun
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
    • /
    • v.36 no.4
    • /
    • pp.554-557
    • /
    • 2018
  • A catch basin sump is one major habitat for mosquito larvae, especially in urban areas. This study developed a device for mosquito control, specifically for the catch basin sump. It consists of a housing, is a little smaller than the catch basin sump, numerous floating materials, which the key component for mosquito control, and mesh nets. The small balls or pyramid-shaped floating materials inhibit mosquito enclosures and spawning by significantly decreasing the surface area of the water, which is essential for the mosquito life cycle. These floating materials were designed to keep the water flowing. The mesh nets were installed to prevent the outflow of floating materials. The efficiency of the floating materials was tested with 3 conditions (1, 2, 3 layers of floating materials) and a control group. The emergence of mosquito adults decreased by 20% in one-layer, and 70-80% in second and third layers. Therefore, this device is expected to certainly contribute to mosquito population control in the catch basin sump.

Mosquito Distribution and Detection of Flavivirus Using Real Time RT-PCR in Jeju Island, 2017 (제주지역 모기의 계절적 발생소장 및 Real Time RT-PCR을 이용한 Flavivirus 감염조사(2017))

  • Lee, Che-Wook;Hwang, Kyu-Kye
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
    • /
    • v.57 no.3
    • /
    • pp.177-183
    • /
    • 2018
  • This study examined the seasonal, regional distribution of mosquito vectors related with disease vectors in the Jeju. From March to November, sample were collected from 11 points in four environmentally different sites in Jeju Island. Samples were collected twice a month using a black-light trap and a BG sentinel trap. Overall, five genera and seven species types of 6,042 female mosquitos were collected. Among the collected mosquitos, 4,159 (68.8%) and 1,348 (24.4%) were Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus, respectively, making them the dominant species. Additionally, collection using the black light trap produced 72.8 entities per trap in Jungang-dong service center in the center of the city, which was the highest value, while the lowest amount of 1.4 per trap was recovered from the airport. When the BG sentinel trap was used, the largest recovery was observed in the port, where there were 71.7 entities per trap, while the lowest amount of 28.3 entities per trap was recovered at Gealmae Eco Park. The overall number of mosquitoes collected started to increase from May, and reached the largest value of 1,156 (19.1%) in August. Trapped mosquitoes are created 364 pools of up to 50 grains per pool, by season, by environmental, and by species. When the pools were used, no flaviviral infection was observed upon real time RT-PCR.

Control efficacy of BtPlus against two mosquitoes, Aedes koreicus and Culex vagans (한국숲모기와 줄다리집모기에 대한 비티플러스 방제 효과)

  • Kim, Yonggyun;Minoo, Sajjadian;Ahmed, Shabbir
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
    • /
    • v.59 no.1
    • /
    • pp.41-54
    • /
    • 2020
  • Two mosquito species were collected in still-water near farming area in Andong, Korea. Based on morphological characters, these two mosquitoes were identified as Aedes koreicus and Culex vagans, respectively. DNA barcode analyses supported the identification. An entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (BtI), exhibited insecticidal activities against the two mosquito species and its virulence was more potent than that of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. It has been known that the bacterial metabolites of Xenorhabdus spp. suppress insect immunity and enhance pathogenicity of B. thuringiensis. This study tested the effect of the bacterial culture broth of Xenorhabdus spp. on enhancing BtI pathogenicity. Among three Xenorhabdus spp., culture broth of X. ehlersii (Xe) was relatively effective to enhance BtI pathogenicity against both mosquito species. Indeed, organic extracts of Xe culture broth suppressed the hemocyte-spreading behavior, suggesting the presence of immunosuppressant in the culture broth. These results suggest a formulation of BtPlus by mixing BtI spore and Xe culture broth to be applied to control the two mosquito species.

The Impact of Land Use Structure and Vector Habitat Conditions on the Incidence of Malaria-A Case Study in High-Incidence Areas (매개모기의 서식환경과 토지이용 구조가 말라리아 발생에 미치는 영향 - 말라리아 고위험지역을 대상으로)

  • Kim, Ju-Hye;Park, Sun-Yurp
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
    • /
    • v.16 no.3
    • /
    • pp.12-24
    • /
    • 2013
  • Eradication of endemic malaria was declared in mid 1980's in Korea, but the number of malaria cases has been oscillating for the past 10 years since the reemergence of the disease in early 1990's. The occurrence of malaria has been concentrated near the demilitarized zone(DMZ), and the regional characteristics of the disease are evident. Considering the spatial variations of malaria incidence across the high-risk areas, the hotspot of the disease, it seems that the occurrence of the disease is influenced by the natural and human environment in the region. Malaria is an infectious disease that is transmitted to humans by the bites of vector-mosquitoes carrying malaria parasites, and it depends on specific climatic and sociodemographic factors. Malaria transmission is highly climate-sensitive, and temperature is the most important component. In addition, human contacts with vector-mosquitoes and the distance between human residence and mosquito habitats are crucial conditions determining malaria incidence rates. The present study aimed to test a hypothesis that the spatial characteristics of malaria incidence depended on local climatic conditions, relative proportions of mosquito habitats, and the distance between mosquito habitats and human residence using meteorological and satellite-based land cover data.