Chitosan-based Pickering double emulsion microcapsules improve the UV stability and the persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis on mosquito control.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is affected by ultraviolet radiation and bacterial sedimentation in pest control applications, leading to low pesticide utilization and a short duration of control. To improve Bt stability in these applications and prolong the duration of biological control, Bt LLP29 was first encapsulated using double emulsion technology, resulting in the formation of W/O/W double emulsion microcapsules with sodium lignosulfonate and chitosan as wall materials. The morphological structure and functionality of microcapsules were then systematically investigated.

Possible potential spread of Anopheles stephensi, the Asian malaria vector.

Background: Anopheles stephensi is native to Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula and has emerged as an effective and invasive malaria vector. Since invasion was reported in Djibouti in 2012, the global invasion range of An. stephensi has been expanding, and its high adaptability to the environment and the ongoing development of drug resistance have created new challenges for malaria control.