Microplastics (MPs) transfer from the environment to living organisms is a nonignorable global problem. As a complete metamorphosis insect, the larvae and adult Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito live in aquatic and terrestrial environments, respectively, where they easily access MPs. However, little is known about mosquitoes' potential role in MPs accumulation throughout ecosystems. Therefore, we conducted a study with different MPs particle sizes (0.1/1/10 μm) and concentrations (0.5/5/50 μg/mL) on Cx. quinquefasciatus to address this issue. Once exposed at the young larval stage, MPs could accompany the mosquitoes their entire life. The fluorescence signals of MPs in the larvae were mainly located in the intestines. Its intensity increased (from 3.72 × 10⁶ AU to 5.45 × 10⁷ AU) as the concentrations of MPs increases. The fluorescence signals of MPs were also detected in the blood and skin tissues of mice bitten by adult mosquitoes with MPs containing in their bodies. Mosquitos exposed to MPs showed longer larval pupation and eclosion time as well as lower adult body weight. In addition, MPs significantly reduced the lethal effect of pyrethroid insecticides (97.77 % vs. 48.88 %, p < 0.05) with 15.1 % removal of the deltamethrin concentration. After MPs exposure, the relative abundance of the Cx. quinquefasciatus gut microbiome, such as Wolbachia spp., Elizabethkingia spp., and Asaia spp., changed as the MPs size and concentration changes. Mosquitoes provide a new pathway for MPs accumulation and transfer to higher-level living organisms. Moreover, MPs significantly reduce the control effect of deltamethrin, providing new guidelines for mosquito insecticide application in MPs contamination circumstances.

Gambogic acid (GA) has been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and enhance reactive oxygen species accumulation. However, whether GA could improve multidrug resistance through modulating autophagy has never been explored. We demonstrated that the combination of GA and cisplatin (CDDP) resulted in a stronger growth inhibition effect on A549 and NCI‐H460 cells using the MTT assay. Furthermore, treatment with GA significantly increased autophagy in these cells. More importantly, GA‐induced cell death could be largely abolished by 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA) or chloroquine (CQ) treatment, suggesting that GA‐induced cell death was dependent on autophagy. Western blot analysis showed that GA treatment suppressed the activation of Akt, mTOR, and S6. In addition, using a GA and rapamycin combination induced more cell death compared to either GA or rapamycin alone. In summary, GA may have utility as an adjunct therapy for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients through autophagy‐dependent cell death, even when cancer cells have developed resistance to apoptosis.

Background: Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say(Cx.quinquefasciatus) andCulex pipiens form molestus Forskal(Cx.molestus) in theCulex pipiens complexgroup show considerable differences in host seeking, blood feeding, mating behavior and in vector competence. Blood-feeding mosquito behaviors are closely related to their olfactory gene expression and olfactory gene repertoire composition. Comparing olfactory genes between these two subspecies with significantly different blood-feeding behaviors can support further research on the molecular mechanism of theCulex pipiens complexolfactory sensory system, providing a new approach for determining candidate attractant or repellent compounds.Methods: Non-blood-feeding (NBF) and post-blood-feeding (PBF) olfactory system transcriptomes of the two subspecies were sequenced, and the biological functions of their differentially expressed genes were described by bioinformatics analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was applied to validate the RNA-seq data. The roles of particular olfactory receptors inCx.quinquefasciatusblood-feeding behaviors were evaluated by RNAi.Results: Five, 7, 24, and 3Cx.quinquefasciatus-specific OBPs,Cx.molestus-specific OBPs,Cx.quinquefasciatus-specific ORs andCx.molestus-specific ORs were identified, respectively. The majority of selected ORs were consistent with the predicted transcriptome sequencing results after qRT-PCR validation. OR5 was expressed only inCx.quinquefasciatus, and OR65 was the only gene upregulated after blood feeding inCx.molestus. The blood-feeding rates of the OR5 and OR78 dsRNA groups were significantly lower (4.3%±3.1% and 13.3%±11.5%) than those of the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) group (64.5%±8.7%).Conclusion: Most OBPs and ORs were expressed in both subspecies but showed divergence in expression level. OR5 and OR65 might be species-specific expressed genes that regulate the olfactory behaviors ofCx.quinquefasciatusandCx.molestus, respectively. The RNA interference of OR5 and OR78 could inhibit the blood-feeding behavior ofCx.quinquefasciatus, providing new targets for screening effective repellent compounds to control mosquito-borne diseases effectively and efficiently.

• Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) re-emerged in China with ongoing global dissemination. • Adaptive viral mutations enhance vector fitness and expand epidemic risk. • Primary vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus behaviors boost transmission efficiency. • A live-attenuated and a recombinant virus-like particle vaccine are licensed; more candidate vaccines advancing.

Background: Aedes aegyptiis one of the most important vectors of zoonotic diseases worldwide, and its survival and reproductive processes depend heavily on its olfactory system. In this study, the expression levels of all odorant receptor (OR) genes ofAe. aegyptiwere explored during different physiological periods to identify olfactory genes that may be associated with mosquito blood-feeding and the search for oviposition sites.Methods: Four experimental groups, consisting ofAe. aegyptimales, pre-blood-feeding females, post-blood-feeding females and post-oviposition females, were established. A total of 114 pairs of primers targeting all messenger RNA encoded by OR genes were designed based on the whole genome ofAe. aegypti. The expression of OR genes was evaluated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR for relative quantification and the comparison of differences between groups.Results: A total of 53 differentially expressed OR genes were identified between males and females inAe. aegyptiantennae. Also, eight, eight and 13 differentially expressed OR genes were identified in pre- versus post-blood-feeding females, in pre- versus post-oviposition females and in post-blood-feeding versus post-oviposition females, respectively. In addition, 16 OR genes were significantly differentially expressed in multiple physiological periods of the mosquitoes.Conclusions: A large number of ORs with significant intergroup differences and high expression levels were screened in this study. Some of these genes are reported for the first time, providing possible targets for the development of mosquito control pathways based on the olfactory system.Graphical

Background: Since July 2025, an outbreak of mosquito-borne chikungunya fever has occurred in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China. This was the second large-scale local outbreak in China after the one that occurred in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, in 2010. As of 23 August, more than 10,000 human cases had been reported. This study aims to investigate mosquito infection and viral genomic characteristics during the Foshan outbreak. Methods: Adult Aedes albopictus were collected using BioGents Sentinel trap in three hotspot towns (Beijiao, Chencun and Lecong). Mosquitoes were morphologically identified and pooled by species, sex and environment type. Each pool was homogenized, and the homogenate was clarified by centrifugation; and the supernatant was used for viral RNA isolation. The isolated RNA was screened using CHIKV RT-qPCR. Positive pools underwent Sanger sequencing and whole-genome sequencing. The CHIKV lineage and mutational profiles were inferred using maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis and comparison with human- and mosquito-derived genomes. Results: Over 11 days of trapping, 2803 mosquitoes were captured. 1569 (55.97%) female Ae. albopictus were divided into 77 pools and 9.09% (7/77) of these pools were CHIKV-positive. The minimum infection rate (MIR, per 1000 females) for local Ae. albopictus was 4.46, while the MIR for residences in Lecong Town was the highest at 9.17 per 1000 females. The MIR for parklands was slightly higher than for residences (4.60 vs. 4.30 per 1000 females). Five complete Ae. albopictus -derived CHIKV genome clustered within the East/Central/South African-Indian Ocean lineage genotype, and harbored novel E1 and E2 mutations consistent with those detected in the 2025 Reunion Island human strain. Amino-acid mutations E1-A226V/E2-L210Q were detected, enhancing adaptability to Ae. albopictus and increasing the transmission capacity. Conclusions: This study represents the first mosquito-derived CHIKV whole-genome sequence obtained from the 2025 Foshan outbreak. Ae. albopictus was confirmed as the primary vector, and the presence of adaptive mutations indicated an enhanced transmission potential. Despite the outbreak emerging earlier in the season and affecting a dense urban population, it was effectively controlled through timely and intensive vector interventions. These findings highlighted the critical role of mosquito surveillance in early outbreak preparedness and effective vector management. Graphical