CONCLUSIONS: The 20% IR3535^(®) with Staytec technology can provide significant protection against Anopheles and other mosquito bites and will be useful for complementing other vector control interventions.

Publication date: Available online 6 October 2025 Source: Acta Tropica Author(s): Mario J. Olivera, Julián F. Porras-Villamil, Màrius V. Fuentes

Heme is critical to activating artemisinins (ARTs), drugs essential for malaria control. Plasmodium falciparum malaria Kelch13 (K13) binds heme in vitro, but the consequences for in vivo functions remain unknown. As taut regulation of free-heme levels is not feasible in infected erythrocytes, we developed human Du145 cells as a model to study molecular properties of K13 at biological heme concentrations. We show that K13 levels are exquisitely responsive to nanomolar amounts of heme. Heme stabilizes K13 with molecular specificity, raises its oxidative-stress responses and association with autophagic-endosomes. Targeted disruption of lysosomal autophagy further increases K13 levels to fuel ART-induced redox-cell death that is proportional to K13 intensities at physiological heme levels. K13 kelch-domain confers both heme and ART responsiveness to its mammalian orthologue KEAP1. These data suggest a novel molecular mechanism of K13-heme binding regulating ART-sensitization and power of models to study frontiers of pro-oxidant stress.

Artemisinin resistance is globally prevalent, including in Africa, raising concerns and highlighting the need to better understand the cellular mechanisms behind this resistance. In Plasmodium falciparum, artemisinin resistance is primarily attributed to mutations in the PfKelch13 (PfK13) gene. In this study, we performed proteomic analysis on a range of sensitive and artemisinin-resistant parasites (both laboratory-generated and field isolates), revealing specific dysregulation of PfK13 protein abundance. Reduced PfK13 levels were linked to impaired hemoglobin digestion, decreased free heme levels, and consequently, decreased artemisinin activation. Artemisinin resistant parasites also exhibited elevated thiol levels, indicating a more reduced cellular state. Targeting the parasite redox capacity with sulforaphane potentiated artemisinin activity in vitro and in an in vivo rodent Plasmodium berghei model, offering a potential strategy to overcome resistance. Our findings provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms of artemisinin resistance and suggest novel therapeutic interventions to restore drug sensitivity.

Nature, Published online: 08 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09585-9KCTD10 interacts with the DNA replication machinery and the RNA polymerase complex, inducing ubiquitination and removal of the transcription machinery in the event of co-directional transcription–replication conflicts.

Personal protection with topical skin repellents has been advocated for use against vector-borne diseases. This study compared the efficacies of a 20% IR3535® lotion with Staytec technology formulation and 25% DE...

The fruiting stage of soybean (Glycine max L.) is critical for determining both its yield and quality, thereby influencing global production. While some studies have provided partial explanations for the occurrence of Fusarium species on soybean seeds and pods, the fungal diversity affecting soybean pods in Sichuan Province, a major soybean cultivation region in Southwestern China, remains inadequately understood. In this study, 182 infected pods were collected from a maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system. A total of 10 distinct pod-infecting fungal genera (132 isolates) were identified, and their pathogenic potential on soybean seeds and pods was evaluated. Using morphological characteristics and DNA barcode markers, we identified 43 Fusarium isolates belonging to 8 species, including F. verticillioides, F. incarnatum, F. equiseti, F. proliferatum, F. fujikuroi, F. oxysporum, F. chlamydosporum, and F. acutatum through the analysis of the translation elongation factor gene (EF1-α) and RNA polymerases II second largest subunit (RPB2) gene. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, incorporating the Internal Transcribed Spacer (rDNA ITS), β-tubulin (β-tubulin), Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH), Chitin Synthase 1 (CHS-1), Actin (ACT), Beta-tubulin II (TUB2), and Calmodulin (CAL) genes distinguished 37 isolates as 6 Colletotrichum species, including C. truncatum, C. karstii, C. cliviicola, C. plurivorum, C. boninense, and C. fructicola. Among these, F. proliferatum and C. fructicola were the most dominant species, representing 20.93% and 21.62% of the isolation frequency, respectively. Pathogenicity assays revealed significant damage from both Fusarium and Colletotrichum isolates on soybean pods and seeds, with varying isolation frequencies. Of these, F. proliferatum, F. acutatum, and F. verticillioides caused the most severe symptoms. Similarly, within Colletotrichum genus, C. fructicola was the most pathogenic, followed by C. truncatum, C. karstii, C. cliviicola, C. plurivorum, and C. boninense. Notably, F. acutatum, C. cliviicola, C. boninense, and C. fructicola were identified for the first time as pathogens of soybean pods under the maize–soybean strip intercropping system in Southwestern China. These findings highlight emerging virulent pathogens responsible for soybean pod decay and provide a valuable foundation for understanding the pathogen population during the later growth stages of soybean.

AbstractSylvatic yellow fever virus is transmitted by #mosquitoes Haemagogus and Sabethes genera, which predominantly inhabit forested areas but can also be found near human dwellings in rural zones. In Paraguay, outbreaks of the disease were reported between 2007 and 2008, prompting the initiation of systematic sampling starting from those years to monitor the vectors transmitting the yellow fever virus. This study aims to identify the primary vector species and determine their geographic distribution in Paraguay, based on administrative divisions and ecoregions. Sampling was conducted in 17 departments, the capital district of Asunción and in 7 ecoregions in daylight hours using manual aspirators and entomological nets. Sampling was sporadic (2008–2016) and regular, risk-based from 2017. The collected data were georeferenced and processed using QGIS software. A total of 288 observations were documented, with a higher prevalence in the departments of Alto Paraná (26.74%), San Pedro (21.18%), and Caaguazú (12.50%). Sixteen species were identified, 9 of which belong to the genus Sabethes (89.58%) and 3 to the genus Haemagogus (10.42%). In the Western region or Chaco, only Hg. spegazzinii was found, while species of the genus Sabethes predominated in the Eastern region. The results further indicate that the ecoregions of the Atlantic Forest of Alto Paraná and the Cordillera de los Altos show the highest concentration of these vectors. This study represents the first compilation of the geographic distribution of Haemagogus and Sabethes #mosquitoes in Paraguay and makes significant contributions to national surveillance by identifying three priority ecoregions for yellow fever monitoring. The information provided is essential for delineating risk areas and strengthening prevention and control strategies for sylvatic yellow fever, particularly in vulnerable zones.

Nature, Published online: 08 October 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03235-wThe light frequency associated with changes in the energy state of atoms can be used to define the ticking of high-precision optical clocks. Experiments with ytterbium atoms have further enhanced the clocks’ precision by using a quantum amplification technique.

Hydatid disease poses a major zoonotic threat, affecting human health and livestock. Although albendazole is the standard treatment, it may cause adverse effects at high serum levels. This study investigated the protoscolicidal efficacy of minocycline alone and in combination with albendazole, compared to albendazole monotherapy, on hydatid cyst protoscoleces from sheep liver. Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from the sheep livers containing hydatid cysts. A total of 30,000 protoscoleces...

Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are vectors of numerous pathogenic microorganisms in humans and animals. In Croatia, very few studies have been conducted on the diversity of hard tick fauna in urban green areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the diversity and seasonal dynamics of hard tick fauna in three eastern Croatian cities. Three species of ticks were recorded in Osijek and Vukovar, while six species were recorded in the area of the city of Vinkovci. In total, six species were collected during this study, and together with an earlier record of Ixodes canisuga, seven species are now known from urban green habitats in this region. The most abundant species was I. ricinus (82.06%), followed by R. sanguineus s.l. (9.03%), H. concinna (6.51%), D. reticulatus (1.26%), I. hexagonus (0.91%), D. marginatus (0.11%), and I. canisuga (0.11%). The detection of R. sanguineus s.l. in Vinkovci and Vukovar represents the first record of this species in eastern Croatia. In Osijek and Vinkovci, I. ricinus was the most abundant species. This tick is the primary vector of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, the two most common tick-borne diseases affecting humans in eastern Croatia. In Osijek and Vukovar, peak abundance of ticks was recorded in May, while in Vinkovci in March. Given that the species documented here represent 30.43% of all tick species recorded in Croatia, their presence in urban areas highlights the potential public health risk associated with ticks in these environments.

Malaria remains an urgent threat to global health as the mortality and infection rates keep rising annually and our frontline antimalarials are becoming less effective due to the emergence and spread of resistance-conferring mutations. Although the mitochondrion of P. falciparum parasites is a validated drug target, there remain many uncharacterized mitochondrial proteins. The goal of this study was to investigate the essentiality and functions of a recently identified mitochondrial protein - PF3D7_0707400. Our results show that PF3D7_0707400 is an ATAD3A ortholog that is essential to parasite survival and is present in a megadalton complex that is critical for multiple mitochondrial processes such as mitochondrial RNA stability, membrane potential, ultrastructure, and protein import. This study is the first characterization, to our knowledge, of ATAD3A in unicellular organisms. ATAD3A has been previously studied in multicellular eukaryotes and has been implicated in several childhood mitochondrial diseases. Our findings here expand our knowledge on apicomplexan mitochondrial biology and our arsenal of potential antimalarial drug targets.

Understanding the transport and retention of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts through soils and into ground and surface water is essential for determining the risk this parasite poses to water resources and human health worldwide. We studied here how various naturally occurring groundwater solutions containing different types of organic compounds (fulvic and humic acids) and electrolytes (NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2) at different concentrations can affect the transport and retention of oocysts in...

Abstract#mosquitoes (Culicidae) are the most important vectors of human and animal diseases globally, making them valuable tools for the molecular surveillance of blood-borne pathogens. By screening mosquito populations, we can evaluate local disease prevalence and ascertain which vector species are involved in local transmission cycles. This study presents the first targeted mosquito-based surveillance of blood parasites in Western Australia. Over a 2-year surveillance program in Perth, Western Australia, 3,288 #mosquitoes from 12 species across 5 genera were collected and screened in 461 pools. Parasite prevalence and diversity were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction screening of the Haemosporida cytochrome b gene region, and the Dirofilaria 12S rDNA gene region. Haemosporida were detected in 3.9% of mosquito pools, with 72.2% of positives found in #Culex species pools. Avian Haemosporida comprised 83.3% of the total detections. Known avian Haemosporida lineages detected included 1 Haemoproteus (H. zosteropis) and 2 Plasmodium (BELL01 and MYNA02). Three novel lineages, Plasmodium CULPER01-03, were identified. Plasmodium falciparum was identified in 2 pools, and no Dirofilaria were detected. These findings indicate that Perth harbors a diverse range of avian Haemosporida, which may be regionally specific, as all lineages detected have only been identified in the Oceania region. The predominance of positive detections in the #Culex pipiens species complex supports their role as the primary vectors of avian Plasmodium. This study highlights the utility of mosquito surveillance for monitoring blood-borne parasites and contributes new insight into parasite diversity and vector associations in Australia.

Ornithodoros moubata, the African hut tampan or eyeless tampan, is an obligate hematophagous #arthropod that is distributed throughout southern and eastern Africa. This nocturnal #tick species hunts by night and hides in small cracks and crevices, caves and shelters, or natural animal habitats during the day. It parasitizes diverse vertebrate hosts including warthogs, dogs, domestic swine, and humans. Like argasid #ticks, the O. moubata life cycle is characterized by up to five nymphal stages, and it feeds before it molts to the adult stage.

by Felix Streicher, Amandine Chantharath, Nolwenn Jouvenet Outbreaks of zoonotic viruses in human populations highlight the need to understand the molecular factors that influence viral host tropism and interspecies transmission. A virus’s host range is determined not only by the expression of host factors that facilitate viral entry and replication, but also by the virus’s ability to evade host antiviral immunity. The interferon (IFN) response is a potent immune defense rapidly mobilized upon viral infections. To overcome this immune barrier and establish infection, viruses continuously evolve evasion strategies. This review illustrates, through a series of examples, how species-specific interactions between viruses and the IFN response erect interspecies barriers. We discuss the necessity to develop cellular models derived from viral reservoir hosts, as well as machine learning approaches, to better grasp species-specific viral sensitivity to the IFN response. These approaches will be essential for understanding viral interspecies transmission and guiding effective pandemic preparedness measures.

Publication date: Available online 6 October 2025 Source: Acta Tropica Author(s): Ryo Matsumura, Toshiya Kimura, Ryusei Kuwata, Makoto Takeishi, Mizue Inumaru, Faustus Akankperiwen Azerigyik, Daisuke Kobayashi, Shinji Kasai, Kyo Itoyama, Haruhiko Isawa

Acquiring information efficiently through sensory inputs is essential for animal survival. Animals with active sensory systems that emit their own signals often optimize the design and use of these signals according to context and purpose. In this study, we reveal a previously unrecognized function of Doppler shift compensation (DSC) in bats. During flight, bats actively lower the frequency of their echolocation calls so that echoes remain stable at a reference frequency (fref) despite Doppler shifts caused by movement. We demonstrate that DSC does not simply serve, as previously thought, to align echoes with the acoustic fovea, a narrow band of maximal auditory sensitivity, but in addition, suppresses background noise for detecting prey-derived signals. Using phantom echo playbacks and on-board microphone recordings, we show that bats selectively compensate for the highest-frequency echoes rather than the most intense ones. This process shifts all clutter echoes below fref, leaving the spectral band above fref free of stationary-object echoes and secures a quiet frequency band. Recordings during prey capture and noise playback experiments revealed that spectral glints from fluttering moth wings appear in this quiet frequency band and are exploited for prey detection. This mechanism enhances the high-fidelity detection of prey echoes even in cluttered environments. Such findings reveal a sensory strategy in which animals actively create silence in a critical frequency range. It represents a conceptual advance in active sensing and auditory scene analysis, highlighting how evolution shapes sensory systems to extract reliable information under noisy natural conditions.

Emerging resistance to front-line anti-malarials means there is a race to discover new drugs with novel mechanisms of action that remain effective across multiple stages of the parasite life cycle. Previously we reported the malaria protein kinase, PfCLK3, as a target offering a cure, prophylaxis and transmission blocking. The homology between PfCLK3 and human kinases suggested that the mechanism of parasiticidal activity of PfCLK3 inhibitors is disruption of RNA processing. Here, we use whole genome RNA-sequencing to reveal that selective PfCLK3 inhibition extensively affects RNA-splicing with 2039 splice-junctions across 1125 genes mis-spliced in treated wild type parasites compared to controls. The function of mis-spliced transcripts showed that the affected genes were involved in numerous essential parasite processes associated with multiple life cycle stages and revealed transcripts and introns particularly susceptible to inhibition. Our study supports the role of PfCLK3 as an important regulator of spliceosome activity and establishes the distinct mechanism of parasiticidal activity of PfCLK3 inhibitors from current front-line treatments.

Chronic Q fever is caused by persistent infection with the Gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The mechanisms underlying this persistence remain elusive, but the presence of the bacteria in the bone marrow of C. burnetii-infected patients has been demonstrated. Therefore, we investigated the potential role of osteoclasts, the bone-resorbing cells, in harboring C. burnetii during the infection. The histological analysis of bones from a murine model of Q fever revealed the presence of C. burnetii inside osteoclasts. In vitro infection assays confirmed that osteoclasts can be infected with C. burnetii and supported bacterial replication in a type IVB secretion system (T4BSS)-dependent manner. Wild-type C. burnetii infection inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone-resorbing activity, while the T4BSS mutant enhanced the differentiation and bone-degrading function of osteoclasts. Taken together, our findings identify osteoclasts as a potential host cell for C. burnetii, opening new perspectives on mechanisms that may underlie chronic Q fever. Additionally, infection-induced alterations in osteoclast function raise the possibility of alterations of the bone structure in affected patients

Ticks of the species Ornithodoros phacochoerus are endophilic soft ticks which infest warthog burrows. Like other Ornithodoros of the O. moubata species complex, O. phacochoerus is a vector of the African swine fever virus and participates in the maintenance of the virus among warthogs in the sylvatic cycle in Southern and Eastern African countries. In this study, the population genetic structure of O. phacochoerus was investigated using sixteen microsatellite markers. After sampling campaigns that took place between 2020 and 2022, we analyzed 684 ticks from 21 warthog burrows and resting sites from Coutada 9 Game Reserve, Macossa District, Mozambique, and 138 ticks from 3 warthog burrows and resting sites from Gorongosa National Park, Gorongosa District, Mozambique. Burrows and resting sites are regularly used by the common warthog Phacochoerus africanus which is thought to be responsible for the movements of O. phacochoerus between sites. After genotyping, the observed genetic variation followed a model of isolation by distance with a structure at the level of the sampling sites (burrows and resting sites). Gorongosa National Park and Coutada 9 Game Reserve appeared to be completely isolated from each other in terms of gene flow, and Coutada 9 Game Reserve showed a clear signature of a bottleneck effect. Effective population sizes within sampling sites were quite low (4.1 individuals), with an estimated migration rate of 35% and a mean dispersal distance of 209 meters per tick generation. These results suggested frequent tick movements between burrows at a small geographic scale, due to warthog movements between the burrows. As both wildlife conservation areas are positive for African swine fever virus, these results reinforce the suspected role of the ticks in the sylvatic cycle of the virus, as infected ticks could be moved from one burrow to another, maintaining the presence of the virus in several sites of the conservation areas. This confirms the importance of maintaining buffer zones around conservation areas, buffer zones that should remain free of any domestic pigs to prevent vector spillover from the sylvatic cycle to the domestic cycle.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of the genus Leishmania, considered one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases in the world. Treatment options are limited and toxicity exists, requiring an urgent search for new therapies. Leishmania differs from mammalian cells by having unique mitochondria, which have been considered an important therapeutic target. Ubiquinone is found in the inner membrane of mitochondria and plays a critical role in the electron...

Exotic bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) are increasingly used in Australian urban green spaces for their hardiness and aesthetic appeal. However, the water-holding tanks and axils of these plants provide habitat for mosquitoes, raising public health concerns that must be balanced with ecological objectives of urban greening. This study investigated the abundance and species richness of immature and adult mosquitoes associated with bromeliad plantings in Sydney, Australia. Between October 2023 and April 2024, immature mosquitoes were sampled weekly from large bromeliads at 17 locations, and adults were collected with CO2; baited Encephalitic Virus Surveillance traps at six sites of contrasting bromeliad density. Specimens were identified to species level, and associations with climatic variables, bromeliad species, and planting characteristics were analysed using generalised linear mixed models. A total of 2,326 immature mosquitoes (three species) and 6,366 adult mosquitoes (ten species) were collected. Aedes notoscriptus and Culex quinquefasciatus dominated both life stages. Total immature abundance increased by 4% for each additional bromeliad in a patch (IRR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.05), and was highest in Alcantarea imperialis (IRR 1.31, 95% CI 0.97-1.77). Weekly-lagged humidity was positively associated with immature counts (IRR 1.01 per 1% increase, 95% CI 1.00-1.03). Adult abundance was significantly higher at high-density compared to low-density bromeliad sites (IRR 0.37, 95% CI 0.23-0.60). Mass plantings of large, water-holding bromeliads might substantially increase mosquito populations in urban environments, elevating pest and public health risks. This highlights the need for integrated mosquito habitat management in sustainable landscaping design and planning.

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) incorporating pyrethroids with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) have demonstrated enhanced effectiveness against malaria transmitted by pyrethroid-resistant vectors compared with standa...

AbstractReliable and consistent blood feeding is crucial for maintaining mosquito colonies in the laboratory and for supporting scientific research, including vector competence studies (i.e., oral inoculation). However, artificial blood feeding systems often require costly equipment (e.g., Hemotek), and the use of live animals as hosts raises ethical concerns, limiting their practicality. In this study, we developed a simple, low-cost blood feeding system consisting of a perforated plastic pouch heated with a disposable hand warmer and evaluated its effectiveness in supporting blood feeding of 3 mosquito species: #Culex quinquefasciatus Say, #Aedes aegypti L., and #Aedes triseriatus Say. Specifically, we compared feeding success between fresh and previously frozen bovine blood across species. Our results showed that lab-reared Cx. quinquefasciatus achieved the highest engorgement rates (up to 95.7%) across all treatments, whereas field-collected Cx. quinquefasciatus failed to feed on any blood source. #Aedes aegypti and Ae. triseriatus exhibited significantly higher feeding success on fresh blood compared to previously frozen blood, with 2.1-fold and 9.7-fold increases, respectively. The perforated pouch system supported full engorgement with minimal leakage and did not require electricity or specialized equipment. These results support the utility of this method for colony maintenance of some lab-adapted mosquito species and vector competence experiments, particularly in settings with limited access to vertebrates or other blood-feeding systems.