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Pathogens
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Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis
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Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2024) | Viewed by 16128

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Henry Puerta-Guardo

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Guest Editor
1. Virology Lab, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan (UADY), Merida, Mexico
2. Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
Interests: cell host and viral interactions; endothelial cell biology; virus pathogenesis; arboviruses; flavivirus; vector control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few decades, the continuous emerging and re-emerging of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) causing clinically important human epidemics such as the dengue viruses (DENV serotypes 1 to 4), yellow fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), have posed an enormous burden on the public health systems worldwide. In the meantime, other less common but not less important arboviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), Spondweni virus (SPOV), St Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), Usutu virus (USUV), O'nyong nyong virus (ONNV), Powassan virus (PWV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), among others, are uninterruptedly growing in specific regions of the world leading to significant mortality and morbidity rates in human populations. Whilst many determinants of these arbovirus emergence and dispersal have an anthropological basis, their intensification and rapid geographical expansion is largely due to the intensive growth of global transportation systems and arthropod adaptation to increasing urbanization. These factors associated to our failure to contain the vector population density increases and land perturbation enhances the exposure frequency of humans to arboviruses vectors such as mosquitoes and potentially to more arbovirus transmissions.

Currently, it is estimated that around more than 70% of emerging infectious diseases in humans have a zoonotic origin, with up to one third of these emerging infectious diseases being caused by vector-borne pathogens, resulting in more than 700,000 deaths annually. As many arboviruses can infect a wide variety of arthropods and other animals (e.g., horses, birds and lizards) in their sylvatic habitats and humans as incidental hosts, the global population at risk from arboviruses is expanding and for many of them, no suitable antiviral therapy or vaccine is available to defeat them. Therefore, this Special Issue of Pathogens aims to gather a unique collection of recent advances and insights in research strategies for emerging and re-emerging arboviruses of human and animal public health concerns will focus on understanding the state-of-the-art in epidemiology, vector dynamics, diagnostics, pathogenesis, vaccines, antivirals and other mitigation methods to control/prevent the transmission of arboviral diseases.

Dr. Henry Puerta-Guardo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • arboviruses
  • emerging
  • re-emerging
  • epidemiology
  • vector dynamics
  • pathogenesis
  • vector control strategies
  • human
  • animal

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3016 KiB  
Article
Temperature Interference on ZIKV and CHIKV Cycles in Mosquitoes and Mammalian Cells
by Tiago Souza Salles, Erica Santos Martins-Duarte, Marcelo Damião Ferreira de Meneses, Monica Ferreira Moreira, Davis Fernandes Ferreira, Renata Campos Azevedo, Wanderley De Souza and Lucio Ayres Caldas
Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090814 - 21 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1234
Abstract
Temperature is a determining factor for the viral cycle. In this study, we investigate the effect of different temperatures on the cycles of two important arboviruses—Zika (ZIKV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV)—in Vero (mammalian) and C6/36 (mosquito) cells. We compare genome quantification to infectivity at [...] Read more.
Temperature is a determining factor for the viral cycle. In this study, we investigate the effect of different temperatures on the cycles of two important arboviruses—Zika (ZIKV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV)—in Vero (mammalian) and C6/36 (mosquito) cells. We compare genome quantification to infectivity at 28 °C and 37 °C in both cell types. Virus–cell interaction was also examined by transmission electron microscopy, allowing the observation of phenomena such as virus-surfing and giant forms for CHIKV, as well as the the scarcity of ZIKV in C6/36 cells compared to its cycle in mammalian cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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14 pages, 3902 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Four Humanized NOD-Derived Mouse Models for Dengue Virus-2 Infection
by Hernando Gutierrez-Barbosa, Sandra Medina-Moreno, Federico Perdomo-Celis, Harry Davis, Joel V. Chua and Juan C. Zapata
Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080639 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1818
Abstract
Dengue is a significant public health problem with no specific viral treatment. One of the main challenges in studying dengue is the lack of adequate animal models recapitulating human immune responses. Most studies on humanized mice use NOD-scid IL2R gamma null (NSG) mice, [...] Read more.
Dengue is a significant public health problem with no specific viral treatment. One of the main challenges in studying dengue is the lack of adequate animal models recapitulating human immune responses. Most studies on humanized mice use NOD-scid IL2R gamma null (NSG) mice, which exhibit poor hematopoiesis for some cell populations. This study compares three humanized (hu) NOD-derived mouse models for dengue virus-2 (DENV-2) infection in the context of human cytokine expression. Three mouse strains (hu-NSG, hu-EXL, and hu-SGM3) received xenotransplants of human CD34+ fetal cord blood cells from a single donor, and one mouse strain received human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hu-SGM3-PBMCs). All models exhibited infectious viruses in blood confirmed by plaque assay, but mice expressing human cytokines showed higher viremia compared to conventional NSG mice. The hu-SGM3-PBMCs model developed lethal infections, showing a significant increase in viremia and clinical signs. A detectable human cytokine response was observed in all the DENV-2-infected humanized mouse models. In conclusion, humanized NOD-derived mouse models expressing human cytokines offer a relevant platform for the study of dengue pathogenesis and antiviral therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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18 pages, 1233 KiB  
Article
Expanding Understanding of Urban Rift Valley Fever Risk and Associated Vector Ecology at Slaughterhouses in Kisumu, Kenya
by Keli Nicole Gerken, Kevin Omondi Owuor, Bryson Ndenga, Sammy Wambua, Christabel Winter, Salome Chemutai, Rodney Omukuti, Daniel Arabu, Irene Miring’u, William C. Wilson, Francis Mutuku, Jesse J. Waggoner, Benjamin Pinsky, Carren Bosire and Angelle Desiree LaBeaud
Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060488 - 8 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1837
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an adaptable arbovirus that can be transmitted by a wide variety of arthropods. Widespread urban transmission of RVFV has not yet occurred, but peri-urban outbreaks of RVFV have recently been documented in East Africa. We previously reported [...] Read more.
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an adaptable arbovirus that can be transmitted by a wide variety of arthropods. Widespread urban transmission of RVFV has not yet occurred, but peri-urban outbreaks of RVFV have recently been documented in East Africa. We previously reported low-level exposure in urban communities and highlighted the risk of introduction via live animal influx. We deployed a slaughtered animal testing framework in response to an early warning system at two urban slaughterhouses and tested animals entering the meat value chain for anti-RVFV IgG and IgM antibodies. We simultaneously trapped mosquitoes for RVFV and bloodmeal testing. Out of 923 animals tested, an 8.5% IgG seroprevalence was identified but no evidence of recent livestock exposure was detected. Mosquito species abundance varied greatly by slaughterhouse site, which explained 52% of the variance in blood meals. We captured many Culex spp., a known RVFV amplifying vector, at one of the sites (p < 0.001), and this species had the most diverse blood meals. No mosquito pools tested positive for RVFV antigen using a rapid VecTOR test. These results expand understanding of potential RVF urban disease ecology, and highlight that slaughterhouses are key locations for future surveillance, modelling, and monitoring efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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11 pages, 844 KiB  
Article
Oropouche Virus Exposure in Febrile Patients during Chikungunya Virus Introduction in the State of Amapá, Amazon Region, Brazil
by Raquel Curtinhas de Lima, Helver Gonçalves Dias, Thiara Manuele Alves de Souza, Débora Familiar-Macedo, Edcelha D’Athaide Ribeiro, Valmir Corrêa e Corrêa, Alex Pauvolid-Corrêa, Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo and Flávia Barreto dos Santos
Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060469 - 3 Jun 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2366
Abstract
Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV) is an arbovirus transmitted by midges that has been involved in outbreaks throughout Central and South America. In Brazil, human cases have been historically concentrated in the northern region of the country. Oropouche fever in humans range from mild clinical [...] Read more.
Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV) is an arbovirus transmitted by midges that has been involved in outbreaks throughout Central and South America. In Brazil, human cases have been historically concentrated in the northern region of the country. Oropouche fever in humans range from mild clinical signs to rare neurological events, and is considered a neglected tropical disease in Brazil. Due to the clinical similarities to other arboviruses, such as chikungunya and dengue viruses, OROV infections are likely to be underreported. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) cases in Brazil were first recognized in 2014 in the states of Amapá and Bahia in the north and northeast regions, respectively. Both OROV and CHIKV cause nonspecific symptoms, making clinical diagnosis difficult in a scenario of arbovirus cocirculation. Aiming to investigate OROV transmission during the CHIKV introduction in the state of Amapá located in the Brazilian Amazon, we conducted a retrospective molecular (RT-qPCR) and serological investigation in febrile cases (N = 166) collected between August 2014 and May 2015. All acute serum samples were negative for OROV RNA using RT-qPCR. However, neutralizing antibodies for OROV were detected using a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) in 10.24% (17/166) of the patients, with neutralizing antibody titers ranging from 20 to ≥640, suggesting the previous exposure of patients to OROV. Regarding CHIKV, recent exposure was confirmed by the detection of CHIKV RNA in 20.25% (33/163) of the patients and by the detection of anti-CHIKV IgM in 28.57% (44/154) of the patients. The additional detection of anti-CHIKV IgG in 12.58% (19/151) of the febrile patients suggests that some individuals had been previously exposed to CHIKV. Whether the OROV exposure reported here occurred prior or during the CHIKV circulation in Amapá, is unknown, but because those arboviral infections share similar clinical signs and symptoms, a silent circulation of enzootic arboviruses during the introduction of exotic arboviruses may occur, and highlights the importance of syndromic cases’ surveillance to arboviruses in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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16 pages, 2222 KiB  
Article
NOD2 Responds to Dengue Virus Type 2 Infection in Macrophage-like Cells Interacting with MAVS Adaptor and Affecting IFN-α Production and Virus Titers
by Diana Alhelí Domínguez-Martínez, Mayra Silvia Pérez-Flores, Daniel Núñez-Avellaneda, Jesús M. Torres-Flores, Gloria León-Avila, Blanca Estela García-Pérez and Ma Isabel Salazar
Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040306 - 10 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3000
Abstract
In pathogen recognition, the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and leucine rich repeat receptors (NLRs) have noteworthy functions in the activation of the innate immune response. These receptors respond to several viral infections, among them NOD2, a very dynamic NLR, whose role in dengue virus [...] Read more.
In pathogen recognition, the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and leucine rich repeat receptors (NLRs) have noteworthy functions in the activation of the innate immune response. These receptors respond to several viral infections, among them NOD2, a very dynamic NLR, whose role in dengue virus (DENV) infection remains unclear. This research aimed to determine the role of human NOD2 in THP-1 macrophage-like cells during DENV-2 infection. NOD2 levels in DENV-2 infected THP-1 macrophage-like cells was evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot, and an increase was observed at both mRNA and protein levels. We observed using confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation assays that NOD2 interacts with the effector protein MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein), an adaptor protein promoting antiviral activity, this occurring mainly at 12 h into the infection. After silencing NOD2, we detected increased viral loads of DENV-2 and lower levels of IFN-α in supernatants from THP-1 macrophage-like cells with NOD2 knock-down and further infected with DENV-2, compared with mock-control or cells transfected with Scramble-siRNA. Thus, NOD2 is activated in response to DENV-2 in THP-1 macrophage-like cells and participates in IFN-α production, in addition to limiting virus replication at the examined time points. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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18 pages, 10539 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Role of Weather and Pilgrimage Variables on Dengue Fever Incidence in Saudi Arabia
by Kholood K. Altassan, Cory W. Morin and Jeremy J. Hess
Pathogens 2024, 13(3), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13030214 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2289
Abstract
The first case of dengue fever (DF) in Saudi Arabia appeared in 1993 but by 2022, DF incidence was 11 per 100,000 people. Climatologic and population factors, such as the annual Hajj, likely contribute to DF’s epidemiology in Saudi Arabia. In this study, [...] Read more.
The first case of dengue fever (DF) in Saudi Arabia appeared in 1993 but by 2022, DF incidence was 11 per 100,000 people. Climatologic and population factors, such as the annual Hajj, likely contribute to DF’s epidemiology in Saudi Arabia. In this study, we assess the impact of these variables on the DF burden of disease in Saudi Arabia and we attempt to create robust DF predictive models. Using 10 years of DF, weather, and pilgrimage data, we conducted a bivariate analysis investigating the role of weather and pilgrimage variables on DF incidence. We also compared the abilities of three different predictive models. Amongst weather variables, temperature and humidity had the strongest associations with DF incidence, while rainfall showed little to no significant relationship. Pilgrimage variables did not have strong associations with DF incidence. The random forest model had the highest predictive ability (R2 = 0.62) when previous DF data were withheld, and the ARIMA model was the best (R2 = 0.78) when previous DF data were incorporated. We found that a nonlinear machine-learning model incorporating temperature and humidity variables had the best prediction accuracy for DF, regardless of the availability of previous DF data. This finding can inform DF early warning systems and preparedness in Saudi Arabia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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17 pages, 2691 KiB  
Review
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus: An Emerging Threat in Europe with a Focus on Epidemiology in Spain
by María Eslava, Silvia Carlos and Gabriel Reina
Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090770 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2799
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease transmitted by ticks of the genus Hyalomma and caused by a virus of the Nairoviridae family. In humans, the virus can generate different clinical presentations that can range from asymptomatic to mild illness or produce [...] Read more.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease transmitted by ticks of the genus Hyalomma and caused by a virus of the Nairoviridae family. In humans, the virus can generate different clinical presentations that can range from asymptomatic to mild illness or produce an hemorrhagic fever with a mortality rate of approximately 30%. The virus pathogenicity and the lack of effective treatment or vaccine for its prevention make it an agent of concern from a public health point of view. The main transmission route is tick bites, so people most exposed to this risk are more likely to become infected. Another risk group are veterinarians and livestock farmers who are in contact with the blood and other fluids of animals that are mostly asymptomatic. Finally, due to its first phase with a non-characteristic symptomatology, there exists a risk of nosocomial infection. It is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and those Asian countries south of the 50th parallel north, the geographical limit of the main vector. Recently, autochthonous cases have been observed in areas of Europe where the virus was not previously present. Human cases have been detected in Greece, Bulgaria, and Spain. Spain is one of the most affected countries, with a total of 17 autochthonous cases detected since 2013. In other countries, such as France, the virus is present in ticks and animals but has not spread to humans. A high-quality epidemiological surveillance system in these countries is essential to avoid the expansion of this virus to new areas and to limit the impact of current cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Arboviruses: Epidemiology, Vector Dynamics, and Pathogenesis)
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