A5014697027- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Helminth infection and control
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Oil Palm Production and Sustainability
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Public Health and Social Inequalities
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Agricultural and Food Production Studies
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Parasites and Host Interactions
Université Libre de Bruxelles
2022-2025
Institut Pasteur
2021-2024
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2021-2024
Department of Virology
2024
University of Liverpool
2020-2023
Universidad de Los Andes
2013-2021
Abstract West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen in Europe where it represents a new public health threat. While climate change has been cited as potential driver of its spatial expansion on the continent, formal evaluation this causal relationship lacking. Here, we investigate extent to which WNV can be attributed while accounting for other direct human influences such land-use and population changes. To end, trained ecological niche models predict risk local...
Abstract Arthropod-borne viruses pose a major threat to global public health. Thus, innovative strategies for their control and prevention are urgently needed. Here, we exploit the natural capacity of generate defective viral genomes (DVGs) detriment. While DVGs have been described most viruses, identifying which, if any, can be used as therapeutic agents remains challenge. We present combined experimental evolution computational approach triage DVG sequence space pinpoint fittest deletions,...
Defective viral genomes (DVGs) are truncated and/or rearranged produced during virus replication. Described in many RNA families, some of them have interfering activity on their parental strong immunostimulatory potential, and being considered antiviral approaches. Chikungunya (CHIKV) is an alphavirus transmitted by Aedes spp . that infected millions humans the last 15 years. Here, we describe DVGs arising CHIKV infection vitro mammalian mosquito cells, vivo experimentally aegypti...
Environmental factors, such as fluctuations of climatic conditions and land cover, play a pivotal role in driving infectious disease epidemics, particularly those originating from wildlife reservoirs. Orthohantavirus puumalaense, hosted by bank voles Europe, is the causative agent form haemorrhagic fever renal syndrome called nephropathia epidemica. Despite two decades consistent presence western epidemica outbreaks still pose challenges due to localised periodic occurrences lack...
Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-sucking triatomine with domiciliary anthropophilic habits, is the main vector of Chagas disease. The current paradigm Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Columbia includes sylvatic and cycle co-existing domestic populations reservoirs. aim this study to evaluate population densities relative abundance triatomines mammals that may be involved disease clarify epidemiological scenario an endemic area province Casanare. Insect vectors on Attalea butyracea palms were...
Oil palm plantation establishment in Colombia has the potential to impact Chagas disease transmission by increasing distribution range of Rhodnius prolixus. In fact, previous studies have reported Trypanosoma cruzi natural infection R. prolixus captured oil palms (Elaeis guineensis) Orinoco region, Colombia. The aim this study is understand T. vectors plantations relative community composition and host dietary specialization analyzing vector blood meals comparing these results a native tree...
Background West Nile virus (WNV) has an enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes, humans being incidental dead-end hosts. Circulation of WNV is increasing public health threat in Europe. While detection notifiable animals the European Union, surveillance based on human case numbers presents some limitations, including reporting delays. Aim We aimed to perform risk mapping circulation leading infections Europe by integrating two types systems: indicator-based event-based surveillance....
Chagas disease is the most important vector-borne in Latin America and Rhodnius prolixus main vector Colombia. Control strategies this region have shown poor outcomes due to insect's ability disperse between sylvatic domestic habitat. Because insect migration houses responsible sustain contact rates vectors humans, understanding risk factors that promote could be designing control strategies. In respect, it has been reported adult triatomines move over long ranges at night attracted by...
Chagas disease is a major public health concern in Latin America and it transmitted by insects of the subfamily Triatominae, including Rhodnius spp. Since palm trees are ubiquitous Colombia habitat for spp., presence palms near villages could increase contact rates between vectors humans. Therefore, knowing whether relationship exists proximity to abundance distribution therein, may be critical prevention programs. Adapting mathematical model R. prolixus population dynamics small village, we...
Abstract The Leishmaniases are a group of neglected tropical diseases caused by different species the protozoan parasite Leishmania , transmitted to its mammalian hosts bites several female Phlebotominae sand flies. Many factors have contributed shifts in disease distribution and eco epidemiological outcomes, resulting emergence Cutaneous Leishmaniasis outbreaks incrimination vectors unreported regions. New research development is vital for establishing new paradigms present transmission...
To date, few studies of parasite epidemiology have investigated 'who acquires infection from whom' in wildlife populations. Nonetheless, identifying routes disease transmission within a population, and determining the key groups individuals that drive maintenance, are fundamental to understanding dynamics. Gammaherpesviruses widespread group DNA viruses infect many vertebrate species, murine gammaherpesviruses (i.e. MuHV-4) standard lab model for studying human herpesviruses, which much...
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito borne RNA that poses an emerging threat to humans. As other viruses, CHIKV encodes error-prone polymerase which, in addition full-length genomes, gives rise truncated, non-functional genomes coined defective viral (DVGs). DVGs have been intensively studied the context of therapy, as they can inhibit replication and dissemination their hosts. In this work, we interrogate influence secondary structures on production DVGs. We experimentally map genome...
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne RNA that poses an emerging threat to humans. In manner similar other viruses, CHIKV encodes error-prone polymerase which, in addition producing full-length genomes, gives rise truncated, non-functional which have been coined defective viral genomes (DVGs). DVGs intensively studied the context of therapy, as they can inhibit replication and dissemination their hosts. this work, we interrogate influence secondary structures on production DVGs. We...
Abstract Introduction Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), caused by tick-borne virus (TBEV), is a zoonotic disease that can cause severe neurological symptoms. As we observed an increasing number of reported TBE human cases in Europe, developed spatio-temporal predictive model to infer the year-to-year probability occurrence across Europe at regional and municipal administrative levels. Methods We derived distribution (NUTS-3) level during period 2017-2022, using data provided European...
SUMMARY Species composition of wild reservoir hosts can influence the transmission and maintenance multi-host vector borne pathogens. The ‘pace life’ hypothesis proposes that life history strategy pathogen generalist We use empirical data to parameterize a mathematical model investigates impacts host traits on dynamics vector-borne parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in habitats characterized by different degrees deforestation varying community structure. considers susceptible infected populations....
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease that infects more than seven million people in Latin America. The parasite transmitted by triatomine insects, which some species are often associated with palms. establishment oil palm plantations (Elaeis guineensis) Orinoco region (Colombia) has been rapidly growing, possibly constituting a new environment for and increase populations. In this study, potential Rhodnius prolixus to colonize E. guineensis maintain T. transmission...
Anthropogenic activities and natural events such as periodic tree masting can alter resource provisioning in the environment, directly affecting animals, potentially impacting spread of infectious diseases wildlife. The impact these additional resources on manifest through different pathways, host susceptibility, contact rate demography. To date however, empirical research has tended to examine pathways isolation, for example by quantifying effects behaviour wild or changes immune responses...
Vector-borne pathogens, many of which cause major suffering worldwide, often circulate in diverse wildlife communities comprising multiple reservoir host and/or vector species. However, the complexities these systems make it challenging to determine contributions different species transmission. We experimentally manipulated transmission within a natural multihost–multipathogen–multivector system, by blocking flea-borne pathogen from either two co-occurring (bank voles and wood mice). Through...
Abstract To date, few studies of parasite epidemiology have investigated ‘who acquires infection from whom’ in wildlife populations. Nonetheless, identifying routes disease transmission within a population, and determining the key groups individuals that drive maintenance, are fundamental to understanding dynamics. Gammaherpesviruses widespread group DNA viruses infect many vertebrate species, murine gammaherpesviruses (i.e. MuHV-4) standard lab model for studying human herpesviruses, which...