Author
Panayiota Kotsakiozi
Other affiliations: University of Crete, American Museum of Natural History, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Bio: Panayiota Kotsakiozi is an academic researcher from Yale University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Euscorpius & Population. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 31 publications receiving 1404 citations. Previous affiliations of Panayiota Kotsakiozi include University of Crete & American Museum of Natural History.
Topics: Euscorpius, Population, Aedes aegypti, Aestivation, Genus
Papers
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TL;DR: Evidently, rare viable hybrid offspring between the release strain and the Jacobina population are sufficiently robust to be able to reproduce in nature and highlight the importance of having in place a genetic monitoring program during releases to detect un-anticipated outcomes.
Abstract: In an attempt to control the mosquito-borne diseases yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika fevers, a strain of transgenically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes containing a dominant lethal gene has been developed by a commercial company, Oxitec Ltd. If lethality is complete, releasing this strain should only reduce population size and not affect the genetics of the target populations. Approximately 450 thousand males of this strain were released each week for 27 months in Jacobina, Bahia, Brazil. We genotyped the release strain and the target Jacobina population before releases began for >21,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic sampling from the target population six, 12, and 27–30 months after releases commenced provides clear evidence that portions of the transgenic strain genome have been incorporated into the target population. Evidently, rare viable hybrid offspring between the release strain and the Jacobina population are sufficiently robust to be able to reproduce in nature. The release strain was developed using a strain originally from Cuba, then outcrossed to a Mexican population. Thus, Jacobina Ae. aegypti are now a mix of three populations. It is unclear how this may affect disease transmission or affect other efforts to control these dangerous vectors. These results highlight the importance of having in place a genetic monitoring program during such releases to detect un-anticipated outcomes.
884 citations
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TL;DR: Recent work on the population genetics of this mosquito is reviewed in efforts to reconstruct its recent (approximately 600 years) history and these findings are related to epidemiological records of occurrences of diseases transmitted by this species.
Abstract: Aedes aegypti bears the common name “the yellow fever mosquito,” although, today, it is of more concern as the major vector of dengue, chikungunya, and, most recently, Zika viruses. In the present article, we review recent work on the population genetics of this mosquito in efforts to reconstruct its recent (approximately 600 years) history and relate these findings to epidemiological records of occurrences of diseases transmitted by this species. The two sources of information are remarkably congruent. Ae. aegypti was introduced to the New World 400–550 years ago from its ancestral home in West Africa via European slave trade. Ships from the New World returning to their European ports of origin introduced the species to the Mediterranean region around 1800, where it became established until about 1950. The Suez Canal opened in 1869 and Ae. aegypti was introduced into Asia by the 1870s, then on to Australia (1887) and the South Pacific (1904).
129 citations
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TL;DR: Using double‐digest Restriction site‐Associated DNA sequencing, a panel of ~58,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on 20 worldwide Ae.
Abstract: Aedes albopictus, the “Asian tiger mosquito,” is an aggressive biting mosquito native to
Asia that has colonized all continents except Antarctica during the last ~30–40 years.
The species is of great public health concern as it can transmit at least 26 arboviruses,
including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. In this study, using double-digest
Restriction site-Associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing, we developed a panel of
~58,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on 20 worldwide Ae. albopictus
populations representing both the invasive and the native range. We used this
genomic-based
approach to study the genetic structure and the differentiation of
Ae. albopictus populations and to understand origin(s) and dynamics of the recent invasions.
Our analyses indicated the existence of two major genetically differentiated
population clusters, each one including both native and invasive populations. The detection
of additional genetic structure within each major cluster supports that these
SNPs can detect differentiation at a global and local scale, while the similar levels of
genomic diversity between native and invasive range populations support the scenario
of multiple invasions or colonization by a large number of propagules. Finally, our results
revealed the possible source(s) of the recent invasion in Americas, Europe, and
Africa, a finding with important implications for vector-control
strategies.
88 citations
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TL;DR: Based on the results, re-invasions from non-eradicated regions are the most likely scenario for the reappearance of Ae.
Abstract: Background
Aedes aegypti, commonly known as “the yellow fever mosquito”, is of great medical concern today primarily as the major vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, although yellow fever remains a serious health concern in some regions. The history of Ae. aegypti in Brazil is of particular interest because the country was subjected to a well-documented eradication program during 1940s-1950s. After cessation of the campaign, the mosquito quickly re-established in the early 1970s with several dengue outbreaks reported during the last 30 years. Brazil can be considered the country suffering the most from the yellow fever mosquito, given the high number of dengue, chikungunya and Zika cases reported in the country, after having once been declared “free of Ae. aegypti”.
Methodology/Principal findings
We used 12 microsatellite markers to infer the genetic structure of Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations, genetic variability, genetic affinities with neighboring geographic areas, and the timing of their arrival and spread. This enabled us to reconstruct their recent history and evaluate whether the reappearance in Brazil was the result of re-invasion from neighboring non-eradicated areas or re-emergence from local refugia surviving the eradication program. Our results indicate a genetic break separating the northern and southern Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations, with further genetic differentiation within each cluster, especially in southern Brazil.
Conclusions/Significance
Based on our results, re-invasions from non-eradicated regions are the most likely scenario for the reappearance of Ae. aegypti in Brazil. While populations in the northern cluster are likely to have descended from Venezuela populations as early as the 1970s, southern populations seem to have derived more recently from northern Brazilian areas. Possible entry points are also revealed within both southern and northern clusters that could inform strategies to control and monitor this important arbovirus vector.
71 citations
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TL;DR: A phylogenetic analysis combined with the genetic structure analyses suggest West Africa and especially Angola as the source of the New World's invasion, a scenario that fits well with the historic record of 16th‐century slave trade between Africa and Americas.
Abstract: Aedes aegypti, the major vector of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika viruses , remains of great medical and public health concern. There is little doubt that the ancestral home of the species is Africa. This mosquito invaded the New World 400-500 years ago and later, Asia. However, little is known about the genetic structure and history of Ae. aegypti across Africa, as well as the possible origin(s) of the New World invasion. Here, we use ~17,000 genome-wide single nucleotide polymor-phisms (SNPs) to characterize a heretofore undocumented complex picture of this mosquito across its ancestral range in Africa. We find signatures of human-assisted migrations, connectivity across long distances in sylvan populations, and of local ad-mixture between domestic and sylvan populations. Finally, through a phylogenetic analysis combined with the genetic structure analyses, we suggest West Africa and especially Angola as the source of the New World's invasion, a scenario that fits well with the historic record of 16th-century slave trade between Africa and Americas.
52 citations
Cited by
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a document, redatto, voted and pubblicato by the Ipcc -Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
Abstract: Cause, conseguenze e strategie di mitigazione Proponiamo il primo di una serie di articoli in cui affronteremo l’attuale problema dei mutamenti climatici. Presentiamo il documento redatto, votato e pubblicato dall’Ipcc - Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - che illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
4,187 citations
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Charles University in Prague1, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic2, Stellenbosch University3, Canterbury of New Zealand4, University of Tennessee5, University of Fribourg6, Zoological Society of London7, University College London8, Williams College9, Durham University10, University of Vienna11, South African National Parks12, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources13, Free University of Berlin14, Leibniz Association15, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg16, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ17, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague18, United States Forest Service19, University of Toronto20, University of Rhode Island21, University of Concepción22, Taizhou University23, University of Konstanz24, University of Seville25, Spanish National Research Council26, University of Pretoria27
TL;DR: Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods, as synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders.
Abstract: Biological invasions are a global consequence of an increasingly connected world and the rise in human population size The numbers of invasive alien species – the subset of alien species that spread widely in areas where they are not native, affecting the environment or human livelihoods – are increasing Synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders Invasions have complex and often immense long‐term direct and indirect impacts In many cases, such impacts become apparent or problematic only when invaders are well established and have large ranges Invasive alien species break down biogeographic realms, affect native species richness and abundance, increase the risk of native species extinction, affect the genetic composition of native populations, change native animal behaviour, alter phylogenetic diversity across communities, and modify trophic networks Many invasive alien species also change ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services by altering nutrient and contaminant cycling, hydrology, habitat structure, and disturbance regimes These biodiversity and ecosystem impacts are accelerating and will increase further in the future Scientific evidence has identified policy strategies to reduce future invasions, but these strategies are often insufficiently implemented For some nations, notably Australia and New Zealand, biosecurity has become a national priority There have been long‐term successes, such as eradication of rats and cats on increasingly large islands and biological control of weeds across continental areas However, in many countries, invasions receive little attention Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods Countries can strengthen their biosecurity regulations to implement and enforce more effective management strategies that should also address other global changes that interact with invasions
677 citations
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University of Oxford1, Boston Children's Hospital2, Harvard University3, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation4, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro5, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais6, University of Birmingham7, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven8, University of London9, Pasteur Institute10, University of KwaZulu-Natal11, Instituto Adolfo Lutz12, University of São Paulo13, Federal University of São Paulo14, Public Health England15, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa16, University of California, Los Angeles17
TL;DR: It is shown that the age and sex distribution of human cases is characteristic of sylvatic transmission, which establishes a framework for monitoring YFV transmission in real time that will contribute to a global strategy to eliminate future YFFV epidemics.
Abstract: The yellow fever virus (YFV) epidemic in Brazil is the largest in decades. The recent discovery of YFV in Brazilian Aedes species mosquitos highlights a need to monitor the risk of reestablishment of urban YFV transmission in the Americas. We use a suite of epidemiological, spatial, and genomic approaches to characterize YFV transmission. We show that the age and sex distribution of human cases is characteristic of sylvatic transmission. Analysis of YFV cases combined with genomes generated locally reveals an early phase of sylvatic YFV transmission and spatial expansion toward previously YFV-free areas, followed by a rise in viral spillover to humans in late 2016. Our results establish a framework for monitoring YFV transmission in real time that will contribute to a global strategy to eliminate future YFV epidemics.
261 citations
01 Jan 2013
255 citations