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Viruses
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Tick-Borne Viruses 2026
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Tick-Borne Viruses 2026

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 2601

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Pat Nuttall

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
Interests: arboviruses; tick-borne pathogen transmission

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) represent a significant and expanding public health threat, with increasing incidence and geographic range driven by complex ecological, environmental, and anthropogenic factors. These viruses, transmitted by hard and soft ticks, encompass diverse taxa, including flaviviruses, orthonairoviruses, and phenuiviruses, many of which cause severe and sometimes fatal disease in humans and domesticated animals. The dynamics of TBV transmission are intimately linked to tick ecology, host availability, and climatic variables, all of which are undergoing rapid change. The mechanisms of tick-borne transmission, including tick saliva-mediated host interactions, exosomes, and antiviral mechanisms, challenge our understanding of how TBVs survive. At the same time, advances in surveillance techniques, high-throughput processing, and data analysis are revealing novel viruses and shedding light on the evolutionary relationships and zoonotic potential of these agents.

This Special Issue brings together original research articles and reviews that span the molecular biology, transmission, vector–host interactions, ecology, and emerging control strategies for tick-borne viruses. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive update on the current state of the field and to highlight critical knowledge gaps that warrant future investigation.

Prof. Dr. Pat Nuttall
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tick-borne viruses
  • vector-borne pathogens
  • virus–tick–host interactions
  • saliva-assisted transmission
  • tick exosomes
  • tick antiviral mechanisms
  • virus evolution
  • surveillance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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14 pages, 3998 KB  
Article
Dysregulation of microRNAs in the Brains of Mice Infected with Powassan Virus
by Amany Elsharkawy, Komal Arora, Hamid Reza Jahantigh and Mukesh Kumar
Viruses 2025, 17(10), 1288; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101288 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 984
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression during neurodegenerative diseases and neurotropic viral infections. However, their specific contribution to the pathogenesis of Powassan virus (POWV) infection in the brain remains poorly understood. Understanding miRNA dynamics in [...] Read more.
microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression during neurodegenerative diseases and neurotropic viral infections. However, their specific contribution to the pathogenesis of Powassan virus (POWV) infection in the brain remains poorly understood. Understanding miRNA dynamics in the brain during POWV infection may reveal novel insights into viral neuropathogenesis and host antiviral responses. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed miRNA expression profiles in the mouse brain at different time points following a peripheral POWV infection. A total of 599 miRNAs were examined at day 3, 6, and 9 post-infection. Infection with POWV resulted in the modulation of several miRNAs in the brain at all time points. There was a progressive increase in the number of dysregulated miRNAs over the course of infection. This correlated with POWV dissemination into the brain with a progressive increase in viral RNA levels that peaked at day 9 post-infection. There was an early upregulation of miR-1983, miR-19a, and miR-216b that persisted until day 9 post-infection. POWV infection also resulted in the downregulation of miR-500 at all examined time points. Using IPA, we determined the significant canonical pathways affected by miRNA dysregulation. POWV infection modulated the activation of the thyroid hormone receptor and retinoid X receptor (TR/RXR) and the regulation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Additionally, macrophage classical activation and growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45 (GADD45) signaling were activated as early as day 3 post-infection and persisted until day 9 post-infection. Furthermore, our analysis revealed the activation of cell death pathways such as necrosis and apoptosis and the inhibition of cell cycle progression, as well as leukopoiesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the modulation of miRNAs in the brain following POWV infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tick-Borne Viruses 2026)
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15 pages, 3221 KB  
Article
Development of a Deer Tick Virus Infection Model in C3H/HeJ Mice to Mimic Human Clinical Outcomes
by Dakota N. Paine, Erin S. Reynolds, Charles E. Hart, Jessica Crooker and Saravanan Thangamani
Viruses 2025, 17(8), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081092 - 7 Aug 2025
Viewed by 965
Abstract
Deer tick virus (DTV) is a Tick-Borne Orthoflavivirus endemic to the United States, transmitted to humans through bites from the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, which is also the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., the causative agent of Lyme disease. Human [...] Read more.
Deer tick virus (DTV) is a Tick-Borne Orthoflavivirus endemic to the United States, transmitted to humans through bites from the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, which is also the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., the causative agent of Lyme disease. Human infection with DTV can result in acute febrile illness followed by central nervous system complications, such as encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. Currently, there are mouse models established for investigating the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of DTV that mimic human infections, but the strains of mice utilized are refractory to infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. Here, we describe the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of DTV infection in C3H/HeJ mice. Neurological clinical signs, mortality, and weight loss were observed in all DTV-infected mice during the investigation. Infected animals demonstrated consistent viral infection in their organs. Additionally, neuropathology of brain sections indicated the presence of meningoencephalitis throughout the brain. This data, along with the clinical outcomes for the mice, indicates successful infection and showcases the neuroinvasive nature of the virus. This is the first study to identify C3H/HeJ mice as an appropriate model for DTV infection. As C3H/HeJ mice are already an established model for B. burgdorferi s.l. infection, this model could serve as an ideal system for investigating disease progression and pathogenesis of co-infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tick-Borne Viruses 2026)
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13 pages, 1121 KB  
Brief Report
Co-Circulation of Tick-Borne Bandaviruses and Orthonairoviruses Across Humans, Livestock, and Rats in Pakistan: Serologic Evidence and Public Health Implications
by Muhammad Ammar, Shengyao Chen, Muhammad Saqib, Jingyuan Zhang, Awais-Ur-Rahman Sial, Asad Zia, Yaohui Fang, Muhammad Khalid Mansoor, Abulimiti Moming, Asim Shahzad, Rehman Hafeez, Aneela Javed, Ali Hassan, Ben Hu, Ali Zohaib, Shu Shen and Fei Deng
Viruses 2025, 17(12), 1620; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121620 - 15 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) pose significant public health and economic threats. Pakistan has endemic Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), but evidence suggests broader TBV circulation. This study assessed the seroprevalence of thirteen TBVs (seven are members of the genus Orthonairovirus and six are members [...] Read more.
Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) pose significant public health and economic threats. Pakistan has endemic Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), but evidence suggests broader TBV circulation. This study assessed the seroprevalence of thirteen TBVs (seven are members of the genus Orthonairovirus and six are members of the genus Bandavirus) in humans, livestock, and rats in Punjab, Pakistan. Serum samples (n = 794: 321 livestock, 253 human, and 220 rat) were collected from the Narowal, Lahore, and Faisalabad districts. Antibodies to viral NPs were detected using the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS). The overall seroprevalence was 19.14% (152/794); it was highest in livestock (27.10%), then humans (20.55%), and then rats (5.91%). The highest seroprevalence rates were 3.12% for CCHFV in livestock, 3.56% for Yezo virus (YEZV) in humans, and 0.91% for Tamdy virus (TAMV) and Tacheng tick virus 1 (TcTV-1) in rats. Neutralizing antibodies were detected against CCHFV (1 cattle, 4 humans), Bhanja virus (BHAV) (3 livestock, 1 rat), TAMV (1 cattle), Guertu virus (GTV) (1 cattle), and Dabie bandavirus (2 cattle). Sixteen samples showed antibodies to both orthonairoviruses and bandaviruses, indicating co-exposure. Further analysis showed that seropositivity was not randomly distributed. Livestock kept in commercial farming systems and people working mainly outdoors had distinctly higher exposure to TBVs than subsistence livestock and indoor workers. The results supported the circulation of TBVs among hosts within the close socio-economic/ecological integration area of Pakistan. These findings confirm the circulation of CCHFV, SFTSV, GTV, and TAMV; provide the first serologic evidence of BHAV in Pakistan; and underscore the need for further investigation into the potential circulation of additional TBVs. All results demonstrated that multiple TBVs have been circulating among humans, livestock, and rodents in Pakistan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tick-Borne Viruses 2026)
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