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Makhanthisa TI, Guarido MM, Kemp A, Weyer J, Rostal MK, Karesh WB, Thompson PN. Characterization of mosquito host-biting networks of potential Rift Valley fever virus vectors in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:341. [PMID: 39138532 PMCID: PMC11323694 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06416-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne virus with serious implications for livestock health, human health, and the economy in Africa, and is suspected to be endemic in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The vectors of RVFV in this area are poorly known, although several species, such as Aedes (Neomelaniconion) mcintoshi, Aedes (Neomelaniconion) circumluteolus, Aedes (Aedimorphus) durbanensis, and Culex (Lasioconops) poicilipes may be involved. The aim of the study was to determine the vertebrate blood meal sources of potential RVFV mosquito vectors in north-eastern KZN and to characterize the host-biting network. METHODS Blood-fed mosquitoes were collected monthly from November 2019 to February 2023 using a backpack aspirator, CO2-baited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) miniature light traps and tent traps, in the vicinity of water bodies and livestock farming households. The mosquitoes were morphologically identified. DNA was extracted from individual mosquitoes and used as templates to amplify the vertebrate cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (cytb) genes using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplicons were sequenced and queried in GenBank and the Barcode of Life Data systems to identify the vertebrate blood meal sources and confirm mosquito identifications. All mosquitoes were screened for RVFV using real time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. RESULTS We identified the mammalian (88.8%) and avian (11.3%) blood meal sources from 409 blood-fed mosquitoes. Aedes circumluteolus (n = 128) made up the largest proportion of collected mosquitoes. Cattle (n = 195) and nyala (n = 61) were the most frequent domestic and wild hosts, respectively. Bipartite network analysis showed that the rural network consisted of more host-biting interactions than the reserve network. All mosquitoes tested negative for RVFV. CONCLUSIONS Several mosquito species, including Ae. circumluteolus, and vertebrate host species, including cattle and nyala, could play a central role in RVFV transmission. Future research in this region should focus on these species to better understand RVFV amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takalani I Makhanthisa
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Milehna M Guarido
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Alan Kemp
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa
| | - Jacqueline Weyer
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa
- Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | - Peter N Thompson
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
- Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
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Walkowiak-Nowicka K, Chowański S, Pacholska-Bogalska J, Adamski Z, Kuczer M, Rosiński G. Effects of alloferon and its analogues on reproduction and development of the Tenebrio molitor beetle. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17016. [PMID: 39043811 PMCID: PMC11266558 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68118-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
As the most numerous group of animals on Earth, insects are found in almost every ecosystem. Their useful role in the environment is priceless; however, for humans, their presence may be considered negative or even harmful. For years, people have been trying to control the number of pests by using synthetic insecticides, which eventually causes an increased level of resistance to applied compounds. The effects of synthetic insecticides have encouraged researchers to search for alternatives and thus develop safe compounds with high specificity. Using knowledge about the physiology of insects and the functionality of compounds of insect origin, a new class of bioinsecticides called peptidomimetics, which are appropriately modified insect analogues, was created. One promising compound that might be successfully modified is the thirteen amino acid peptide alloferon (HGVSGHGQHGVHG), which is obtained from the hemolymph of the blue blowfly Calliphora vicinia. Our research aimed to understand the physiological properties of alloferon and the activity of its peptidomimetics, which will provide the possibility of using alloferon or its analogues in the pharmaceutical industry, as a drug or adjuvant, or in agriculture as a bioinsecticide. We used alloferon and its three peptidomimetics, which are conjugates of the native peptide with three unsaturated fatty acids with various chain lengths: caprylic, myristic, and palmitic. We tested their effects on the morphology and activity of the reproductive system and the embryogenesis of the Tenebrio molitor beetle. We found that the tested compounds influenced the growth and maturation of ovaries and the expression level of the vitellogenin gene. The tested compounds also influenced the process of egg laying, embryogenesis, and offspring hatching, showing that alloferon might be a good peptide for the synthesis of effective bioinsecticides or biopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Walkowiak-Nowicka
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Szymon Chowański
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Pacholska-Bogalska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Adamski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
- Laboratory of Electron and Confocal Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariola Kuczer
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Rosiński
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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Melgarejo-Colmenares K, Vezzani D, Gallego A, Cardo MV. Blood meal sources of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in domestic and open green environments from two urbanisations of temperate Argentina. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024; 114:30-40. [PMID: 38112065 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485323000573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the blood-feeding patterns of mosquitoes is essential for evaluating their potential as disease vectors, especially in urban areas where mosquitoes coexist with humans, domestic animals and wildlife. This study aimed to bridge a substantial gap in regional knowledge by identifying the blood meal sources of field-collected mosquitoes in domestic and open green environments from two urbanisations of temperate Argentina, the Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA) and Tandil, using molecular techniques. Female mosquitoes were collected from November 2019 to March 2020 and April-May 2021. A bipartite network analysis was performed for each environment and urbanisation. A total of 103 blood meals from Aedes (2 species) and Culex (7 species) were identified. Among these, five mammal and 18 bird species were recognised as hosts. Aedes mosquitoes exclusively fed on mammals, while Culex mosquitoes exhibited a broader host range including both birds and mammals. In AMBA, the open green environments were composed by more mosquito species than the domestic environments, while both presented similar numbers of vertebrate species. In contrast, in open green environments from Tandil only blood-fed Aedes albifasciatus were collected. For open green environments of AMBA and domestic environments of Tandil, results suggested some degree of host selection. For the three main vectors of diseases in the region, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albifasciatus and Culex pipiens molestus, we present the first molecular evidence of human blood meals in South America. Epidemiological significance of the present findings is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karelly Melgarejo-Colmenares
- IIIA-UNSAM-CONICET, Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Darío Vezzani
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Tandil, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Gallego
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Tandil, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María V Cardo
- IIIA-UNSAM-CONICET, Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Bellekom B, Lewis OT, Hackett TD. Latitudinal and anthropogenic effects on the structuring of networks linking blood-feeding flies and their vertebrate hosts. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:675-682. [PMID: 37261902 PMCID: PMC10946476 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Biting flies (Diptera) transmit pathogens that cause many important diseases in humans as well as domestic and wild animals. The networks of feeding interactions linking these insects to their hosts, and how they vary geographically and in response to human land-use, are currently poorly documented but are relevant to understanding cross-species disease transmission. We compiled a database of biting Diptera-host interactions from the literature to investigate how key interaction network metrics vary latitudinally and with human land-use. Interaction evenness and H2' (a measure of the degree of network specificity) did not vary significantly with latitude. Compared to near-natural habitats, interaction evenness was significantly lower in agricultural habitats, where networks were dominated by relatively few species pairs, but there was no evidence that the presence of humans and their domesticated animals within networks led to systematic shifts in network structure. We discuss the epidemiological relevance of these results and the implications for predicting and mitigating future spill-over events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bellekom
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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Cardo MV, Vezzani D. Host-mosquito interactions in rural and urban equestrian facilities from temperate Argentina. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:816-825. [PMID: 37565364 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Targeted vector surveillance informed by data on mosquito biting patterns can help limit arboviral zoonotic diseases. To characterise host-biting networks in rural and urban equestrian facilities from temperate Argentina, adult resting mosquitoes were collected (December 2018-April 2019) with a battery-powered aspirator. Engorged females were sorted to species, and their blood source was identified using molecular techniques. Bipartite network analysis was performed for rural and urban matrices. A total of 177 bloodmeals from 11 mosquito species of Aedes and Culex were identified, with seven mammal and 17 bird species recognised as hosts. Mammals represented 61% of the total feeds, mainly horse, dog and sheep; the best represented avian hosts were Columbiformes. Aedes species and Culex maxi fed only on mammals, while most other Culex species presented a wide range of hosts. The rural network had more nodes and interactions than its urban counterpart, both with some degree of host selection and aggregated patterns according to network indices. Culex quinquefasciatus was the strongest species in both networks, whereas Culex apicinus and Culex dolosus had a prominent role in the rural network. Bipartite network analysis will contribute to understanding the effects of urbanisation in the dynamics of vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- María V Cardo
- IIIA-UNSAM-CONICET, Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, San Martín, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Darío Vezzani
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Tandil, Argentina
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Bellekom B, Bailey A, England M, Langlands Z, Lewis OT, Hackett TD. Effects of storage conditions and digestion time on DNA amplification of biting midge (Culicoides) blood meals. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:13. [PMID: 36635709 PMCID: PMC9837887 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05607-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular analysis of blood meals is increasingly used to identify the hosts of biting insects such as midges and mosquitoes. Successful host identification depends on the availability of sufficient host DNA template for PCR amplification, making it important to understand how amplification success changes under different storage conditions and with different durations of blood meal digestion within the insect gut before being placed into the storage medium. METHOD We characterised and compared the digestion profile of two species of Culicoides over a 96-h period using a novel set of general vertebrate primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene. A set number of individuals from each species were killed over 13 time points post-blood feeding and preserved in 95% ethanol. Samples were stored either at ambient room temperature or in a - 20 °C freezer to examine the effect of storage condition on the PCR amplification success of host DNA. RESULTS We found that amplification success across the 96-h sampling period post-feeding was reduced from 96 to 6% and 96% to 14% for Culicoides nubeculosus and Culicoides sonorensis, respectively. We found no effect of storage condition on PCR amplification success, and storage in 95% ethanol was sufficient to maintain high rates of amplifiable host DNA for at least 9 months, even at room temperature. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the limited time frame during which an individual may contain amplifiable host DNA and demonstrate the importance of timely sample capture and processing post-blood feeding. Moreover, storage in 95% ethanol alone is sufficient to limit host DNA degradation. These results are relevant to the design of studies investigating the biting behaviour and disease transmission potential of Culicoides and other biting Diptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bellekom
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ UK
| | - Abigail Bailey
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ UK
| | - Marion England
- grid.63622.330000 0004 0388 7540The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF UK
| | - Zoe Langlands
- grid.63622.330000 0004 0388 7540The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF UK
| | - Owen T. Lewis
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ UK
| | - Talya D. Hackett
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ UK
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Yee DA, Dean Bermond C, Reyes-Torres LJ, Fijman NS, Scavo NA, Nelsen J, Yee SH. Robust network stability of mosquitoes and human pathogens of medical importance. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:216. [PMID: 35725618 PMCID: PMC9208160 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05333-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The exact number of mosquito species relevant to human health is unknown, posing challenges in understanding the scope and breadth of vector–pathogen relationships, and how resilient mosquito vector–pathogen networks are to targeted eradication of vectors. Methods We performed an extensive literature survey to determine the associations between mosquito species and their associated pathogens of human medical importance. For each vector–pathogen association, we then determined the strength of the associations (i.e., natural infection, lab infection, lab dissemination, lab transmission, known vector). A network analysis was used to identify relationships among all pathogens and vectors. Finally, we examined how elimination of either random or targeted species affected the extinction of pathogens. Results We found that 88 of 3578 mosquito species (2.5%) are known vectors for 78 human disease-causing pathogens; however, an additional 243 species (6.8%) were identified as potential or likely vectors, bringing the total of all mosquitos implicated in human disease to 331 (9.3%). Network analysis revealed that known vectors and pathogens were compartmentalized, with the removal of six vectors being enough to break the network (i.e., cause a pathogen to have no vector). However, the presence of potential or likely vectors greatly increased redundancies in the network, requiring more than 41 vectors to be eliminated before breaking the network. Conclusion Although < 10% of mosquitoes are involved in transmitting pathogens that cause human disease, our findings point to inherent robustness in global mosquito vector–pathogen networks. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05333-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A Yee
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA.
| | - Catherine Dean Bermond
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Limarie J Reyes-Torres
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Nicole S Fijman
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Nicole A Scavo
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Joseph Nelsen
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Susan H Yee
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL, 32561, USA
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Distribution of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Domestic Animals and Their Ticks in the Countries of the Mediterranean Basin between 2000 and 2021: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061236. [PMID: 35744755 PMCID: PMC9228937 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) include a wide range of bacteria, parasites and viruses that cause a large spectrum of animal, human and zoonotic tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The object of this review was to establish an inventory and an analysis of TBPs found in domestic animals in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin. This geographic area occupies a central position between several continents and is an area of movement for animals, humans and pathogens of interest and their vectors, which is important in terms of animal and human health. In this systematic review, we included a total of 271 publications produced between 2000–2021 concerning TBPs in domestic animals. Among this literature, we found a total of 90 pathogen species (known as TBPs) reported in the 20 countries of the area; these were detected in tick species from domestic animals and were also directly detected in domestic animals. In all, 31 tick species were recorded and 12 domestic animal species, the latter comprising nine livestock and three pet species. More than 50% of the publications were from Western Europe. Island data were extracted and assessed, as islands of the Mediterranean Basin were represented in 16% of the publications and 77.8% of the TBPs reported. Our results show the importance of islands in the monitoring of TBPs, despite the low percentage of publications.
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Giraldo-Calderón GI, Harb OS, Kelly SA, Rund SS, Roos DS, McDowell MA. VectorBase.org updates: bioinformatic resources for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens and related organisms. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 50:100860. [PMID: 34864248 PMCID: PMC9133010 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
VectorBase (VectorBase.org) is part of the VEuPathDB Bioinformatics Resource Center, providing free online access to multi-omics and population biology data, focusing on arthropod vectors and invertebrates of importance to human health. VectorBase includes genomics and functional genomics data from bed bugs, biting midges, body lice, kissing bugs, mites, mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, tsetse flies, stable flies, house flies, fruit flies, and a snail intermediate host. Tools include the Search Strategy system and MapVEu, enabling users to interrogate and visualize diverse 'omics and population-level data using a graphical interface (no programming experience required). Users can also analyze their own private data, such as transcriptomic sequences, exploring their results in the context of other publicly-available information in the database. Help Desk: help@vectorbase.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria I Giraldo-Calderón
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Dept. Ciencias Biológicas & Dept. Ciencias Básicas Médicas, Universidad Icesi, Calle 18 No 122-135, Cali, Colombia
| | - Omar S Harb
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, PA, USA
| | - Sarah A Kelly
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Samuel Sc Rund
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - David S Roos
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, PA, USA
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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Runghen R, Poulin R, Monlleó-Borrull C, Llopis-Belenguer C. Network Analysis: Ten Years Shining Light on Host-Parasite Interactions. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:445-455. [PMID: 33558197 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Biological interactions are key drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes. The complexity of such interactions hinders our understanding of ecological systems and our ability to make effective predictions in changing environments. However, network analysis allows us to better tackle the complexity of ecosystems because it extracts the properties of an ecological system according to the number and distribution of links among interacting entities. The number of studies using network analysis to solve ecological and evolutionary questions in parasitology has increased over the past decade. Here, we synthesise the contribution of network analysis toward disentangling host-parasite processes. Furthermore, we identify current trends in mainstream ecology and novel applications of network analysis that present opportunities for research on host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogini Runghen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, 8140 Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, 9054 Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Clara Monlleó-Borrull
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, PO Box 22085, ES-46071, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Llopis-Belenguer
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, PO Box 22085, ES-46071, Valencia, Spain.
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