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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Interactions between Parasites/Pathogens and Vectors
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Interactions between Parasites/Pathogens and Vectors

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 10900

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Günter A. Schaub

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Zoology/Parasitology Unit, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
Interests: immune system; parasites; vectors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Norman Ratcliffe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
Interests: gastro-intestinal conditions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will cover the most important diseases and vectors, including the microbiota of insects. These include the interaction of arboviruses and mosquitoes, viruses and midges, plague bacteria and fleas, malaria parasites and mosquitoes, Leishmania and sandflies, Trypanosoma brucei and tsetse, and Trypanosoma cruzi and triatomines.

All authors are well known in the scientific community and have published articles on their respective topics. Reviews, original research, and communications focussing on interactions of Borrelia and ticks, interactions of bacteria/viruses and ticks (without Borrelia),  interactions of filarial helminths and mosquitoes and interactions of Onchocerca and blackflies will be welcome.

Prof. Dr. Günter A. Schaub
Prof. Dr. Norman Ratcliffe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1982 KiB  
Article
Validating a Bayesian Spatio-Temporal Model to Predict La Crosse Virus Human Incidence in the Appalachian Mountain Region, USA
by Maggie McCarter, Stella C. W. Self, Huixuan Li, Joseph A. Ewing, Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Mufaro Kanyangarara and Melissa S. Nolan
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040812 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 644
Abstract
La Crosse virus (LACV) is a rare cause of pediatric encephalitis, yet identifying and mitigating transmission foci is critical to detecting additional cases. Neurologic disease disproportionately occurs among children, and survivors often experience substantial, life-altering chronic disability. Despite its severe clinical impact, public [...] Read more.
La Crosse virus (LACV) is a rare cause of pediatric encephalitis, yet identifying and mitigating transmission foci is critical to detecting additional cases. Neurologic disease disproportionately occurs among children, and survivors often experience substantial, life-altering chronic disability. Despite its severe clinical impact, public health resources to detect and mitigate transmission are lacking. This study aimed to design a Bayesian modelling approach to effectively identify and predict LACV incidence for geospatially informed public health interventions. A Bayesian negative binomial spatio-temporal regression model best fit the data and demonstrated high accuracy. Nine variables were statistically significant in predicting LACV incidence for the Appalachian Mountain Region. Proportion of children, proportion of developed open space, and proportion of barren land were positively associated with LACV incidence, while vapor pressure deficit index, year, and proportions of developed high intensity land, evergreen forest, hay pasture, and woody wetland were negatively associated with LACV incidence. Model prediction error was low, less than 2%, indicating high accuracy in predicting annual LACV human incidence at the county level. In summary, this study demonstrates the utility of Bayesian negative binomial spatio-temporal regression models for predicting rare but medically important LACV human cases. Future studies could examine more granular models for predicting LACV cases from localized variables such as mosquito control efforts, local reservoir host density and local weather fluctuations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Parasites/Pathogens and Vectors)
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Review

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42 pages, 895 KiB  
Review
Immune Reactions of Vector Insects to Parasites and Pathogens
by Norman Arthur Ratcliffe, Cicero Brasileiro Mello, Helena Carla Castro, Paul Dyson and Marcela Figueiredo
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030568 - 12 Mar 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4514
Abstract
This overview initially describes insect immune reactions and then brings together present knowledge of the interactions of vector insects with their invading parasites and pathogens. It is a way of introducing this Special Issue with subsequent papers presenting the latest details of these [...] Read more.
This overview initially describes insect immune reactions and then brings together present knowledge of the interactions of vector insects with their invading parasites and pathogens. It is a way of introducing this Special Issue with subsequent papers presenting the latest details of these interactions in each particular group of vectors. Hopefully, this paper will fill a void in the literature since brief descriptions of vector immunity have now been brought together in one publication and could form a starting point for those interested and new to this important area. Descriptions are given on the immune reactions of mosquitoes, blackflies, sandflies, tsetse flies, lice, fleas and triatomine bugs. Cellular and humoral defences are described separately but emphasis is made on the co-operation of these processes in the completed immune response. The paper also emphasises the need for great care in extracting haemocytes for subsequent study as appreciation of their fragile nature is often overlooked with the non-sterile media, smearing techniques and excessive centrifugation sometimes used. The potential vital role of eicosanoids in the instigation of many of the immune reactions described is also discussed. Finally, the priming of the immune system, mainly in mosquitoes, is considered and one possible mechanism is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Parasites/Pathogens and Vectors)
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12 pages, 1331 KiB  
Review
The Multiple Roles of LCCL Domain-Containing Proteins for Malaria Parasite Transmission
by Sandra Bennink and Gabriele Pradel
Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020279 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1839
Abstract
Multi-protein complexes are crucial for various essential biological processes of the malaria parasite Plasmodium, such as protein synthesis, host cell invasion and adhesion. Especially during the sexual phase of the parasite, which takes place in the midgut of the mosquito vector, protein [...] Read more.
Multi-protein complexes are crucial for various essential biological processes of the malaria parasite Plasmodium, such as protein synthesis, host cell invasion and adhesion. Especially during the sexual phase of the parasite, which takes place in the midgut of the mosquito vector, protein complexes are required for fertilization, sporulation and ultimately for the successful transmission of the parasite. Among the most noticeable protein complexes of the transmission stages are the ones formed by the LCCL domain-containing protein family that play critical roles in the generation of infective sporozoites. The six members of this protein family are characterized by numerous adhesive modules and domains typically found in secreted proteins. This review summarizes the findings of expression and functional studies on the LCCL domain-containing proteins of the human pathogenic P. falciparum and the rodent-infecting P. berghei and discusses the common features and differences of the homologous proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Parasites/Pathogens and Vectors)
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20 pages, 1113 KiB  
Review
Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Vectors of Viruses
by Helge Kampen and Doreen Werner
Microorganisms 2023, 11(11), 2706; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11112706 - 4 Nov 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3206
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides occur almost globally and can regionally and seasonally reach high abundances. Most species are hematophagous, feeding on all groups of vertebrates, including humans. In addition to being nuisance pests, they are able to transmit disease agents, with [...] Read more.
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides occur almost globally and can regionally and seasonally reach high abundances. Most species are hematophagous, feeding on all groups of vertebrates, including humans. In addition to being nuisance pests, they are able to transmit disease agents, with some viruses causing high morbidity and/or mortality in ruminants, horses and humans. Despite their impact on animal husbandry, public health and tourism, knowledge on the biology and ecology of culicoid biting midges and their interactions with ingested pathogens or symbiotic microorganisms is limited. Research is challenging due to unknown larval habitats, the insects’ tiny size, the inability to establish and breed most species in the laboratory and the laborious maintenance of colonies of the few species that can be reared in the laboratory. Consequently, the natural transmission of pathogens has experimentally been demonstrated for few species while, for others, only indirect evidence of vector potential exists. Most experimental data are available for Culicoides sonorensis and C. nubeculosus, the only species kept in western-world insectaries. This contribution gives an overview on important biting midge vectors, transmitted viruses, culicoid-borne viral diseases and their epidemiologies and summarizes the little knowledge on interactions between biting midges, their microflora and culicoid-borne arboviruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Parasites/Pathogens and Vectors)
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