arbovirus | Ricerc@Sapienza

Does Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) play any role in Usutu virus transmission in Northern Italy? Experimental oral infection and field evidences

This study evaluated the vector competence of Aedes albopictus in transmitting USUV after oral infection under laboratory conditions. Ae. albopictus showed a low vector competence for USUV, although the positive body sample found with a very high number of viral copies at one week post infection indicates that a replication in the mosquito body can occur, and that USUV can escape the midgut barrier. Field data from an extensive entomological arboviruses surveillance program showed a relevant incidence of Ae.

Neem cake as a promising larvicide and adulticide against the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae). A HPTLC fingerprinting approach

Mosquitoes are insects of huge public health importance, since they act as vectors for important pathogens and parasites. Here, we focused on the possibility of using the neem cake in the fight against mosquito vectors. The neem cake chemical composition significantly changes among producers, as evidenced by our HPTLC (High performance thin layer chromatography) analyses of different marketed products. Neem cake extracts were tested to evaluate the ovicidal, larvicidal and adulticidal activity against the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies.

Seagrasses as sources of mosquito Nano-Larvicides? Toxicity and uptake of Halodule uninervis-biofabricated silver nanoparticles in Dengue and Zika Virus vector Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) act as vectors for devastating pathogens and parasites. Zika virus, an Aedes mosquito-borne flavivirus, is becoming a worldwide public health concern following its suspected association with over 4000 recent cases of microcephaly in the infants of some women who were pregnant when they contracted the disease. There are no specific treatments for Zika virus, thus the eco-friendly and effective control of mosquito vectors is crucial.

Mangrove helps. Sonneratia alba-synthesized silver nanoparticles magnify guppy fish predation against Aedes aegypti young instars and down-regulate the expression of envelope (E) gene in dengue virus (serotype DEN-2)

The control of dengue vectors with effective tools is crucial. Here, we fabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using a cheap method relying to a mangrove extract (Sonneratia alba) as a reducing and stabilizing agent. AgNP were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. LC50of S. alba extract against Aedes aegypti ranged from 192.03 ppm (larva I) to 353.36 ppm (pupa). LC50of AgNP ranged from 3.15 (I) to 13.61 ppm (pupa).