A new assay for molecular identification of Anopheles squamosus (Diptera: Culicidae) using internal transcribed spacer 2
The development of this robust PCR assay for An. squamosus is vital to accurate identification of this species in malaria vector surveillance efforts. Improved understanding of the anopheline community composition will lead to better targeted methods of vector eradication and malaria prevention. To further the validation of this ITS2 PCR assay, more species of Anopheles should be compared in addition to An. squamosus collected in different regions. To refine and optimize the PCR process with these primers, touchdown PCR can be used to increase specificity. Applying genomic tools to correctly identify An. squamosus will allow for a better understanding of their role in malaria transmission and may lead to genomic insights into what influences their behaviour, thus leading to new innovations in malaria elimination.
Authors
- Yoosook Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1392-7177)
- Valerie T. Nguyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7808-2734)
- Renee Ali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8050-9409)
- Bianca Burini Kojin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2986-2435)
- Douglas E. Norris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4631-2777)
- Kochelani Saili (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1432-1126)
- Lawrence E. Reeves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3968-8124)
- Edgar Simulundu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9423-0816)
- Megan A. Riddin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4858-6074)
- Dalia S. Dryden
Institutions
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (US)
- Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust (ZM)
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Malaria Journal
- Published
- 2025-10-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05600-6
- Primary Topic
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida