Featured Publications
Malaria Resilience in South America: Epidemiology, Vector Biology, and Immunology Insights from the Amazonian International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research Network in Peru and Brazil
Torres K, Ferreira MU, Castro MC, Escalante AA, Conn JE, Villasis E, da Silva Araujo M, Almeida G, Rodrigues PT, Corder RM, Fernandes ARJ, Calil PR, Ladeia WA, Garcia-Castillo SS, Gomez J, do Valle Antonelli LR, Gazzinelli RT, Golenbock DT, Llanos-Cuentas A, Gamboa D, Vinetz JM. Malaria Resilience in South America: Epidemiology, Vector Biology, and Immunology Insights from the Amazonian International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research Network in Peru and Brazil. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2022, 107: 168-181. PMID: 36228921, PMCID: PMC9662219, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune responseMalaria epidemiologyMalaria controlImportant public health priorityHuman immune responsePublic health priorityWestern Brazilian Amazon regionHealth priorityHuman reservoirSociodemographic featuresMalaria researchEpidemiologyMultidisciplinary approachRapid reemergenceVector biologyElimination strategyResearch NetworkMalaria vectorsInternational CentreFurther researchBrazilian Amazon regionSouth AmericaMalariaImmunologyResponseInsights into Plasmodium vivax Asymptomatic Malaria Infections and Direct Skin-Feeding Assays to Assess Onward Malaria Transmission in the Amazon.
Moreno M, Torres K, Tong C, García Castillo SS, Carrasco-Escobar G, Guedez G, Torres L, Herrera-Varela M, Guerra L, Guzman-Guzman M, Wong D, Ramirez R, Llanos-Cuentas A, Conn JE, Gamboa D, Vinetz JM. Insights into Plasmodium vivax Asymptomatic Malaria Infections and Direct Skin-Feeding Assays to Assess Onward Malaria Transmission in the Amazon. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2022, 107: 154-161. PMID: 35895359, PMCID: PMC9294676, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1217.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDirect skin feeding assaysMalaria infectionP. vivax malaria infectionsAsymptomatic malaria infectionsVivax malaria infectionMosquito feeding assaysDiverse epidemiological settingsCohort studySymptomatic infectionAsymptomatic individualsAsymptomatic infectionSymptomatic participantsParasite carriersPlasmodium vivaxEpidemiological settingsMalaria transmissionPlasmodium gametocytesInfectionMajor mosquito vectorsDisease transmissibilityParasite infectionLongitudinal studyMosquito vectorsInfection intensityInfectivity
2024
Effect of spatiotemporal variables on abundance, biting activity and parity of Nyssorhynchus darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) in peri-Iquitos, Peru
Bickersmith S, Saavedra M, Prussing C, Lange R, Morales J, Alava F, Vinetz J, Gamboa D, Moreno M, Conn J. Effect of spatiotemporal variables on abundance, biting activity and parity of Nyssorhynchus darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) in peri-Iquitos, Peru. Malaria Journal 2024, 23: 112. PMID: 38641572, PMCID: PMC11031940, DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04940-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMalaria transmissionBreeding site availabilityPresence of Plasmodium vivaxDry seasonBiting behaviorRisk of malaria transmissionMalaria-endemic regionsHuman malaria casesPlasmodium falciparum sporozoitesRainy seasonCommunity typesNyssorhynchus darlingiRates of parityReal-time PCRAmazonian PeruP. vivaxMalaria casesPlasmodium vivaxHuman landing catchesP. falciparumEffect of seasonMosquito behaviorConclusionsThese dataDaily survivalDarlingi
2023
Optimization of Plasmodium vivax infection of colonized Amazonian Anopheles darlingi
Andrade A, Santos N, Bastos A, Pontual J, Araújo C, Lima A, Martinez L, Ferreira A, Aguiar A, Teles C, Guido R, Santana R, Lopes S, Medeiros J, Rizopoulos Z, Vinetz J, Campo B, Lacerda M, Araújo M. Optimization of Plasmodium vivax infection of colonized Amazonian Anopheles darlingi. Scientific Reports 2023, 13: 18207. PMID: 37875508, PMCID: PMC10598059, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44556-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsP. vivax liver stagesPlasmodium vivax infectionPlasmodium vivax sporozoitesLiver stage parasitesP. vivax sporozoitesFemale anopheline mosquitoesVivax infectionLiver stagesHepatocyte infectionVaccine developmentStage parasitesSporozoite viabilityMembrane feeding systemSporozoite productionDrug developmentSporozoitesAnopheline mosquitoesInfectionParasite biologyArtificial membrane feeding systemPatientsSimple centrifugation methodSerum replacementBloodMutations Linked to Insecticide Resistance Not Detected in the Ace-1 or VGSC Genes in Nyssorhynchus darlingi from Multiple Localities in Amazonian Brazil and Peru
Bickersmith S, Jurczynski J, Sallum M, Chaves L, Bergo E, Rodriguez G, Morante C, Rios C, Saavedra M, Alava F, Gamboa D, Vinetz J, Conn J. Mutations Linked to Insecticide Resistance Not Detected in the Ace-1 or VGSC Genes in Nyssorhynchus darlingi from Multiple Localities in Amazonian Brazil and Peru. Genes 2023, 14: 1892. PMID: 37895241, PMCID: PMC10606710, DOI: 10.3390/genes14101892.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIndoor residual sprayMalaria endemic localitiesLow-intensity resistanceResistance mechanismsMalaria hotspotsCommon interventionInsecticidal netsMain resistance mechanismMalaria transmissionGenotypic detectionCodon 280Resistance mutationsEndemic localitiesPrimary malaria vectorVoltage-gated sodium channel geneResidual spraySodium channel geneChannel genesNon-synonymous mutationsACEPresent studyMalaria vectorsInterventionMutationsS6 segmentNatural Infection of Nyssorhynchus darlingi and Nyssorhynchus benarrochi B with Plasmodium during the Dry Season in the Understudied Low-Transmission Setting of Datem del Marañon Province, Amazonian Peru
Conn J, Bickersmith S, Saavedra M, Morales J, Alava F, Rodriguez G, del Aguila Morante C, Tong C, Alvarez-Antonio C, Huanahui J, Vinetz J, Gamboa D. Natural Infection of Nyssorhynchus darlingi and Nyssorhynchus benarrochi B with Plasmodium during the Dry Season in the Understudied Low-Transmission Setting of Datem del Marañon Province, Amazonian Peru. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2023, 109: 288-295. PMID: 37364858, PMCID: PMC10397451, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0058.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow transmission settingsAnnual parasite indexEntomological inoculation rateHuman biting rateHuman landing catchesMinistry of HealthMalaria hotspotsInfective bitesPlasmodium vivaxMalaria transmissionLanding catchesPlasmodium falciparumMalaria researchNatural infectionInoculation rateNyssorhynchus darlingiBiting rateRiverine villagesParasite indexBiteVector control unitsDarlingiLoreto DepartmentInfectionVivaxTransmission-blocking activity of antimalarials for Plasmodium vivax malaria in Anopheles darlingi
Andrade A, Santos N, Bastos A, Pontual J, Araújo J, Silva A, Martinez L, Lima A, Aguiar A, Teles C, Medeiros J, Pereira D, Vinetz J, Gazzinelli R, Araújo M. Transmission-blocking activity of antimalarials for Plasmodium vivax malaria in Anopheles darlingi. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023, 17: e0011425. PMID: 37327209, PMCID: PMC10310017, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011425.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnophelesAntimalarialsChloroquineHumansMalariaMalaria, VivaxPlasmodium vivaxPrimaquineConceptsDensity of gametocytesTransmission-blocking efficacyPlasmodium vivax malariaTransmission-blocking activityImportant infectious diseasesOne-doseVivax malariaP. vivaxMosquito infectionPlasmodium vivaxTreatment groupsPatient's bloodGametocyte productionMalaria transmissionInfectious diseasesGenus PlasmodiumMalariaTreatmentChloroquinePrimaquineVivaxBloodDirect membraneBiological characteristicsMosquitoes
2022
Evidence-Based Malaria Control and Elimination in the Amazon: Input from the International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research Network in Peru and Brazil
Ferreira MU, Gamboa D, Torres K, Rodriguez-Ferrucci H, Soto-Calle VE, Pardo K, Fontoura PS, Tomko SS, Gazzinelli RT, Conn JE, Castro MC, Llanos-Cuentas A, Vinetz JM. Evidence-Based Malaria Control and Elimination in the Amazon: Input from the International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research Network in Peru and Brazil. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2022, 107: 160-167. PMID: 36228907, PMCID: PMC9662230, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1272.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMalaria controlAsymptomatic Plasmodium infectionsPredominant malaria parasitePublic health decision makersMalaria control strategiesPublic health implicationsIndoor residual sprayingBetter malaria controlHealth decision makersVector control measuresPlasmodium infectionInfectious reservoirMalaria burdenPlasmodium vivaxBed netsPublic health policymakingElimination programMalaria parasitesResidual sprayingMalaria researchHealth implicationsNyssorhynchus darlingiDiagnostic methodsHealth policymakingResearch NetworkNyssorhynchus darlingi genome-wide studies related to microgeographic dispersion and blood-seeking behavior
Alvarez M, Alonso D, Kadri S, Rufalco-Moutinho P, Bernardes I, de Mello A, Souto A, Carrasco-Escobar G, Moreno M, Gamboa D, Vinetz J, Conn J, Ribolla P. Nyssorhynchus darlingi genome-wide studies related to microgeographic dispersion and blood-seeking behavior. Parasites & Vectors 2022, 15: 106. PMID: 35346342, PMCID: PMC8961893, DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05219-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnophelesDisease VectorsFemaleGenome-Wide Association StudyMalariaMosquito VectorsConceptsGenome-wide association studiesSingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markersGenome-wide studiesLow-coverage whole-genome sequencingGenomic sequencing dataMajor malaria vectorCircadian rhythm genesFemale timingPopulation stratification analysisWhole-genome sequencingMicrogeographic scaleSNP markersPolymorphism markersPopulation structureSequencing dataAssociation studiesInsecticide resistanceDusk/dawnRhythm genesGenotype imputationGenesFemale mosquitoesMalaria vectorsBlood mealGenetic association
2021
Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon: Submicroscopic parasitemic blood infects Nyssorhynchus darlingi
Almeida GG, Costa PAC, da Silva Araujo M, Gomes GR, Carvalho AF, Figueiredo MM, Pereira DB, Tada MS, Medeiros JF, da Silva Soares I, Carvalho LH, Kano FS, de Castro M, Vinetz JM, Golenbock DT, do Valle Antonelli L, Gazzinelli RT. Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon: Submicroscopic parasitemic blood infects Nyssorhynchus darlingi. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009077. PMID: 34714821, PMCID: PMC8555776, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAsymptomatic individualsP. vivaxP. vivax malaria patientsP. vivax infectionVivax malaria patientsPlasmodium vivax malariaLow endemicity areaMalaria patientsSymptomatic patientsAsymptomatic infectionVivax malariaVivax infectionInfectious reservoirLow parasitemiaUninfected controlsEndemic regionsMalaria transmissionInfectivity ratesMalaria parasitesBiochemical parametersParasitemiaBloodPotential rolePatientsInfectionIntegrating Parasitological and Entomological Observations to Understand Malaria Transmission in Riverine Villages in the Peruvian Amazon
Rosas-Aguirre A, Moreno M, Moreno-Gutierrez D, Llanos-Cuentas A, Saavedra M, Contreras-Mancilla J, Barboza J, Alava F, Aguirre K, Carrasco G, Prussing C, Vinetz J, Conn JE, Speybroeck N, Gamboa D. Integrating Parasitological and Entomological Observations to Understand Malaria Transmission in Riverine Villages in the Peruvian Amazon. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2021, 223: s99-s110. PMID: 33906225, PMCID: PMC8079135, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa496.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMalaria prevalenceMalaria transmissionRiverine villagesMalaria risk factorsMalaria transmission dynamicsSubmicroscopic infectionsLocal epidemiologyPolymerase chain reactionIncidence rateRisk factorsHigh prevalenceMalaria casesTreat interventionMalaria strategyPlasmodium vivaxPrevalenceChain reactionTransmission dynamicsAdult AnophelesHigh heterogeneityEcology and larval population dynamics of the primary malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi in a high transmission setting dominated by fish farming in western Amazonian Brazil
Rufalco-Moutinho P, Kadri S, Alonso D, Moreno M, Carrasco-Escobar G, Prussing C, Gamboa D, Vinetz JM, Sallum M, Conn JE, Ribolla P. Ecology and larval population dynamics of the primary malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi in a high transmission setting dominated by fish farming in western Amazonian Brazil. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0246215. PMID: 33831004, PMCID: PMC8031405, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246215.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnophelesAquacultureBrazilLarvaMalariaMosquito VectorsPondsPopulation DynamicsSeasonsConceptsHigh transmission settingsHigh human densityHuman biting rateMalaria transmission hotspotsWestern Amazonian BrazilLocal malaria burdenLarval population dynamicsAquatic vegetationLandscape typesHuman densitySame sampling periodMalaria burdenRural landscapesTransmission settingsDarlingi larvaeWestern AcrePopulation maintenanceUrban landscapeAdult samplingMain malaria vectorBreeding sitesLandscape profileDry seasonMalaria vector speciesPopulation dynamicsNew Records of Anopheles benarrochi B (Diptera: Culicidae) in Malaria Hotspots in the Amazon Regions of Ecuador and Peru
Viteri D, Herrera-Varela M, Albuja M, Quiroga C, Diaz G, del Aguila Morante C, Ramirez D, Vinetz J, Bickersmith S, Conn J. New Records of Anopheles benarrochi B (Diptera: Culicidae) in Malaria Hotspots in the Amazon Regions of Ecuador and Peru. Journal Of Medical Entomology 2021, 58: 1234-1240. PMID: 33511394, PMCID: PMC8349109, DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa293.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Hetero-Multimeric Chitinase-Containing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium gallinaceum Ookinete-Secreted Protein Complex Involved in Mosquito Midgut Invasion
Patra KP, Kaur H, Kolli SK, Wozniak JM, Prieto JH, Yates JR, Gonzalez DJ, Janse CJ, Vinetz JM. A Hetero-Multimeric Chitinase-Containing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium gallinaceum Ookinete-Secreted Protein Complex Involved in Mosquito Midgut Invasion. Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2021, 10: 615343. PMID: 33489941, PMCID: PMC7821095, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.615343.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChitin-containing peritrophic matrixHMW complexesMosquito midgut invasionDomain-related proteinNext-generation vaccinesMicronemal proteinsVon Willebrand factorProtein complexesMidgut invasionPeritrophic matrixProteolytic milieuMidgut epitheliumPfCHT1Malaria parasitesSurface enolaseOokinetesPlasmodium falciparumWillebrand factorMidgut wallAdhesive proteinsProteinMass spectrometryShort formSize exclusion chromatography dataMosquito vectors
2018
Continuous Supply of Plasmodium vivax Sporozoites from Colonized Anopheles darlingi in the Peruvian Amazon
Moreno M, Tong-Rios C, Orjuela-Sanchez P, Carrasco-Escobar G, Campo B, Gamboa D, Winzeler EA, Vinetz JM. Continuous Supply of Plasmodium vivax Sporozoites from Colonized Anopheles darlingi in the Peruvian Amazon. ACS Infectious Diseases 2018, 4: 541-548. PMID: 29465219, PMCID: PMC5902790, DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00195.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnophelesFemaleGastrointestinal TractParasitologyPeruPlasmodium vivaxSporozoitesConceptsPlasmodium vivax sporozoitesDonor seraPlasmodium vivax liver stagesStandard membrane feeding assaysMalaria-endemic settingsMembrane feeding assaysSporozoite productionInfectious blood mealInfected subjectsNaïve serumBlood-fed mosquitoesLiver stagesDonor bloodBlood samplesVaccine developmentMosquito midgutSerumBlood mealBloodMosquito survivalSporozoitesMosquitoesAnophelesAnticoagulantsInfection
2016
Epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Peru
Rosas-Aguirre A, Gamboa D, Manrique P, Conn JE, Moreno M, Lescano AG, Sanchez JF, Rodriguez H, Silva H, Llanos-Cuentas A, Vinetz JM. Epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Peru. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2016, 95: 133-144. PMID: 27799639, PMCID: PMC5201219, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0268.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMalaria transmissionP. vivaxMalaria controlPlasmodium falciparum malaria casesMicroscopy-confirmed casesP. vivax malaria transmissionFalciparum malaria casesPlasmodium vivax malariaVivax malaria transmissionPublic health problemGlucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiencyFuture malaria controlImplementation of surveillanceCombination therapyVivax malariaClinical trialsMalaria casesPlasmodium vivaxElimination effortsHealth problemsP. falciparumMosquito transmissionDehydrogenase deficiencyVivaxOngoing surveillance activities
2001
Knockout of the Rodent Malaria Parasite Chitinase PbCHT1 Reduces Infectivity to Mosquitoes
Dessens J, Mendoza J, Claudianos C, Vinetz J, Khater E, Hassard S, Ranawaka G, Sinden R. Knockout of the Rodent Malaria Parasite Chitinase PbCHT1 Reduces Infectivity to Mosquitoes. Infection And Immunity 2001, 69: 4041-4047. PMID: 11349074, PMCID: PMC98467, DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.6.4041-4047.2001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeritrophic matrixChitinase geneChitinase activityHuman malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumMalaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumPlasmodium-mosquito interactionsAvian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceumAvian malaria transmissionParasite Plasmodium falciparumMalaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceumChitin-containing structuresNull mutantsRodent malaria parasiteInfected blood mealMalaria ookinetesTransmission-blocking drugsAnopheles stephensi mosquitoesMidgut invasionStructural orthologsMosquito midgutOokinete invasionPM disruptionMidgut epitheliumTargeted disruptionMalaria transmissionDisruption of Plasmodium falciparumChitinase Markedly Impairs Parasite Invasion of Mosquito Midgut
Tsai Y, Hayward R, Langer R, Fidock D, Vinetz J. Disruption of Plasmodium falciparumChitinase Markedly Impairs Parasite Invasion of Mosquito Midgut. Infection And Immunity 2001, 69: 4048-4054. PMID: 11349075, PMCID: PMC98468, DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.6.4048-4054.2001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMosquito midgutChitinase geneAvian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceumMalaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceumMutant ookinetesGenome databasePeritrophic matrixGene productsIntracellular traffickingBp upstreamOokinete invasionStop codonParasite invasionChitinolytic activityPfCHT1MidgutOokinetesOokinete formationGenesConfocal microscopyBlood mealApical endPlasmodium gallinaceumP. falciparumInvasion