The crosstalk between copper-induced oxidative stress and cuproptosis: a novel potential anticancer paradigm.

Copper is a crucial trace element that plays a role in various pathophysiological processes in the human body. Copper also acts as a transition metal involved in redox reactions, contributing to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under prolonged and increased ROS levels, oxidative stress occurs, which has been implicated in different types of regulated cell death. The recent discovery of cuproptosis, a copper-dependent regulated cell death pathway that is distinct from other known regulated cell death forms, has raised interest to researchers in the field of cancer therapy. Herein, the present work aims to outline the current understanding of cuproptosis, with an emphasis on its anticancer activities through the interplay with copper-induced oxidative stress, thereby providing new ideas for therapeutic approaches targeting modes of cell death in the future.

An insight into the antioxidant activities and the exploration of record high quantities of quercetin and luteolin in the plant parts of Myxopyrum smilacifolium (wall.) Blume.

This study attempts to reveal antioxidants in the plant parts of Myxopyrum smilacifolium (Wall.) Blume using antioxidant assays and LC-MS/MS analysis. Methanol is the most effective solvent for collecting antioxidants. The roots-derived methanol extract demonstrates the greatest antioxidant activity, corresponding to the extremely low IC50 values of 16.39 µg/mL and 19.80 µg/mL for DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. The high phenolic and flavonoid contents are the primary reason for outstanding total antioxidant capacity (TAC; i.e. 247.73 ± 1.62 mg GA/g or 163.93 ± 0.83 mg AS/g) of the root extract. LC-MS/MS quantification of five phenolic compounds reveals exceptionally high amounts of quercetin and luteolin in the root extract, ranging from 238.86 ± 5.74 to 310.99 ± 1.44 µg/g and from 201.49 ± 7.84 to 234.10 ± 2.54 µg/g, respectively, in the root-derived methanol extract. The achievement highlights M. smilacifolium as a promising source of natural antioxidants for large-scale medical applications.

Detection of co-infection and recombination cases with Omicron and local Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Vietnam.

The first nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in Vietnam started in late April 2021 and was caused almost exclusively by a single Delta lineage, AY.57. In early 2022, multiple Omicron variants co-circulated with Delta variants and quickly became dominant. The co-circulation of Delta and Omicron happened leading to possibility of co-infection and recombination events which can be revealed by viral genomic data. From January to October 2022, a total of 1028 viral RNA samples out of 4852 positive samples (Ct < 30) were sequenced by the long pooled amplicons method on Illumina platforms. All sequencing data was analysed by the workflow for SARS-CoV-2 on CLC genomics workbench and Illumina Dragen Covid application. Among those sequenced samples, we detected a case of Delta AY.57/Omicron BA.1 co-infection and two cases of infection with Delta AY.57/Omicron BA.2 recombinants which were nearly identical and had different epidemiological characteristics. Since the AY.57 lineage circulated almost exclusively in Vietnam, these results strongly suggest domestic events of co-infection and recombination. These findings highlight the strengths of genomic surveillance in monitoring the circulating variants in the community enabling rapid identification of viral changes that may affect viral properties and evolutionary events.

Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia in Can Tho, Vietnam: Clinical Characteristics, Antimicrobial Resistance Profile and Risk Factors of Mortality.

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an important pathogen in both community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia. S. aureus pneumonia has a high mortality rate and serious complications. Resistance to multiple antibiotics is a major challenge in the treatment of S. aureus pneumonia. Understanding the antibiotic resistance profile of S. aureus and the risk factors for mortality can help optimize antibiotic regimens and improve patient outcomes in S. aureus pneumonia. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 118 patients diagnosed with S. aureus pneumonia between May 2021 and June 2023 was conducted, with a 30-day follow-up period. Demographic information, comorbidities, Charlson Comorbidity Index, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and complications were collected for each enrolled case. The data were processed and analyzed using R version 3.6.2. RESULTS: S. aureus pneumonia has a 30-day mortality rate of approximately 50%, with complication rates of 22% for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 26.3% for septic shock, and 14.4% for acute kidney injury (AKI). Among patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) pneumonia treated with vancomycin (n = 40), those with a vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤ 1 had significantly higher cumulative survival at day 30 compared to those with MIC ≥ 2 (log-rank test p = 0.04). The prevalence of MRSA among S. aureus isolates was 84.7%. Hemoptysis, methicillin resistance, acidosis (pH < 7.35), and meeting the Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society (IDSA/ATS) criteria for severe pneumonia were significantly associated with mortality in a multivariate Cox regression model based on the adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). CONCLUSIONS: S. aureus pneumonia is a severe clinical condition with high mortality and complication rates. MRSA has a high prevalence in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Hemoptysis, methicillin resistance, acidosis (pH < 7.35), and meeting the IDSA/ATS criteria for severe pneumonia are risk factors for mortality in S. aureus pneumonia.

Spermacosides a and B, two new triterpenoid saponins from Spermacoce ocymoides burm.f.

Two new triterpenoid saponins, named spermacosides A-B (1 - 2), together with two known oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, 3-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-ß-D-glucopyranosylbayogenin (3) and 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosylbayogenin (4), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Spermacoce ocymoides Burm.f. in a phytochemical investigation. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis (1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS), as well as comparison with reported data. All these compounds were evaluated for inhibiting nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, 1 showed a slight effect with an IC50 value of 108.65 ± 7.91 µM, and compounds 2-4 were inactive.

Absence of specific autoantibodies in patients with narcolepsy type 1 as indicated by an unbiased random peptide-displayed phage screening.

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is an enigmatic sleep disorder characterized by the selective loss of neurons producing orexin (also named hypocretin) in the lateral hypothalamus. Although NT1 is believed to be an autoimmune disease, the orexinergic neuron-specific antigens targeted by the pathogenic immune response remain elusive. In this study, we evaluated the differential binding capacity of various peptides to serum immunoglobin G from patients with NT1 and other hypersomnolence complaints (OHCs). These peptides were selected using an unbiased phage display technology or based on their significant presence in the serum of NT1 patients as identified from previous studies. Although the subtractive biopanning strategy successfully enriched phage clones with high reactivity against NT1 serum IgG, the 101 randomly selected individual phage clones could not differentiate the sera from NT1 and OHC. Compared to the OHC control group, serum from several NT1 patients exhibited increased reactivity to the 12-mer peptides derived from TRBV7, BCL-6, NRXN1, RXRG, HCRT, and RTN4 proteins, although not statistically significant. Collectively, employing both unbiased and targeted methodologies, we were unable to detect the presence of specific autoantibodies in our NT1 patient cohort. This further supports the hypothesis that the autoimmune response in NT1 patients likely stems primarily from T cell-mediated immunity rather than humoral immunity.

Novel melanin-derived stationary phase for immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography in recombinant His-tagged protein purification.

The matrix of the stationary phase is a crucial element in affinity chromatography for protein purification. Various materials, including polymer or magnetic materials, have been employed as the matrix in the purification of His-tagged protein. Here, for the first time, we utilized a combination of melanin and alginate, both natural polymer materials, to synthesize Ni-melanin/alginate (Ni-M/A) beads for His-tagged protein purification. We investigated the binding of His-tagged Mpro on the Ni-M/A beads, referred to as Ni-M/A-Mpro, and assessed the elution efficiency of Mpro from the beads. Our examination involved FTIR, EDS, XRD, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting methods. FTIR spectra revealed notable changes in the stretching patterns and intensities of hydroxyl, amine, carbonyl, imine and amide chemical groups, when Mpro protein was present in the Ni-M/A sample. XRD spectra demonstrated the occurrence of two Nickel peaks at 35-40 deg and 40-45 deg in Ni-M/A, but only one nickel peak at 35-40 deg in Ni-M/A-Mpro, indicating the binding of Mpro on the Nickel ions. EDS analysis reported a decrease in the concentration of Nickel on the surface of Ni-M/A from 16% to 7% when Mpro protein was loaded into the stationary phase. Importantly, our data indicated that the purity of the His-tagged protein Mpro after purification reached 97% after just one-step purification using the Ni-M/A stationary phase. Moreover, the binding capacity of Ni-M/A for Mpro was approximately 5.2 mg/g with recovery efficiency of 40%. Our results suggested Ni-M/A as a highly potential solid phase for affinity chromatography in the purification of His-tagged protein.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cell line (VRISGi004-A) from a healthy female donor by reprogramming erythroid progenitor cells.

We generated a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line from erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs) of a 20-year-old female healthy donor using Sendai virus vector encoding Yamanaka factors OCT3/4, SOX2, c-MYC, and KLF4. The established hiPSCs showed a standard morphology and expression of typical undifferentiated stem cell markers, a normal karyotype (46, XX), and demonstrated potential for differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, they were successfully differentiated into cardiomyocytes that expressed cardiomyocyte-specific markers. The iPSC line and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes will provide new avenues for future drug testing/development and personalized cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Controllable synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanosheets to build organic inhibitor-loaded nanocontainers for enhanced corrosion protection of carbon steel.

The development of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets as nanocontainers has been intensively studied in recent years. Despite their potential for application on a large scale, their synthesis in an aqueous medium is rarely reported. Herein, we report a straightforward approach for the controllable synthesis of uniform MgAl-LDH nanosheets by an aqueous nucleation process followed by a hydrothermal treatment. The key to this method relies on the well-dispersed LDH nuclei that are produced by high-speed homogenization. Following the nucleation step, the coalescence of the aggregate hydroxide layers is diminished by hydraulic shear forces, leading to the disaggregation and even distribution of LDH nuclei. As a result, the oriented growth of individual crystals along the horizontal plane becomes predominant, leading to a high surface charge density of the hydroxide sheets and preventing their stacking. The electron microscope virtual proofs showed that the particles had a well-defined circular shape with a thickness of about 2-3 nm. Afterward, for the first time, LDH nanosheets were used to prepare LDH nanocontainers loaded with 2-benzothiazolythio-succinic acid (BTSA) by anion exchange. The incorporation of BTSA into the interlayer region and the emission behavior of the inhibitor were investigated. These results indicate that the prepared nanosheets can be utilized as effective nanocontainers for organic inhibitor loading and anti-corrosion application.

Degradation of Triazole Fungicides by Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria from Contaminated Agricultural Soil.

The widespread application of triazole fungicides (TFs) in agricultural practices can result in the considerable accumulation of active compound residues in the soil and a subsequent negative impact on the soil microbiota and crop health. In this study, we isolated three TF-degrading bacterial strains from contaminated agricultural soils and identified them as Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Citrobacter sp. based on analysis of morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequences. The strains used three common TFs, namely hexaconazole, difenoconazole, and propiconazole, as their only sources of carbon and energy for growth in a liquid mineral salt medium, with high concentrations (~ 500 mg/l) of each TF. In addition to the ability to degrade fungicides, the isolates also exhibited plant growth-promoting characteristics, such as nitrogen fixation, indole acetic acid production, phosphate dissolution, and cellulose degradation. The synergistic combination of three bacterial isolates significantly improved plant growth and development with an increased survival rate (57%), and achieved TF degradation ranging from 85.83 to 96.59% at a concentration of approximately 50 mg/kg of each TF within 45 days in the soil-plant system. Based on these findings, the three strains and their microbial consortium show promise for application in biofertilizers, to improve soil health and facilitate optimal plant growth.

A new benzophenanthridine alkaloid from stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhetsa and its biological activities.

A new benzophenanthridine alkaloid 6-butanoyldihydrochelerythrine (1) and five known alkaloids 6-acetonyldihydronitidine (2), 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (3), isocorydine (4), (O)-methyltembamide (5), N-(4-methoxyphenethyl)benzamide (6) were isolated from the stem barks of Zanthoxylum rhetsa. These structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. This is the first time that compounds 2-6 were identified from Zanthoxylum rhetsa and the first time that compounds 4 and 6 were identified from the genus Zanthoxylum. Bioactivity results of isolated compounds showed that 1, 2, 5 and 6 exhibited inhibitory activity against MCF7 and A549 cell lines, while 3 showed the inhibitory activity against A549 cell line; all isolated compounds 1-6 inhibited at least two strain microorganisms; compound 4 showed angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitory activity in vitro with IC50 value of 65.58 µM and in silico with a docking score of -11.52 kcal/mol.

Mitigation of arsenic accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings by oxygen nanobubbles in hydroponic cultures.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic non-essential metal. Its accumulation in rice has not only seriously affected the growth of rice, but also poses a significant threat to human health. Many reports have been published to decrease the arsenic accumulation in the rice plant by various additives such as chemicals, fertilizers, adsorbents, microorganisms and analyzing the mechanism. Nanobubble is a new technology widely used in agriculture because of its long existence time and high mass transfer efficiency. However, a few studies have investigated the effect of nanobubbles on arsenic uptake in rice. This study investigated the effect of oxygen nanobubbles on the growth and uptake of As in rice. The oxygen nanobubbles could rupture the salinity of nutrients and produce the hydroxyl radical. The hydroxyl radical caused the oxidation of arsenic As(III) to As (V) and the oxidation of ferrous ions. At the same time, the oxidized iron adsorbing As (V) created the iron plaque on the rice roots to stop arsenic introduction into the rice plant. The results indicated that the treatment of oxygen nanobubbles increased rice biomass under As stress, while they increased the chlorophyll content and promoted plant photosynthesis. Oxygen nanobubbles reduced the As content in rice roots to 12.5% and shoots to 46.4%. In other words, it significantly decreased As accumulation in rice. Overall, oxygen nanobubbles mitigated the toxic effects of arsenic on rice and had the potential to reduce the accumulation of arsenic in rice.

Rapid profiling of Plasmodium parasites from genome sequences to assist malaria control.

BACKGROUND: Malaria continues to be a major threat to global public health. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the underlying Plasmodium parasites has provided insights into the genomic epidemiology of malaria. Genome sequencing is rapidly gaining traction as a diagnostic and surveillance tool for clinical settings, where the profiling of co-infections, identification of imported malaria parasites, and detection of drug resistance are crucial for infection control and disease elimination. To support this informatically, we have developed the Malaria-Profiler tool, which rapidly (within minutes) predicts Plasmodium species, geographical source, and resistance to antimalarial drugs directly from WGS data. RESULTS: The online and command line versions of Malaria-Profiler detect ~ 250 markers from genome sequences covering Plasmodium speciation, likely geographical source, and resistance to chloroquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), and other anti-malarial drugs for P. falciparum, but also providing mutations for orthologous resistance genes in other species. The predictive performance of the mutation library was assessed using 9321 clinical isolates with WGS and geographical data, with most being single-species infections (P. falciparum 7152/7462, P. vivax 1502/1661, P. knowlesi 143/151, P. malariae 18/18, P. ovale ssp. 5/5), but co-infections were identified (456/9321; 4.8%). The accuracy of the predicted geographical profiles was high to both continental (96.1%) and regional levels (94.6%). For P. falciparum, markers were identified for resistance to chloroquine (49.2%; regional range: 24.5% to 100%), sulfadoxine (83.3%; 35.4- 90.5%), pyrimethamine (85.4%; 80.0-100%) and combined SP (77.4%). Markers associated with the partial resistance of artemisinin were found in WGS from isolates sourced from Southeast Asia (30.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Malaria-Profiler is a user-friendly tool that can rapidly and accurately predict the geographical regional source and anti-malarial drug resistance profiles across large numbers of samples with WGS data. The software is flexible with modifiable bioinformatic pipelines. For example, it is possible to select the sequencing platform, display specific variants, and customise the format of outputs. With the increasing application of next-generation sequencing platforms on Plasmodium DNA, Malaria-Profiler has the potential to be integrated into point-of-care and surveillance settings, thereby assisting malaria control. Malaria-Profiler is available online (bioinformatics.lshtm.ac.uk/malaria-profiler) and as standalone software ( https://github.com/jodyphelan/malaria-profiler ).

Parent-adolescent conflict: an exploration from the perspective of Vietnamese adolescents.

This research investigates parent-adolescent conflicts from the viewpoint of Vietnamese adolescents. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study conducted in-depth interviews and a questionnaire survey with 706 high-school students. The findings highlight that conflicts between Vietnamese parents and adolescents commonly arise regarding internet usage for entertainment and academic purposes. Furthermore, adolescents reported having more conflicts with their mothers than with their fathers. Although instances of parental aggression were identified, most adolescents perceived their parents' conflict resolution as supportive. However, Vietnamese adolescents tended to display passive behavioral responses during conflicts. The research also identified certain emotional responses as warning signs of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts, among some adolescents. Moreover, a higher frequency of conflicts with parents was significantly associated with increased peer connections. The study emphasizes the importance of professionals, such as school social workers or counselors, prioritizing the understanding of parent-child conflicts' impact on adolescents' emotions and mental health. Additionally, it underscores the significance of examining parenting patterns and parent-child communication within contemporary Vietnamese families.

Deficient Mismatch Repair Proteins in Gastric Mixed Neuroendocrine Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasm: A Rare Case Report.

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) is a rare type of gastric carcinoma with controversial diagnosis and treatment. Recent data implies that deficiency mismatch repair proteins inducing microsatellite instability are considered one of the potential drivers of this disease. Hence, we report a stomach MiNEN with MMR protein loss. An admitted 60-year-old woman complained of epigastric pain. The pathological analysis of the gastro-endoscopic biopsy specimen revealed gastric adenocarcinoma. The radiological staging was cT3N1M0; therefore, she received D2 distal gastrectomy. Suspecting neuroendocrine component admix with adenocarcinoma part on the resected specimen microscopy, applying biomarkers including AE 1/3, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A to confirm the diagnosis of MiNEN. The neuroendocrine part was classified as neuroendocrine tumor grade 2 with Ki 67 at 16.5%. To further understand the molecular characterization of this disease, we evaluated mismatch protein expression by staining MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 antibodies. Interestingly, both components lost MLH1 and PMS2 proteins. Her radical surgery followed oxaliplatin/capecitabine adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient is still well after eight cycles of chemotherapy. dMMR gastric MiNENs and dMMR gastric cancer share many clinical and genetic characteristics. Further studies are necessary to survey the role of dMMR in the prognosis and treatment of this entity.

Controllable Synthesis of Hollow Silica Nanoparticles Using Layered Double Hydroxide Templates and Application for Thermal Insulation Coating.

The innovative hollow silica nanoparticle (HSN) material possesses substantial potential for application in the insulation field. The size and shell thickness of HSN are crucial factors in determining their inherent properties, which, in turn, impact their applicability. This research presents a facile approach to synthesizing HSN in which sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) was utilized as the silica precursor that can be directly deposited onto layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles without the utilization of any surfactant. A subsequent acid treatment was used to eliminate the templates, resulting in the formation of an HSN devoid of mesopores in silica shells. By utilizing various sizes of LDH cores, obtainable via coprecipitation followed by hydrothermal treatment, we were capable of successfully synthesizing the hollow particles with adjustable diameters ranging from 50 to 200 nm. In addition, the shell thickness is varied from 6.8 to 22.5 nm by varying the silicate solution concentration. Results demonstrate that prepared HSNs have low thermal conductivity and high reflectance in the UV-vis-NIR range (averaging 82.1%). These findings suggest that HSN can be utilized as an effective inorganic filler in the formulation of reflective and thermally insulating coatings.

To stay or re-migrate after the pandemic shock? Labor re-migration intention to the coastal areas of Thua Thiên Hue province in Vietnam.

This study applied the extended theory of planned behavior (ETPB) to explore factors that shape the behavioral intention of migrant laborers returning to the coastal region of Thua Thiên Hue province during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to remigrate. Data collection included 210 interviews with returned migrants aged 18 and above in 4 coastal communes of Thua Thiên Hue province, in-depth interviews (8 key informants) and a group discussion (5 persons). Exploratory factor analysis and a multivariate linear regression model were applied to analyze the data. Results showed that in addition to individual socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. level of education, age, income level and sex), attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived risk were also determinant factors of migrants' intention to remigrate. This research suggested that in order to build resilience of rural migration workers, related departments should seriously consider the following recommendations: (i) raise awareness and encourage young rural people to complete their education and necessary skills; (ii) organize related psychological training programs for rural laborers; (iii) raise awareness about the necessity to participate in social insurance; (iv) promote rural job creation programs suitable for low education and low-skilled rural laborers; (v) raise awareness for local people, particularly school children, about the value and opportunities of being smart farmers in the context of 4.0 technology and social risks at the destination for low education and low-skilled laborers; (vi) digitalize migration labor management and provide digital information services regarding job opportunities for rural laborers.

Exploration of Remarkably Potential Multitarget-Directed N-Alkylated-2-(substituted phenyl)-1H-benzimidazole Derivatives as Antiproliferative, Antifungal, and Antibacterial Agents.

Improving lipophilicity for drugs to penetrate the lipid membrane and decreasing bacterial and fungal coinfections for patients with cancer pose challenges in the drug development process. Here, a series of new N-alkylated-2-(substituted phenyl)-1H-benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, FTIR, and HRMS spectrum analyses to address these difficulties. All the compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Results indicated that compound 2g exhibited the best antiproliferative activity against the MDA-MB-231 cell line and also displayed significant inhibition at minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 8, 4, and 4 µg mL-1 against Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus compared with amikacin. The antifungal data of compounds 1b, 1c, 2e, and 2g revealed their moderate activities toward Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, with MIC values of 64 µg mL-1 for both strains. Finally, the molecular docking study found that 2g interacted with crucial amino acids in the binding site of complex dihydrofolate reductase with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.

Anopheles diversity, biting behaviour and transmission potential in forest and farm environments of Gia Lai province, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent reductions in Vietnam, malaria transmission persists in some areas in forests and farmlands where a high density of Anopheles mosquitoes relative to other environments occurs. To inform effective malaria control measures, it is important to understand vector bionomics and the malaria transmission role of Anopheles spp. in the highland regions of Vietnam. This study was conducted to quantify the abundance, composition and biting behaviour of the Anopheles mosquito population, and the proportion of Plasmodium spp. infected mosquitoes collected from forest and agricultural farm sites in Gia Lai province, Vietnam. METHODS: Forest and agricultural farm sites in Gia Lai province were selected for mosquito collections (total eight sites). Mosquito collection was performed by Human-baited Double Net Trap (HDNT), animal-baited traps (ABT) using cattle, and CDC light traps. Captured mosquitoes were identified morphologically, and salivary glands of Anopheles mosquitoes were examined for sporozoites using microscopy. Plasmodium infection was determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and identification of blood meal type was determined by PCR and diffuse serum agglutination assay. RESULTS: A total of 1815 Anopheles mosquitoes belonging to 19 species were collected by ABT (n = 1169), HDNT (n = 471) and CDC light trap (n = 175). Anopheles abundance and diversity varied by district and environment. Capture by HDNT of Anopheles of vectorial concern was observed between early evening and early morning. Plasmodium vivax infection was determined by PCR in two Anopheles dirus specimens captured by HDNT in forest sites. Blood from a range of hosts could, including human blood, could be detected in species considered primary and secondary vectors An. dirus, and Anopheles aconitus, and Anopheles maculatus, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A low number of Anopheles spp. considered primary vectors of concern and very low numbers of Plasmodium spp. infected Anopheles mosquitoes were captured at the end of the rainy season in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. However, capture species of vectorial concern by HDNT throughout the early to late evening demonstrates that use of additional personal protective measures could supplement current preventative measures, such as bed nets to prevent exposure to vectors of concern in this region.