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Background The increasing reports of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides associated with reduced efficacy of pyrethroid-only interventions highlight the urgency of introducing new non-pyrethroid-only control tools. Here, we investigated the performance of PBO-pyrethroid (PermaNet 3.0 (P3.0)) and dual active ingredients (AI) nets (Interceptor G2 (IG2) containing pyrethroids and chlorfenapyr) and Royal Guard (RG)- containing pyrethoids and pyripoxyfen) against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors in Cameroon.Methods The efficacy of these tools was first evaluated on Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus s.s using cone/tunnel assays in five sites across the country. In addition, experimental hut trials (EHT) were performed to evaluate the performance of these nets in semi-field conditions where An funestus predominate using unwashed and 20 times washed nets. Furthermore, pyrethroid-resistant markers were genotyped in dead vs alive, blood-fed vs unfed mosquitoes after exposure to these nets to evaluate the impact of known pyrethroid resistance markers on performance of the new nets.Results IG2 was the most effective net against wild pyrethroid -resistant An funestus followed by PermaNet 3.0. In EHT, this net induced up to 87.8% (95% CI 83– 92%) mortality and 55.6% (95% CI 48– 63%) after 20 washes whilst unwashed pyrethroid-only net (Royal sentry) killed just 18% (95% CI 13–23%) of host-seeking An. funestus. The unwashed P3.0 killed up to 54% (95% CI 44–63%) of field-resistant mosquitoes and 47% (95% CI 38– 57%) when washed 20 times. IG2 and P3.0 also provided better personal protection (blood feeding inhibition 66.2% and 92.8%) compared to pyrethroid-only net RS (8.4%) RG (77.84%). Interestingly, a negative association was found between kdrW and the chlorfenapyr-based net IG2 (χ2 = 138; P Conclusions The high mortality recorded by Interceptor G2 against pyrethroid-resistant An. funestus in this study provides first field evidence of high efficacy against this major malaria vector in Cameroon. However the efficacy of this tools should be assessed in other locations and on other major malaria vectors across the country.

New insecticides have recently been produced to help control pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors including the pyrrole chlorfenapyr. Monitoring the susceptibility of mosquito populations against novel insecticides and potential cross-resistance with current insecticides is vital for better resistance management. In this study, we assessed the resistance status of the major malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus to chlorfenapyr across Africa and explored potential cross-resistance with known pyrethroid resistance markers.Efficacy of chlorfenapyr 100µg/ml against An. gambiae and An. funestus from five Cameroonian locations, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Uganda, and Malawi was assessed using CDC bottle assays. Synergist assays were performed with PBO (4%), DEM (8%) and DEF (0.25% and several pyrethroid-resistant markers were genotyped in both species to assess potential cross-resistance between pyrethroids and chlorfenapyr.Resistance to chlorfenapyr was detected in An. gambiae populations from DRC (Kinshasa) (mortality rate: 64.3 ± 7.1%) Ghana (Obuasi)(65.9 ± 7.4%), Cameroon (Mangoum ;75.2±7.7% and Nkolondom ; 86.1 ± 7.4). In contrast, all An. funestus populations were fully susceptible. A negative association was observed between the L1014F-kdr mutation and chlorfenapyr resistance with a greater frequency of homozygote resistant mosquitoes among the dead mosquitoes after exposure compared to alive (OR=0.5; P=0.02). No association was found between GSTe2 (I114T in An. gambiae; L119F in An. funestus) and resistance to chlorfenapyr. A significant increase of mortality to chlorfenapyr 10µg/ml was observed in An funestus after to PBO, DEM and DEF whereas decreased mortality was observed in An gambiae after pre-exposure to PBO although not significant.This study reveals a greater risk of chlorfenapyr resistance in An. gambiae populations than in An. funestus. However, the higher susceptibility in kdr-resistant mosquitoes points to the efficacy of chlorfenapyr against the widespread kdr-based pyrethroid resistance.

Malaria remains a major public health concern in Africa. Metabolic resistance in major malaria vectors such as An. funestus is jeopardizing the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to control malaria. Here, we used experimental hut trials (EHTs) to investigate the impact of cytochrome P450-based resistance on the efficacy of PBO-based net (Olyset Plus) compared to a permethrin-only net (Olyset), revealing a greater loss of efficacy for the latter. EHT performed with progenies of F5 crossing between the An. funestus pyrethroid-resistant strain FUMOZ and the pyrethroid-susceptible strain FANG revealed that PBO-based nets (Olyset Plus) induced a significantly higher mortality rate (99.1%) than pyrethroid-only nets (Olyset) (56.7%) (p < 0.0001). The blood-feeding rate was higher in Olyset compared to Olyset Plus (11.6% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.013). Genotyping the CYP6P9a/b and the intergenic 6.5 kb structural variant (SV) resistance alleles showed that, for both nets, homozygote-resistant mosquitoes have a greater ability to blood-feed than the susceptible mosquitoes. Homozygote-resistant genotypes significantly survived more with Olyset after cone assays (e.g., CYP6P9a OR = 34.6; p < 0.0001) than homozygote-susceptible mosquitoes. A similar but lower correlation was seen with Olyset Plus (OR = 6.4; p < 0.001). Genotyping EHT samples confirmed that CYP6P9a/b and 6.5 kb_SV homozygote-resistant mosquitoes survive and blood-feed significantly better than homozygote-susceptible mosquitoes when exposed to Olyset. Our findings highlight the negative impact of P450-based resistance on pyrethroid-only nets, further supporting that PBO nets, such as Olyset Plus, are a better solution in areas of P450-mediated resistance to pyrethroids.

Background Aggravation of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is threatening the efforts to control malaria by reducing the efficacy of insecticide-based interventions hence needs to be closely monitored. This study investigated the intensity of insecticide resistance of two major malaria vectors An. funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) and An. gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) collected in southern Ghana and assessed the bio-efficacy of several long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) against these mosquito populations. Methods The insecticide susceptibility profiles of Anopheles funestus s.s. and Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations from Obuasi region (Atatam), southern Ghana were characterized and the bio-efficacy of some LLINs was assessed to determine the impact of insecticide resistance on the effectiveness of these tools. Furthermore, molecular markers associated with insecticide resistance in both species were characterized in the F0 and F1 populations using PCR and qPCR methods. Results Anopheles funestus s.s. was the predominant species and was resistant to pyrethroids, organochlorine and carbamate insecticides, but fully susceptible to organophosphates. An. gambiae s.l. was resistant to all four insecticide classes. High intensity of resistance to 5 × and 10 × the discriminating concentration (DC) of pyrethroids was observed in both species inducing a considerable loss of efficacy of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Temporal expression analysis revealed a massive 12-fold increase in expression of the CYP6P4a cytochrome P450 gene in An. funestus s.s., initially from a fold change of 41 (2014) to 500 (2021). For both species, the expression of candidate genes did not vary according to discriminating doses. An. gambiae s.l. exhibited high frequencies of target-site resistance including Vgsc-1014F (90%) and Ace-1 (50%) while these mutations were absent in An. funestus s.s. Conclusions The multiple and high intensity of resistance observed in both malaria vectors highlights the need to implement resistance management strategies and the introduction of new insecticide chemistries.

Background Malaria control relies mainlyon insecticide-based tools. However, the effectiveness of these tools is threatened by widespread insecticide resistance in malaria vectors, highlighting the need for alternative control approaches. The endosymbiont Asaia has emerged as a promising candidate for paratransgenic control of malaria, but its biology and genetics still need to be further analyzed across Africa. Here, we investigated the prevalence of Asaia and its maternal transmission in the natural population of Anopheles mosquitoes in Cameroon. Methods Indoor-resting adult mosquitoes belonging to four species (An. coluzzii, An. arabiensis, An. funestus and An. gambiae) were collected from eight localities across Cameroon from July 2016 to February 2020. PCR was performed on the Asaia-specific 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and samples positive by PCR for Asaia were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The vertical transmission of Asaia was investigated by screening F1 mosquitoes belonging to F0Asaia-positive females. Results A total of 895 mosquitoes were screened. We found 43% (384) Asaia infection prevalence in four mosquito species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Asaia from Cameroon clustered together with the strains of Asaia isolated from other parts of the world. In addition, seven nucleotide sequence variants were found with low genetic diversity (π = 0.00241) and nucleotide sequence variant diversity (Hd = 0.481). Asaia was vertically transmitted with high frequency (range from 42.5 to 100%). Conclusions This study provides field-based evidence of the presence of Asaia in Anopheles mosquitoes in Cameroon for exploitation as a symbiont in the control of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Graphical abstract

Monitoring cases of insecticide resistance aggravation and the effect on the efficacy of control tools is crucial for successful malaria control. In this study, the resistance intensity of major malaria vectors from Uganda was characterised and its impact on the performance of various insecticide-treated nets elucidated. High intensity of resistance to the discriminating concentration (DC), 5× DC, and 10× DC of pyrethroids was observed in both Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae in Mayuge and Busia leading to significant reduced performance of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) including the piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-based nets (Olyset Plus). Molecular analysis revealed significant over-expression of cytochrome P450 genes (CYP9K1 and CYP6P9a/b). However, the expression of these genes was not associated with resistance escalation as no difference was observed in the level of expression in mosquitoes resistant to 5× DC and 10× DC compared to 1× DC suggesting that other resistance mechanisms are involved. Such high intensity of pyrethroid resistance in Uganda could have terrible consequences on the effectiveness of insecticide-based interventions and urgent action should be taken to prevent the spread of super-resistance in malaria vectors.

Growing insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is threatening the effectiveness of insecticide-based interventions, including Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs). However, the impact of metabolic resistance on the effectiveness of these tools remains poorly characterized. Using experimental hut trials and genotyping of a glutathione S-transferase resistance marker (L119F-GSTe2), we established that GST-mediated resistance is reducing the efficacy of LLINs against Anopheles funestus. Hut trials performed in Cameroon revealed that Piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-based nets induced a significantly higher mortality against pyrethroid resistant An. funestus than pyrethroid-only nets. Blood feeding rate and deterrence were significantly higher in all LLINs than control. Genotyping the L119F-GSTe2 mutation revealed that, for permethrin-based nets, 119F-GSTe2 resistant mosquitoes have a greater ability to blood feed than susceptible while the opposite effect is observed for deltamethrin-based nets. For Olyset Plus, a significant association with exophily was observed in resistant mosquitoes (OR = 11.7, p &lt, 0.01). Furthermore, GSTe2-resistant mosquitoes (cone assays) significantly survived with PermaNet 2.0 (OR = 2.1, 0.01) and PermaNet 3.0 (side) (OR = 30.1, 0.001) but not for Olyset Plus. This study shows that the efficacy of PBO-based nets (e.g., blood feeding inhibition) against pyrethroid resistant malaria vectors could be impacted by other mechanisms including GST-mediated metabolic resistance not affected by the synergistic action of PBO. Mosaic LLINs incorporating a GST inhibitor (diethyl maleate) could help improve their efficacy in areas of GST-mediated resistance.

Background Malaria vectors are increasingly developing resistance to insecticides across Africa. The impact of such resistance on the continued effectiveness of insecticide-based interventions remains unclear due to poor characterization of vector populations. This study reports the characterization of malaria vectors at Mibellon, a selected site in Cameroon for experimental hut study, including species composition, Plasmodium infection rate, resistance profiles and mechanisms. Methods Indoor resting blood-fed Anopheles mosquitoes were collected from houses at Mibellon in 2017 and forced to lay eggs to generate F1 adult mosquitoes. Insecticides susceptibility bioassays were performed on the F1 adult mosquitoes following the WHO protocol to assess resistance profile to insecticides. The molecular basis of resistance and Plasmodium infection rate were investigated using TaqMan genotyping. Results Anopheles funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) was predominant in Mibellon (80%) followed by Anopheles gambiae s.s. (20%). High levels of resistance to pyrethroids and organochlorides were observed for both species. Moderate resistance was observed against bendiocarb (carbamate) in both species, but relatively higher in An. gambiae s.s. In contrast, full susceptibility was recorded for the organophosphate malathion. The PBO synergist assays with permethrin and deltamethrin revealed a significant recovery of the susceptibility in Anopheles funestus s.s. population (48.8 to 98.1% mortality and 38.3 to 96.5% mortality, respectively). The DDT/pyrethroid 119F-GSTe2 resistant allele (28.1%) and the dieldrin 296S-RDL resistant (9.7%) were detected in An. funestus s.s. The high pyrethroid/DDT resistance in An. gambiae correlated with the high frequency of 1014F knockdown resistance allele (63.9%). The 1014S-kdr allele was detected at low frequency (1.97%). The Plasmodium infection rate was 20% in An. gambiae, whereas An. funestus exhibited an oocyst rate of 15 and 5% for the sporozoite rate. Conclusion These results highlight the increasing spread of insecticide resistance and the challenges that control programmes face to maintain the continued effectiveness of insecticide-based interventions.

Growing insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is threatening the effectiveness of insecticide-based interventions, including Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs). However, the impact of metabolic resistance on the effectiveness of these tools remains poorly characterized. Using experimental hut trials and genotyping of a glutathione S-transferase resistance marker (L119F-GSTe2), we established that GST-mediated resistance is reducing the efficacy of LLINs against Anopheles funestus. Hut trials performed in Cameroon revealed that Piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-based nets induced a significantly higher mortality against pyrethroid resistant An. funestus than pyrethroid-only nets. Blood feeding rate and deterrence were significantly higher in all LLINs than control. Genotyping the L119F-GSTe2 mutation revealed that, for permethrin-based nets, 119F-GSTe2 resistant mosquitoes have a greater ability to blood feed than susceptible while the opposite effect is observed for deltamethrin-based nets. For Olyset Plus, a significant association with exophily was observed in resistant mosquitoes (OR = 11.7; p < 0.01). Furthermore, GSTe2-resistant mosquitoes (cone assays) significantly survived with PermaNet 2.0 (OR = 2.1; p < 0.01) and PermaNet 3.0 (side) (OR = 30.1; p < 0.001) but not for Olyset Plus. This study shows that the efficacy of PBO-based nets (e.g., blood feeding inhibition) against pyrethroid resistant malaria vectors could be impacted by other mechanisms including GST-mediated metabolic resistance not affected by the synergistic action of PBO. Mosaic LLINs incorporating a GST inhibitor (diethyl maleate) could help improve their efficacy in areas of GST-mediated resistance.

In Cameroon, pyrethroid-only long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are still largely used for malaria control. The present study assessed the efficacy of such LLINs against a multiple-resistant population of the major malaria vector, Anopheles coluzzii, in the city of Yaoundé via a cone bioassay and release-recapture experimental hut trial. Susceptibility of field mosquitoes in Yaoundé to pyrethroids, DDT, carbamates and organophosphate insecticides was investigated using World Health Organization (WHO) bioassay tube tests. Mechanisms of insecticide resistance were characterised molecularly. Efficacy of unwashed PermaNet® 2.0 was evaluated against untreated control nets using a resistant colonised strain of An. coluzzii. Mortality, exophily and blood feeding inhibition were estimated. Field collected An. coluzzii displayed high resistance with mortality rates of 3.5% for propoxur (0.1%), 4.16% for DDT (4%), 26.9% for permethrin (0.75%), 50.8% for deltamethrin (0.05%), and 80% for bendiocarb (0.1%). High frequency of the 1014F west-Africa kdr allele was recorded in addition to the overexpression of several detoxification genes, such as Cyp6P3, Cyp6M2, Cyp9K1, Cyp6P4 Cyp6Z1 and GSTe2. A low mortality rate (23.2%) and high blood feeding inhibition rate (65%) were observed when resistant An. coluzzii were exposed to unwashed PermaNet® 2.0 net compared to control untreated net (p

Quasi-free photoproduction of $ \eta{^\prime}$ -mesons off nucleons bound in the deuteron has been measured with the combined Crystal Barrel - TAPS detector. The experiment was done at a tagged photon beam of the ELSA electron accelerator in Bonn for incident photon energies from the production threshold up to 2.5GeV. The $ \eta{^\prime}$ -mesons have been detected in coincidence with recoil protons and recoil neutrons. The quasi-free proton data are in good agreement with the results for free protons, indicating that nuclear effects have no significant impact. The coincidence with recoil neutrons provides the first data for the $ \gamma$ n $ \rightarrow$ n $ \eta{^\prime}$ reaction. In addition, also first estimates for coherent $ \eta{^\prime}$ -production off the deuteron have been obtained. In agreement with model predictions, the total cross-section for this channel is found to be very small, at most at the level of a few nb. The data are compared to model calculations taking into account contributions from nucleon resonances and t -channel exchanges

Photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons off $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, $^{93}$Nb, and $^{nat}$Pb nuclei has been measured with a tagged photon beam with energies between 0.6 and 2.2 GeV. The experiment was performed at the Bonn ELSA accelerator with the combined setup of the Crystal Barrel and TAPS calorimeters. It aimed at the in-medium properties of the S$_{11}$(1535) nucleon resonance and the study of the absorption properties of nuclear matter for $\eta$ mesons. Careful consideration was given to contributions from $\eta\pi$ final states and secondary production mechanisms of $\eta$-mesons e.g. from inelastic $\pi N$ reactions of intermediate pions. The analysis of the mass number scaling shows that the nuclear absorption cross section $\sigma_{N\eta}$ for $\eta$ mesons is constant over a wide range of the $\eta$ momentum. The comparison of the excitation functions to data off the deuteron and to calculations in the framework of a BUU-model show no unexplained in-medium modifications of the S$_{11}$(1535)., Comment: Accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. A

Metabolic resistance to insecticides such as pyrethroids in mosquito vectors threatens control of malaria in Africa. Unless it is managed, recent gains in reducing malaria transmission could be lost. To improve monitoring and assess the impact of insecticide resistance on malaria control interventions, we elucidated the molecular basis of pyrethroid resistance in the major African malaria vector, Anopheles funestus. We showed that a single cytochrome P450 allele (CYP6P9a_R) in A. funestus reduced the efficacy of insecticide-treated bednets for preventing transmission of malaria in southern Africa. Expression of key insecticide resistance genes was detected in populations of this mosquito vector throughout Africa but varied according to the region. Signatures of selection and adaptive evolutionary traits including structural polymorphisms and cis-regulatory transcription factor binding sites were detected with evidence of selection due to the scale-up of insecticide-treated bednet use. A cis-regulatory polymorphism driving the overexpression of the major resistance gene CYP6P9a allowed us to design a DNA-based assay for cytochrome P450–mediated resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. Using this assay, we tracked the spread of pyrethroid resistance and found that it was almost fixed in mosquitoes from southern Africa but was absent from mosquitoes collected elsewhere in Africa. Furthermore, a field study in experimental huts in Cameroon demonstrated that mosquitoes carrying the resistance CYP6P9a_R allele survived and succeeded in blood feeding more often than did mosquitoes that lacked this allele. Our findings highlight the need to introduce a new generation of insecticide-treated bednets for malaria control that do not rely on pyrethroid insecticides.

The reaction γ p → K S 0 Σ + is studied in the photon energy range from threshold. Linearly polarised photon beams from coherent bremsstrahlung enabled the first measurement of photon beam asymmetries in this reaction up to E γ = 1650 MeV . In addition, the recoil hyperon polarisation was determined through the asymmetry in the weak decay Σ + → p π 0 up to E γ = 2250 MeV . The data are compared to partial wave analyses, and the possible impact on the interpretation of a recently observed prominent structure in the cross section near the K ⁎ thresholds is discussed.

Background\ud Despite the recent progress in establishing the patterns of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus, Central African populations of this species remain largely uncharacterised. To bridge this important gap and facilitate the implementation of suitable control strategies against this vector, we characterised the resistance patterns of An. funestus population from northern Cameroon.\ud \ud Methods and Findings\ud \ud Collection of indoor-resting female mosquitoes in Gounougou (northern Cameroon) in 2012 and 2015 revealed a predominance of An. funestus during dry season. WHO bioassays performed using F1 An. funestus revealed that the population was multiple resistant to several insecticide classes including pyrethroids (permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and etofenprox), carbamates (bendiocarb) and organochlorines (DDT and dieldrin). However, a full susceptibility was observed against the organophosphate malathion. Bioassays performed with 2015 collection revealed that resistance against pyrethroids and DDT is increasing. PBO synergist assays revealed a significant recovery of susceptibility for all pyrethroids but less for DDT. Analysis of the polymorphism of a portion of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) revealed the absence of the L1014F/S kdr mutation but identified 3 novel amino acid changes I877L, V881L and A1007S. However, no association was established between VGSC polymorphism and pyrethroid/DDT resistance. The DDT resistant 119F-GSTe2 allele (52%) and the dieldrin resistant 296S-RDL allele (45%) were detected in Gounougou. Temporal analysis between 2006, 2012 and 2015 collections revealed that the 119F-GSTe2 allele was relatively stable whereas a significant decrease is observed for 296S-RDL allele.\ud \ud Conclusion\ud This multiple resistance coupled with the temporal increased in resistance intensity highlights the need to take urgent measures to prolong the efficacy of current insecticide-based interventions against An. funestus in this African region.

The γ + p → K 0 + Σ + photoproduction reaction is investigated in the energy region from threshold to E γ = 2250 MeV . The differential cross section exhibits increasing forward-peaking with energy, but only up to the K ⁎ threshold. Beyond, it suddenly returns to a flat distribution with the forward cross section dropping by a factor of four. In the total cross section a pronounced structure is observed between the K ⁎ Λ and K ⁎ Σ thresholds.

The photoproduction of η ′ -mesons off different nuclei has been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system for incident photon energies between 1500–2200 MeV. The transparency ratio has been deduced and compared to theoretical calculations describing the propagation of η ′ -mesons in nuclei. The comparison indicates a width of the η ′ -meson of the order of Γ = 15 – 25 MeV at ρ = ρ 0 for an average momentum p η ′ = 1050 MeV / c , at which the η ′ -meson is produced in the nuclear rest frame. The inelastic η ′ N cross section is estimated to be 3–10 mb. Parameterizing the photoproduction cross section of η ′ -mesons by σ ( A ) = σ 0 A α , a value of α = 0.84 ± 0.03 has been deduced.

The polarization observable I^s, a feature exclusive to the acoplanar kinematics of multi-meson final states produced via linearly polarized photons, has been measured for the first time. Results for the reaction g p -> p pi0 eta are presented for incoming photon energies between 970 MeV and 1650 MeV along with the beam asymmetry I^c. The comparably large asymmetries demonstrate a high sensitivity of I^s to the dynamics of the reaction. Fits using Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis demonstrate that the new polarization observables carry significant information on the contributing partial waves., 11 pages, 6 figures, v2 to appear in Phys. Lett. B

Decays of baryon resonances in the second and the third resonance region into N pi(0)pi(0) are studied by photoproduction of two neutral pions off protons. Partial decay widths of N* and Delta* resonances decaying into Delta(1232)pi, N(pi pi)(S), N(1440)P-11 pi, and N(1520)D-13 pi are determined in a partial wave analysis of this data and of data from other reactions. Several partial decay widths were not known before. Interesting decay patterns are observed which are not even qualitatively reproduced by quark model calculations. In the second resonance region, decays into Delta(1232)pi dominate clearly. The N(pi pi)(S)-wave provides a significant contribution to the cross section, especially in the third resonance region. The P-13(1720) properties found here are at clear variance to PDG values. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background Deciphering the dynamics and evolution of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is crucial for successful vector control. This study reports an increase of resistance intensity and a rise of multiple insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus in Malawi leading to reduced bed net efficacy. Methods Anopheles funestus group mosquitoes were collected in southern Malawi and the species composition, Plasmodium infection rate, susceptibility to insecticides and molecular bases of the resistance were analysed. Results Mosquito collection revealed a predominance of An. funestus group mosquitoes with a high hybrid rate (12.2 %) suggesting extensive species hybridization. An. funestus sensu stricto was the main Plasmodium vector (4.8 % infection). Consistently high levels of resistance to pyrethroid and carbamate insecticides were recorded and had increased between 2009 and 2014. Furthermore, the 2014 collection exhibited multiple insecticide resistance, notably to DDT, contrary to 2009. Increased pyrethroid resistance correlates with reduced efficacy of bed nets (

Omega photoproduction off hydrogen and deuterium has been studied with the tagged photon beam of the ELSA accelerator in Bonn for photon energies up to 2.0 GeV. The omega meson has been identified via the omega -> pi(0) gamma -> gamma gamma gamma decay mode, using the combined setup of the Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector systems. Both inclusive and exclusive analyses have been carried out. Differential and total cross-sections have been derived for omega mesons produced off free protons and off protons and neutrons bound in deuterium. The cross-section for the production off the bound neutron is found to be a factor of a parts per thousand 1.3 larger than the one off the bound proton in the incident beam energy region 1.2 GeV

The helicity dependence of the total cross section for the (gamma) over right arrow(p) over right arrow -> p pi(0)pi(0) reaction has been measured for the first time at incident photon energies from 400 to 800 MeV. The measurement, performed at the tagged photon beam facility of the MAMI accelerator in Mainz, used the large acceptance detector DAPHNE and a longitudinally polarized frozen-spin target. This channel is found to be excited predominantly when the photon and proton have a parallel spin orientation, most likely due to the intermediate production of the D-13(1520) resonance. However, the contribution of the antiparallel spin configuration, arising from other reaction mechanisms, is also not negligible. This result gives important new information to resolve the existing model discrepancies in the identification of the nucleon resonances contributing to this channel.

The reaction gamma p --> K0 Sigma+ was measured in the photon energy range from threshold up to 2.6 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA, in Bonn. Results are presented on the reaction cross section and the polarization of the Sigma+ as a function of the kaon production angle in the centre-of-mass system, cos(Theta_K^{c.m.}), and the photon energy. The cross section is lower and varies less with photon energy and kaon production angle than that of gamma p --> K+ Sigma0. The Sigma+ is polarized predominantly at cos(Theta_K^{c.m.}) \approx 0. The data presented here are more precise than previous ones obtained with SAPHIR and extend the photon energy range to higher values. They are compared to isobar model calculations.

The photoproduction of ρ0-mesons and Δ-baryons at photon energies up to 2.6 GeV has been studied with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher ELSA. Total and differential cross-sections were obtained. The decay angular distributions of ρ0-mesons show that s-channel helicity conservation, which is valid at high photon energies, is broken near threshold. The energy dependencies of the decay angular distributions in the helicity system as well as in the Gottfried-Jackson system hint at small s- or u-channel resonance contributions. For the reactions γp → Δ{++}π- and γp → Δ0π+ new data on cross-sections are presented.

A high-quality double-polarization data set for the helicity dependence of the total and differential cross-sections for both gammap --> Npi channels in the Delta region has been obtained in the framework of the GDH experiment. The experiment, performed at the Mainz microtron MAMI, used a 4pi detection system, a circularly polarized photon beam, and a longitudinally polarized frozen-spin target. These data are included in the database to perform a multipole analysis to determine the properties of the Delta(1232)-resonance. For the resonant Delta(1232) multipoles we find a very good agreement with previous analyses, while the nonresonant ones show significant deviations.

The reactions gamma p --> K+ Lambda and gamma p --> K+ Sigma0 were measured in the energy range from threshold up to a photon energy of 2.6 GeV. The data were taken with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA. Results on cross sections and hyperon polarizations are presented as a function of kaon production angle and photon energy. The total cross section for Lambda production rises steeply with energy close to threshold, whereas the Sigma0 cross section rises slowly to a maximum at about E_gamma = 1.45 GeV. Cross sections together with their angular decompositions into Legendre polynomials suggest contributions from resonance production for both reactions. In general, the induced polarization of Lambda has negative values in the kaon forward direction and positive values in the backward direction. The magnitude varies with energy. The polarization of Sigma0 follows a similar angular and energy dependence as that of Lambda, but with opposite sign.

The positive--strangeness baryon resonance $\Theta^+$ is observed in photoproduction of the $\rm nK^+K^0_s$ final state with the SAPHIR detector at the Bonn ELectron Stretcher Accelerator ELSA. It is seen as a peak in the $\rm nK^+$ invariant mass distribution with a $4.8\sigma$ confidence level. We find a mass $\rm M_{\Theta^+} = 1540\pm 4\pm 2$ MeV and an upper limit of the width $\rm \Gamma_{\Theta^+} < 25$ MeV at 90% c.l. From the absence of a signal in the $\rm pK^+$ invariant mass distribution in $\rm\gamma p\to pK^+K^-$ at the expected strength we conclude that the $\Theta^+$ must be isoscalar., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures

The photoproduction of the vector meson $\omega$ has been studied between threshold and W = 2.4 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the Bonn electron stretcher ring ELSA. Besides, the total cross-sections angular distributions in the CMS and decay angular distributions in the helicity and Gottfried-Jackson systems have been measured.

Photoproduction of Φ-vector-mesons has been studied from reaction threshold up to W = 2.4 GeV with the SAPHIR spectrometer at the Bonn electron stretcher ring ELSA. Total cross-sections, differential cross-sections and decay angular distributions were measured. We find evidence for strong non-diffractive contributions to Φ photoproduction.

This paper describes the set-up and calibration of the tagging system of the GDH-Experiment at the accelerator facility E lsa in Bonn. The system consists of a C-type dipole magnet and a hodoscope of 65 scintillation counters which are operated pairwise in coincidence to form 64 tagging channels. Photons can be tagged in a range of 68–97% of the primary electron energy E0. The energy resolution ranges from 0.2% to 0.6% of E0. The time resolution is better than 165 ps . The system was operated at rates up to 5×10 6 photons/s in the full tagged energy range. The energy dependence of the photon definition probability was determined using several different methods and was found to agree well with calculations.

The helicity dependence of the total cross section for the (γ) over right arrow(p) over right arrownpi(+) pi(0) reaction has been measured for the first time at incident photon energies from 400 to 800 MeV The measurement was performed with the large acceptance detector DAPHNE at the tagged photon beam facility of the MAMI accelerator in Mainz. This channel is found to be excited predominantly when the photon and proton have a parallel spin orientation, due to the intermediate production of the D-13 resonance. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

For the GDH-Experiment at ELSA, the helicity dependent total photoabsorption cross-section is to be determined. These measurements will be performed with the newly developed GDH-Detector which is presented here. The concept of the GDH-Detector is to detect at least one reaction product from all possible hadronic processes with almost complete acceptance concerning solid angle and efficiency. This is realized by an arrangement of scintillators and lead. The overall acceptance for hadronic processes is better than 99%. The electromagnetic background is suppressed by about five orders of magnitude by means of a threshold Cherenkov detector. In dedicated tests, it has been demonstrated that all individual components of the GDH-Detector fulfill the design goals. Measurements of unpolarized total photoabsorption cross-sections were performed to ensure that the complete GDH-Detector is operational.

A prototype gamma ray detector for the detection of π0 in the proposed experiment at SPring-8 to study the Gerasimov–Drell–Hearn (GDH) sum rule (GDH experiment) has been built and tested. The detector is fabricated with lead-scintillator tiles and wave length shifter fiber readout. This detector will be placed inside the bore of the superconducting magnet which supplies the polarized target with a 2.5 T magnetic field. High-detection efficiency (above 85%) for the gamma rays is the most important requirement for this detector to be employed in the proposed experiment. It has been tested with minimum ionizing particles, electrons and gamma rays. The results of the tests in comparison with some Monte Carlo simulations are presented. The evaluated efficiency for gamma rays ranging in energy above 50 MeV is higher than 90%.