Wellcome Sanger Institute’s Post

BIOLARVICIDING:INFECTING THE INFECTOR? Let's go into the science.... Did you know that mosquitoes can get sick and die by being attacked by infectious agents like some species of bacteria and fungi??! Yes, Just like the way human babies are so fragile and vulnerable to diseases and dangers in their environment due to low immunity & experience, so are the young,immature mosquitoes (Larvae). Mosquito larva live in aquatic habitats(mostly fresh water) which limits their movements (depending on habitat size) and this makes them an easier target for vector control interventions. Bti- A short-term for the bacteria Bacillus thurangiensis israelensis, discovered in the soils of a desert in Israel is capable of infecting and killing mosquito larvae. The bacteria is now commercially mass-produced and sold as a larvicide that comes in diferent brands and forms. When properly applied to a mosquito breeding habitat, the bacteria is ingested by mosquito larva, and due to unique pH conditions in the mid gut of the larvae, the bacteria produces toxins that causes lysis (bursting) of the mid gut cells leading to death of the larvae in less than 24 hrs(A horrible death😢). The good thing is, the bacteria can not harm animals or any other aquatic organisms since the intestinal conditions in other organisms does not allow them to produce the toxins. However, the bacteria can not reproduce outside it's natural environment and the efficacy of the applied larvicide will decrease over time (3-7 days), and therefore a need to reapply before this expiry period ends. Due to their proven efficacy, biolarvicides have been enlisted by the World Health Organization as Complementary tools to ITNs & IRS in the fight against Malaria, especially in endemic areas. With this tool in our arsenal, we can worry less about insecticide & behavioral resistance shown by adult Malaria vectors. My current work involves evaluating the efficacy Bti & Bs (another biolarvicide, Bacillus sphaericus) applied in large scale under field conditions and determining factors that moderate the response of mosquito larvae to these infections. #vectorcontrol #entomology #vectorbiology #zeromalaria #science #mosquitoes

ANOSPP Project The primary aim of the ANOSPP project is to improve our understanding of Anopheles species diversity, population structure, and malaria transmission across Africa. We will achieve this in collaboration with partners working in malaria-endemic countries. 500,000 Anopheles mosquitoes collected from 100 locations across Africa over the next five years will undergo targeted sequencing with the ANOSPP amplicon panel. The sequencing data that results from each individual mosquito reveals its species, population structure, and whether Plasmodium parasites are present – key information for vector control endeavours. While the project’s focus is on African species, an important secondary goal is to complete a “reference index” for the entire Anopheles genus – this complete index is fundamental to the utility of ANOSPP. This requires mosquitoes or DNA extracts from at least 10 expertly identified individuals for every Anopheles species on the planet. For any expertly identified sample contributing to the reference index, we will also sequence COI and/or ITS2. All data are returned to partners and made openly available. https://buff.ly/3wLdPMp #funding #investing #fintech #technology #sustainability #growth #cybersecurity #environment #food #automation #automotive #recycling #nutrition #medicine #robotics #farming #augmentedreality #neuroscience #grants #ukgrants #startupgrants #businessgrants #ukgovernmentgrant #sme #smegrant #businessfunding #smefunding #technologygrant #innovationgrant #capti #captiinnovation #gamechanging #gamechanginginnovation #disruptiveinnovation #smartgrant #ai #manufacturing #sustainable #innovation #telecoms #semiconductors #business #IUK #InnovateUK #SmartGrant #InnovateUKfunding

- IMPORTANCE of PLANT PATHOLOGY - healthy seeds - healthy plants - stable yields - stable income ... - International Day of #PlantHealth, 12 May 💚🧬🔬🧩👨🎓💚📤📈👨🌾🌾💚🍞📈👍💚 RT: Borlaug Global Rust Initiative "Rust diseases of wheat have been a threat to food security since ancient times. Did you know the Romans had a god for wheat rust ? For the Romans, the agricultural festival #Robigalia, celebrated each year on April 25, was dedicated to appeasing the rust god “#Robigus,” known also as the goddess “#Robigo,” a literal translation of the feminine Latin word for #rust. "Cruel Robigo, do not injure the young wheat; let its tender tip quiver on the surface of the ground. I beg you to allow the crop, nurtured under heaven’s propitious stars, to grow until it is ripe for harvest. Yours is no gentle power. The wheat which you have marked, the sorrowful farmer counts as already lost — “A prayer to Robigo” written by Ovid, the poet..." #science #religion #tradition #ancienthistory #rome #history #plantbreeding #plantpathology #phytopathology #climatechange #FoodSecurity #agrobiodiversity #evolution #epidemiology #resistance #virulence #monitoring #coevolution #agriculture #diseases #cropprotection #ecology #ecosystem #farming #farmers #economy

As we stand at the intersection of molecular biology and entomology, I am thrilled to embark on a journey into the intricate world of mosquito metagenomes. Mosquitoes, notorious vectors of disease, harbour a diverse array of microorganisms within their microbiomes, shaping their ecology, physiology, and disease transmission potential. Join me in unravelling the secrets of the mosquito metagenome and advancing our understanding of vector-borne diseases. Why study mosquito metagenomes? Mosquitoes, often regarded as pests, are far more than mere nuisances; they are key players in the transmission of deadly pathogens such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and more. The microorganisms inhabiting mosquitoes contribute significantly to their biology, influencing factors ranging from development to immunity. By studying the metagenome of mosquitoes, we can uncover novel insights into: 1. Microbial diversity and community structure within mosquito populations. Functional roles of microorganisms in mosquito biology and disease transmission. 2. Identification of potential targets for vector control and disease prevention. I am seeking collaborators to join me in this exciting endeavour. Together, we will employ state-of-the-art molecular techniques, including metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, to explore the hidden realms of mosquito metagenomes.

- International Day of Plant Health, 12 May💚🧬🔬🧩👨🎓💚📤📈👨🌾🌾💚🍞📈👍💚- 💚❤️- Plants were added to the One Health concept in 2017 ... !#OneHealth - 🧑🌾💚🍒🌽🌻🍎🌾🍒🧑🌾👍🍞💚 #planthealth RT: UN Biodiversity "This infographic by The Nature Conservancy showcases the numerous benefits of urban trees 🌳🏙 From protecting biodiversity to reducing stress, trees are essential for healthy and sustainable cities. " #tree #trees #city - #climatechange #ecology #ecosystem #microbiology #planpathology #pest #pathogen #race #virulence #pandemic #epidemiology #health 🧑🌾💚🍒🌽🌻🍎🌾🍒🧑🌾👍🍞💚 #bioróżnorodność #biodiversity - #nauka #wiedza #natura #społeczeństwo #dobrobyt - #science #knowledge #nature #society #prosperity

For over twenty years, my research group has monitored antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and clonal lineages of the S. aureus complex from the straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, South West Nigeria. I am pleased to inform you of a publication (in collaboration with Professor Christian Happi’s research group at Redeemers University, Ede, Nigeria) on the non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci in the Staphylococcaceae family from the Hipposideros (insectivorous) bats in OAU, South West Nigeria. All the isolates demonstrated resistance to clindamycin, and the M. sciuri and S. gallinarum isolates exhibited resistance to fusidic acid. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the M. sciuri and S. gallinarum isolates were mecA-positive. Multi-locus sequence typing identified two new M. sciuri sequence types (STs) 233 and ST234, closely related to lineages (ST57, ST60, and ST65) associated with mastitis. Including migratory animals in AMR surveillance may provide insights into the development and spread of antibiotic resistance gene determinants. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dsQeNyAG.

Traditional methods of mosquito control falter, while dengue, malaria, zika and other mosquito borne diseases increase. What are the options? The most revolutionary technique to stop mosquito-borne diseases is genetic engineering. Oxitec, a US-owned biotechnology company, released modified Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes to combat malaria in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa in May. A release of Aedes aegypti insects in Brazil suppressed wild mosquito populations by up to 96 per cent, according to a 2022 paper by company researchers. The insect eggs are sold in supermarkets in Brazil under the brand name Aedes do Bem, which translates roughly as “good Aedes”. Customers add water, hatch and release the insects. #aedes #dengue #mosquotoes #friendlymosquitoes #mosquitoes #vectorcibtrol #mosquitocontrol #pestcontrol #pestmanagement #cropprotection #animalheaorg #foodsafety #foodprocessing #hospitality #tourism #genetic #genepowered. #publichealth #pesticides #agrochemicals Oxitec BASF Syngenta Bayer Ensystex Inc. Envu UPL Corteva Agriscience Rentokil Initial Anticimex

Exciting news on wildlife health! 🦌 Mysterious hoof disease struck SW Washington elk in the early 2000s, peaking by 2008. In 2022, we identified novel Treponemes linked to this disease. In 2023, we reproduced the disease in elk. Now, the interdisciplinary team between #TTUVetMed and #WSUVetMed has made groundbreaking advancements by constructing genomes of multiple novel Treponema spp. from hoof lesions. Our hybrid clinical NGS and bioinformatics approach can be applied to discover novel pathogens in other infectious diseases in humans and animals. Read more: 🦠 https://lnkd.in/giKypASE 🦠 https://lnkd.in/gjUw6gKk 🦠https://lnkd.in/gwykTEVT #TTU #WSU #GoRaiders #GoCougs #DevendraShahLab #PathogenDiscovery #WildLifeHealth #Treponema #Elk