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Powers AM, Williamson LE, Carnahan RH, Crowe JE, Hyde JL, Jonsson CB, Nasar F, Weaver SC. Developing a Prototype Pathogen Plan and Research Priorities for the Alphaviruses. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S414-S426. [PMID: 37849399 PMCID: PMC11007399 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Togaviridae family, genus, Alphavirus, includes several mosquito-borne human pathogens with the potential to spread to near pandemic proportions. Most of these are zoonotic, with spillover infections of humans and domestic animals, but a few such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have the ability to use humans as amplification hosts for transmission in urban settings and explosive outbreaks. Most alphaviruses cause nonspecific acute febrile illness, with pathogenesis sometimes leading to either encephalitis or arthralgic manifestations with severe and chronic morbidity and occasional mortality. The development of countermeasures, especially against CHIKV and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus that are major threats, has included vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics that are likely to also be successful for rapid responses with other members of the family. However, further work with these prototypes and other alphavirus pathogens should target better understanding of human tropism and pathogenesis, more comprehensive identification of cellular receptors and entry, and better understanding of structural mechanisms of neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Powers
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Lauren E Williamson
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Robert H Carnahan
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - James E Crowe
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jennifer L Hyde
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Colleen B Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Farooq Nasar
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch and Viral Disease Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Burkett-Cadena ND, Day JF, Unnasch TR. Ecology of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in the Southeastern United States: Incriminating Vector and Host Species Responsible for Virus Amplification, Persistence, and Dispersal. J Med Entomol 2022; 59:41-48. [PMID: 34734635 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) is a mosquito-borne pathogen found in eastern North America that causes severe disease in humans and horses. The mosquito Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the primary enzootic vector of EEEV throughout eastern North America while several mosquito species belonging to diverse genera serve as bridge vectors. The ecology of EEEV differs between northern and southern foci, with respect to phenology of outbreaks, important vertebrate hosts, and bridge vector species. Active transmission is limited to roughly half of the year in northern foci (New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut), while year-round transmission occurs in the southeastern region (particularly Florida). Multiple phylogenetic analyses indicate that EEEV strains circulating in northern foci are likely transported from southern foci by migrating birds. Bird species that overwinter or migrate through Florida, are bitten by Cs. melanura in late spring, and arrive at northern breeding grounds in May are the most likely candidates to disperse EEEV northward. Available data indicate that common yellowthroat and green heron satisfy these criteria and could serve as virus dispersers. Understanding the factors that drive the phenology of Cs. melanura reproduction in the south and the timing of avian migration from southern foci could provide insight into how confluence of these biological phenomena shapes outbreaks of EEE throughout its range. This information could be used to develop models predicting the likelihood of outbreaks in a given year, allowing vector control districts to more efficiently marshal resources necessary to protect their stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Burkett-Cadena
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida IFAS, 200 9th Street SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Jonathan F Day
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida IFAS, 200 9th Street SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Thomas R Unnasch
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 304, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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