Imperial College London
Portrait Picture

Dr C M (Tilly) Collins

Faculty of Natural Sciences, Centre for Environmental Policy

Senior Teaching Fellow
 
 
 
//

Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 9301t.collins Website

 
 
//

Location

 

110aWeeks BuildingSouth Kensington Campus

//

Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Valerio:2016:10.1186/s12936-016-1288-4,
author = {Valerio, L and Collins, CM and Lees, RS and Benedict, MQ},
doi = {10.1186/s12936-016-1288-4},
journal = {Malaria Journal},
title = {Benchmarking vector arthropod culture: an example using the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae)},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12936-016-1288-4},
volume = {15},
year = {2016}
}
Download

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - BackgroundNumerous important characteristics of adult arthropods are related to their size; this is influenced by conditions experienced as immatures. Arthropods cultured in the laboratory for research, or mass-reared for novel control methods, must therefore be of a standard size range and known quality so that results are reproducible.MethodsA simple two-step technique to assess laboratory culture methods was demonstrated using the mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s. as a model. First, the ranges of key development outcomes were determined using various diet levels. The observed outcomes described the physiologically constrained limits. Secondly, the same outcomes were measured when using a standard operating procedure (SOP) for comparison with the determined ranges.ResultsThe standard method resulted in similar development rates to those of high and medium diets, wing length between those resulting from the high and medium diets, and larval survival exceeding all benchmark diet level values. The SOP used to produce experimental material was shown to produces high-quality material, relative to the biologically constrained limits.ConclusionsThe comparison between all possible phenotypic outcomes, as determined by biological constraints, with those outcomes obtained using a given rearing protocol is termed “benchmarking”. A method is here demonstrated which could be easily adapted to other arthropods, to objectively assess important characters obtained, and methods used, during routine culture that may affect outcomes of research.
AU  - Valerio,L
AU  - Collins,CM
AU  - Lees,RS
AU  - Benedict,MQ
DO  - 10.1186/s12936-016-1288-4
PY  - 2016///
SN  - 1475-2875
TI  - Benchmarking vector arthropod culture: an example using the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae)
T2  - Malaria Journal
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12936-016-1288-4
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/33434
VL  - 15
ER  -
Download