Disease vectors are living organisms, typically arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, sandflies, and triatomine bugs, that biologically or mechanically transmit pathogenic agents between hosts, thereby enabling the spread of infectious diseases within populations and ecosystems. In vector-borne disease systems, pathogens often undergo essential developmental or replication stages within the vector (biological transmission), or are passively carried on contaminated body parts (mechanical transmission). Research on disease vectors encompasses their ecology, population dynamics, host-feeding behavior, vector competence, insecticide resistance, and interactions with environmental and climatic factors, informing surveillance, risk modeling, and integrated vector management strategies for disease control.
Inside a factory in southern France, millions of tiger mosquitoes are being bred, not to spread, but to stop them from reproducing—though scaling up such efforts poses a mighty challenge.
Ecology
Jun 16, 2026
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22
Growing up in Tahiti, Anna-Bella Failloux saw firsthand the threat posed by mosquitoes: Nearly a third of adults on the picturesque island once had swollen limbs from elephantiasis caused by their bites.
Molecular & Computational biology
Jun 16, 2026
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10
It's an insect everybody loves to hate. Pesky mosquitoes will be out in swarms as the weather warms up across the U.S.—and their bites aren't just itchy. They can transmit pathogens that can cause diseases like West Nile ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 13, 2026
4
89
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expressed concern Friday that a new factory isn't expected to start breeding sterile New World screwworm flies for more than a year as a big part of the effort to stop its flesh-eating larvae from threatening ...
Agriculture
Jun 6, 2026
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16
This is not science fiction or some perverse prank. A Silicon Valley tech giant is seeking federal approval to release up to 64 million sterilized male mosquitoes in California and Florida over the next two years.
Ecology
Jun 5, 2026
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33
When a rare but deadly rodent-borne virus struck passengers on a cruise ship and seemed to be spreading, there were no treatments for those who fell ill and no vaccines to protect others.
Molecular & Computational biology
Jun 4, 2026
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9
The New World screwworm fly has reached south Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed Wednesday, the first time in decades that the parasite with flesh-eating larvae has threatened the nation's cattle industry ...
Agriculture
Jun 4, 2026
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15
Few creatures inspire as much universal dislike as ticks. Though small, these parasites have an enormous impact on human and animal health. Each year, ticks spread viruses and bacteria that infect people, livestock, wildlife, ...
Molecular & Computational biology
May 31, 2026
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31
Mosquito repellents are key to protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and the pathogens they might carry. The most widely used active ingredient in insect repellents is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET.
Ecology
May 31, 2026
1
305
Every summer, millions of people spray themselves with DEET to keep mosquitoes away. But new research suggests mosquitoes may be able to learn to associate the repellent with food—and even become attracted to it.
Plants & Animals
May 28, 2026
0
32
