• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.132-135
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• 1990

Three mitochondrial cDNA probes from Aedes albopictus were used to demonstrate restriction site polymorphism in mtDNA of three sibling species of Anopheles quadrimaculatus(Say). It was shown by DNA hybridization to have substantial sequence homology betwen the mtDNA of different genus. The proves reveled local restriction site variation between members of the Anopheles quadrimaculatus sibling species complex. Mitochondrical DNA (mtDNA), isolated from individual mosquitoes was digested by type II restriction enzymes and four enzymes were found to be useful for the purpose. Hind III alone could be used to obtain a diagnostic restriction pattern.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the population density of the mosquito species, and to provide the basic data related to vector mosquitoes to manage the possible epidemic diseases. During a 4-year investigation (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006), we collected the specimens of the mosquitoes at pier no. 1, 3 and 5 of Busan port with light traps from sunset until the next day morning from April to October each year. Through the research, we collected 5,985 mosquito specimens in total and found 7 mosquito species belonging to 3 genera. A total of 1,575, 1,473, 1,478 and 1,459 mosquito specimens were collected in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006, respectively. Among them, 5,568 (93.0%) specimens were Culex pipiens pallens, the West Nile virus infection vector, which showed the highest density among the specimens. The population densities of the other species were: 295(4.9%) Culex tritaeniorhynchus, 94(1.5%) Aedes togoi, 12(0.3%) Aedes albopictus, 10(0.2%) Anopheles sinensis, 4(0.1%) Aedes vexans nipponii, 2(0.1%) Culex inatomii. The monthly abundance of mosquitoes from July through September showed the highest values. Although it was a general mosquito monitoring study, this study could provide a base for securing the statistical data on spreading epidemic diseases by people infected outside Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2018

We investigated to know the growth patterns of Aedes albopictus larva at the four different temperature conditions. Each of 120 individuals was placed into a $20m{\ell}$ vial and 12 sets (a set of 10 vials) were separated into 12 water tanks ($17{\times}24{\times}18cm^3$). Each water tank was composed of 3 the $1^{st}$ instar, 3 the $2^{nd}$ instar, 2 the $3^{rd}$ instar, and 2 the $4^{th}$ instar. Three sets of water tanks were placed under the four different incubator temperatures ($17^{\circ}C$, $21^{\circ}C$, $24^{\circ}C$, $28^{\circ}C$). We found that the eclosion rates were $20.00{\pm}5.77%$ at $21^{\circ}C$ and $3.33{\pm}3.33%$ at other temperatures. For the mosquito larva mortality rate, $1^{st}$ instar was $19.24{\pm}3.65%$, $2^{nd}$ instar was $16.48{\pm}3.25%$, $3^{rd}$ instar was $23.54{\pm}5.06%$, and $4^{th}$ instar was $40.74{\pm}7.08%$. The lowest mortality rate in growth stages according to temperature was $13.33{\pm}6.67%$ at $17^{\circ}C$ in $1^{st}$ instar larva, $7.41{\pm}7.41%$ at $21^{\circ}C$ at $2^{nd}$ instar larva, $10.74{\pm}6.43%$ at $24^{\circ}C$ in $3^{rd}$ instar larva, and $20.37{\pm}5.46%$ at $28^{\circ}C$ in $4^{th}$ instar larva. The survival period of mosquitoes in underwater were $26.33{\pm}0.67days$ at $17^{\circ}C$, $23.33{\pm}1.33days$ at $21^{\circ}C$, $20.00{\pm}2.52days$ at $24^{\circ}C$, and $11.67{\pm}1.20days$ at $28^{\circ}C$. From our results the most effective temperature to the normal growth of mosquito larva was $21^{\circ}C$, and the highest mortality rate was shown at the $4^{th}$ instar stage of larva growth. Our results would provide the basic data for the mosquito larva's growth pattern.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.267-274
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• 2022

Portable and vehicle thermal fogs were tested using etofenprox, bifenthrin, and deltamethrin diluted with diesel oil, kerosene, and water against domestic vector mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles sinensis s.l., Culex pipiens, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The female mosquitoes were confined in small cages suspended on poles at progressively greater distances from the fog release point at an open field. The average mortality rates of four vector mosquitoes to the three insecticides were 52.0% and 64.0% at a portable thermal fogs diluted with diesel oil and water within a 10 m distance, respectively. A vehicle thermal fog had a mean mortality of 34.8% of the females to the insecticides diluted with diesel oil within 50 m. The mortality rates were not significantly different among all the tested distances. At a dilution solvent test, the mortality of the females to the insecticides diluted with kerosene was 1.9 times higher than that of diesel oil.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.522-532
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• 2018

As the vector-borne diseases rapidly increased due to climate change, we investigated the incidence of flavivirus occurrence among female mosquito species in urban and rural study sites in Daegu and Gunwi, South Korea using Realtime PCR. We collected more individuals and more species of mosquito in 2016 than in 2015. In 2015, we recorded a total of 22,033 mosquitoes (Trap Index, 224.8) representing 10 species from 5 genera, whereas in 2016, a total of 27,137 mosquitoes (Trap Index, 278.7) representing 13 species from 6 genera were collected. The number of mosquitoes in 2016 was higher in all study sites, except in the migratory bird habitats where the number decreased. Of the 14 species collected over the two years, Aedes vexans nipponii and Anopheles spp. were dominant in the cowsheds in rural farmland; Culex pipiens complex, in urban residential areas; and, Anopheles spp. and Cu. pipiens complex in migratory bird habitats caught in a black light trap. Cu. pipiens complex and Ae. albopictus in urban parks and Ae. albopictus and Armigeres subalbatus in migratory bird habitats were the dominant species caught in BG-sentinel traps. We found that the number of mosquitoes was highest during July-September. We analyzed 1,725 pools to detect flavivirus, where Chaoyang virus was detected among Ae. vexans niponii collected from cowsheds in rural farmland in 2016. The increased number of mosquitoes recorded in 2016 was mainly due to increased temperatures in the study areas, and reflected the change in study sites.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.543-550
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• 2020

Mosquitoes are globally distributed and important vectors for the transmission of many human diseases. Mosquito control is a difficult task and the cost of preventing mosquito-borne diseases is much lower than that for curing the associated diseases. Thus, chemical control remains the most effective tool for mosquito. Due to the long-term intensive use of insecticides to control mosquito vectors, resistance to most chemical insecticides has been reported. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between insecticide resistance and target site mutation of L1014 kdr and G119 ace alleles in 5 species/species group of mosquitoes (Aedes vexans, Ae. albopictus, Anopheles spp., Culex pipiens complex, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus) obtained from 6 collection sites. For Anopheles spp., the proportion of mosquitoes with mutated alleles in L1014 was 88.4%, homozygous resistant genotypes were observed in 46.7%, and heterozygous resistant genotypes were observed in 41.8%. For the Cx. pipiens complex and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus species, homozygous resistant genotypes were found in 25.9% and 9.8%, respectively. However, target site mutation of L1014 in the Ae. vexans nipponii and Ae. albopictus species was not observed. Anopheles spp., Cx. pipiens complex, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes were resistant to deltamethrin and chlorpyriphos, whereas Ae. vexans nipponii and Ae. albopictus were clearly susceptible. We also found a correlation between the resistance phenotype and the presence of the L1014 kdr and G119 ace mutations only in the Anopheles spp. population. In this study, we suggest that insecticide resistance poses a growing threat and resistance management must be integrated into all mosquito control programs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2016

We evaluated the activity of methanolic extracts of Melaleuca cajuputi flowers against the filarial worm Brugia pahangi and its bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. Anti-Wolbachia activity was measured in worms and in Aedes albopictus Aa23 cells by PCR, electron microscopy, and other biological assays. In particular, microfilarial release, worm motility, and viability were determined. M. cajuputi flower extracts were found to significantly reduce Wolbachia endosymbionts in Aa23 cells, Wolbachia surface protein, and microfilarial release, as well as the viability and motility of adult worms. Anti-Wolbachia activity was further confirmed by observation of degraded and phagocytized Wolbachia in worms treated with the flower extracts. The data provided in vitro and in vivo evidence that M. cajuputi flower extracts inhibit Wolbachia, an activity that may be exploited as an alternative strategy to treat human lymphatic filariasis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.189-196
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• 2020

Mosquitos serve as vectors for diseases, causing inconvenience as well as a threat to human life and health. Concern about mosquitos introducing and spreading new diseases has been intensifying. We observed a variety of mosquito habitats based on land cover classification from Korea's Ministry of Environment, and the mosquito species that could appear were classified according to the each habitat type. Finally, we suggested the best control methods for each type of habitat considering habitat characteristics and the ecological traits of mosquitos. Urban areas harbor various habitats for pests, contributing significantly to mosquito habitats. Control must be performed regarding larva and adults because various sources for habitats exist. Public mosquito control programs such as educational training, as well as information brochures can be effective in managing mosquito populations and public health. Agricultural areas show high densities of mosquito larva to lentic zones such as reservoirs, wetlands, paddy fields. So, biological control using natural predators may be effective in controlling mosquito populations. Forests are major habitats for Aedes albopctus, so physical controls should be deployed for residents living nearby, and excessive deforestation should be minimized. Other areas including aquatic ecosystems should be adopted regarding biological control using Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) and chemical control for eradicating mosquitos. We classified habitats into four types of land cover patterns considering ecological traits and habitat preference, and suggest adequate control methods for each habitat type. Our suggestion can be used to positively contribute toward effective managing mosquito's density and reducing the damage to public health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1801-1809
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• 2020

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first identified in 1952 as a causative agent of outbreaks. CHIKV is transmitted by two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus. Symptoms after CHIKV infection in human are typically fever and joint pain, but can also include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, polyarthralgia, and rash. CHIKV is an enveloped single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus with a diameter of approximately 70 nm. The pathogenesis of CHIKV infection and the mechanism by which the virus evades the innate immune system remain poorly understood. Moreover, little is known about the roles of CHIKV-encoded genes in the viral evasion of host immune responses, especially type I interferon (IFN) responses. Therefore, in the present study, we screened CHIKV-encoded genes for their regulatory effect on the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a critical transcription factor for the optimal activation of IFN-β. Among others, non-structural protein 2 (nsP2) strongly inhibited melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5)-mediated induction of the NF-κB pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Elucidation of the detailed mechanisms of nsP2-mediated inhibition of the MDA5/RIG-I signaling pathway is anticipated to contribute to the development of virus-specific therapeutics against CHIKV infection.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2016

BtPlus is a group of biopesticides that are made of Bacillus thuringiensis and immunosuppressant. A new BtPlus that exhibits high insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae has been investigated in control efficacy in field conditions and its environmental safety against aquatic system. This study assessed the control efficacy of BtPlus against mosquito larvae with two different application methods. In aerial spraying application (100 mL per $3.3m^2$), BtPlus was effective at 50% or above formulation concentrations to control mosquito larvae. For a direct application to aqueous mosquito habitat, a semi-field mimicking paddy rice field was constructed. In this condition, BtPlus showed 80% and 100% control efficacies at 0.1% and 0.2% concentrations, respectively. BtPlus also showed 40% mortality against adults at 0.1% concentration in 10% sugar bait. However, its control efficacies against adults were much less than against larvae. Safety assessment of BtPlus against ecosystem was evaluated using young carp (Cyprinus carpio), a water flea (Daphnia magna), and a honey bee (Apis mellifera). BtPlus did not give any adverse effects on these nontarget organisms. Based on these results, BtPlus can be applied to control mosquitoes by direct aqueous application to paddy rice field.