The invasive Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus found in the Netherlands can experimentally transmit Zika virus and Usutu virus
by Abbo et al.Given that Ae. japonicus can experimentally transmit arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) like ZIKV and USUV and is currently expanding its territories, we should consider this mosquito as a potential vector for arboviral diseases in Europe.
A Systematic Review: Is Aedes albopictus an Efficient Bridge Vector for Zoonotic Arboviruses?
by Pereira dos Santos et al.This analysis confirms the potential of Ae. albopictus as a bridge vector based on its colonization of natural breeding sites in newly invaded areas, its opportunistic feeding behaviour together with the preference for human blood, and the competence to transmit 14 arboviruses.
The present study showed that there is no evidence that the ZIKV established an independent sylvatic cycle in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and provided new evidence that there was no urban transmission of Yellow Fever Virus in southeast Brazil during the current outbreak.
The global scientific research response to the public health emergency of Zika virus infection
by de Oliveira et al.Mapping the response to Zika, a public health emergency, demonstrated a clear pattern of the participation of countries in the scientific advances. The pattern of knowledge production found in this study represented varying country perspectives, research capacity and interests based first on their level of exposure to the epidemic and second on their financial positions regarding science.
Optimisation and field validation of odour-baited traps for surveillance of Aedes aegypti adults in Paramaribo, Suriname
by Visser et al.This study demonstrates that the BG-Sentinel trap baited with the MB5 blend and CO2 outperforms the current golden standard (BG-Sentinel trap with BG-Lure) for monitoring Ae. aegypti females and males, in both laboratory and field experiments. The BG-Bowl baited with the MB5 blend is a good candidate for home use. Finally, the results show that CO2 is an indispensable component of the attractive blend.
Gender mainstreaming as a pathway for sustainable arbovirus control in Latin America
by Wenham et al.Building on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals commitment to “leave no one behind” and the recent championing of a need for a people-centered approach to epidemic preparedness and response, the authors call for more evidence that can support policy recommendations and advocacy efforts for gender-mainstreamed arbovirus control programs in Latin America.
Genomic and Epidemiological Surveillance of Zika Virus in the Amazon Region
by Giovanetti et al.This study reveals how the ZIKV epidemic was ignited and maintained within the largest urban metropolis in the Amazon. These results might contribute to improving the public health response to outbreaks in Brazil.
From ancient to emerging infections: the odyssey of viruses in the male genital tract
by Le Tortorec et al.The authors review here how viruses, from ancient viruses that integrated the germ line during evolution through old viruses (e.g. papillomaviruses originating from Neanderthals) and more modern sexually-transmitted infections (e.g. simian zoonotic HIV) to emerging viruses (e.g. Ebola and Zika) take advantage of genital tract colonization for horizontal dissemination, viral persistence, vertical transmission and endogenization.
Never shy from infectious-disease mysteries: Nature Medicine interviews Patrícia Brasil
by ZIKAllianceRobustness of Serologic Investigations for Chikungunya and Mayaro Viruses following Coemergence
by Fischer et al.In this study the authors' data provide a convenient and practicable solution to ensure robust differentiation of CHIKV- and MAYV-specific antibodies.
A new class of broadly neutralizing antibodies that target the glycan loop of Zika virus envelope protein
by Qu et al.Results showed in this article have strong implications for developing anti-ZIKV vaccines and therapeutic mAbs.
Identification of animal hosts of Fort Sherman virus, a New World zoonotic orthobunyavirus
by de Oliveira Filho et al.Findings in this study highlight the occurrence of the Fort Sherman virus (FSV) across a geographic range exceeding 7,000 km, surprising genomic conservation across a time span exceeding 50 years, M gene‐based reassortment events, and the existence of multiple animal hosts of FSV.
Uncertainty in times of medical emergency: Knowledge gaps and structural ignorance during the Brazilian Zika crisis
by Kelly et al.Uncertainty was a defining feature of the Brazilian Zika crisis of 2015–2016. This article identifies three forms of uncertainty: global health, public health and clinical uncertainty, and it suggests that “emergency research” was effective in tackling global health uncertainty.
Recombination of B- and T-cell epitope-rich loci from Aedes- and Culex-borne flaviviruses shapes Zika virus epidemiology
by Gaunt et al.Findings from this article explain why explosive ZIKV epidemics occurred in DENV-endemic regions of Micronesia, Polynesia and the Americas where Culex-borne flavivirus outbreaks are infrequent, and why ZIKV did not cause major epidemics in Asia where Culex-borne flaviviruses are widespread.
Zika seroprevalence declines and neutralizing antibodies wane in adults following outbreaks in French Polynesia and Fiji
by Henderson et al.Data from this study suggest that immunity against the Zika virus may not last as long as previously thought, which could affect the chances of future outbreaks.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of the Population Risk of Congenital Microcephaly in Pernambuco State, Brazil
by Alexander et al.This study emphasizes the burden of microcephaly during the outbreak in Pernambuco, with estimates higher than in some previous studies, and with high risk in an inland region of the state for reasons which are yet to be clarified.
A literary history of Zika: Following Brazilian state responses through documents of emergency
by Matta et al.Book chapter in Locating Zika Social Change and Governance in an Age of Mosquito Pandemics; Edited by Kevin Bardosh
Viral emergence and immune interplay in flavivirus vaccines
by Fischer et al.Comment
Low vector competence in sylvatic mosquitoes limits Zika virus to initiate an enzootic cycle in South America
by Fernandes et al.These results suggest that genetically determined tissue barriers, especially in the midgut, play a vital role in inhibiting ZIKV for transmission in the tested sylvatic mosquito species. Thus, an independent enzootic transmission cycle for ZIKV in South America is very unlikely.
Study protocol for the multicentre cohorts of Zika virus infection in pregnant women, infants, and acute clinical cases in Latin America and the Caribbean: the ZIKAlliance consortium
by Avelino-Silva et al.Results of large cohort studies will provide better risk estimates for birth defects and other developmental abnormalities associated with ZIKV infection including possible co-factors for the variability of risk estimates between other countries and regions. Additional outcomes include incidence and transmission estimates of ZIKV during and after pregnancy, characterization of short and long-term clinical course following infection and viral kinetics of ZIKV.