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Kefi M, Cardoso-Jaime V, Saab SA, Dimopoulos G. Curing mosquitoes with genetic approaches for malaria control. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:487-499. [PMID: 38760256 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.010] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains a persistent global public health challenge because of the limitations of current prevention tools. The use of transgenic mosquitoes incapable of transmitting malaria, in conjunction with existing methods, holds promise for achieving elimination of malaria and preventing its reintroduction. In this context, population modification involves the spread of engineered genetic elements through mosquito populations that render them incapable of malaria transmission. Significant progress has been made in this field over the past decade in revealing promising targets, optimizing genetic tools, and facilitating the transition from the laboratory to successful field deployments, which are subject to regulatory scrutiny. This review summarizes recent advances and ongoing challenges in 'curing' Anopheles vectors of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kefi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Victor Cardoso-Jaime
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sally A Saab
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - George Dimopoulos
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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2
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Green EI, Jaouen E, Klug D, Proveti Olmo R, Gautier A, Blandin S, Marois E. A population modification gene drive targeting both Saglin and Lipophorin impairs Plasmodium transmission in Anopheles mosquitoes. eLife 2023; 12:e93142. [PMID: 38051195 PMCID: PMC10786457 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93142] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipophorin is an essential, highly expressed lipid transport protein that is secreted and circulates in insect hemolymph. We hijacked the Anopheles coluzzii Lipophorin gene to make it co-express a single-chain version of antibody 2A10, which binds sporozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The resulting transgenic mosquitoes show a markedly decreased ability to transmit Plasmodium berghei expressing the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein to mice. To force the spread of this antimalarial transgene in a mosquito population, we designed and tested several CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives. One of these is installed in, and disrupts, the pro-parasitic gene Saglin and also cleaves wild-type Lipophorin, causing the anti-malarial modified Lipophorin version to replace the wild type and hitch-hike together with the Saglin drive. Although generating drive-resistant alleles and showing instability in its gRNA-encoding multiplex array, the Saglin-based gene drive reached high levels in caged mosquito populations and efficiently promoted the simultaneous spread of the antimalarial Lipophorin::Sc2A10 allele. This combination is expected to decrease parasite transmission via two different mechanisms. This work contributes to the design of novel strategies to spread antimalarial transgenes in mosquitoes, and illustrates some expected and unexpected outcomes encountered when establishing a population modification gene drive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily I Green
- Inserm U1257, CNRS UPR9022, University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Etienne Jaouen
- Inserm U1257, CNRS UPR9022, University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Dennis Klug
- Inserm U1257, CNRS UPR9022, University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | | | - Amandine Gautier
- Inserm U1257, CNRS UPR9022, University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Stéphanie Blandin
- Inserm U1257, CNRS UPR9022, University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Eric Marois
- Inserm U1257, CNRS UPR9022, University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
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Suh PF, Elanga-Ndille E, Tchouakui M, Sandeu MM, Tagne D, Wondji C, Ndo C. Impact of insecticide resistance on malaria vector competence: a literature review. Malar J 2023; 22:19. [PMID: 36650503 PMCID: PMC9847052 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04444-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its first report in Anopheles mosquitoes in 1950s, insecticide resistance has spread very fast to most sub-Saharan African malaria-endemic countries, where it is predicted to seriously jeopardize the success of vector control efforts, leading to rebound of disease cases. Supported mainly by four mechanisms (metabolic resistance, target site resistance, cuticular resistance, and behavioural resistance), this phenomenon is associated with intrinsic changes in the resistant insect vectors that could influence development of invading Plasmodium parasites. A literature review was undertaken using Pubmed database to collect articles evaluating directly or indiretly the impact of insecticide resistance and the associated mechanisms on key determinants of malaria vector competence including sialome composition, anti-Plasmodium immunity, intestinal commensal microbiota, and mosquito longevity. Globally, the evidence gathered is contradictory even though the insecticide resistant vectors seem to be more permissive to Plasmodium infections. The actual body of knowledge on key factors to vectorial competence, such as the immunity and microbiota communities of the insecticide resistant vector is still very insufficient to definitively infer on the epidemiological importance of these vectors against the susceptible counterparts. More studies are needed to fill important knowledge gaps that could help predicting malaria epidemiology in a context where the selection and spread of insecticide resistant vectors is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Fongho Suh
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 837, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Emmanuel Elanga-Ndille
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Magellan Tchouakui
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Maurice Marcel Sandeu
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Darus Tagne
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Charles Wondji
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Cyrille Ndo
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
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A toolbox of engineered mosquito lines to study salivary gland biology and malaria transmission. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010881. [PMID: 36223382 PMCID: PMC9555648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito saliva is a vehicle for the transmission of vector borne pathogens such as Plasmodium parasites and different arboviruses. Despite the key role of the salivary glands in the process of disease transmission, knowledge of host-pathogen interactions taking place within this organ is very limited. To improve the experimental tractability of the salivary glands, we have generated fluorescent reporter lines in the African malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii using the salivary gland-specific promoters of the anopheline antiplatelet protein (AAPP), the triple functional domain protein (TRIO) and saglin (SAG) coding genes. Promoter activity was specifically observed in the distal-lateral lobes or in the median lobe of the salivary glands. Besides a comparison of the expression patterns of the selected promoters, the fluorescent probes allowed us to evaluate the inducibility of the selected promoters upon blood feeding and to measure intracellular redox changes. We also combined the aapp-DsRed fluorescent reporter line with a pigmentation-deficient yellow(-) mosquito mutant to assess the feasibility of in vivo microscopy of parasitized salivary glands. This combination allowed locating the salivary gland through the cuticle and imaging of individual sporozoites in vivo, which facilitates live imaging studies of salivary gland colonization by Plasmodium sporozoites. Over the course of evolution, a number of pathogens have developed the ability to replicate within and to be transmitted by mosquitoes. An important adaptation of pathogens to be successfully transmitted is their ability to colonize mosquito slivary glands, as the timing and efficiency with which pathogens enter the glands directly affects their transmission. Despite the importance of salivary glands in disease transmission, host-pathogen interactions in this organ are poorly understood. To facilitate biological studies, we developed fluorescent reporter lines in the malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii by placing fluorescent probes under the control of the salivary gland-specific promoters of the anopheline antiplatelet protein (AAPP), triple functional domain protein (TRIO), and saglin (SAG) genes. We used these lines to characterize inducibility by blood meals and spatial expression of the different promoters, as well as intracellular redox changes in salivary glands after sporozoite invasion. In addition, we combined the aapp-DsRed fluorescent reporter line with a pigmentation-deficient yellow(-) mosquito mutant to evaluate the feasibility of in vivo microscopy of parasitized salivary glands. Our data suggest that salivary gland invasion is an active process that requires Plasmodium sporozoites to actively move through the tissues of the mosquito to reach the salivary glands.
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Martin-Martin I, Alves E. Silva TL, Williams AE, Vega-Rodriguez J, Calvo E. Performing Immunohistochemistry in Mosquito Salivary Glands. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2022; 2022:Pdb.top107699. [PMID: 35960615 PMCID: PMC9811942 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Studying protein localization in mosquito salivary glands provides novel insights on the function and physiological relevance of salivary proteins and also provides an avenue to study interactions between mosquitoes and pathogens. Salivary proteins display compartmentalization. For example, proteins involved in blood feeding are stored in the medial and distal lateral lobes, whereas proteins related to sugar metabolism localize to the proximal portion of the lateral lobes. Immunohistochemistry assays use antibodies raised against recombinant salivary proteins to reveal the protein localization and interactions within the tissue. In this assay, permeabilization of the salivary glands allows the antibodies to enter the cells and bind their target proteins. The primary antibody-antigen complexes are later marked with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Antibodies that recognize pathogen-specific proteins can also be incorporated in these assays, providing information about pathogen localization within the salivary glands or pathogen interactions with mosquito salivary proteins. Here, we introduce immunohistochemistry assays for use in mosquito salivary glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Martin-Martin
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA
| | - Thiago Luiz Alves E. Silva
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA
| | - Adeline E. Williams
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA;,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Joel Vega-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA;,Correspondence:
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James ER, Wen Y, Overby J, Pluchino K, McTighe S, Matheny S, Eappen A, Hoffman SL, Billingsley PF. Cryopreservation of Anopheles stephensi embryos. Sci Rep 2022; 12:43. [PMID: 34997079 PMCID: PMC8741979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04113-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to cryopreserve mosquitoes would revolutionize work on these vectors of major human infectious diseases by conserving stocks, new isolates, lab-bred strains, and transgenic lines that currently require continuous life cycle maintenance. Efforts over several decades to develop a method for cryopreservation have, until now, been fruitless: we describe here a method for the cryopreservation of Anopheles stephensi embryos yielding hatch rates of ~ 25%, stable for > 5 years. Hatched larvae developed into fertile, fecund adults and blood-fed females, produced fully viable second generation eggs, that could be infected with Plasmodium falciparum at high intensities. The key components of the cryopreservation method are: embryos at 15-30 min post oviposition, two incubation steps in 100% deuterated methanol at - 7 °C and - 14.5 °C, and rapid cooling. Eggs are recovered by rapid warming with concomitant dilution of cryoprotectant. Eggs of genetically modified A. stephensi and of A. gambiae were also successfully cryopreserved. This enabling methodology will allow long-term conservation of mosquitoes as well as acceleration of genetic studies and facilitation of mass storage of anopheline mosquitoes for release programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shane McTighe
- Sanaria Inc, Rockville, MD, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Rockville, MD, USA
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Ripp J, Kehrer J, Smyrnakou X, Tisch N, Tavares J, Amino R, Ruiz de Almodovar C, Frischknecht F. Malaria parasites differentially sense environmental elasticity during transmission. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13933. [PMID: 33666362 PMCID: PMC8033522 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202113933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission of malaria-causing parasites to and by the mosquito relies on active parasite migration and constitutes bottlenecks in the Plasmodium life cycle. Parasite adaption to the biochemically and physically different environments must hence be a key evolutionary driver for transmission efficiency. To probe how subtle but physiologically relevant changes in environmental elasticity impact parasite migration, we introduce 2D and 3D polyacrylamide gels to study ookinetes, the parasite forms emigrating from the mosquito blood meal and sporozoites, the forms transmitted to the vertebrate host. We show that ookinetes adapt their migratory path but not their speed to environmental elasticity and are motile for over 24 h on soft substrates. In contrast, sporozoites evolved more short-lived rapid gliding motility for rapidly crossing the skin. Strikingly, sporozoites are highly sensitive to substrate elasticity possibly to avoid adhesion to soft endothelial cells on their long way to the liver. Hence, the two migratory stages of Plasmodium evolved different strategies to overcome the physical challenges posed by the respective environments and barriers they encounter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Ripp
- Integrative ParasitologyCenter for Infectious DiseasesHeidelberg University Medical SchoolHeidelbergGermany
| | - Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative ParasitologyCenter for Infectious DiseasesHeidelberg University Medical SchoolHeidelbergGermany
| | - Xanthoula Smyrnakou
- Integrative ParasitologyCenter for Infectious DiseasesHeidelberg University Medical SchoolHeidelbergGermany
- Gene Therapy for Hearing Impairment and DeafnessDepartment of OtolaryngologyHead & Neck SurgeryUniversity of Tübingen Medical CenterTübingenGermany
| | - Nathalie Tisch
- Biochemistry CenterHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- European Center for Angioscience (ECAS)Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Joana Tavares
- IBMC‐Institute for Molecular and Cell Biologyi3S ‐ Institute for Research and Innovation in HealthUniversity of PortoPortoPortugal
- Malaria Infection and Immunity UnitDepartment of Parasites and Insect VectorsInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Malaria Infection and Immunity UnitDepartment of Parasites and Insect VectorsInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar
- Biochemistry CenterHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- European Center for Angioscience (ECAS)Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative ParasitologyCenter for Infectious DiseasesHeidelberg University Medical SchoolHeidelbergGermany
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Arredondo SA, Schepis A, Reynolds L, Kappe SHI. Secretory Organelle Function in the Plasmodium Sporozoite. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:651-663. [PMID: 33589364 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites exhibit a complex infection biology in the mosquito and mammalian hosts. The sporozoite apical secretory organelles, the micronemes and rhoptries, store protein mediators of parasite/host/vector interactions and must secrete them in a temporally and spatially well orchestrated manner. Micronemal proteins are critical for sporozoite motility throughout its journey from the mosquito midgut oocyst to the mammalian liver, and also for cell traversal (CT) and hepatocyte invasion. Rhoptry proteins, until recently thought to be only important for hepatocyte invasion, appear to also play an unexpected role in motility and in the interaction with mosquito tissue. Therefore, navigating the different microenvironments with secretion likely requires the sporozoite to have a more complex system of secretory organelles than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia A Arredondo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Antonino Schepis
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Laura Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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Graumans W, Jacobs E, Bousema T, Sinnis P. When Is a Plasmodium-Infected Mosquito an Infectious Mosquito? Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:705-716. [PMID: 32620501 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites experience significant bottlenecks as they transit through the mosquito and are transmitted to their mammalian host. Oocyst prevalence on mosquito midguts and sporozoite prevalence in salivary glands are nevertheless commonly used to confirm successful malaria transmission, assuming that these are reliable indicators of the mosquito's capacity to give rise to secondary infections. Here we discuss recent insights in sporogonic development and transmission bottlenecks for Plasmodium. We highlight critical gaps in our knowledge and frame their importance in understanding the human and mosquito reservoirs of infection. A better understanding of the events that lead to successful inoculation of infectious sporozoites by mosquitoes is critical to designing effective interventions to shrink the malaria map.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Graumans
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ella Jacobs
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Teun Bousema
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Kojin BB, Adelman ZN. The Sporozoite's Journey Through the Mosquito: A Critical Examination of Host and Parasite Factors Required for Salivary Gland Invasion. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
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