Culture of primary ciliary dyskinesia epithelial cells at air-liquid interface can alter ciliary phenotype but remains a robust and informative diagnostic aid.

The change to ciliary phenotype in PCD samples following cell culture does not affect the diagnosis, and in certain cases can assist the ability to identify PCD cilia

Anti-mosquito midgut antibodies block development of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in multiple species of Anopheles mosquitoes and reduce vector fecundity and survivorship

The mosquito midgut plays a central role in the sporogonic development of malaria parasites. We have found that polyclonal sera, produced against mosquito midguts, blocked the passage of Plasmodium falciparum ookinetes across the midgut, leading to a significant reduction of infections in mosquitoes. Anti-midgut mAbs were produced that display broad-spectrum activity, blocking parasite development of both P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites in five different species of mosquitoes. In addition to their parasite transmission-blocking activity, these mAbs also reduced mosquito survivorship and fecundity. These results reveal that mosquito midgut-based antibodies have the potential to reduce malaria transmission in a synergistic manner by lowering both vector competence, through transmission-blocking effects on parasite development, and vector abundance, by decreasing mosquito survivorship and egg laying capacity. Because the intervention can block transmission of different malaria parasite species in various species of mosquitoes, vaccines against such midgut receptors may block malaria transmission worldwide

TEM results in subjects with and without PCD.

<p>Key: TEM =  transmission electron microscopy analysis; OAD =  outer dynein arm defect; IAD =  inner dynein arm defect; MD =  microtubular disorganization defect; ALI = culture at air-liquid interface; PCD =  primary ciliary dyskinesia.</p

Ciliary beat frequency measured during high speed video analysis of samples before and following ALI culture at the two diagnostic centres.

<p>Subjects were diagnosed with PCD or deemed non-PCD based on a portfolio of diagnostic measures.</p

Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) before and after culture at air-liquid interface in subjects with and without PCD.

<p>Measurements were made from high-speed video recordings. In samples with mixed static and dyskinetic cilia, a FFT algorithm was used to calculate mean CBF.</p><p>$ The data from one Southampton PCD subject was excluded from the analysis because it was an outlier. The cilia of this subject were hyperfrequent and vibrating prior to and following ALI- culture. * = not different compared with Leicester. # = significantly different from Leicester.</p

Equipment used at the PCD centres for high speed video microscopy.

<p>Equipment used at the PCD centres for high speed video microscopy.</p