Sequencing and Description of the Mitochondrial Genome of (Diptera: Culicidae).

The genus Theobald, 1904 (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises 36 wild mosquito species, with distribution largely restricted to tropical and temperate areas, most of which are not recognized as vectors of epidemiological importance due to the lack of information related to their bionomy and involvement in the cycle transmission of infectious agents. Furthermore, their evolutionary relationships are not completely understood, reflecting the scarcity of genetic information about the genus. Therefore, in this study, we report the first complete description of the mitochondrial genome of a Neotropical species representing the genus, Coquillet, 1906, collected in the Brazilian Amazon region.

Disclosing the virome of Aedes, Anopheles and Culex female mosquitoes, Alto Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2019.

Using Illumina NextSeq sequencing and bioinformatics, we identified and characterized thirty-three viral sequences of unsegmented and multipartite viral families in Aedes spp., Culex sp. and Anopheles darlingi female mosquito pools from Porto São Luiz and Pirizal, Alto Pantanal.

Identification of Viruses in Bats from the Brazilian Amazon: A Descriptive Metagenomic Analysis.

Bats are widely distributed in Brazil, including the Amazon region, and their association with viral pathogens is well-known. This work aimed to evaluate the metavirome in samples of sp. bats captured in the Brazilian Amazon from 2019 to 2021.

Dengue virus serotype 2 genotype III evolution during the 2019 outbreak in Mato Grosso, Midwestern Brazil.

DENV-2 was the main responsible for a 70% increase in dengue incidence in Brazil during 2019. That year, our metagenomic study by Illumina NextSeq on serum samples from acute febrile patients (n = 92) with suspected arbovirus infection, sampled in 22 cities of the state of Mato Grosso (MT), in the middle west of Brazil, revealed eight complete genomes and two near-complete sequences of DENV-2 genotype III, one Human parvovirus B19 genotype I (5,391 nt) and one Coxsackievirus A6 lineage D (4,514 nt). These DENV-2 sequences share the aminoacidic identities of BR4 lineage on E protein domains I, II and III, and were included in a clade with sequences of the same lineage circulating in the southeast of Brazil in the same year.

Sequencing and description of the complete mitochondrial genome of Limatus durhamii (Diptera: Culicidae).

The genus Limatus (Diptera: Culicidae) are wild mosquitoes belonging to the Sabethini tribe that occurs in tropical countries and is related to transmission cycles of Orthobunyavirus (Bunyaviridae), particularly in the Amazon region. Given the unavailability of information related to evolutionary biology and molecular taxonomy aspects of this genus, we report here the first complete sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of Limatus durhamii Theobald, 1901. The NextSeq 500 platform was used for sample sequencing, and the mitochondrial sequence obtained was 14,875 bp long, comprising 37 functional subunits (13 PCGs, 22 tRNA and 02 rRNA).

Co-infection of and associated with neurological diseases in horses from Brazil.

In 2018, during the surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) in horses with neurological clinical signs in the state of Espírito Santo (Brazil), 19 animals were investigated, and 52 biological samples were collected for WNV diagnostic. One brain sample was positive for WNV by RT-qPCR and the virus was isolated in C6/36 cell culture and sequenced. We obtained a nearly complete genome of WNV co-infected with Peruvian horse sickness virus (PHSV) in the cell culture.

Description of the mitogenome and phylogeny of Aedes spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Amazon region.

The genus Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) includes species of great epidemiological relevance, particularly involved in transmission cycles of leading arboviruses in the Brazilian Amazon region, such as the Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), Yellow fever virus (YFV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We report here the first putatively complete sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes of Brazilian populations of the species Aedes albopictus, Aedes scapularis and Aedes serratus. The sequences obtained showed an average length of 14,947 bp, comprising 37 functional subunits, typical in animal mitochondria (13 PCGs, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA).

Description of mitochon genome and phylogenetic considerations of Sabethes bipartipes, Sabethes cyaneus, Sabethes quasicyaneus, and Sabethes tarsopus (Diptera: Culicidae).

The genus Sabethes (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises species of great epidemiological relevance, particularly involved in transmission cycles of the Yellow fever virus in South America. Given the unavailability of information related to aspects of evolutionary biology and molecular taxonomy of species of this genus of mosquitoes, we report here the first sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes of Sabethes bipartipes, Sabethes cyaneus, Sabethes tarsopus, and Sabethes quasicyaneus. The sequences obtained showed an average length of 14,920 bp, comprising 37 functional genes (13 PCGs, 22 tRNA, and 02 rRNA).

Negeviruses isolated from mosquitoes in the Brazilian Amazon.

Background: There are several groups of viruses including Insect Specific Viruses (ISV) such as the taxon Negevirus, a group of viruses phylogenetically related to plant viruses. Negeviruses replicate in mosquito cells, but not in vertebrate cells.

Methods: Pools of hematophagous arthropods were inoculated in Vero and C6/36 cells.

West Nile Virus in Brazil.

West Nile virus (WNV) was first sequenced in Brazil in 2019, when it was isolated from a horse in the Espírito Santo state. Despite multiple studies reporting serological evidence suggestive of past circulation since 2004, WNV remains a low priority for surveillance and public health, such that much is still unknown about its genomic diversity, evolution, and transmission in the country. A combination of diagnostic assays, nanopore sequencing, phylogenetic inference, and epidemiological modeling are here used to provide a holistic overview of what is known about WNV in Brazil.

Histopathological lesions of congenital Zika syndrome in newborn squirrel monkeys.

The absence of an adequate animal model for studies has limited the understanding of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in humans during the outbreak in America. In this study, we used squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi), a neotropical primate (which mimics the stages of human pregnancy), as a model of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Seven pregnant female squirrel monkeys were experimentally infected at three different gestational stages, and we were able reproduce a broad range of clinical manifestations of ZIKV lesions observed in newborn humans.

Prenatal disorders and congenital Zika syndrome in squirrel monkeys.

During the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil (2015-2016), the clinical manifestations associated with its infection were complex and included miscarriage and congenital malformations, not previously described. In this study, we evaluated the prenatal conditions of pregnant female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) infected during different gestational thirds (GTs) and assessed all clinical aspects, diagnostic imaging, viremia and the immune response. In our study, 75% of the infected animals in the 1st GT group had significant clinical manifestations, such as miscarriage and prolonged viremia associated with a late immune response.

Mitochondrial genome sequencing and phylogeny of Haemagogus albomaculatus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Haemagogus spegazzinii, and Haemagogus tropicalis (Diptera: Culicidae).

The genus Haemagogus (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises species of great epidemiological relevance, involved in transmission cycles of the Yellow fever virus and other arboviruses in South America. So far, only Haemagogus janthinomys has complete mitochondrial sequences available. Given the unavailability of information related to aspects of the evolutionary biology and molecular taxonomy of this genus, we report here, the first sequencing of the mitogenomes of Haemagogus albomaculatus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Haemagogus spegazzinii, and Haemagogus tropicalis.

Development of RT-qPCR and semi-nested RT-PCR assays for molecular diagnosis of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is an, often fatal, emerging zoonotic disease in the Americas caused by hantaviruses (family: Hantaviridae). In Brazil, hantavirus routine diagnosis is based on serology (IgM-ELISA) while RT-PCR is often used to confirm acute infection. A Semi-nested RT-PCR and an internally controlled RT-qPCR assays were developed for detection and quantification of four hantaviruses strains circulating in the Brazilian Amazon: Anajatuba (ANAJV) and Castelo dos Sonhos (CASV) strains of Andes virus (ANDV) species; and Rio Mamoré (RIOMV) and Laguna Negra (LNV) strains of LNV species.

First isolation of West Nile virus in Brazil.

Background: Serological evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection has been reported in different regions of Brazil from equine and human hosts but the virus had never been isolated in the country.

Objectives: We sought to identify the viral etiology of equine encephalitis in Espírito Santo state.

Methods: We performed viral culture in C6/36 cells, molecular detection of WNV genome, histopathology and immunohistochemistry from horse cerebral tissue.

Characterization of Triniti virus supports its reclassification in the family Peribunyaviridae.

Triniti virus (TNTV) has been isolated in Trinidad and Tobago and in Brazil. To date little is known about this virus, which is classified as an ungrouped virus within the family Togaviridae. Here, three isolates of TNTV were characterized both genetically and antigenically.

Genomic characterization and evolution of Tacaiuma orthobunyavirus (Peribunyaviridae family) isolated in Brazil.

Tacaiuma virus (TCMV) is antigenically characterized as a member of the Anopheles A complex in the Orthobunyavirus genus, Peribunyaviridae family (Bunyavirales order). Clinically, the TCMV infection is characterized by acute febrile illness with myalgia and arthralgia lasting three to five days. However, the genomic and evolutionary aspect of this virus has not been elucidated.

Characterization of the Bujaru, frijoles and Tapara antigenic complexes into the sandfly fever group and two unclassified phleboviruses from Brazil.

The genus Phlebovirus includes the sandfly fever viruses and tick-transmitted uukuviruses. Sandfly fever group viruses have been isolated from various vertebrate species and from phlebotomines and occasionally alternative arthropods, e.g.

Complete genome sequence of Piry vesiculovirus.

Piry virus (PIRYV) is a rhabdovirus (genus Vesiculovirus) and is described as a possible human pathogen, originally isolated from a Philander opossum trapped in Para State, Northern Brazil. This study describes the complete full coding sequence and the genetic characterization of PIRYV. The genome sequence reveals that PIRYV has a typical vesiculovirus-like organization, encoding the five genes typical of the genus.

Molecular characterization of Capim and Enseada orthobunyaviruses.

Capim and Enseada viruses are members of the genus Orthobunyavirus isolated from mosquitoes and mammals in Brazil. Despite seroprevalence studies indicating human infections in Latin America, these viruses remain relatively unknown and unstudied. In order to better understand the genetic and evolutionary relationships among orthobunyaviruses, we sequenced the three genomic segments of Capim and Enseada orthobunyaviruses.

Nearly complete genome sequence of curionopolis virus, a culicoides-related rhabdovirus isolated in the brazilian Amazon region.

We report here the first nearly complete genome sequence related to curionopolis virus (CURV), that of strain AR440009, isolated from a pool of Culicoides sp. midges in Serra Norte, Pará State, northern Brazil. All genes showed similarities to those belonging to members of the family Rhabdoviridae.