• Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae, Isolate ICIPE 7, against Anopheles arabiensis, Glossina fuscipes, and Rhipicephalus spp. 

  Fedinand, Ong’wen; Margaret, Mendi Njoroge; Ulrike, Fillinger; Heike, Lutermann; Tullu, Bukhari (Insects, 2024)

  Arthropod vectors are responsible for a multitude of human and animal diseases affecting poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Their control still relies on chemical agents, despite growing evidence of insecticide ...
• Next generation sequencing improves the resolution of detecting mixed host blood meal sources in field collected arboviral mosquito vectors 

  Tchouassi, David P.; Robinson, O. Kisero; Rotich, Gilbert; Christopher, Dunlap; Baldwyn, Torto; Ephantus, J. Muturi (Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 2024)

  Accurate knowledge of blood meal hosts of different mosquito species is critical foridentifying potential vectors and establishing the risk of pathogen transmission. Wecompared the performance of Miseq next generation ...
• Isolation and phylogenetic characterization of arboviruses circulating among phlebotomine sandflies in parts of North Rift, Kenya 

  Edith, Koskei; Solomon, Langat; James, Mutisya; Francis, Mulwa; Joel, Lutomiah; Hellen, Koka; Samuel, O. Oyola; Rebecca, Waihenya; Sepha, N. Mabeya; Rosemary, Sang (Frontiers in Virology, 2024)

  Background: Until recently, arbovirus surveillance is mainly focused on mosquito and tick vectors, resulting in the discovery of several mosquito- and tick-borne arboviruses. However, the role of sandflies in arbovirus ...
• Tungiasis among children in Kenya is associated with poor nutrition status, absenteeism, poor school performance and high impact on quality of life 

  Lynne, Elson; Christopher, Kamau; Sammy, Koech; Christopher, Muthama; George, Gachomba; Erastus, Sinoti; Elwyn, Chondo; Eliud, Mburu; Elwyn, Chondo; Miriam, Wakio; Jimmy, Lore; Marta, Maia; Ifedayo, Adetifa; Benedict, Orindi; Phillip, Bejon; Ulrike, Fillinger (2024)

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• Designing and delivering bioinformatics project-based learning in East Africa 

  Kibet, Caleb K.; Domelevo Entfellner, Jean-Baka; Jjingo, Daudi; Pierre de Villiers, Etienne; Santie de Villiers; Wambui, Karen; Kinyanjui, Sam; Masiga, Daniel (BMC Bioinformatics, 2024)

  The Eastern Africa Network for Bioinformatics Training (EANBiT) has matured through continuous evaluation, feedback, and codesign. We highlight how the program has evolved to meet challenges and achieve its goals and how ...
• Insights and challenges of insecticide resistance modelling in malaria vectors: a review 

  Ibrahim, Eric Ali; Wamalwa, Mark; Odindi, John; Tonnang, Henri Edouard Zefack (Parasites & Vectors, 2024)

  Background Malaria is one of the most devastating tropical diseases, resulting in loss of lives each year, especially in children under the age of 5 years. Malaria burden, related deaths and stall in the progress against ...
• Willingness to accept and participate in a Microsporidia MB-based mosquito release strategy: a community-based rapid assessment in western Kenya 

  Bukhari, Tullu; Gichuhi, Joseph; Mbare, Oscar; . Ochwa, Victoria A; Fillinger, Ulrike; Herren, Jeremy K. (Malaria Journal, 2024)

  Abstract Background Microsporidia MB, an endosymbiont naturally found in Anopheles mosquitoes inhibits transmission of Plasmodium and is a promising candidate for a transmission-blocking strategy that may involve mosquito ...
• Bacteria associated with Parthenium hysterophorus root exudate influence olfactory oviposition responses of Anopheles gambiae 

  Trizah, Milugo; Baldwyn, Torto; David i, P. Tchouass (Frontiers in Tropical Diseases, 2024)

  Introduction: Previously, we documented that the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae responds to volatile emissions from the root exudate water of the invasive plant, Parthenium hysterophorus. However, the origin of the ...
• High pesticide tolerance of S. mansoni: implications for the risk of schistosomiasis 

  Akbar, A. Ganatra; Francis, McOdimba; Salim, Kaneno; Jeremias, M. Becker; Naeem, Shahid; Henner, Hollert; Matthias, Liess; Eric, L. Agola; Ulrike, Fillinger (Environmental Sciences Europe, 2024)

  Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. The pathogen is transmitted via freshwater snails. These snails are highly tolerant to agricultural pesticides and ...
• Draft genome of Microsporidia sp. MB—a malaria-blocking microsporidian symbiont of the Anopheles arabiensis 

  Lilian, Mbaisi Ang'ang'o; Jacqueline, Wahura Waweru; Edward, Edmond Makhulu; Anne, Wairimu; Fidel, Gabriel Otieno; Thomas, Onchuru; Özlem, Tastan Bishop; Jeremy, Keith Herren (Genomics and Proteomics, 2024)

  We report the draft whole-genome assembly of Microsporidia sp. MB, a symbiotic malaria-transmission-blocking microsporidian isolated from Anopheles arabiensis in Kenya. The whole-genome sequence of Microsporidia sp. MB has ...
• Polymer Beads Increase Field Responses to Host Attractants in the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti 

  Elizabeth, F. Adhiambo; Louis-Clement, Gouagna; Eunice, A. Owino; Francis, Mutuku; Merid, N. Getahun; Baldwyn, Torto; David, P. Tchouassi (Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2024)

  This study investigates the efficacy of three different olfactory cues - cyclohexanone, linalool oxide (LO), and 6-methyl-5-heptan-2-one (sulcatone) - in attracting Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue, using BG ...
• House Screening Reduces Exposure to Indoor Host-Seeking and Biting Malaria Vectors: Evidence from Rural South-East Zambia 

  Kochelani, Saili; Christiaan, De Jager; Freddie, Masaninga; Peter, Onyango Sangoro; Theresia, Estomih Nkya; Likulunga, Emmanuel Likulunga; Jacob, Chirwa; Busiku, Hamainza; Emmanuel, Chanda; Ulrike, Fillinger; Clifford, Maina Mutero (Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 2024)

  This study evaluated the impact of combining house screens with long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) on mosquito host-seeking, resting, and biting behavior. Intervention houses received house screens and LLINs, while ...
• Identification of tungiasis infection hotspots with a low-cost, high-throughput method for extracting Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera) off-host stages from soil samples–An observational study 

  Abneel, K.Matharu; Paul, Ouma; Margaret, M.Njoroge; Billy, L. Amugune; Ayako, Hyuga; Francis, Mutebi; Jurgen, Krucken; Hermann, Feldmeier; Lynne, Elson; Ulrike, Fillinger (PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, 2024)

  The sand flea,Tungapenetrans,is the cause of a severely neglected parasitics kin disease(tungiasis)in the tropics and has received little attention from entomologists to understand its transmission ecology.Likeallfleas,T ...
• Microsporidia MB in the primary malaria vector Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto is avirulent and undergoes maternal and horizontal transmission 

  Nattoh Godfrey; Onyango Brenda; Makhulu Edward, Edmond; Omoke Diana; Mbaisi Ang’ang’o Lilian; Kamau Luna; Machani Gesuge Maxwell; Ochomo Eric; Jeremy, Keith Herren (Parasites & Vectors, 2023)

  Background The demonstration that the recently discovered Anopheles symbiont Microsporidia MB blocks malaria transmission in Anopheles arabiensis and undergoes vertical and horizontal transmission suggests that it is a ...
• Seasonal and environmental dynamics of intra-urban freshwater habitats and their influence on the abundance of Bulinus snail host of Schistosoma haematobium in the Tiko endemic focus, Mount Cameroon region 

  Godlove, Bunda Wepnje; Marcell, K. Peters; Adeline, Enjema Green; Tingmi, Emparo Nkuizin; Daniel, Brice Kenko Nkontcheu; Fairo, F. Dzekashu; Helen, Kuokuo Kimbi; Judith, Kuoh Anchang-Kimbi (PLOS ONE, 2023)

  Urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) caused by Schistosoma haematobium is endemic in the South West Region of Cameroon. An understanding of the abundance and distribution of the Bulinus snail, intermediate host can inform ...
• The Distinctive bionomics of Aedes aegypti populations in Africa 

  Tchouassi David, P; Agha B Sheila; Jandouwe, Villinger; Rosemary, Sang; Baldwyn, Torto (Current Opinion in Insect Science, 2023)

  Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses of medical importance. Behavioral and biological attributes contribute to its vectorial capacity. The mosquito domestic form, which resides outside ...
• Discovery of the vector of visceral leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus (Artemievus) alexandri Sinton, 1928, in Kenya suggests complex transmission dynamics 

  Steve, Kiplagat; Jandouwe, Villinger; Collins, K. Kigen; Kevin, O. Kidambasi; Jackson, M. Muema; Stephie, M. Mwangi; Maureen, Wangari; Damaris, Matoke-Muhia; Daniel, K. Masiga; Joel, L. Bargul (Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases, 2023)

  Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic to specific regions due to the ecological preferences of phlebotomine sand flies and Leishmania spp. transmission. Sand fly entomological data in northern Kenya are scarce due ...
• Determination of total flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant activity of propolis from six stingless bee species in Kenya 

  Timothy, M. Kegode; Nelly, Ndungu; Nkoba, Kiatoko (JSFA Reports, 2023)

  Propolis is one of the hive products made by bees from wax and plant resins, which makes it rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids and phenolic. The chemical composition of propolis from stingless bees is affected by ...
• Transmission Dynamics of Crimean–Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV): Evidence of Circulation in Humans, Livestock, and Rodents in Diverse Ecologies in Kenya 

  Dorcus, C. A. Omoga; David, P Tchouassi; Marietjie, Venter; Edwin, Ogola; Josephine, Osalla; Anne, Kopp; Inga, Slothouwer; Baldwyn, Torto; Sandra, Junglen; Rosemary, Sang (MDPI - Viruses, 2023)

  Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the causative agent of CCHF, a fatal viral haemorrhagic fever disease in humans. The maintenance of CCHFV in the ecosystem remains poorly understood. Certain tick species ...
• Evaluation of the solar-powered Silver Bullet 2.1 (Lumin 8) light trap for sampling malaria vectors in western Kenya 

  Mbare Oscar; Mendi Njoroge Margaret,; Fedinand, Ong’wen; Tullu, Bukhar; Ulrike, Fillinger (Malaria Journal, 2023)

  Background Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps are widely used for sampling mosquitoes. However, this trap, manufactured in the USA, poses challenges for use in sub-Saharan Africa due to procurement ...

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