Emerging and Re-Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviruses

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 16 June 2026 | Viewed by 613

Special Issue Editors


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Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife 50740-465, Brazil
Interests: Chikungunya; dengue virus; pathogenesis; positive-strand RNA Zika virus; alphaviruses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz-SP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
2. Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
Interests: immune correlates in arbovirus infection; CHIKV; Zika; tropical diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: CHIKV; alphaviruses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We have just unveiled a Viruses Special Issue titled “Emerging and Re-Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviruses”. Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a significant global public health concern, causing a wide range of diseases in humans, animals, and plants. These viruses are transmitted through the bites of infected arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and midges, with well-known examples including dengue virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus, among many other medically relevant arboviruses. Arboviruses are responsible for various outbreaks that place substantial burdens on healthcare systems, economies, and communities worldwide.

The increasing emergence and re-emergence of arboviral diseases are driven by factors such as climate change, urbanization, global travel, and the adaptation of vectors to new environments. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive collection of innovative research and reviews on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and control of arboviruses. We welcome contributions on a broad range of topics, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Vector Biology and Ecology: Understanding the biology, behavior, and distribution of arthropod vectors;
  • Virus Evolution and Genetics: Insights into genetic diversity, mutations, and viral adaptation mechanisms;
  • Epidemiology and Surveillance: Novel strategies for monitoring and predicting arboviral outbreaks;
  • Host–Pathogen Interactions: Mechanisms underlying viral infection, immune responses, and pathogenesis;
  • Diagnostic Tools: Advances in molecular, serological, and field-based diagnostic technologies;
  • Vaccine and Therapeutic Development: Progress in antiviral drug development and vaccine research;
  • Vector Control Strategies: Innovative approaches, including biological and genetic control methods;
  • One Health Approach: Interdisciplinary studies addressing the impact of arboviruses on human, animal, and environmental health.

This Special Issue is not restricted to specific virus families; instead, we encourage the submission of any of the above topics across a diverse range of arboviruses, regardless of their taxonomic classification. We welcome contributions that provide novel insights into lesser-studied arboviruses, emerging threats, and comparative studies that broaden our perspective on arboviral diseases.

We encourage original submissions from researchers in virology, entomology, epidemiology, public health, immunology, and related fields. Join us in advancing our knowledge on arthropod-borne viruses and their global impact. We look forward to your contributions!

Dr. Rafael Freitas de Oliveira França
Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Stabeli
Dr. Mylena R. Pereira
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • arbovirus
  • innate immune response
  • adaptive immune response
  • epidemiology
  • diagnosis
  • prevention
  • vaccine
  • animal model
  • pathogenesis
  • viral evolution
  • in vitro
  • in vivo

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 3337 KB  
Article
Differentiation of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections by Antibodies Directed to the Non-Structural Protein 1
by Lena Roßbacher, Samuel Taschler, Elena Cecchettin, Amelie Popovitsch, Stephan W. Aberle, Judith H. Aberle, Iris Medits-Weiss and Karin Stiasny
Viruses 2025, 17(10), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101357 - 10 Oct 2025
Viewed by 349
Abstract
The genus Orthoflavivirus (family Flaviviridae) comprises several important pathogens that are widespread across the globe, often co-circulating in many regions. In Austria, the closely related mosquito-borne West Nile (WN) and Usutu (USU) viruses have been detected since the early 2000s. Orthoflavivirus-neutralizing antibodies [...] Read more.
The genus Orthoflavivirus (family Flaviviridae) comprises several important pathogens that are widespread across the globe, often co-circulating in many regions. In Austria, the closely related mosquito-borne West Nile (WN) and Usutu (USU) viruses have been detected since the early 2000s. Orthoflavivirus-neutralizing antibodies primarily target the major envelope protein E. However, due to their antigenic relationship, recurring contacts with different orthoflaviviruses can lead to the induction of broadly cross-reactive E-specific antibodies. These can pose a problem in the diagnosis and differentiation of orthoflavivirus infections. Therefore, we established immunological assays based on the non-structural protein 1 (NS1) to differentiate infections caused by WN and USU viruses. The NS1 protein is secreted during acute infection, and NS1-specific antibodies have been reported to be less cross-reactive than those against E. Using sera from individuals with a confirmed WN or USU virus infection, it was possible to distinguish between the two virus infections with high accuracy, specifically when IgM and IgG results were combined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Re-Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviruses)
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