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Microorganisms
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Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens
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Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 5236

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Diego Peres Alonso

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
2. Biotechnology Institute, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-689, Brazil
Interests: metagenomics; vectors population genetics; molecular epidemiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla

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Guest Editor
UNESP—Biotechnology Institute and Biosciences Institute, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-689, Brazil
Interests: mosquito population genetics; metagenomics; transcriptomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mosquito-borne pathogens are a major global health concern, responsible for transmitting diseases that affect millions of people each year. Mosquitoes act as vectors for a range of pathogens, including viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and West Nile, as well as parasites that cause malaria and leishmaniasis. These pathogens pose serious health risks, leading to severe symptoms, chronic complications, and even death. In many regions, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, mosquito-borne diseases are a primary cause of morbidity and mortality, placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems.

The ability of mosquitoes to thrive in various climates, coupled with increased global travel and climate change, has expanded the geographic range of these diseases. This expansion increases the risk of outbreaks in new areas, underscoring the need for preventive measures worldwide. Understanding and addressing mosquito-borne pathogens is therefore crucial, not only to protect affected communities but also to prevent the spread of these pathogens to wider populations. In this context, this Special Issue supports and encourages publications in the fields of mosquito vector population genetics, behavior, developmental biology, and the genetics and biology of mosquito-pathogen interactions.

Dr. Diego Peres Alonso
Prof. Dr. Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mosquito vector
  • mosquito pathogens
  • genetics
  • developmental biology
  • mosquito–pathogen interactions

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4090 KB  
Article
A Multi-Approach for In Silico Detection of Chromosome Inversions in Mosquito Vectors
by Marcus Vinicius Niz Alvarez, Filipe Trindade Bozoni, Diego Peres Alonso and Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2231; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102231 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
In Brazil, Nyssorhynchus darlingi stands out as the primary malaria vector. Chromosome inversions have long been recognized as critical evolutionary mechanisms in diverse organisms. In this study, we used biallelic SNPs to show that it is possible to detect chromosome inversions reliably with [...] Read more.
In Brazil, Nyssorhynchus darlingi stands out as the primary malaria vector. Chromosome inversions have long been recognized as critical evolutionary mechanisms in diverse organisms. In this study, we used biallelic SNPs to show that it is possible to detect chromosome inversions reliably with low coverage sequence data. We estimated chromosome inversions in an Amazon Basin sample of Ny. darlingi and compared them with Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles albimanus genomes in synteny analysis. The An. gambiae dataset benchmarked the inversion detection pipeline with known inversions. Genotyping by sequencing was performed using the LCSeqTools workflow for the lcWGS dataset with an average sequencing depth of 2x. A synteny analysis was performed for Ny. darlingi inversions regions with An. gambiae and An. albimanus genomes. The sliding window analysis of PCA components revealed 10 high-confidence candidate regions for chromosome inversions in Ny. darlingi genome and two known inversions for An. gambiae with possible identification of breakpoints and adjacent regions at lower resolution. We demonstrate that lcWGS is a cost-effective and accurate method for detecting chromosome inversions. We reliably detected chromosome inversions in Ny. darlingi from the Brazilian Amazon that does not share similar inversion arrangements in An. gambiae or An. albimanus genomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens)
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20 pages, 1583 KB  
Article
Population Dynamics of Plasmodium vivax in Mexico Determined by CSP, Pvs25, and SSU 18S rRNA S-Type Polymorphism Analyses
by Lilia González-Cerón, Delfino de Jesús Gómez-Pérez, Frida Santillán-Valenzuela, Marbella Ovilla-Muñoz, Carmen Guzmán-Bracho, Angélica Pech-May, Gerardo R. Amores, Alberto Montoya-Pérez and Cuauhtémoc Villarreal-Treviño
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2221; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092221 - 22 Sep 2025
Viewed by 948
Abstract
In Mexico, Plasmodium vivax transmission has been confined to the northwestern and southern regions since 2000. Parasites from five malaria foci were analyzed using three genetic markers. The circumsporozoite gene was examined by PCR-RFLP and sequencing, and pvs25 mutations and variants of ribosomal [...] Read more.
In Mexico, Plasmodium vivax transmission has been confined to the northwestern and southern regions since 2000. Parasites from five malaria foci were analyzed using three genetic markers. The circumsporozoite gene was examined by PCR-RFLP and sequencing, and pvs25 mutations and variants of ribosomal 18S SSU rRNA S-type were also determined. Previous data from the southernmost Pacific in Chiapas were included in the analysis. Both the VK210 and VK247 types of pvcsp were detected, and VK210 had greater haplotype diversity (0.860) than VK247 parasites (0.198). Two pvs25 mutations (Q87K and I130T) yielded three haplotypes, and two ribosomal variants were detected. Gene and multilocus haplotype frequencies varied among malarious foci (p < 0.001). An AMOVA test, FST values, and Spearman’s correlation suggested a structured P. vivax population among the malaria foci. Each malaria focus across the northwestern and southern regions retained a portion of the past countrywide P. vivax population, which seems unique in Latin America. In the Lacandon region (LR), a linkage equilibrium between pvs25 haplotypes and the ribosomal variants within the VK247 or VK210 populations was observed. This region harbored the broadest reservoir of P. vivax haplotypes, and the high adaptation of parasites in the northwestern region represents a challenge for malaria elimination. These finding are relevant for monitoring and epidemiological surveillance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens)
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13 pages, 946 KB  
Article
Acanthospermum australe Extract Inhibits the Chaperone Activity of Plasmodium falciparum Heat Shock Protein 70-1
by Ntombikhona Appear Koza, Ntokozo Nkosinathi Myeza, Heinrich Hoppe, Rebamang Anthony Mosa, Abidemi Paul Kappo, Mthokozisi Blessing Cedric Simelane and Andrew Rowland Opoku
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092195 - 19 Sep 2025
Viewed by 349
Abstract
The resistance of malaria parasites towards the current antimalarial therapies continues to fuel the search for new antimalarial drugs, preferably from natural sources. This study aimed to investigate the potential of the dichloromethane extract of Acanthospermum australe to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum heat shock [...] Read more.
The resistance of malaria parasites towards the current antimalarial therapies continues to fuel the search for new antimalarial drugs, preferably from natural sources. This study aimed to investigate the potential of the dichloromethane extract of Acanthospermum australe to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum heat shock protein 70-1 (PfHsp70-1). The plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay was used to determine the antiplasmodial activity of the crude extract against the chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum strain 3D7. The inhibitory effect of the plant extract on the chaperone activity of P. falciparum heat shock protein 70-1 (PfHsp70-1) was determined using the ATPase, thermally induced luciferase and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) assays. The extract showed a significantly high activity against P. falciparum strain 3D7 with an IC50 value of 1.3 µg/mL. A decrease in thermally induced aggregation of MDH and luciferase was observed when each of the proteins was incubated with PfHsp70-1 only. However, an increased protein aggregation was observed when the proteins were incubated with PfHsp70-1 in the presence of the plant extract. The extract also exhibited inhibitory activity on the ATPase activity of PfHsp70-1. The results obtained from this study suggest that A. australe extract contains compounds that could target malaria parasite Hsp70 functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens)
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14 pages, 2498 KB  
Article
Molecular Profiles of Antimalarial Drug Resistance in Plasmodium Species from Asymptomatic Malaria Carriers in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam
by Hương Giang Lê, Tuấn Cường Võ, Jung-Mi Kang, Chau Van Khanh, Nguyen Thi Minh Trinh, Nguyen Thi Lien Hanh, Minkyoung Cho, Huynh Hong Quang and Byoung-Kuk Na
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092101 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 488
Abstract
Asymptomatic malaria infection is a major concern in the fight against malaria, as it can act as a significant reservoir for its silent spread or transmission. Therefore, surveillance to detect asymptomatic subjects, particularly in regions with high malaria endemicity, is essential. This study [...] Read more.
Asymptomatic malaria infection is a major concern in the fight against malaria, as it can act as a significant reservoir for its silent spread or transmission. Therefore, surveillance to detect asymptomatic subjects, particularly in regions with high malaria endemicity, is essential. This study aimed to investigate the status of asymptomatic submicroscopic malaria infections in Gia Lai province, Vietnam, and to analyze molecular profiles of antimalarial drug resistance in the parasites from the asymptomatic carriers. A total of 2171 individuals were included from three districts of Gia Lai province, Vietnam, an area where malaria is endemic. Asymptomatic submicroscopic infection was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR, and the infected Plasmodium species were confirmed by sequencing. Antimalarial drug-resistant genes, including pfk13, pfcrt, pvmdr-1, and pvcrt-o, were analyzed in the parasites from asymptomatic cases. The rate of asymptomatic submicroscopic malaria infection was 2.67%. P. falciparum and P. vivax mono-infections, as well as mixed infections of P. falciparum and P. vivax, were identified, with P. vivax being more prevalent, a significant observation given the challenge of P. vivax relapses and its contribution to sustained malaria transmission. Adults, including young, middle-aged, and older adults, were the predominant affected groups. Asymptomatic infections were more common in females than in males. Interestingly, high frequencies of mutations in genetic markers associated with antimalarial drug resistance, particularly pfk13 (C580Y, 100%), pfcrt (M74I/N75E/K76T, 100%), and pvmdr-1 (F1076L, 100%), were observed in asymptomatic individuals, which may increase the risk of spreading drug resistance. These findings emphasize the urgent necessity for improved surveillance and targeted intervention to prevent the silent spread of malaria, supporting the National Malarial Control and Elimination Program in formulating malaria elimination strategies for Vietnam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens)
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9 pages, 876 KB  
Article
Molecular Identification of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) Species in Native Communities of a Northeastern Region of Peru
by Eddyson Montalvo-Sabino, Marianella Villegas-Pingo, Jhon Zumaeta, Lizandro Gonzales, Rafael Tapia-Limonchi, Marta Moreno, Christian R. González and Stella M. Chenet
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 861; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040861 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 880
Abstract
Background: Malaria is a severe health problem in native communities of Condorcanqui in the Amazonas region of Peru. Recently, the number of malaria cases has increased considerably following a Plasmodium falciparum outbreak in 2019. However, there is no information on the anophelines acting as [...] Read more.
Background: Malaria is a severe health problem in native communities of Condorcanqui in the Amazonas region of Peru. Recently, the number of malaria cases has increased considerably following a Plasmodium falciparum outbreak in 2019. However, there is no information on the anophelines acting as Plasmodium vectors in this area. This study aimed to identify Anopheles species circulating in previously unexplored native communities of Condorcanqui. Additionally, we sought to detect the presence of DNA from P. vivax and P. falciparum parasites in mosquitoes. Methods: During three exploratory visits between March and September 2022, 453 mosquitoes were collected using Shannon traps and CDC light traps. Only specimens morphologically identified as Anopheles sp. were subjected to molecular confirmation through PCR amplification and sequencing of the Cox1 barcode region. Plasmodium parasites were detected using nested PCR targeting of the 18S rRNA subunit, while human blood meal feeding was evaluated using a human β-globin marker. Results: A total of 66 specimens were molecularly confirmed as anopheline species: An. benarrochi B, An. triannulatus, An. Costai, and An. nimbus. Six specimens of An. benarrochi B were exclusively positive for Plasmodium parasites by PCR. Moreover, four specimens tested positive for Plasmodium and the presence of human blood, suggesting the anthropophilic behavior of An. benarrochi B and its possible role as a potential malaria vector in this area. Conclusions: In conclusion, while this study provides valuable insights into the potential role of Anopheles benarrochi as a malaria vector in Amazonas, further research is essential to fully understand its behavior and transmission dynamics in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens)
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Review

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12 pages, 861 KB  
Review
The Yellow Fever Outbreak in Brazil (2016–2018): How a Low Vaccination Coverage Can Contribute to Emerging Disease Outbreaks
by Juliane Duarte Santos, Kamila Lorene Soares Rocha, Carolina Dourado Amaral, Ana Gabriella Stoffella Dutra, Poliana de Oliveira Figueiredo, Etel Rocha-Vieira, Filipe Vieira Santos de Abreu, Giliane de Souza Trindade and Danilo Bretas de Oliveira
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061287 - 31 May 2025
Viewed by 1747
Abstract
Yellow fever (YF) disease is a viral infection caused by Orthoflavivirus flavi (YFV). YFV is transmitted by hematophagous daytime-biting mosquitoes, predominantly Haemagogus spp. and Sabethes spp. in the sylvatic cycles, and Aedes spp. in urban cycles. In this work, we correlated vaccination coverage [...] Read more.
Yellow fever (YF) disease is a viral infection caused by Orthoflavivirus flavi (YFV). YFV is transmitted by hematophagous daytime-biting mosquitoes, predominantly Haemagogus spp. and Sabethes spp. in the sylvatic cycles, and Aedes spp. in urban cycles. In this work, we correlated vaccination coverage with the occurrence and spread of the disease throughout Brazil during the years 2016–2018. The Vale do Mucuri and Vale do Rio Doce regions in Minas Gerais state had the highest number of reported cases. Despite being considered areas with vaccine recommendation since 2008, these regions had less than 60% and 70% vaccination coverage in 2016. The outbreak of YF in Brazil has shown that surveillance for emerging diseases should be constant, especially in relation to the national immunization program. In this study, we observed that low vaccination coverage and the lack of public policies aimed at this region with low population development may have an impact on the reemergence of YF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens)
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