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Journals
Microorganisms
Special Issues
Emerging Alphaviruses
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Emerging Alphaviruses

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 20424

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kevin K. Arien

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Interests: arthropod-borne viruses; chikungunya; alphaviruses; flaviviruses; filoviruses; diagnostics; outbreaks; virus–host interaction; antivirals
Dr. Koen Bartholomeeusen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Interests: arthropod-borne viruses; chikungunya; alphaviruses; flaviviruses; virus–host interaction; molecular virology; vaccinology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence and (re-)emergence of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) is timeless but has intensified in recent decades with the global spread of West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, and Zika virus, as a result of increased travel and commerce, expansion of vector habitats, and climate change. Several arboviruses are on the brink of emergence and an accelerated widespread dispersal.

Today, the only mosquito-borne alphavirus with a global spread is Chikungunya virus, but related viruses have caused geographically more confined outbreaks in the Americas (Mayaro virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus), Africa (O’nyong nyong virus), and Oceania (Ross River virus) and are predicted to have the potential to emerge at a global scale. This Special Issue aims at highlighting key findings in the field of alphaviruses, including but not limited to Chikungunya virus, to address the current knowledge on this class of emerging arboviruses that represent a significant potential burden for human health (or affected populations). The Special Issue further represents an opportunity to define knowledge gaps in our understanding of viral mechanisms and therapeutic options.

For this Special Issue, we are accepting cutting-edge review papers (commissioned), outbreak reports, and original research papers related to alphavirus biology, immuno-pathophysiology of alphavirus infection, animal reservoirs and alphavirus ecology, vector competence, laboratory animal models, immunity and vaccines, and novel diagnostic approaches.

Prof. Dr. Kevin K. Arien
Dr. Koen Bartholomeeusen

Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Chikungunya
  • Mayaro
  • Ross River
  • O’nyong nyong
  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
  • Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis
  • Molecular virology
  • Immuno-pathophysiology
  • Vector competence
  • Animal reservoirs
  • Animal models
  • Novel diagnostics
  • Immunity and vaccines
  • Outbreaks

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 957 KiB  
Article
Spread of a Novel Indian Ocean Lineage Carrying E1-K211E/E2-V264A of Chikungunya Virus East/Central/South African Genotype across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Africa
by Juthamas Phadungsombat, Hisham A. Imad, Emi E. Nakayama, Pornsawan Leaungwutiwong, Pongrama Ramasoota, Wang Nguitragool, Wasin Matsee, Watcharapong Piyaphanee and Tatsuo Shioda
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 354; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10020354 - 03 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2801
Abstract
The Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype, which originated in Kenya, spread to the Indian ocean and the Indian subcontinent, and then expanded through Southeast Asia in the previous decade. It carried an adaptive mutation E1-A226V, [...] Read more.
The Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype, which originated in Kenya, spread to the Indian ocean and the Indian subcontinent, and then expanded through Southeast Asia in the previous decade. It carried an adaptive mutation E1-A226V, which enhances CHIKV replication in Aedes albopictus. However, the IOL CHIKV of the most recent outbreaks during 2016–2020 in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, and Kenya lacked E1-A226V but carried E1-K211E and E2-V264A. Recent CHIKV genome sequences of the Maldives and Thailand were determined, and their phylogenetic relationships were further investigated together with IOL sequences reported in 2004–2020 in the database. The results showed that the ancestral IOLs diverged to a sub-lineage E1-K211E/E2-V264A, probably in India around 2008, and caused sporadic outbreaks in India during 2010–2015 and in Kenya in 2016. The massive expansion of this new sub-lineage occurred after the acquisition of E1-I317V in other neighboring and remote regions in 2014–2020. Additionally, the phylogenetic tree indicated that independent clades formed according to the geographical regions and introduction timing. The present results using all available partial or full sequences of the recent CHIKVs emphasized the dynamics of the IOL sub-lineages in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Alphaviruses)
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10 pages, 2677 KiB  
Article
A Mouse Model for Studying Post-Acute Arthritis of Chikungunya
by Aileen Y. Chang, Sarah R. Tritsch, Abigail J. Porzucek, Arnold M. Schwartz, Margaux Seyler-Schmidt, Arielle Glass, Patricia S. Latham, St. Patrick Reid, Gary L. Simon and Christopher N. Mores
Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1998; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9091998 - 21 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2618
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was introduced to the Americas in 2013, causing two million infections across over thirty countries. CHIKV causes a chronic debilitating arthritis in one fourth of infected individuals and currently evidence-based targeted therapies for the treatment of CHIKV arthritis are lacking. [...] Read more.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was introduced to the Americas in 2013, causing two million infections across over thirty countries. CHIKV causes a chronic debilitating arthritis in one fourth of infected individuals and currently evidence-based targeted therapies for the treatment of CHIKV arthritis are lacking. Multiple mouse models of chikungunya have been developed to study acute CHIKV infection. In humans, post-CHIKV arthritis may persist for months to years after viremia from a CHIKV infection has resolved. Therefore, the development of a mouse model of post-acute arthritis of chikungunya may facilitate the study of potential novel therapeutics for this arthritis. In this article we describe the development of a wild-type immunocompetent C57BL/6 mouse model for post-acute arthritis of chikungunya, including a histologic inflammation scoring system, as well as suggestions for how this mouse model may be used to examine the efficacy of novel therapies for CHIKV arthritis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Alphaviruses)
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Review

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36 pages, 3246 KiB  
Review
Insights into Antibody-Mediated Alphavirus Immunity and Vaccine Development Landscape
by Anthony Torres-Ruesta, Rhonda Sin-Ling Chee and Lisa F.P. Ng
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 899; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9050899 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3834
Abstract
Alphaviruses are mosquito-borne pathogens distributed worldwide in tropical and temperate areas causing a wide range of symptoms ranging from inflammatory arthritis-like manifestations to the induction of encephalitis in humans. Historically, large outbreaks in susceptible populations have been recorded followed by the development of [...] Read more.
Alphaviruses are mosquito-borne pathogens distributed worldwide in tropical and temperate areas causing a wide range of symptoms ranging from inflammatory arthritis-like manifestations to the induction of encephalitis in humans. Historically, large outbreaks in susceptible populations have been recorded followed by the development of protective long-lasting antibody responses suggesting a potential advantageous role for a vaccine. Although the current understanding of alphavirus antibody-mediated immunity has been mainly gathered in natural and experimental settings of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection, little is known about the humoral responses triggered by other emerging alphaviruses. This knowledge is needed to improve serology-based diagnostic tests and the development of highly effective cross-protective vaccines. Here, we review the role of antibody-mediated immunity upon arthritogenic and neurotropic alphavirus infections, and the current research efforts for the development of vaccines as a tool to control future alphavirus outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Alphaviruses)
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18 pages, 1570 KiB  
Review
Antiviral Strategies against Arthritogenic Alphaviruses
by Rana Abdelnabi and Leen Delang
Microorganisms 2020, 8(9), 1365; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8091365 - 07 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3875
Abstract
Alphaviruses are members of the Togaviridae family that are mainly transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes. In the last decades, several alphaviruses have re-emerged, causing outbreaks worldwide. One example is the re-emergence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2004, which caused massive epidemics in [...] Read more.
Alphaviruses are members of the Togaviridae family that are mainly transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes. In the last decades, several alphaviruses have re-emerged, causing outbreaks worldwide. One example is the re-emergence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2004, which caused massive epidemics in the Indian Ocean region after which the virus dramatically spread to the Americas in late 2013. Besides CHIKV, other alphaviruses, such as the Ross River virus (RRV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), have emerged and have become a serious public health concern in recent years. Infections with the Old World alphaviruses (e.g., CHIKV, RRV) are primarily associated with polyarthritis and myalgia that can persist for months to years. On the other hand, New World alphaviruses such as VEEV cause mainly neurological disease. Despite the worldwide (re-)emergence of these viruses, there are no antivirals or vaccines available for the treatment or prevention of infections with alphaviruses. It is therefore of utmost importance to develop antiviral strategies against these viruses. We here provided an overview of the reported antiviral strategies against arthritogenic alphaviruses. In addition, we highlighted the future perspectives for the development and the proper use of such antivirals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Alphaviruses)
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35 pages, 871 KiB  
Review
Epidemic Alphaviruses: Ecology, Emergence and Outbreaks
by Sasha R. Azar, Rafael K. Campos, Nicholas A. Bergren, Vidyleison N. Camargos and Shannan L. Rossi
Microorganisms 2020, 8(8), 1167; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8081167 - 01 Aug 2020
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6364
Abstract
Over the past century, the emergence/reemergence of arthropod-borne zoonotic agents has been a growing public health concern. In particular, agents from the genus Alphavirus pose a significant risk to both animal and human health. Human alphaviral disease presents with either arthritogenic or encephalitic [...] Read more.
Over the past century, the emergence/reemergence of arthropod-borne zoonotic agents has been a growing public health concern. In particular, agents from the genus Alphavirus pose a significant risk to both animal and human health. Human alphaviral disease presents with either arthritogenic or encephalitic manifestations and is associated with significant morbidity and/or mortality. Unfortunately, there are presently no vaccines or antiviral measures approved for human use. The present review examines the ecology, epidemiology, disease, past outbreaks, and potential to cause contemporary outbreaks for several alphavirus pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Alphaviruses)
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