Article
Virology
Valeria L. Carvalho, Maureen T. Long
Summary: The group of Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) includes viruses apparently restricted to insects based on their inability to replicate in vertebrates. While most studies have focused on ISVs belonging to the family Flaviviridae, it is equally important to study ISVs from other viral families. ISVs have the potential to modulate arboviruses replication and vector competence, making them alternative tools for biological control, vaccine development, and diagnostic platforms for arboviruses.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
John T. Kayiwa, Martin N. Mayanja, Teddy Muwawu Nakayiki, Fred Senfuka, Julius Mugga, Jeffrey W. Koehler, Eric C. Mossel, Julius J. Lutwama
Summary: In response to two human cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Uganda, an entomological investigation was carried out to determine the mosquito species and abundance, identify potential mosquito vectors, and test for virus transmission. The study revealed the isolation of two Wesselsbron virus strains, a neglected arbovirus, from Aedes tricholabis and Ae. gibbinsi mosquitoes. These isolates represent the first reported Wesselsbron virus strains in Uganda since 1966.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Grace M. Power, Aisling M. Vaughan, Luxi Qiao, Nuria Sanchez Clemente, Julia M. Pescarini, Enny S. Paixao, Ludmila Lobkowicz, Amber Raja, Andre Portela Souza, Mauricio Lima Barreto, Elizabeth B. Brickley
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and infection due to arboviruses with mosquito vectors. The findings indicate that lower SEP is associated with an increased risk of arbovirus infection, including factors such as lower education, income poverty, and low healthcare coverage.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nicholas Di Paola, Nolwenn M. Dheilly, Sandra Junglen, Sofia Paraskevopoulou, Thomas S. Postler, Mang Shi, Jens H. Kuhn
Summary: Recent technical advances in metagenomics and metatranscriptomics have accelerated virus discovery. Chuviruses, originally thought to be part of the Mononegavirales order, were further characterized revealing unusual gene orders. A new order, Jingchuvirales, was established to accommodate the influx of novel viruses.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Annaleise R. Howard-Jones, David Pham, Rebecca Sparks, Susan Maddocks, Dominic E. Dwyer, Jen Kok, Kerri Basile
Summary: This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and prevention of flaviviruses during pregnancy and the neonatal period. It emphasizes the increased disease severity and risk of congenital malformations in pregnant women. Laboratory confirmation of infection is complex due to serological cross-reactivity, and accurate diagnosis relies heavily on clinical history. The development of novel vaccines and ongoing One Health engagement are crucial in mitigating the impact of flavivirus epidemics.
Review
Microbiology
Eugene Koonin, Mart Krupovic, Vadim Agol
Summary: David Baltimore's classification of viruses based on genome expression routes has been fundamental in virology for the past fifty years, providing a conceptual framework for understanding virus diversity. Recent studies have focused on the global ecology and biology of viruses within the context of the Baltimore classes, with an exploration of potential extensions to the original scheme.
MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Megan R. Miller, Madeleine R. Sorensen, Erin D. Markle, Taylor C. Clarkson, Ashley L. Knight, Michelle J. Savran, Brian D. Foy
Summary: Forced salivation techniques were evaluated to estimate the titers of Zika virus and chikungunya virus transmitted by mosquitoes, showing that mosquitoes re-ingest much of their saliva during blood feeding. This study provides critical information on understanding and quantifying the transmission of arboviruses by Aedes aegypti.
Review
Microbiology
Abdallahi El Ghassem, Bedia Abdoullah, Jemila Deida, Mohamed Aly Ould Lemrabott, Mohamed Ouldabdallahi Moukah, Mohamed Salem Ould Ahmedou Salem, Sebastien Briolant, Leonardo K. Basco, Khyarhoum Ould Brahim, Ali Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary
Summary: This review consolidates the current knowledge on the epidemiology of arboviruses in Mauritania over the past four decades. The study shows that there have been numerous outbreaks of arboviral infections in almost all regions of the country, with Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and dengue being the most common infections. Other arboviruses, such as yellow fever, chikungunya, and o'nyong-nyong, have also been found circulating in humans and/or livestock. The study highlights the need for an integrated management strategy to prevent and control arboviral diseases, including sensitizing high-risk occupational groups, reinforcing vector surveillance and control, introducing rapid diagnosis in high-risk areas, and improving response capacities.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Karthik Gangavarapu, Alaa Abdel Latif, Julia L. Mullen, Manar Alkuzweny, Emory Hufbauer, Ginger Tsueng, Emily Haag, Mark Zeller, Christine M. Aceves, Karina Zaiets, Marco Cano, Xinghua Zhou, Zhongchao Qian, Rachel Sattler, Nathaniel L. Matteson, Joshua I. Levy, Raphael T. C. Lee, Lucas Freitas, Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Marc A. Suchard, Chunlei Wu, Andrew I. Su, Kristian G. Andersen, Laura D. Hughes
Summary: In response to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, the global scientific community has sequenced and shared over 11 million genomes through GISAID, enabling real-time tracking of virus evolution. The outbreak.info platform tracks over 40 million combinations of Pango lineages and mutations across 7,000 locations, providing insights for researchers and public health officials.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tatenda Chiuya, Daniel K. Masiga, Laura C. Falzon, Armanda D. S. Bastos, Eric M. Fevre, Jandouwe Villinger
Summary: This study investigated the frequency of virus-carrying mosquitoes in western Kenyan counties, highlighting Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens s.l. as the most common species. The presence of Sindbis virus and other viruses like AeFV and Culex flavivirus in the mosquito population, especially in ISFs, suggests potential implications for arbovirus transmission in the region.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brian C. Prince, Elizabeth Walsh, Tran Zen B. Torres, Claudia Ruckert
Summary: Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a major threat to human and animal health worldwide, transmitted through mosquito, tick, sandfly, or biting midge bites. In humans, arbovirus infections can range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe diseases and death. Control efforts primarily focus on mosquito population and virus transmission control. Research in the field of vector immunology may provide new strategies to control arbovirus transmission.
Article
Immunology
Yanwen Wang, Mengjing Wang, Hong Zhang, Conghui Zhao, Yaping Zhang, Jinyan Shen, Xiaohong Sun, Hongke Xu, Yujiao Xie, Xinxin Gao, Pengfei Cui, Dong Chu, Yubao Li, Wenqiang Liu, Peng Peng, Guohua Deng, Jing Guo, Xuyong Li
Summary: The discovery of human cases of H3N8 avian influenza virus infection in China raises concerns about the transmission risk between birds and humans. By analyzing surveillance data from an important wetland region in eastern China, it is found that the H3N8 viruses in migratory birds have evolved and undergone complicated reassortment with waterfowl viruses. These viruses have the ability to infect both humans and birds, especially domestic ducks.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Anny Beatriz Costa Antony de Andrade, Maria Jacirema Ferreira Gonsalves, Elijane de Fatima Redivo, Maria das Gracas Costa Alecrim, Flor Ernestina Martinez-Espinosa
Summary: This study described the hematological profile of pregnant women suspected of Zika virus infection. Pregnant women with low lymphocyte count and positive for ZIKV may have unfavorable gestational outcomes. Similar hematological and platelet parameters were observed among pregnant women.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noah H. Rose, Stephanie Dabo, Silvania da Veiga Leal, Massamba Sylla, Cheikh T. Diagne, Oumar Faye, Ousmane Faye, Amadou A. Sall, Carolyn S. McBride, Louis Lambrechts
Summary: Although Africa has not experienced large-scale Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemics, unlike other regions, the Cape Verde outbreak in 2015-2016 suggests that populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with high susceptibility to ZIKV and a preference for human hosts could serve as effective vectors for the virus in the future, particularly in the nearby Sahel region of West Africa.
Article
Microbiology
Gen Li, Yue Zhang, Hong-Ling He, Chang-Yi Chen, Xin Li, Yu Xiao, Zhi-Bin Yan, Ying Chu, Jun Luo, Xiao-Feng Guo
Summary: Rabies kills more than 59,000 people annually, mainly in developing countries. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and distribution of rabies viruses using multiple bioinformatic tools. The findings reveal 10 distinct phylogenetic clades, with more frequent recombination occurring in certain clades isolated from China. The study also suggests that rabies may have originated from bats in North America.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)