The BioMed Central Research awards – presented annually – recognises the outstanding research published in all its journals. Awards are presented to the best research in ten subject categories.

I am delighted to announce that Guido Favia and his colleagues are the winners of the ‘Microbiology, Immunology, Infection and Inflammation’ category award for their recent article in Parasites & Vectors:

Interactions between Asaia, Plasmodium and Anopheles: new insights into mosquito symbiosis and implications in Malaria Symbiotic Control

by: Aida Capone, Irene Ricci, Claudia Damiani, Michela Mosca, Paolo Rossi, Patrizia Scuppa, Elena Crotti, Sara Epis, Mauro Angeletti, Matteo Valzano, Luciano Sacchi, Claudio Bandi, Daniele Daffonchio, Mauro Mandrioli, Guido Favia Parasites & Vectors 2013, 6:182 (18 June 2013)

Guido is a Professor at the University of Camerino, Italy and his research group work on controlling malaria by genetically modifying Anopheles mosquitoes using paratransgenesis – the genetic manipulation of naturally of occurring symbiotic organisms from the mosquito. In their winning article, Guido and colleagues investigate the relationship between bacteria of the genus Asaia, Plasmodium and Anopheles, with the aim that understanding this complex relationship could provide us with the tools to use Asaia as a paratransgenic agent to reduce the competency of Anopheles as a malaria vector.