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Posted 2 October 2002
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The 4 October 2002 issue of Science marks the publication of the complete genome sequence of Anopheles gambiae, the principal African vector of malaria. As noted in an editorial in that issue by K. Aultman et al., the mosquito sequence completes a genomic and biological "triad" that also includes the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (the sequence of which has been published in the 3 October 2002 issue of Nature) and Homo sapiens (whose draft sequence was published to considerable fanfare in February 2001). Study of the three genome sequences, taken together, offers perhaps the best hope yet to understanding the byzantine mechanisms of a disease that claims more than a million lives a year -- and of defeating it using a diverse arsenal that includes new antimalarial drugs, vector control, and other techniques.
To provide some additional context, Science Functional Genomics offers this page of online resources on the malaria triad -- Anopheles, Plasmodium, and man.
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Anopheles Resources
- Mosquito Genomics World Wide Web Server
- First stop for genomic information across a range of mosquitoes, including not only A. gambiae but also the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, and Culex pipiens, one of the principal vectors of the West Nile virus. Includes a useful page of links.
- Anopheles Genetic Resource Information Project (AGRIP)
- Remarkable, well-organized site from Mark Benedict of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta; includes detailed visual introductions to the range of mutant A. gambiae strains that have been described in the literature, information on culturing of Anopheles, images of chromosomes, and more.
- TIGR Anopheles gambiae Gene Index
- Search interface to sequence and annotation data from one of the members of the international sequencing consortium.
- An Anopheles Database (AnoDB)
- Rewarding site from IMBB in Greece, one of the international sequencing consortium partners, providing a gateway not only to gene sequence data but also to information on Anopheles cytology and protein sequences, species besides A. gambiae, and more.
- Malaria Research and Reference Reagent Resource Center
- "Established to provide a central source of quality controlled malaria-related reagents and information to the international malaria research community," this resource, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, contains a wealth of information on culturing and working with Anopheles, including a directory of vector biologists.
- Mosquito: Anopheles Gambiae -- An Interactive Poster
- A browser-friendly version of the informative wall chart published with Science's Mosquito Genome special issue, with embedded links to related Web resources, articles, and glossaries.
Other Information on Mosquitoes, Mosquito-Borne Diseases, and Vector Biology
- Meet the Mosquitoes
- As an introduction to the variety of mosquitoes that can act as disease vectors, Science's News Department created a series of ten mosquito "trading cards."
- American Mosquito Control Association
- Useful trade-organization site including copious links and an informative essay on the varieties, life cycle, and control of mosquitoes.
- Society for Vector Ecology
- Professional organization of vector ecologists, and publisher of Journal of Vector Ecology.
- CDC Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases
- Information and publications on a variety of vector-borne ailments.
- Resurgent Vector-Borne Diseases as a Global Health Problem
- 19988 article from CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases makes the case that the coalescence of several factors has recently intensified the public-health threat posed by vector-borne ailments.
- Mosquito-L
- Electronic mailing list related to mosquito biology, mosquito-borne diseases, and other topics.
- Mosquito Bytes
- Entertaining set of pages, from whyfiles.org, on life cycle and public health threats of mosquitoes.
- Insects, Disease, and History
- Unusual site emphasizing the sometimes unsung role of insect-borne disease on world historical events. Case in point: During American Civil War, the Union Army reportedly suffered more than 1.3 million cases of malaria.
- Selected resources on other mosquito-borne diseases:
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Lymphatic filariasis:
- UNDP/World Bank/WHO TDR summary on lymphatic filariasis
FilGenNet, the Filarial Genome Network
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Yellow fever:
- WHO Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (CSR) yellow fever page
CDC yellow fever home page page
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Dengue:
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UNDP/World Bank/WHO TDR summary on dengue
CDC dengue home page page
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West Nile virus:
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West Nile virus links from the American Mosquito Control Association
CDC West Nile virus basics page
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Plasmodium Resources
- PlasmoDB
- In addition to hosting the sequence data, this resource is perhaps the best single entry point for data on the malarial proteome and for other biological and biochemical information on Plasmodium. Use of the database requires registration.
- WHO/TDR Malaria Database
- Valuable site hosted at the Department of Microbiology of Monash University, Melbourne; includes a malaria listserv and a nice overview of malaria parasite biology.
- NCBI Malaria Genetics & Genomics page
- GenBank center for information on Plasmodium sequencing effort, linked to a collection of excellent NCBI resources on the disease and its relatives, its epidemiology, and other topics. Very nice job.
- Malaria Parasite Metabolic Pathways
- Nicely designed, compulsively navigable site on malaria parasite biochemistry.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plasmodium
- Interesting overview from Mark Wiser of Tulane University.
- The Plasmodium falciparum Proteome Classification and Analysis
- Searchable database of proteins, functions, classifications, and pathways, from the European Bioinformatics Institute. A feature of the excellent EMBL-EBI parasite-genome server.
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The Host: Malaria, Public Health, and World Society
Selected resources on the human genome sequence and its significance appear on our human genome links page. Below, we offer pointers to online resources on the intersection between Anopheles, Plasmodium, and humans, the appalling public-health costs of that nexus, and worldwide scientific efforts to beat the disease.
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About the photo
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- UNDP-World Bank-WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
- Superbly designed Web headquarters for multiagency effort against tropical diseases. Includes rich pages on malaria (including an animation of the Plasmodium life cycle) and on nine other diseases targeted by TDR; also available is an image library and research publications database. Highly recommended.
- Malaria Foundation International
- Comprehensive resource on the battle against malaria on all fronts. Includes excellent collections of links to scientific resources,the malaria literature, and other resources.
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)
- Principal organization representing scientists and clinicians involved in research and education in prevention of tropical disease. Publishes American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
- Roll Back Malaria
- Fascinating site of global partnership involving the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNDP, and the World Bank, with the ambitious goal of "halving the world's malaria burden by 2010." Includes particularly nice set of pages documenting the nature, economic burden, and human toll of malaria.
- Africa Fighting Malaria
- One of a number of sites arguing for use of "all available tools to fight malaria," including the pesticide DDT, use of which is banned in developed countries.
- Multilateral Initiative on Malaria
- Multinational research alliance led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Online journals and other resources
- Parasites and Parasitological Resources
- From Ohio State University.
- MalariaLinks
- Impressive collection of online resources on all things malaria.
- Emerging Infectious Disease
- Online journal from CDC includes frequent coverage of malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
- Malaria Journal
- New online journal on biology and health-policy issues related to the malaria vector-parasite-host system.
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