Determination of Species Identity and Genetic Diversity of Aedes aegypti and Other Medically Important Mosquitoes of India Using DNA Barcoding.

Aedes aegypti-borne viruses (i.e., dengue, chikungunya, and Zika) have become endemic to India, posing a severe threat to public health.

Metagenomic Analysis of Viromes of Mosquitoes across India.

Metagenomic analysis of and mosquitoes from diverse geographical regions of India revealed the presence of several insect viruses of human interest. Most abundant reads found in mosquitoes were of Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV), granulovirus (CfGV), Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV), and Wenzhou sobemo-like virus 4 (WSLV4), whereas WSLV4 and CfGV constituted the highest percentage of reads in viromes. Other reads that were of low percentage included Hubei mosquito virus 2 (HMV2), Porcine astrovirus 4 (PAstV4), and Wild Boar astrovirus (WBAstV).

Genomic Characterization of Mosquito Isolates of Chikungunya Virus (Outbreak Strains 2022) Using Next-Generation Sequencing.

A massive outbreak of dengue-like illness was reported from Pune district of Maharashtra, India during May-June 2022. Isolation and characterization of the etiological agent at genomic level for possible mutations that led to higher transmissibility is the topic of the study. Entomological investigations were carried out by ICMR-National Institute of Virology (Pune, India); mosquitoes were collected and processed for virus detection by molecular techniques.

Assessment of recombinant glutathione-S-transferase (HaGST-8) silica nano-conjugates for effective removal of pesticides.

Diverse glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are produced by insect pests including Helicoverpa armigera (HaGSTs) for detoxification of insecticides or xenobiotic compounds that they encounter. In an earlier study, the HaGST-8 gene was isolated from H. armigera larvae exposed to pesticide mixtures and the recombinant protein was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris.