Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jose Tuells, Andres F. Henao-Martinez, Carlos Franco-Paredes
Summary: Despite the availability of a vaccine, yellow fever remains a significant preventable disease in endemic regions. Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that has had a major impact on human societies. Throughout history, it has caused epidemics and played a role in shaping modern societies. Efforts of scientists have led to the discovery of the virus and the development of a vaccine. In the present day, it is important to enhance immunization activities, ensure fair distribution of vaccines, immunize at-risk populations during outbreaks, and promote vaccination among international travelers.
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Divya P. Shinde, Jessica A. Plante, Kenneth S. Plante, Scott C. Weaver
Summary: This review discusses the roles of animal models and arthropod vector studies in understanding the epidemic emergence of yellow fever virus (YFV). YFV is a mosquito-borne flavivirus circulating in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa and South America, causing an estimated 30,000 deaths annually. Despite a highly successful vaccine, coverage is incomplete, and there is no approved treatment for YFV infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie M. Caldwell, A. Desiree LaBeaud, Eric F. Lambin, Anna M. Stewart-Ibarra, Bryson A. Ndenga, Francis M. Mutuku, Amy R. Krystosik, Efrain Beltran Ayala, Assaf Anyamba, Mercy J. Borbor-Cordova, Richard Damoah, Elysse N. Grossi-Soyster, Froilan Heras Heras, Harun N. Ngugi, Sadie J. Ryan, Melisa M. Shah, Rachel Sippy, Erin A. Mordecai
Summary: Climate has complex effects on population dynamics and vector-borne diseases, with seemingly opposing effects in different contexts. Models incorporating laboratory-measured physiological traits of mosquitoes can predict outbreak characteristics in diverse settings, yet with variable accuracy. The effects of climate on disease dynamics are highly dependent on specific contexts, such as population demographics and environmental factors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristina Mravcova, Jeremy V. Camp, Zdenek Hubalek, Silvie Sikutova, Alexander G. C. Vaux, Jolyon M. Medlock, Ivo Rudolf
Summary: Tahyna virus (TAHV) is a neglected human pathogen with unknown public health importance in Central Europe, but it may pose a potential emerging disease threat in other parts of Europe due to extreme summer flooding events. TAHV is an orthobunyavirus isolated from mosquitoes and is associated with floodplain areas, hares as reservoir hosts, and Aedes vexans mosquitoes as the main vector. The disease caused by TAHV, known as Valtice fever, was detected in the 1960s and has been the subject of many studies, although the prevalence and clinical manifestations of TAHV infections are rarely reported.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sheila B. Agha, David P. Tchouassi, Michael J. Turell, Armanda D. S. Bastos, Rosemary Sang
Summary: This study examined the susceptibility of urban Aedes mosquito populations in Kenya to an East African yellow fever virus, finding only 22% of Ae. aegypti infected with the virus after oral challenge, with no observed transmission. Contrastingly, a few peri-domestic Ae. bromeliae mosquitoes showed dissemination and transmission potential. Further assessment of urban Ae. aegypti susceptibility and Ae. bromeliae vector potential is recommended for guiding cost-effective vaccination strategies.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shailabh Kumar, Felix J. H. Hol, Sujit Pujhari, Clayton Ellington, Haripriya Vaidehi Narayanan, Hongquan Li, Jason L. Rasgon, Manu Prakash
Summary: The Vectorchip is a low-cost microfluidic platform that enables high-throughput analysis of individual mosquito bites, allowing detection of mosquito-carried DNA, RNA, and viral particles. This technology provides a promising approach for laboratory and field characterization of vector-pathogen communities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
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.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Talya Shragai, Juliana Perez-Perez, Marcela del Pilar Quimbayo-Forero, Raul Rojo, Laura C. Harrington, Guillermo Rua-Uribe
Summary: Dengue is becoming an increasing global threat in rapidly growing urban areas. This study analyzes nine years of dengue case data in Medellin, Colombia and finds that changes in accessibility and usage of public transit are correlated with changes in the spread and magnitude of localized outbreaks. Locations closer to and with greater utilization of public transit have higher dengue incidence, with a stronger effect observed in lower socioeconomic status areas. These results emphasize the importance of public health services in conjunction with urban growth.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
William Wint, Peter Jones, Moritz Kraemer, Neil Alexander, Francis Schaffner
Summary: This study uses historical records and climatic data to construct historical and present distribution models of the yellow fever mosquito in southern Europe, revealing significant changes in its distribution over the past 100 years. The predicted future distribution based on historical models contradicts the predictions based on present day distributions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mulugeta Asefa Gutu, Alemayehu Bekele, Yimer Seid, Yusuf Mohammed, Fekadu Gemechu, Abyot Bekele Woyessa, Adamu Tayachew, Yohanis Dugasa, Lehageru Gizachew, Moti Idosa, Ryan E. Tokarz, David Sugerman
Summary: In 2017, an outbreak of Dengue Fever occurred in Kabridahar Town, Ethiopia. Through a case-control study, it was found that lack of formal education and open water containers near the home were risk factors for infection, while the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets was protective. Measures were taken to control the outbreak, resulting in a reduction in case counts within five days and the last case recorded ten days after implementation. Recommendations were made for future prevention based on the findings.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandra Oliveira, Jorge Rocha, Carla A. Sousa, Cesar Capinha
Summary: The research shows that the Asian tiger mosquito has wide suitable areas across Europe and the need to effectively consider climate change in managing and preventing its future spread.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Samson T. Ogunlade, Michael T. Meehan, Adeshina I. Adekunle, Diana P. Rojas, Oyelola A. Adegboye, Emma S. McBryde
Summary: Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) continue to pose significant health and economic burdens for people living in endemic regions. Among the various vector control methods, Wolbachia-based control shows promising results for eradicating Aedes-borne arboviruses, highlighting the importance of biological control strategies in combating arboviral diseases.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Jane Oliver, Stuart Larsen, Tim P. Stinear, Ary Hoffmann, Simon Crouch, Katherine B. Gibney
Summary: Mosquito control interventions are widely used to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, and high community engagement is essential for the success of a cluster randomised control study aiming to reduce mosquito-borne disease with a mosquito control intervention. This review identified three intervention studies which were associated with significant reductions in disease incidence, and strategies such as large buffer zones and increasing study cluster numbers were effective in reducing differences between intervention and control arms. Regular larvicide administration may supplement source reduction in areas with unsuitable breeding sites.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erik Neff, Guha Dharmarajan
Summary: Copper pollution can significantly impact the fitness and disease transmission ability of mosquitoes, as well as transfer contaminants between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Exposure to sublethal levels of copper alters adult female fecundity and vector competence in mosquito larvae, indicating potential implications for public health and environmental dynamics. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between metal exposure, vector-borne disease dynamics, and contaminant transfer in mosquito-parasite systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhinan Lin, Yuqi Huang, Sihan Liu, Qiwen Huang, Biliang Zhang, Tianpeng Wang, Ziding Zhang, Xiaowei Zhu, Chenghong Liao, Qian Han
Summary: In this study, a gene coexpression network was constructed to explore the ontogeny of Ae. aegypti. Six gene modules and their intramodular hub genes associated with various developmental processes were identified. These findings provide valuable insights into potential molecular targets for disease control.