A5001318596- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- HIV Research and Treatment
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
2014-2024
Office of Infectious Diseases
2020-2021
Ministério da Saúde
2017
Hospital Ana Nery
2017
Universidade Federal da Bahia
2017
New Mexico State University
2017
Emory University
2017
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
2017
Abstract To test whether Zika virus has adapted for more efficient transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, leading to recent urban outbreaks, we fed mosquitoes from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and United States artificial blood meals containing 1 of 3 strains (Senegal, Cambodia, Mexico) monitored infection, dissemination, in saliva. Contrary our hypothesis, Cambodia Mexica were less infectious than Senegal strain. Only Republic transmitted strains. However, viremic mice comparable...
Abstract Mosquito-borne dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses originated in Old World sylvatic (forest) cycles involving monkeys canopy-living Aedes mosquitoes. Both spilled over into human transmission were translocated to the Americas, opening a path for spillback Neotropical cycles. Studies of trade-offs that shape within-host dynamics these are lacking, hampering efforts predict spillover spillback. We infected native, Asian host species (cynomolgus macaque) novel, American (squirrel...
To evaluate the potential role of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) as a vector Zika virus (ZIKV), colonized mosquitoes low generation number (≤ F5) from Brazil, Houston, and Rio Grande Valley Texas engorged on viremic mice infected with ZIKV strains originating Senegal, Cambodia, Mexico, or Puerto Rico. Vector competence was established by monitoring infection, dissemination, transmission after 3, 7, 14 days extrinsic incubation. Positive saliva samples were assayed for infectious titer. Although...
Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged from obscurity in 2013 to spread Asia the South Pacific and Americas, where millions of people were infected, accompanied by severe disease including microcephaly following congenital infections. Phylogenetic studies have shown that ZIKV evolved Africa later Asia, Asian lineage is responsible for recent epidemics Americas. However, reasons sudden emergence remain enigmatic. Here we report evolutionary analyses revealed four mutations, which occurred just...
Abstract Zika virus has recently spread throughout the Americas. Although Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are considered primary vector, Culex quinquefasciatus and of other species may also be vectors. We tested Cx. Ae. taeniorhynchus from US Gulf Coast; both were refractory to infection incapable transmission.
During RNA virus replication, there is the potential to incorporate mutations that affect virulence or pathogenesis. For live-attenuated vaccines, this has implications for stability, as replication may result in either restore wild-type phenotype via reversion compensate attenuating by increasing (pseudoreversion). Recent studies have demonstrated altering mutation rate of an effective attenuation tool. To validate safety low-fidelity increase vaccine attenuation, several RNA-dependent...
Previous studies have shown that the adaptation of Indian Ocean lineage (IOL) chikungunya virus (CHIKV) strains for Aedes albopictus transmission was mediated by an E1-A226V substitution, followed either a single substitution in E2 or synergistic substitutions and E3 envelope glycoproteins. Here, we examined whether Asian strains, including those descended from 2014 Caribbean introduction, are likely to acquire these A. albopictus-adaptive substitutions. Because cannot adapt through due...
To evaluate the effects of ZIKV infection on non-human primates (NHPs), as well to investigate whether these NHPs develop sufficient viremia infect major urban vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti, four cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were subcutaneously infected with 5.0 log10 focus-forming units (FFU) DNA clone-derived strain FSS13025 (Asian lineage, Cambodia, 2010). Following infection, animals sampled (blood, urine, tears, and saliva), underwent daily health monitoring, exposed Ae....
Chronic conditions like type II diabetes (T2DM) have long been known to exacerbate many infectious diseases. For arboviruses, including Zika virus (ZIKV), severe outcomes, morbidity and mortality usually only occur in patients with such pre-existing conditions. However, the effects of T2DM other on human blood (e.g., hypo/hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia hyperlipidemia) that may impact infectivity arboviruses for vectors is largely unexplored. We investigated whether susceptibility Aedes...
ABSTRACT. Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arthropod-borne (arbovirus) belonging to the family Togaviridae , genus Alphavirus . In recent years, geographic distribution of MAYV may have expanded north from South and Central America into Caribbean Islands. Although Haemagogus janthinomys considered main vector for MAYV, has also been isolated other mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti a widespread species that serves as highly epidemic viruses. Given possible expansion outbreaks in Latin America, it...
Abstract Mosquito-borne dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses originated in Old World sylvatic cycles involving monkey hosts, spilled over into human transmission, were translocated to the Americas, creating potential for spillback neotropical cycles. Studies of trade-offs that shape within-host dynamics transmission these are lacking, hampering efforts predict spillover spillback. We exposed native (cynomolgus macaque) or novel (squirrel monkey) hosts mosquitoes infected with either DENV...
In the face of climate change, mosquitoes will experience evolving climates including longer periods drought. An important physiological response to dry environments is protection against water loss or dehydration, here defined as desiccation tolerance. Various environmental factors temperature are known alter interactions between mosquito,
Abstract The contact structure between vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors plays a key role in the spread of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses); thus, it is important to determine whether arbovirus infection either host or vector alters feeding behavior. Here we leveraged study replication dynamics two arboviruses isolated from their ancestral cycles paleotropical forests, sylvatic dengue-2 (DENV-2) Zika (ZIKV), one non-human primate (NHP) species paleotropics (cynomolgus macaques,...
Summary Paragraph Mosquito-borne viruses have recently spread globally, with major impacts on human health. Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged from obscurity in 2013 to Asia the South Pacific and Americas, where millions of people were infected. For first time, severe clinical manifestations, including Guillain Barré syndrome defects fetuses pregnant women, detected. Phylogenetic studies shown that ZIKV evolved Africa later Asia, Asian lineage is responsible for recent epidemics. However, reasons...