1,203 results match your criteria: "Eastern Equine Encephalitis"
Eilat virus isolated from Culex univittatus mosquitoes from the Namibian Zambezi Region influences in vitro superinfection with alpha- and flaviviruses in a virus-species-dependent manner.
PLoS One
December 2024
Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
The genus Alphavirus harbors arboviruses of great concern, such as the Chikungunya virus and the equine encephalitis viruses. Transmission of pathogenic alphaviruses by mosquitoes could be influenced by insect-specific alphaviruses such as Eilat virus (EILV). However, insect-specific alphaviruses are rarely found in wild mosquitoes and only a few have been described in the literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe sticky business of Alphavirus capsid-host interactions.
Trends Microbiol
December 2024
Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. Electronic address:
Alphaviruses are a serious threat to global health and can cause lethal encephalitic or arthritogenic disease in humans and animals. As there are no licensed antivirals, it is critical to improve our understanding of alphavirus interactions with the host cell. Here, we focus on the essential alphavirus protein capsid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEastern equine encephalitis: a critical dermatological clue in Massachusetts' health crisis.
Arch Dermatol Res
December 2024
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Three positively charged binding sites on the eastern equine encephalitis virus E2 glycoprotein coordinate heparan sulfate- and protein receptor-dependent infection.
bioRxiv
November 2024
Department of Immunology and Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
Naturally circulating strains of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) bind heparan sulfate (HS) receptors and this interaction has been linked to its neurovirulence. Previous studies associated EEEV-HS interactions with three positively charged amino acid clusters on the E2 glycoprotein. One of these sites has recently been reported to be critical for binding EEEV to very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), an EEEV receptor protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRe-emergence of Eastern equine encephalitis: A looming threat in the era of climate change.
New Microbes New Infect
December 2024
Department of Internal Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA.
The VLDLR entry receptor is required for the pathogenesis of multiple encephalitic alphaviruses.
Cell Rep
October 2024
Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Vaccines and Immunity to Microbial Pathogens, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- VLDLR has been identified as a receptor for several alphaviruses, including Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and may play a role in their infection process.
- Research shows that mice lacking VLDLR have reduced susceptibility to WEEV, EEEV, and Semliki Forest virus (SFV), indicating its importance in alphavirus pathogenesis.
- The findings suggest that targeting VLDLR could be a potential strategy for developing treatments against various alphavirus infections.
Public health contributions of entomological surveillance of West Nile virus (WNV) and other mosquito-borne arboviruses in a context of climate change.
Can Commun Dis Rep
September 2024
Department of Biological Risks, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, QC.
Background: Climate change is likely to increase the risk of human transmission of arboviruses endemic to Canada, including West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and California serogroup virus (CSV), calling for enhanced surveillance, including entomological surveillance targeting mosquito vectors. A scoping review was carried out to document the public health contributions of entomological surveillance of arboviruses of importance in Canada.
Methods: The Ovid® and EBSCO platforms and the grey literature were searched to identify documents published between 2009 and 2023, in English or French, dealing with entomological surveillance of arboviruses of interest, conducted annually for human health purposes under the aegis of a government authority, with specified public health objectives and actions.
Identifying novel chemical matter against the Chikungunya virus nsP3 macrodomain through crystallographic fragment screening.
bioRxiv
August 2024
Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom.
Article Synopsis
- - Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes severe symptoms like fever, rash, and joint pain, with millions infected, primarily in low and middle-income regions, due to its mosquito carriers spreading into new areas.
- - The virus has a macrodomain in its genome that interferes with the immune response, making it essential for viral replication, which positions it as a potential target for antiviral drug development.
- - A high-throughput crystallographic fragment screen identified 109 fragments that bind to the CHIKV nsP3 macrodomain, leading to the design of three fragments aimed at trapping the active sites, and this data is publicly available for future research.
Article Synopsis
- The study presents the first records of two mosquito species, Aedes tormentor and Culex panocossa, found during vector surveillance in Tamaulipas, Mexico, an area linked to eastern equine encephalitis.
- Aedes tormentor had previously been noted in Central America and other Mexican states but is now confirmed to have its southernmost range in Tamaulipas.
- Tamaulipas is reported to have 82 different mosquito species, ranking fourth in species diversity among 11 states that have undergone detailed mosquito distribution studies.
The receptor VLDLR binds Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus through multiple distinct modes.
Nat Commun
August 2024
Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P.R. China.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) is an alphavirus that can cause severe diseases in infected humans. The very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) was recently identified as a receptor of EEEV. Herein, we performed cryo-electron microscopy structural and biochemistry studies on the specific interactions between EEEV and VLDLR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStructural basis for VLDLR recognition by eastern equine encephalitis virus.
Nat Commun
August 2024
Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is the most virulent alphavirus that infects humans, and many survivors develop neurological sequelae, including paralysis and intellectual disability. Alphavirus spike proteins comprise trimers of heterodimers of glycoproteins E2 and E1 that mediate binding to cellular receptors and fusion of virus and host cell membranes during entry. We recently identified very-low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) as cellular receptors for EEEV and a distantly related alphavirus, Semliki Forest virus (SFV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Molecular surveillance is crucial for tracking arboviruses, using techniques like genus-specific RT-qPCR, but issues like false negatives have hindered effective monitoring.
- The study improved RT-qPCR tests to accurately detect various alphaviruses, including chikungunya, achieving high sensitivity and specificity.
- The improved assay identified three chikungunya cases from a 2019 outbreak in Yunnan, suggesting that imported infections from nearby countries played a role in that outbreak.
Objectives: To measure the effect of routine vaccination on serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration in apparently healthy horses. We hypothesized that routine vaccination would increase SAA in healthy horses.
Animals: 21 apparently healthy client-owned horses and 15 Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine-owned horses.
Syrian Hamsters Model Does Not Reflect Human-like Disease after Aerosol Exposure to Encephalitic Alphaviruses.
Methods Protoc
May 2024
Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses are dangerous viruses that can cause severe illness in both horses and humans, but there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for them.
- Vaccine development requires FDA approval based on animal models that accurately reflect human disease, but existing mouse models do not do so effectively, as they result in different disease outcomes than in humans.
- Recent studies indicate that using hamsters as a model for testing vaccines and therapies against these viruses is also ineffective, as their disease symptoms do not align with those seen in humans or non-human primates.
Uncertainties Surrounding Madariaga Virus, a Member of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Complex.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
October 2024
VectorID LLC, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
Article Synopsis
- - Madariaga virus (MADV) is an emerging virus in Latin America, part of the eastern equine encephalitis virus complex, with distinct features from its North American counterpart.
- - A research study compiled data over 60 years to identify gaps in understanding MADV transmission, such as the specific animals and mosquito species involved, its geographic reach, and its impact on human and animal health.
- - The urgent need for further research, awareness, and surveillance of MADV is emphasized due to its potential to cause severe diseases in both humans and animals.
Article Synopsis
- * New Jersey mosquito control agencies have been using wooden resting boxes for surveillance since 1975 and conducted studies to evaluate mosquito traps, aiming to optimize the collection of the main EEEV vector, Culiseta melanura.
- * The studies found that corrugated plastic boxes were better at trapping blood-fed Cs. melanura than other types of traps, and non-CO2 baited traps were more effective than dry ice traps for capturing host-seeking mosquitoes, highlighting the need for agencies to reassess their EEE
Phagocyte-expressed glycosaminoglycans promote capture of alphaviruses from the blood circulation in a host species-specific manner.
PNAS Nexus
April 2024
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores how the levels of viremia (virus in the bloodstream) affect arbovirus transmission and disease severity, particularly focusing on the relationship between viral variants and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) interactions.
- Using an in vivo model, researchers found that GAG-binding viruses are cleared from the bloodstream faster than non-GAG-binding ones, but the rate of clearance varies by virus type and relies on phagocytes for some variants.
- The findings highlight the role of GAGs in viral clearance and suggest that different species, like birds and mice, may interact with viruses differently based on their unique GAG structures, impacting arbovirus spread and ecology.
Bovine astrovirus and its role in lymphocytic encephalitis in cattle in Ontario, Canada, 1988-2019.
J Vet Diagn Invest
May 2024
Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Article Synopsis
- A study found neurotropic bovine astrovirus (BoAstV) in 19% of examined cattle with idiopathic lymphocytic encephalitis from 1988 to 2019, highlighting a previously undetected infection in cattle aged 4 months and older.
- The majority of positive cases were in younger cattle (1-2 years old) and displayed acute neurologic symptoms shortly before death or euthanasia, with significant inflammation observed in the brain and spinal cord.
- While other potential infectious causes were identified in some cases, 64% of the lymphocytic encephalitis cases remained without a known cause, indicating that BoAstV infections have been present for years but haven't increased in recent occurrences.
Safety and immunogenicity of a novel trivalent recombinant MVA-based equine encephalitis virus vaccine: A Phase 1 clinical trial.
Vaccine
April 2024
Bavarian Nordic GmbH, Fraunhoferstrasse 13, 82152 Martinsried, Germany. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the safety and effectiveness of a new vaccine, MVA-BN-WEV, designed to protect against three encephalitic alphaviruses (WEEV, EEEV, VEEV) in healthy adults.
- Forty-five participants were given two doses of the vaccine at varying strengths, monitored for side effects and immune response over six months.
- Results showed the vaccine was generally safe with mild side effects, and it successfully triggered strong immune responses against all three viruses, especially at higher doses.
MVA-based vaccines are protective against lethal eastern equine encephalitis virus aerosol challenge in cynomolgus macaques.
NPJ Vaccines
February 2024
Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers tested two vaccines for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in cynomolgus macaques using an aerosol infection model.
- Both vaccines, MVA-BN-EEEV (monovalent) and MVA-BN-WEV (multivalent), triggered strong and lasting immune responses that protected the monkeys against lethal EEEV exposure.
- The results showed that the vaccinated macaques had nearly complete protection from viral presence in their bodies and no significant brain damage, suggesting the vaccines are effective against aerosolized EEEV infections.
Comprehensive Assessment of Inactivation Methods for Madariaga Virus.
Viruses
January 2024
Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Article Synopsis
- The Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV) poses a rising public health risk in the US, with complicated research due to its classification as a BSL3 pathogen and Federal Select Agent.
- A study explored effective methods to inactivate EEEV by using heat, chemicals, and UV radiation on infected cells and supernatants of a related virus, the Madariaga virus (MADV).
- The identified inactivation techniques could enhance research opportunities and experimental diversity for scientists studying EEEV by ensuring safety in the lab.
Host associations of Culex panocossa (Diptera: Culicidae) in southern Florida and its implications for arbovirus transmission.
J Med Entomol
May 2024
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Vero Beach, FL, USA.
Article Synopsis
- - Culex panocossa, an invasive mosquito found in southern Florida since 2016, is a key vector for Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in Central and South America, but its ecology in the U.S. is not well understood.
- - A study using PCR-based blood meal analysis revealed that Cx. panocossa primarily feeds on birds (49.5%), followed by mammals (33.3%) and reptiles (17.1%).
- - The mosquito's feeding habits on hosts like the hispid cotton rat and various wading birds may position it as a bridge vector for diseases such as Everglades virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus, increasing the risk of human infections in Florida.*
Virology, ecology, epidemiology, pathology, and treatment of eastern equine encephalitis.
J Neurol Sci
February 2024
Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- * The increasing prevalence of EEE shares similarities with other emerging viral diseases, and various environmental and ecological influences are expected to enhance the frequency and severity of outbreaks.
- * This review highlights the complex factors behind EEE transmission and outbreaks in humans while exploring virology, host-vector-environment dynamics, and treatment options for a wider audience.
Brilacidin as a Broad-Spectrum Inhibitor of Enveloped, Acutely Infectious Viruses.
Microorganisms
December 2023
Center for Infectious Disease Research, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Alphaviruses and bunyaviruses, which lack FDA-approved treatments, can cause serious illnesses like encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever, with specific viruses linked to severe health outcomes.
- Brilacidin, a small molecule designed based on natural host defenses, showed antiviral activity against several alphaviruses (like VEEV and SINV) and the bunyavirus RVFV when tested in human and monkey cells.
- The effectiveness of brilacidin depended on the timing of administration, requiring doses both before and after infection for better results, and exhibited only modest activity against a non-enveloped virus, suggesting it may be less effective in those cases.
Designing a Multiepitope Vaccine against Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus: Immunoinformatics and Computational Approaches.
ACS Omega
January 2024
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
Article Synopsis
- Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) poses a serious risk to humans and animals, causing severe brain inflammation with no current antiviral treatments or vaccines available.
- Researchers designed a potential vaccine using immunoinformatics to identify ten safe and effective epitopes from the EEEV polyprotein, which could stimulate a strong immune response.
- The study emphasizes the urgent need for preventive strategies against EEEV, especially as climate change may increase its spread, making this vaccine development a significant advancement in public health.