Age and sex distribution trends of SARS-CoV-2 infections: Insights from three epidemic waves in Puducherry, India.

Introduction: This study analyzed the age and sex distribution of COVID-19 patients during the initial three COVID-19 waves in Puducherry, India, from August 2020 to March 2022, to understand the distribution of infection across different demographic groups.

Methods: The disease surveillance program conducted at ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre processed 79,705 Throat Swab/Nasal Swab (TSNS) samples received from various institutions in Puducherry through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed following approved protocols.

Omics Approaches in Understanding Insecticide Resistance in Mosquito Vectors.

In recent years, the emergence of insecticide resistance has been a major challenge to global public health. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon in mosquito vectors is paramount for the formulation of effective vector control strategies. This review explores the current knowledge of insecticide resistance mechanisms through omics approaches.

Biodegradation of Organophosphorus Insecticides by Bacillus Species Isolated From Soil.

This study investigates the biodegradation of methyl parathion, an organophosphate pesticide used in paddy fields. Microbial degradation transforms toxic pesticides into less harmful compounds, influenced by the microbial community in the soil. To isolate different microbial colonies, soil samples from an organophosphorus-treated groundnut field were plated on nutrient agar and MSM with 1% glucose and 0.

Hard Ticks as Vectors: The Emerging Threat of Tick-Borne Diseases in India.

Hard ticks (Ixodidae) play a critical role in transmitting various tick-borne diseases (TBDs), posing significant global threats to human and animal health. Climatic factors influence the abundance, diversity, and vectorial capacity of tick vectors. It is imperative to have a comprehensive understanding of hard ticks, pathogens, eco-epidemiology, and the impact of climatic changes on the transmission dynamics of TBDs.

The Molecular Detection of Bacterial Infections of Public Health Importance in Hard Tick () Nymphs Collected from the Forest Fringes of Western Ghats in the Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra States of India.

A survey was conducted to determine the human tick-borne bacterial infections in the nymphs which were collected from Western Ghats' fringe forest areas. Tick nymphs were collected using the flagging method from the villages where cases Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) were previously reported in the states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. A total of 200 tick pools consisting of 4587 nymphs were tested by PCR for the detection of bacteria of public health importance, such as and spp.

Response to insecticides and underlying mechanisms of resistance in the field populations of Linnaeus (Diptera: ) in Puducherry, India.

Background & Objectives: Mosquito-borne diseases are major threats to human health worldwide. Successful control of vector mosquitoes requires periodic updates on their response to the insecticides that are in use. Different classes of neurotoxic insecticides have been used in vector control programs.

Classifying stages in the gonotrophic cycle of mosquitoes from images using computer vision techniques.

The ability to distinguish between the abdominal conditions of adult female mosquitoes has important utility for the surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases. However, doing so requires entomological training and time-consuming manual effort. Here, we design computer vision techniques to determine stages in the gonotrophic cycle of female mosquitoes from images.

Atorvastatin attenuates NS1 (Non-structural protein-1) of dengue type-2 serotype-induced expressions of matrix metalloproteinases in HL-60 cells, differentiated to neutrophils: Implications for the immunopathogenesis of dengue viral disease.

Background: The dengue is a vector borne viral infection in humans. Bite of mosquito infected with a dengue virus transmits the disease. The neutrophils support more to the innate immune response by switching to infected tissues and triggering immunomodulatory mechanisms including the release of proteases and host defence peptides.

Analysis of entomological indices for transmission of Japanese encephalitis in Malkangiri district, Odisha State, east central India during 2015-2019.

There have been repeated episodes of the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Malkangiri district of Odisha State in the recent past. In the current study, we aimed to assess the entomological parameters of JE vectors in the district. Prevalence of JE vector species, their per man hour density (PMHD), dusk index (DI), human blood index (HBI), infection status and other factors responsible for transmission of JE were assessed over 5 years (2015-2019).

Eosinophils Restrict Diesel Exhaust Particles-induced Cell Proliferation of Lung Epithelial A549 Cells via Interleukin-13 Mediated Mechanisms: Implications for Tissue Remodeling and Fibrosis.

Background: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affect lung physiology and cause serious damage to the lungs. A number of studies demonstrated that eosinophils play a very important role in the development of tissue remodeling and fibrosis of the lungs. However, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis of tissue remodeling and fibrosis is not known.

The Involvement of Neuroinflammation in Dengue Viral Disease: Importance of Innate and Adaptive Immunity.

Neuroinflammation (inflammation in brain) has been known to play an important role in the development of dengue virus disease. Recently, studies from both clinical and experimental models suggest the involvement of neuroinflammation in dengue viral disease. Studies in clinical setup demonstrated that, microglial cells are actively involved in the patients having dengue virus infection, showing involvement of innate immune response in neuroinflammation.

Nonstructural protein-1 (NS1) of dengue virus type-2 differentially stimulate expressions of matrix metalloproteinases in monocytes: protective effect of paracetamol.

Background: Dengue fever is a re-emerging viral disease and affects millions of population worldwide. Monocytes are involved in dengue viral disease, however, their exact role is still not clear. In the present study, we investigated, the effect of NS1 antigen of dengue virus and paracetamol on THP-1 monocytes associated to expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cytokine release.

In Silico analysis of voltage-gated sodium channel in relation to DDT resistance in vector mosquitoes.

The voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) is the target site for insecticides such as DDT and synthetic pyrethroids. A single base (A-T) change in the knock-down resistance (kdr) allele leads to an amino acid substitution at position 267 that confers the target-mediated resistance to DDT and synthetic pyrethroids in Anopheles gambiae. A theoretical model of the VGSC domain II that contains the site of mutation was constructed using the K;+ channel protein of Aeropyrum pernix as a template.