Animal Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 7336

Special Issue Editor

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Interests: zoonotic viral and bacterial diseases; biodefense; pathogenesis of infectious disease in wildlife and domestic animals; vaccinology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Alpha viruses and flaviviruses are among the most notorious and impactful pathogens on the planet, and infection by these pathogens continues to cause massive public and veterinary impacts. The viruses that cause dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and yellow fever have had undeniable impacts on human history. More recently, Chikungunya, Mayaro, West Nile, and Zika viruses have induced large epizootics and remain a continued threat. In the face of climate change, there are concerns about expansion in the historical range of these vector-borne agents.

This Special Issue is designed to provide an up-to-date view of alphavirus and flavivirus biology, including newly discovered features of virus–host interactions, development and deployment of effective countermeasures (vaccines and antiviral therapies), and improved methods for surveillance, diagnosis, and control of these medically important viruses.

Prof. Dr. Richard A. Bowen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • alphavirus replication
  • flavivirus replication
  • vaccines
  • vector biology and control
  • diagnostics
  • surveillance

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 1163 KiB  
Communication
Recent Population Dynamics of Japanese Encephalitis Virus
by Jinpeng Xu, Abdul Wahaab, Sawar Khan, Mohsin Nawaz, Muhammad Naveed Anwar, Ke Liu, Jianchao Wei, Muddassar Hameed and Zhiyong Ma
Viruses 2023, 15(6), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15061312 - 02 Jun 2023
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Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes acute viral encephalitis in humans and reproductive disorders in pigs. JEV emerged during the 1870s in Japan, and since that time, JEV has been transmitted exclusively throughout Asia, according to known reporting and sequencing records. A recent JEV [...] Read more.
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes acute viral encephalitis in humans and reproductive disorders in pigs. JEV emerged during the 1870s in Japan, and since that time, JEV has been transmitted exclusively throughout Asia, according to known reporting and sequencing records. A recent JEV outbreak occurred in Australia, affecting commercial piggeries across different temperate southern Australian states, and causing confirmed infections in humans. A total of 47 human cases and 7 deaths were reported. The recent evolving situation of JEV needs to be reported due to its continuous circulation in endemic regions and spread to non-endemics areas. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeny and population dynamics of JEV using recent JEV isolates for the future perception of disease spread. Phylogenetic analysis shows the most recent common ancestor occurred about 2993 years ago (YA) (95% Highest posterior density (HPD), 2433 to 3569). Our results of the Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) demonstrates that JEV demography lacks fluctuations for the last two decades, but it shows that JEV genetic diversity has increased during the last ten years. This indicates the potential JEV replication in the reservoir host, which is helping it to maintain its genetic diversity and to continue its dispersal into non-endemic areas. The continuous spread in Asia and recent detection from Australia further support these findings. Therefore, an enhanced surveillance system is needed along with precautionary measures such as regular vaccination and mosquito control to avoid future JEV outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses)
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13 pages, 2421 KiB  
Article
Dynamic of Mayaro Virus Transmission in Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes, and a Mice Model
by Larissa Krokovsky, Carlos Ralph Batista Lins, Duschinka Ribeiro Duarte Guedes, Gabriel da Luz Wallau, Constância Flávia Junqueira Ayres and Marcelo Henrique Santos Paiva
Viruses 2023, 15(3), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030799 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1515
Abstract
Mayaro virus (MAYV) is transmitted by Haemagogus spp. mosquitoes and has been circulating in Amazon areas in the North and Central West regions of Brazil since the 1980s, with an increase in human case notifications in the last 10 years. MAYV introduction in [...] Read more.
Mayaro virus (MAYV) is transmitted by Haemagogus spp. mosquitoes and has been circulating in Amazon areas in the North and Central West regions of Brazil since the 1980s, with an increase in human case notifications in the last 10 years. MAYV introduction in urban areas is a public health concern as infections can cause severe symptoms similar to other alphaviruses. Studies with Aedes aegypti have demonstrated the potential vector competence of the species and the detection of MAYV in urban populations of mosquitoes. Considering the two most abundant urban mosquito species in Brazil, we investigated the dynamics of MAYV transmission by Ae. aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in a mice model. Mosquito colonies were artificially fed with blood containing MAYV and infection (IR) and dissemination rates (DR) were evaluated. On the 7th day post-infection (dpi), IFNAR BL/6 mice were made available as a blood source to both mosquito species. After the appearance of clinical signs of infection, a second blood feeding was performed with a new group of non-infected mosquitoes. RT-qPCR and plaque assays were carried out with animal and mosquito tissues to determine IR and DR. For Ae. aegypti, we found an IR of 97.5–100% and a DR reached 100% in both 7 and 14 dpi. While IR and DR for Cx. quinquefasciatus was 13.1–14.81% and 60% to 80%, respectively. A total of 18 mice were used (test = 12 and control = 6) for Ae. aegypti and 12 (test = 8 and control = 4) for Cx. quinquefasciatus to evaluate the mosquito–mice transmission rate. All mice that were bitten by infected Ae. aegypti showed clinical signs of infection while all mice exposed to infected Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes remained healthy. Viremia in the mice from Ae. aegypti group ranged from 2.5 × 108 to 5 × 109 PFU/mL. Ae. aegypti from the second blood feeding showed a 50% IR. Our study showed the applicability of an efficient model to complete arbovirus transmission cycle studies and suggests that the Ae. aegypti population evaluated is a competent vector for MAYV, while highlighting the vectorial capacity of Ae. aegypti and the possible introduction into urban areas. The mice model employed here is an important tool for arthropod–vector transmission studies with laboratory and field mosquito populations, as well as with other arboviruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses)
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Review

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29 pages, 824 KiB  
Review
Contrasting the Practices of Virus Isolation and Characterization between the Early Period in History and Modern Times: The Case of Japanese Encephalitis Virus
by Goro Kuno
Viruses 2022, 14(12), 2640; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122640 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3310
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis is a serious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. With its recent spread beyond the traditional territory of endemicity in Asia, the magnitude of global threat has increased sharply. While much of the current research are largely focused on changing epidemiology, molecular genetics [...] Read more.
Japanese encephalitis is a serious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. With its recent spread beyond the traditional territory of endemicity in Asia, the magnitude of global threat has increased sharply. While much of the current research are largely focused on changing epidemiology, molecular genetics of virus, and vaccination, little attention has been paid to the early history of virus isolation and phenotypic characterization of this virus. In this review, using this piece of history as an example, I review the transition of the concept and practice of virus isolation and characterization from the early period of history to modern times. The spectacular development of molecular techniques in modern times has brought many changes in practices as well as enormous amount of new knowledge. However, many aspects of virus characterization, in particular, transmission mechanism and host relationship, remain unsolved. As molecular techniques are not perfect in all respects, beneficial accommodation of molecular and biologic data is critically important in many branches of research. Accordingly, I emphasize exercising caution in applying only these modern techniques, point out unrecognized communication problems, and stress that JE research history is a rich source of interesting works still valuable even today and waiting to be discovered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses)
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