Daily rhythms in mosquitoes and their consequences for malaria transmission

Samuel S C Rund*, Aidan J. O’Donnell, James E. Gentile, Sarah E. Reece

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The 24-h day involves cycles in environmental factors that impact organismal fitness. This is thought to select for organisms to regulate their temporal biology accordingly, through circadian and diel rhythms. In addition to rhythms in abiotic factors (such as light and temperature), biotic factors, including ecological interactions, also follow daily cycles. How daily rhythms shape, and are shaped by, interactions between organisms is poorly understood. Here, we review an emerging area, namely the causes and consequences of daily rhythms in the interactions between vectors, their hosts and the parasites they transmit. We focus on mosquitoes, malaria parasites and vertebrate hosts, because this system offers the opportunity to integrate from genetic and molecular mechanisms to population dynamics and because disrupting rhythms offers a novel avenue for disease control.

Original languageEnglish
Article number14
JournalOriental insects
Volume7
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Apr 2016

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Anopheles
  • Chronobiology
  • Circadian
  • Diel
  • Diurnal
  • Nocturnal
  • Plasmodium

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