Bluetongue Virus: Pathogenesis and Vaccines

Dear Colleagues,

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a dsRNA virus (family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus) transmitted by insect vectors (Culicoides spp.). BTV infects domestic and wild ruminants and causes high morbidity and mortality, mainly in sheep. Bluetongue is a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) listed disease due to the great socioeconomic losses it inflicts. The presence of BTV has been documented on all continents except for Antarctica, reflecting the geographical expansion of Culicoides vectors. There are at least 29 BTV serotypes, which are based on the specific humoral response elicited against the VP2 protein. It has been shown that the reassortment of BTV RNA segments is responsible for the appearance of new virus strains.

Improved understanding of key factors involved in host tropism, immune response, and vaccine efficacy is required for the development of safe and potent new-generation BTV vaccines that have DIVA potential and are applicable to all serotypes (due to the frequent emergence of novel BTV serotypes). Therefore, this Special Issue welcomes all types of manuscripts (e.g., reviews, research articles, and short communications) addressing molecular mechanisms, host–virus interactions, pathogenicity, and vaccine strategies.

Dr. Noemí Sevilla
Dr. Veronica Martín
Dr. Jose M. Rojas
Guest Editors

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