Giuseppe MichieliDec 22, 2024

#Italy, #traveler from #DRC tested negative after molecular diagnostics performed, https://www.iltirreno.it/lucca/cronaca/2024/12/20/news/lucca-test-negativi-sul-paziente-rientrato-dal-congo-1.100635824

Patient was negative for #Alphavirus, #Flavivirus, #RVF, #Lassa, #influenza A, influenza B, #SARS-CoV-2, #rhinovirus, NL63, 229E, OC43 e HKU1, PIV 1, 2, 3 e 4, #metapneumovirus A/B, #bocavirus, #RSV A/B, #adenovirus, #parechovirus, Borrelia spp, Borrelia recurrentis, Borrelia duttoni, Borrelia TBRF group, Bartonella spp, Erlichia spp, Rickettsia spp, virus del morbillo, Plasmodium spp.

Lucca, test negativi sul paziente rientrato dal Congo

L’esito degli esami del sangue dopo il ricovero per febbre del 50enne lucchese

Il Tirreno
Giuseppe MichieliAug 24, 2024

The First Isolation of #Insect-Specific #Alphavirus (Agua Salud alphavirus) in #Culex (Melanoconion) #Mosquitoes in the Brazilian #Amazon https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/9/1355

This study is the first report on insect-specific alphavirus isolation in Brazil and the first-ever description of Agua Salud alphavirus isolation within Amazon Forest remnants.

The First Isolation of Insect-Specific Alphavirus (Agua Salud alphavirus) in Culex (Melanoconion) Mosquitoes in the Brazilian Amazon

Advances in diagnostic techniques coupled with ongoing environmental changes have resulted in intensified surveillance and monitoring of arbovirus circulation in the Amazon. This increased effort has resulted in increased detection of insect-specific viruses among hematophagous arthropods collected in the field. This study aimed to document the first isolation of Agua Salud alphavirus in mosquitoes collected within the Brazilian Amazon. Arthropods belonging to the family Culicidae were collected within a forest fragment located in the Environmental Protection Area of the metropolitan region of Belem. Subsequently, these specimens were meticulously identified to the species level. Afterward, the collected batches were macerated, and the resulting supernatant was then inoculated into C6/36 and Vero cell cultures to facilitate viral isolation. The presence of arboviruses within the inoculated cell cultures was determined through indirect immunofluorescence analysis. Furthermore, positive supernatant samples underwent nucleotide sequencing to precisely identify the viral strains present. Notably, a batch containing Culex (Melanoconion) mosquitoes was identified to be positive for the genus Alphavirus via indirect immunofluorescence. This study is the first report on insect-specific alphavirus isolation in Brazil and the first-ever description of Agua Salud alphavirus isolation within Amazon Forest remnants.

MDPI
CellBioNewsAug 23, 2024

Scientists discover novel #receptor recognition mechanism for #alphavirus.

#Eastern_Equine_Encephalitis #VLDLR

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-scientists-receptor-recognition-mechanism-alphavirus.html

Scientists discover novel receptor recognition mechanism for alphavirus

Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), an alphavirus, can cause central nervous system infections that can lead to severe encephalitis with a mortality rate of over 30%.

Phys.org
Giuseppe MichieliAug 14, 2024

#Mayaro Virus: An Emerging #Alphavirus in the #Americas https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/8/1297

Overall, MAYV remains a neglected arbovirus due to its limited area of transmission. However, with the potential of its urbanisation and expanding circulation, the threat MAYV poses to global health cannot be overlooked.

Mayaro Virus: An Emerging Alphavirus in the Americas

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus first isolated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1954. MAYV is the causative agent of Mayaro fever, which is characterised by high fever, maculopapular rash, myalgia and arthralgia. The potential for chronic arthralgia is of particular clinical concern. Currently, MAYV outbreaks are restricted to South and Central America, with some cases reported in Africa as well as several imported cases in Europe. However, in recent years, MAYV has become a growing global concern due to its potential to emerge into urban transmission cycles. Challenges faced with diagnostics, as well as a lack of specific antivirals or licensed vaccines further exacerbate the potential global health threat posed by MAYV. In this review, we discuss this emerging arboviral threat with a particular focus on the current treatment and vaccine development efforts. Overall, MAYV remains a neglected arbovirus due to its limited area of transmission. However, with the potential of its urbanisation and expanding circulation, the threat MAYV poses to global health cannot be overlooked. Further research into the improvement of current diagnostics, as well as the development of efficacious antivirals and vaccines will be crucial to help prevent and manage potential MAYV outbreaks.

MDPI
Gene OntologyFeb 28, 2023
In a wonderful #OpenAccess paper in @VirusesMDPI, Lim et al. use #GeneOntology to look at how the #alphavirus Ross River virus (RRV) impacts infected as well as bystander cell populations. Read more at https://www.mdpi.com/2043164
Pathways Activated by Infected and Bystander Chondrocytes in Response to Ross River Virus Infection

Old world alphaviruses, such as Ross River virus (RRV), cause debilitating arthralgia during acute and chronic stages of the disease. RRV-induced cartilage degradation has been implicated as a cause of joint pain felt by RRV patients. Chondrocytes are a major cell type of cartilage and are involved in the production and maintenance of the cartilage matrix. It is thought that these cells may play a vital role in RRV disease pathogenesis. In this study, we used RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to examine the transcriptomes of RRV-infected and bystander chondrocytes in the same environment. RRV containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) allowed for the separation of RRV-infected (GFP+) and bystander uninfected cells (GFP−). We found that whereas GFP+ and GFP− populations commonly presented similar gene expression profiles during infection, there were also unique signatures. For example, RIMS2 and FOXJ1 were unique to GFP+ cells, whilst Aim2 and CCL8 were only found in bystander chondrocytes. This indicates that careful selection of potential therapeutic targets is important to minimise adverse effects to the neighbouring uninfected cell populations. Our study serves as a resource to provide more information about the pathways and responses elicited by RRV in cells which are both infected and stimulated because of neighbouring infected cells.

MDPI