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Lancet Regional Health. Americas Feb 2024In the Americas, one decade following its emergence in 2013, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) continues to spread and cause epidemics across the region. To date, 3.7 million... (Review)
Review
In the Americas, one decade following its emergence in 2013, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) continues to spread and cause epidemics across the region. To date, 3.7 million suspected and laboratory-confirmed chikungunya cases have been reported in 50 countries or territories in the Americas. Here, we outline the current status and epidemiological aspects of chikungunya in the Americas and discuss prospects for future research and public health strategies to combat CHIKV in the region.
PubMed: 38283942
DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100673 -
Experimental Biology and Medicine... Nov 2023Arboviruses cause millions of infections each year; however, only limited options are available for treatment and pharmacological prevention. Mosquitoes are among the... (Review)
Review
Arboviruses cause millions of infections each year; however, only limited options are available for treatment and pharmacological prevention. Mosquitoes are among the most important vectors for the transmission of several pathogens to humans. Despite advances, the sampling, viral detection, and control methods for these insects remain ineffective. Challenges arise with the increase in mosquito populations due to climate change, insecticide resistance, and human interference affecting natural habitats, which contribute to the increasing difficulty in controlling the spread of arboviruses. Therefore, prioritizing arbovirus surveillance is essential for effective epidemic preparedness. In this review, we offer a concise historical account of the discovery and monitoring of arboviruses in mosquitoes, from mosquito capture to viral detection. We then analyzed the advantages and limitations of these traditional methods. Furthermore, we investigated the potential of emerging technologies to address these limitations, including the implementation of next-generation sequencing, paper-based devices, spectroscopic detectors, and synthetic biosensors. We also provide perspectives on recurring issues and areas of interest such as insect-specific viruses.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Arboviruses; Culicidae; Arbovirus Infections; Mosquito Vectors
PubMed: 38183286
DOI: 10.1177/15353702231209415 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Sep 2023Mosquito transmitted viruses are responsible for an increasing burden of human disease. Despite this, little is known about the diversity and ecology of viruses within...
Mosquito transmitted viruses are responsible for an increasing burden of human disease. Despite this, little is known about the diversity and ecology of viruses within individual mosquito hosts. Using a meta-transcriptomic approach, we analysed the virome of 2,438 individual mosquitos (79 species), spanning ~4000 km along latitudes and longitudes in China. From these data we identified 393 core viral species associated with mosquitos, including seven (putative) arbovirus species. We identified potential species and geographic hotspots of viral richness and arbovirus occurrence, and demonstrated that host phylogeny had a strong impact on the composition of individual mosquito viromes. Our data revealed a large number of viruses shared among mosquito species or genera, expanding our knowledge of host specificity of insect-associated viruses. We also detected multiple virus species that were widespread throughout the country, possibly facilitated by long-distance mosquito migrations. Together, our results greatly expand the known mosquito virome, linked the viral diversity at the scale of individual insects to that at a country-wide scale, and offered unique insights into the ecology of viruses of insect vectors.
PubMed: 37732272
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.28.555221 -
Nature Communications Sep 2023Ae. aegypti mosquitoes transmit some of the most important human viral diseases that are responsible for a significant public health burden worldwide. The small...
Ae. aegypti mosquitoes transmit some of the most important human viral diseases that are responsible for a significant public health burden worldwide. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is considered the major antiviral defense system in insects. Here we show that siRNA pathway disruption by CRISPR/Cas9-based Ago2 knockout impaired the mosquitoes' ability to degrade arbovirus RNA leading to hyper-infection accompanied by cell lysis and tissue damage. Ago2 disruption impaired DNA repair mechanisms and the autophagy pathway by altering histone abundance. This compromised DNA repair and removal of damaged cellular organelles and dysfunctional aggregates promoted mosquito death. We also report that hyper-infection of Ago2 knockout mosquitoes stimulated a broad-spectrum antiviral immunity, including apoptosis, which may counteract infection. Taken together, our studies reveal novel roles for Ago2 in protecting mosquitoes from arbovirus infection and associated death.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Aedes; Arbovirus Infections; RNA, Small Interfering; Antiviral Agents; Apoptosis; Craniocerebral Trauma
PubMed: 37723154
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41370-y -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023During the past four decades, recurrent outbreaks of various arthropod-borne viruses have been reported in Mauritania. This review aims to consolidate the current... (Review)
Review
During the past four decades, recurrent outbreaks of various arthropod-borne viruses have been reported in Mauritania. This review aims to consolidate the current knowledge on the epidemiology of the major arboviruses circulating in Mauritania. Online databases including PubMed and Web of Science were used to retrieve relevant published studies. The results showed that numerous arboviral outbreaks of variable magnitude occurred in almost all 13 regions of Mauritania, with Rift Valley fever (RVF), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), and dengue (DEN) being the most common infections. Other arboviruses causing yellow fever (YF), chikungunya (CHIK), o'nyong-nyong (ONN), Semliki Forest (SF), West Nile fever (WNF), Bagaza (BAG), Wesselsbron (WSL), and Ngari (NRI) diseases have also been found circulating in humans and/or livestock in Mauritania. The average case fatality rates of CCHF and RVF were 28.7% and 21.1%, respectively. RVF outbreaks have often occurred after unusually heavy rainfalls, while CCHF epidemics have mostly been reported during the dry season. The central and southeastern regions of the country have carried the highest burden of RVF and CCHF. Sheep, cattle, and camels are the main animal reservoirs for the RVF and CCHF viruses. and mosquitoes and , , and ticks are the main vectors of these viruses. DEN outbreaks occurred mainly in the urban settings, including in Nouakchott, the capital city, and is likely the main mosquito vector. Therefore, there is a need to implement an integrated management strategy for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases based on sensitizing the high-risk occupational groups, such as slaughterhouse workers, shepherds, and butchers for zoonotic diseases, reinforcing vector surveillance and control, introducing rapid point-of-care diagnosis of arboviruses in high-risk areas, and improving the capacities to respond rapidly when the first signs of disease outbreak are identified.
PubMed: 38003834
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111370 -
Current Opinion in Virology Dec 2023Over the last decade, the emergence of several zoonotic viruses has demonstrated that previously unknown or neglected pathogens have the potential to cause epidemics and... (Review)
Review
Over the last decade, the emergence of several zoonotic viruses has demonstrated that previously unknown or neglected pathogens have the potential to cause epidemics and therefore to pose a threat to global public health. Even more concerning are the estimated 1.7 million still-undiscovered viruses present in the natural environment or 'global virome', with many of these as-yet uncharacterized viruses predicted to be pathogenic for humans. Thus, in order to mitigate disease emergence and prevent future pandemics, it is crucial to identify the global extent of viral threats to which humans may become exposed. This requires cataloguing the viruses that exist in the environment within their various and diverse host species, and also understanding the viral, host, and environmental factors that dictate the circumstances that result in viral spillover into humans. We also address here which strategies can be implemented as countermeasure initiatives to reduce the risk of emergence of new diseases.
Topics: Humans; Pandemics; Virome; Viruses; Environment; Host Specificity
PubMed: 37995425
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2023.101377 -
Insect Science Jun 2024Insects are the host or vector of diverse viruses including those that infect vertebrates, plants, and fungi. Insect viruses reside inside their insect hosts and are... (Review)
Review
Insects are the host or vector of diverse viruses including those that infect vertebrates, plants, and fungi. Insect viruses reside inside their insect hosts and are vertically transmitted from parent to offspring. The insect virus-host relationship is intricate, as these viruses can impact various aspects of insect biology, such as development, reproduction, sex ratios, and immunity. Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that cause substantial global health or agricultural problems can also be vertically transmitted to insect vector progeny. Multiple infections with insect viruses and arboviruses are common in nature. Such coinfections involve complex interactions, including synergism, dependence, and antagonism. Recent studies have shed light on the influence of insect viruses on the competence of insect vectors for arboviruses. In this review, we focus on the biological effects of insect viruses on the transmission of arboviruses by insects. We also discuss the potential mechanisms by which insect viruses affect the ability of hosts to transmit arboviruses, as well as potential strategies for disease control through manipulation of insect viruses. Analyses of the interactions among insect vectors, insect viruses and arboviruses will provide new opportunities for development of innovative strategies to control arbovirus transmission.
Topics: Animals; Arboviruses; Insect Vectors; Insect Viruses; Arbovirus Infections; Insecta
PubMed: 37877630
DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13285 -
BioMed Research International 2023Mosquitoes are vectors for numerous arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika which continue to negatively impact the health of Caribbean populations. Within the... (Review)
Review
Mosquitoes are vectors for numerous arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika which continue to negatively impact the health of Caribbean populations. Within the region, synthetic insecticides are primarily used to control mosquito populations. In many countries however, these compounds are becoming less effective due to resistance, and they may also be harmful to the environment. Thus, there is a significant need for the development of alternative agents to combat the mosquito threat in the Caribbean. Worldwide, botanical-based products are being increasingly investigated for vector control because they are environmentally friendly and are often highly effective mosquitocidal agents. Although the botanical diversity within the Caribbean is remarkable, work on plant biopesticides in the region remains limited. The aim of this review, therefore, is to discuss the use of Caribbean botanical extracts as larvicidal agents. Additionally, we highlight the need for future work in this area which may subsequently lead to the implementation of transformative public health policies.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mosquito Vectors; Caribbean Region; Ethnicity; Biological Control Agents; Chikungunya Fever; Culicidae; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 37663786
DOI: 10.1155/2023/5518863 -
Cell Reports Aug 2023Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are an increasing threat to global health. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is...
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are an increasing threat to global health. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is considered the main antiviral immune pathway of insects, but its effective impact on arbovirus transmission is surprisingly poorly understood. Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing in vivo to mutate Dicer2, a gene encoding the RNA sensor and key component of the siRNA pathway. The loss of Dicer2 enhances early viral replication and systemic viral dissemination of four medically significant arboviruses (chikungunya, Mayaro, dengue, and Zika viruses) representing two viral families. However, Dicer2 mutants and wild-type mosquitoes display overall similar levels of vector competence. In addition, Dicer2 mutants undergo significant virus-induced mortality during infection with chikungunya virus. Together, our results define a multifaceted role for Dicer2 in the transmission of arboviruses by Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and pave the way for further mechanistic investigations.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Arboviruses; Aedes; Mosquito Vectors; Zika Virus; RNA, Small Interfering; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 37573505
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112977 -
Life Sciences Oct 2023Flaviviruses infect arthropods and mammals and their pathologies are a considerable global health problem, affecting about 400 million people per year. The symptoms of... (Review)
Review
Flaviviruses infect arthropods and mammals and their pathologies are a considerable global health problem, affecting about 400 million people per year. The symptoms of these flaviviruses range from mild manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, and headache to more serious cases such as hemorrhage, meningitis, microcephaly, kidney, and liver failure. This review aims to compile the morphological changes that occur due to infections caused by dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, as well as to describe possible mechanisms of action of such flaviviruses in the liver. PRISMA guidelines were used to search for studies associating flavivirus with liver disorders. Two independent reviewers selected the studies on PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus search platforms. The SYRCLE software was used for the evaluation of the study's quality. Eighteen experimental articles were included. The experimental animals often used in experiments were monkeys (5 %), hamsters (10 %), chicken embryos (10 %), and mice (75 %). It is evident that there is a strong hepatic interaction with flaviviruses, and the main hepatic alterations found were steatosis, apoptosis, necrosis, hemorrhage, elevation of ALT and AST levels, and total bilirubin. Flavivirus infection, in general, trigger an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to structural changes in mitochondria that activate cascades of cellular death and promote insulin resistance. The majority of the studies primarily focus on dengue and yellow fever viruses, while the findings related to Zika virus exposure are still relatively limited and require further investigation.
Topics: Chick Embryo; Humans; Cricetinae; Animals; Mice; Flavivirus; Yellow Fever; Liver Diseases; Zika Virus; Dengue; Zika Virus Infection; Mammals
PubMed: 37683724
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122074