ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1987-9655
Current Organisation
James Cook University
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-03-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12936-022-04129-2
Abstract: Zoonotic Plasmodium infections in humans in many Southeast Asian countries have been increasing, including in countries approaching elimination of human-only malaria transmission. Most simian malarias in humans are caused by Plasmodium knowlesi , but recent research shows that humans are at risk of many different simian Plasmodium species. In Southeast Asia, simian Plasmodium species are mainly transmitted by mosquitoes in the Anopheles leucosphyrus and Anopheles dirus complexes. Although there is some evidence of species outside the Leucosphyrus Group transmitting simian Plasmodium species, these await confirmation of transmission to humans. The vectors of monkey malarias are mostly found in forests and forest fringes, where they readily bite long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques (the natural reservoir hosts) and humans. How changing land-uses influence zoonotic malaria vectors is still poorly understood. Fragmentation of forests from logging, agriculture and other human activities is associated with increased zoonotic Plasmodium vector exposure. This is thought to occur through altered macaque and mosquito distributions and behaviours, and importantly, increased proximity of humans, macaques, and mosquito vectors. Underlying the increase in vector densities is the issue that the land-use change and human activities create more oviposition sites and, in correlation, increases availably of human blood hosts. The current understanding of zoonotic malaria vector species is largely based on a small number of studies in geographically restricted areas. What is known about the vectors is limited: the data is strongest for distribution and density with only weak evidence for a limited number of species in the Leucosphyrus Group for resting habits, insecticide resistance, blood feeding habits and larval habitats. More data are needed on vector ersity and bionomics in additional geographic areas to understand both the impacts on transmission of anthropogenic land-use change and how this significant disease in humans might be controlled.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-09-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-07-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-94656-W
Abstract: The epidemiology of human malaria differs considerably between and within geographic regions due, in part, to variability in mosquito species behaviours. Recently, the WHO emphasised stratifying interventions using local surveillance data to reduce malaria. The usefulness of vector surveillance is entirely dependent on the biases inherent in the s ling methods deployed to monitor mosquito populations. To understand and interpret mosquito surveillance data, the frequency of use of malaria vector collection methods was analysed from a georeferenced vector dataset ( 10,000 data records), extracted from 875 manuscripts across Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. Commonly deployed mosquito collection methods tend to target anticipated vector behaviours in a region to maximise s le size (and by default, ignoring other behaviours). Mosquito collection methods targeting both host-seeking and resting behaviours were seldomly deployed concurrently at the same site. A balanced s ling design using multiple methods would improve the understanding of the range of vector behaviours, leading to improved surveillance and more effective vector control.
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 28-08-2017
Abstract: Using slender probes to drill through solids is challenging, but desirable, due to minimal disturbances of the substrate. Parasitic wasps drill into solid substrates and lay eggs in hosts hidden within using slender probes and are therefore a good model for studying mechanical challenges associated with this process. We show that wasps are able to probe in any direction with respect to their body orientation and use two methods of insertion. One of the methods implies a minimal net pushing force during drilling. Steering was achieved by adjusting the asymmetry of the probe’s distal end. Knowledge on probing mechanisms of wasps is important for the understanding of the hymenopteran evolution and for the development of minimally invasive steerable probes.
No related grants have been discovered for Bram van de Straat.