Insect-Virus-Bacteria Multipartite Interactions and Arbovirus Transmission Epidemiology

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 12738

Special Issue Editors

Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
Interests: entomology; vector ecology
School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
Interests: development of spectroscopy tools for ports of entry for rapid identification of exotic insect species; detection of pathogens in plants, animals, humans and the environment
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Interests: vector-borne disease; spatial epidemiology; climate change and health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The effects of multipartite interactions involving the insect vector and a variety of microorganisms (broadly defined as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) on disease transmission are manifold. Such interactions can be classified into a gradient ranging from mutual benefits such as mutualism to antagonistic interactions such as parasitism and are among the fundamental requirements for coevolution between hosts and parasites. For instance, microorganisms are important modulators of host phenotype, providing heritable variation upon which natural selection acts. Host-parasite interactions represent one of the strongest selection pressures in nature, with a considerable impact on the ecology and evolution of parasites and thus on disease epidemiology. Therefore, biological entities in a changing environment interact with each other as part of a complex ecosystem shaping disease transmission. The focus of this Special Issue is to deepen the knowledge on how an interaction network involving insect vectors, viruses, bacteria, and endosymbionts are able to shape arboviruses transmission.

Dr. Rafael Maciel-De-Freitas
Dr. Maggy Sikulu-Lord
Dr. Heidi E. Brown
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • flavivirus
  • alphavirus
  • bunyavirus
  • vectorial capacity
  • Wolbachia
  • vector competence
  • genotype interactions
  • vector-borne diseases
  • biotic and abiotic conditions
  • microbiome
  • surveillance
  • NIRS
  • epidemiology
  • evolution
  • ecology
  • genetic
  • virus-host interactions

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2217 KiB  
Article
Laboratory Evaluation and Field Testing of Dengue NS1 and IgM/IgG Rapid Diagnostic Tests in an Epidemic Context in Senegal
by Oumar Ndiaye, Kevin Woolston, Aboubacry Gaye, Cheikh Loucoubar, Michael Cocozza, Cheikh Fall, Fatou Dia, Emily R. Adams, Marième Samb, Diogop Camara, Bacary Djilocalisse Sadio, Cheikh T. Diagne, Manfred Weidmann, Oumar Faye, Joseph R. A. Fitchett, Amadou Alpha Sall and Cheikh Tidiane Diagne
Viruses 2023, 15(4), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15040904 - 31 Mar 2023
Viewed by 2837
Abstract
In Senegal, the burden of dengue is increasing and expanding. As case management and traditional diagnostic techniques can be difficult to implement, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) deployed at point of care are ideal for investigating active outbreaks. The aim of this study was [...] Read more.
In Senegal, the burden of dengue is increasing and expanding. As case management and traditional diagnostic techniques can be difficult to implement, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) deployed at point of care are ideal for investigating active outbreaks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Dengue NS1 and Dengue IgM/IgG RDTs on the serum/plasma samples in a laboratory setting and in the field. During laboratory evaluation, performance of the NS1 RDT was assessed using NS1 ELISA as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity were 88% [75–95%] and 100% [97–100%], respectively. Performance of the IgM/IG RDT was assessed using the IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA, indirect IgG, and PRNT as gold standards. The IgM and IgG test lines respectively displayed sensitivities of 94% [83–99%] and 70% [59–79%] and specificities of 91% [84–95%] and 91% [79–98%]. In the field, the Dengue NS1 RDT sensitivity and specificity was 82% [60–95%] and 75% [53–90%], respectively. The IgM and IgG test lines displayed sensitivities of 86% [42–100%] and 78% [64–88%], specificities of 85% [76–92%] and 55% [36–73%], respectively. These results demonstrate that RDTs are ideal for use in a context of high prevalence or outbreak setting and can be implemented in the absence of a confirmatory test for acute and convalescent patients. Full article
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18 pages, 2387 KiB  
Article
Differences in Longevity and Temperature-Driven Extrinsic Incubation Period Correlate with Varying Dengue Risk in the Arizona–Sonora Desert Region
by Kacey C. Ernst, Kathleen R. Walker, A Lucia Castro-Luque, Chris Schmidt, Teresa K. Joy, Maureen Brophy, Pablo Reyes-Castro, Rolando Enrique Díaz-Caravantes, Veronica Ortiz Encinas, Alfonso Aguilera, Mercedes Gameros, Rosa Elena Cuevas Ruiz, Mary H. Hayden, Gerardo Alvarez, Andrew Monaghan, Daniel Williamson, Josh Arnbrister, Eileen Jeffrey Gutiérrez, Yves Carrière and Michael A. Riehle
Viruses 2023, 15(4), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15040851 - 26 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1934
Abstract
Dengue transmission is determined by a complex set of interactions between the environment, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, dengue viruses, and humans. Emergence in new geographic areas can be unpredictable, with some regions having established mosquito populations for decades without locally acquired transmission. Key factors [...] Read more.
Dengue transmission is determined by a complex set of interactions between the environment, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, dengue viruses, and humans. Emergence in new geographic areas can be unpredictable, with some regions having established mosquito populations for decades without locally acquired transmission. Key factors such as mosquito longevity, temperature-driven extrinsic incubation period (EIP), and vector–human contact can strongly influence the potential for disease transmission. To assess how these factors interact at the edge of the geographical range of dengue virus transmission, we conducted mosquito sampling in multiple urban areas located throughout the Arizona–Sonora desert region during the summer rainy seasons from 2013 to 2015. Mosquito population age structure, reflecting mosquito survivorship, was measured using a combination of parity analysis and relative gene expression of an age-related gene, SCP-1. Bloodmeal analysis was conducted on field collected blood-fed mosquitoes. Site-specific temperature was used to estimate the EIP, and this predicted EIP combined with mosquito age were combined to estimate the abundance of “potential” vectors (i.e., mosquitoes old enough to survive the EIP). Comparisons were made across cities by month and year. The dengue endemic cities Hermosillo and Ciudad Obregon, both in the state of Sonora, Mexico, had higher abundance of potential vectors than non-endemic Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Interestingly, Tucson, Arizona consistently had a higher estimated abundance of potential vectors than dengue endemic regions of Sonora, Mexico. There were no observed city-level differences in species composition of blood meals. Combined, these data offer insights into the critical factors required for dengue transmission at the ecological edge of the mosquito’s range. However, further research is needed to integrate an understanding of how social and additional environmental factors constrain and enhance dengue transmission in emerging regions. Full article
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13 pages, 1520 KiB  
Article
Rapid and Non-Invasive Detection of Aedes aegypti Co-Infected with Zika and Dengue Viruses Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy
by Gabriela A. Garcia, Anton R. Lord, Lilha M. B. Santos, Tharanga N. Kariyawasam, Mariana R. David, Dinair Couto-Lima, Aline Tátila-Ferreira, Márcio G. Pavan, Maggy T. Sikulu-Lord and Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas
Viruses 2023, 15(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15010011 - 20 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1809
Abstract
The transmission of dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) has been continuously increasing worldwide. An efficient arbovirus surveillance system is critical to designing early-warning systems to increase preparedness of future outbreaks in endemic countries. The Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising high throughput [...] Read more.
The transmission of dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) has been continuously increasing worldwide. An efficient arbovirus surveillance system is critical to designing early-warning systems to increase preparedness of future outbreaks in endemic countries. The Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising high throughput technique to detect arbovirus infection in Ae. aegypti with remarkable advantages such as cost and time effectiveness, reagent-free, and non-invasive nature over existing molecular tools for similar purposes, enabling timely decision making through rapid detection of potential disease. Our aim was to determine whether NIRS can differentiate Ae. aegypti females infected with either ZIKV or DENV single infection, and those coinfected with ZIKV/DENV from uninfected ones. Using 200 Ae. aegypti females reared and infected in laboratory conditions, the training model differentiated mosquitoes into the four treatments with 100% accuracy. DENV-, ZIKV-, and ZIKV/DENV-coinfected mosquitoes that were used to validate the model could be correctly classified into their actual infection group with a predictive accuracy of 100%, 84%, and 80%, respectively. When compared with mosquitoes from the uninfected group, the three infected groups were predicted as belonging to the infected group with 100%, 97%, and 100% accuracy for DENV-infected, ZIKV-infected, and the co-infected group, respectively. Preliminary lab-based results are encouraging and indicate that NIRS should be tested in field settings to evaluate its potential role to monitor natural infection in field-caught mosquitoes. Full article
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17 pages, 2211 KiB  
Article
First Report of the Detection of DENV1 in Human Blood Plasma with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
by Brendon Goh, Paul Visendi, Anton R. Lord, Silvia Ciocchetta, Wenjun Liu and Maggy T. Sikulu-Lord
Viruses 2022, 14(10), 2248; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14102248 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1586
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) is the world’s most common arboviral infection, with an estimated 3.9 million people at risk of the infection, 100 million symptomatic cases and 10,000 deaths per year. Current diagnosis for DENV includes the use of molecular methods, such as polymerase [...] Read more.
Dengue virus (DENV) is the world’s most common arboviral infection, with an estimated 3.9 million people at risk of the infection, 100 million symptomatic cases and 10,000 deaths per year. Current diagnosis for DENV includes the use of molecular methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, which can be costly for routine use. The near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) technique is a high throughput technique that involves shining a beam of infrared light on a biological sample, collecting a reflectance spectrum, and using machine learning algorithms to develop predictive algorithms. Here, we used NIR to detect DENV1 artificially introduced into whole blood, plasma, and serum collected from human donors. Machine learning algorithms were developed using artificial neural networks (ANN) and the resultant models were used to predict independent samples. DENV in plasma samples was detected with an overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 90% (N = 56), 88.5% (N = 28) and 92.3% (N = 28), respectively. However, a predictive sensitivity of 33.3% (N = 16) and 80% (N = 10) and specificity of 46.7% (N = 16) and 32% (N = 10) was achieved for detecting DENV1 in whole blood and serum samples, respectively. DENV1 peaks observed at 812 nm and 819 nm represent C-H stretch, peaks at 1130–1142 nm are related to methyl group and peaks at 2127 nm are related to saturated fatty groups. Our findings indicate the potential of NIR as a diagnostic tool for DENV, however, further work is recommended to assess its sensitivity for detecting DENV in people naturally infected with the virus and to determine its capacity to differentiate DENV serotypes and other arboviruses. Full article
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Review

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16 pages, 1182 KiB  
Review
Role of the Microbiome in Aedes spp. Vector Competence: What Do We Know?
by Qesya Rodrigues Ferreira, Fabian Fellipe Bueno Lemos, Matheus Nascimento Moura, Jéssica Oliveira de Souza Nascimento, Ana Flávia Novaes, Isadora Souza Barcelos, Larissa Alves Fernandes, Liliany Souza de Brito Amaral, Fernanda Khouri Barreto and Fabrício Freire de Melo
Viruses 2023, 15(3), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030779 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2464
Abstract
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the vectors of important arboviruses: dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. Female mosquitoes acquire arboviruses by feeding on the infected host blood, thus being able to transmit it to their offspring. The intrinsic ability of a [...] Read more.
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the vectors of important arboviruses: dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. Female mosquitoes acquire arboviruses by feeding on the infected host blood, thus being able to transmit it to their offspring. The intrinsic ability of a vector to infect itself and transmit a pathogen is known as vector competence. Several factors influence the susceptibility of these females to be infected by these arboviruses, such as the activation of the innate immune system through the Toll, immunodeficiency (Imd), JAK-STAT pathways, and the interference of specific antiviral response pathways of RNAi. It is also believed that the presence of non-pathogenic microorganisms in the microbiota of these arthropods could influence this immune response, as it provides a baseline activation of the innate immune system, which may generate resistance against arboviruses. In addition, this microbiome has direct action against arboviruses, mainly due to the ability of Wolbachia spp. to block viral genome replication, added to the competition for resources within the mosquito organism. Despite major advances in the area, studies are still needed to evaluate the microbiota profiles of Aedes spp. and their vector competence, as well as further exploration of the individual roles of microbiome components in activating the innate immune system. Full article
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8 pages, 301 KiB  
Review
Evidence of Spreading Zika Virus Infection Caused by Males of Different Species
by Thayane da Encarnação Sá-Guimarães and Monica Ferreira Moreira
Viruses 2022, 14(9), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14092047 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1249
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA flavivirus and is mainly transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. This arbovirus has had a significant impact on health in recent years by causing malformations, such as microcephaly in babies and Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. Some evidence [...] Read more.
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA flavivirus and is mainly transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. This arbovirus has had a significant impact on health in recent years by causing malformations, such as microcephaly in babies and Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. Some evidence indicates that ZIKV can be sexually transmitted and may persist in the male reproductive tract for an extended period in humans. Knockout and vasectomized mice have been used as models to reveal ZIKV infection in the male reproductive tract as a virus source. ZIKV presence in male and female mosquito reproductive tracts and eggs point to venereal and vertical/transovarian transmission, again demonstrating that the reproductive tract can be involved in the spread of ZIKV. Moreover, eggs protected by eggshells have the potential to be a ZIKV reservoir. Given the +-lack of vaccines and therapies for Zika fever and the underestimated prevalence rate, an understanding of ZIKV infection and its spread from the reproductive tract, which is protected from the immune system and potentially active for virus transmission, is imperative. We must also develop cheaper, more efficient techniques for virological surveillance inside vectors and humans, control vectors with ecofriendly insecticides, and promote condom use to avoid ZIKV contamination during sexual intercourse, as recommended by the World Health Organization. Full article
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