Plant-mediated effects on mosquito capacity to transmit human malaria

The ecological context in which mosquitoes and malaria parasites interact has received little attention, compared to the genetic and molecular aspects of malaria transmission. Plant nectar and fruits are important for the nutritional ecology of malaria vectors, but how the natural diversity of plant-derived sugar sources affects mosquito competence for malaria parasites is unclear. To test this, we infected Anopheles coluzzi, an important African malaria vector, with sympatric field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum, using direct membrane feeding assays. Through a series of experiments, we then examined the effects of sugar meals from Thevetia neriifolia and Barleria lupilina cuttings that included flowers, and fruit from Lannea microcarpa and Mangifera indica on parasite and mosquito traits that are key for determining the intensity of malaria transmission. We found that the source of plant sugar meal differentially affected infection prevalence and intensity, the development duration of the parasites, as well as the survival and fecundity of the vector. These effects are likely the result of complex interactions between toxic secondary metabolites and the nutritional quality of the plant sugar source, as well as of host resource availability and parasite growth. Using an epidemiological model, we show that plant sugar source can be a significant driver of malaria transmission dynamics, with some plant species exhibiting either transmission-reducing or -enhancing activities

Effects of spirulina supplementation on selected anthropometric, biochemical, and hematological parameters of HIV-infected adults in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of spirulina supplementation on selected anthropometric, biochemical, and hematological parameters of HIV-infected adults in Ouagadougou. This quasi-experimental two-arm pilot study was conducted with adults infected with HIV-1 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A group of 50 participants received a 10 gram daily spirulina supplementation in addition to antiretroviral treatment (ART) while a 50 participant control group received only ART. At 9 months of followup, the mean values of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and hemoglobin were significantly higher and creatinemia was lower in participants assigned to spirulina supplementation compared to those in the control group (p = 0.007, 0.002, and 0.01 respectively). At 6 months of follow-up, a significant decrease in gammaglobulins was observed in the intervention group as compared to the control group (p=0.04). There was no difference in the mean serum concentration of alanine transaminase (ALT) or amylasemia between the two groups.The daily 10 gram spirulina supplementation used in our study had a positive effect on several vital biological parameters in HIV-infected adults. Randomized clinical trials on large samples with longer followup periods will be necessary to test these assumptions.Keywords: Spirulina, HIV adult patients, anthropometric, biological parameters