Advances in Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Diseases

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 23780

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Interests: malaria; parasites; cryptosporidium; insect vector; infectious disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Mosquito-borne diseases are spread through pathogen-infected mosquitos upon biting uninfected vertebrate hosts. Common types of mosquito-borne diseases include malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika. While the mosquitos themselves may not be affected, the diseases they transmit cause immense human suffering. Besides malaria cases, hundreds of millions of people are infected each year with dengue, and hundreds of thousands more are affected by Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.

This Special Issue aims to provide insight into the latest research concerning mosquito-borne diseases and their pathogens. Any article or review related to this area (pathogenesis, host–pathogen interaction, diagnosis, detection, infection, prevention, treatment, etc.) are highly welcomed.

Dr. Luiz Shozo Ozaki
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mosquito
  • mosquito-borne disease
  • malaria
  • dengue
  • West Nile virus
  • chikungunya
  • yellow fever
  • Zika

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2479 KiB  
Article
Phylogenetic Investigations of Dengue 2019–2021 Outbreak in Guadeloupe and Martinique Caribbean Islands
by Margot Garcia--Van Smévoorde, Géraldine Piorkowski, Loic Emboulé, Georges Dos Santos, Cécile Loraux, Stéphanie Guyomard-Rabenirina, Marie-Odile Joannes, Laurence Fagour, Fatiha Najioullah, André Cabié, Xavier de Lamballerie, Anubis Vega-Rúa, Raymond Césaire and Elodie Calvez
Pathogens 2023, 12(9), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12091182 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2230
Abstract
Dengue fever has been a public health problem in the Caribbean region since 1981, when it first reappeared in Cuba. In 1989, it was reported in Martinique and Guadeloupe (two French islands 200 km apart); since then, DENV has caused several epidemics locally. [...] Read more.
Dengue fever has been a public health problem in the Caribbean region since 1981, when it first reappeared in Cuba. In 1989, it was reported in Martinique and Guadeloupe (two French islands 200 km apart); since then, DENV has caused several epidemics locally. In 2019–2021, DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3 were detected. Serotype distribution was differentiated, with DENV-2 and DENV-3 predominating in Guadeloupe and Martinique, respectively. Complete genome sequencing was carried out on 32 specimens, and phylogenic analysis identified the circulation of genotype V for DENV-1, cosmopolitan genotype for DENV-2, and genotype III for DENV-3. However, two distinct circulating groups were identified for DENV-1 and DENV-3, suggesting independent introductions. Overall, despite the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated travel restrictions, these results confirm the active circulation of DENV and specific epidemiological features on each of the two islands. Such differences may be linked to the founder effect of the various introduction events, and to local factors such as the population immunity and the transmission capacity of the vectors. Further genomic and epidemiological characterization of DENV strains remains essential to understand how dengue spreads in each specific geographical context and to prevent future epidemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Diseases)
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Review

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18 pages, 736 KiB  
Review
Nondestructive Methods of Pathogen Detection: Importance of Mosquito Integrity in Studies of Disease Transmission and Control
by Anne Caroline Alves Meireles, Flávia Geovana Fontineles Rios, Luiz Henrique Maciel Feitoza, Lucas Rosendo da Silva and Genimar Rebouças Julião
Pathogens 2023, 12(6), 816; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060816 - 8 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3137
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors of many pathogens, including viruses, protozoans, and helminths, spreading these pathogens to humans as well as to wild and domestic animals. As the identification of species and the biological characterization of mosquito vectors are cornerstones for understanding patterns of disease [...] Read more.
Mosquitoes are vectors of many pathogens, including viruses, protozoans, and helminths, spreading these pathogens to humans as well as to wild and domestic animals. As the identification of species and the biological characterization of mosquito vectors are cornerstones for understanding patterns of disease transmission, and the design of control strategies, we conducted a literature review on the current use of noninvasive and nondestructive techniques for pathogen detection in mosquitoes, highlighting the importance of their taxonomic status and systematics, and some gaps in the knowledge of their vectorial capacity. Here, we summarized the alternative techniques for pathogen detection in mosquitoes based on both laboratory and field studies. Parasite infection and dissemination by mosquitoes can also be obtained via analyses of saliva- and excreta-based techniques or of the whole mosquito body, using a near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) approach. Further research should be encouraged to seek strategies for detecting target pathogens while preserving mosquito morphology, especially in biodiversity hotspot regions, thus enabling the discovery of cryptic or new species, and the determination of more accurate taxonomic, parasitological, and epidemiological patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Diseases)
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50 pages, 3231 KiB  
Review
Mechanism of Immune Evasion in Mosquito-Borne Diseases
by Swagato Bhattacharjee, Debanjan Ghosh, Rounak Saha, Rima Sarkar, Saurav Kumar, Manoj Khokhar and Rajan Kumar Pandey
Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050635 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 11184
Abstract
In recent decades, mosquito-borne illnesses have emerged as a major health burden in many tropical regions. These diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika virus infection, Rift Valley fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile virus infection, are transmitted through the [...] Read more.
In recent decades, mosquito-borne illnesses have emerged as a major health burden in many tropical regions. These diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika virus infection, Rift Valley fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile virus infection, are transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. These pathogens have been shown to interfere with the host’s immune system through adaptive and innate immune mechanisms, as well as the human circulatory system. Crucial immune checkpoints such as antigen presentation, T cell activation, differentiation, and proinflammatory response play a vital role in the host cell’s response to pathogenic infection. Furthermore, these immune evasions have the potential to stimulate the human immune system, resulting in other associated non-communicable diseases. This review aims to advance our understanding of mosquito-borne diseases and the immune evasion mechanisms by associated pathogens. Moreover, it highlights the adverse outcomes of mosquito-borne disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Diseases)
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16 pages, 685 KiB  
Review
Factors Affecting Arbovirus Midgut Escape in Mosquitoes
by Alexis Carpenter and Rollie J. Clem
Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020220 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6361
Abstract
Arboviral diseases spread by mosquitoes cause significant morbidity and mortality throughout much of the world. The treatment and prevention of these diseases through medication and vaccination is often limited, which makes controlling arboviruses at the level of the vector ideal. One way to [...] Read more.
Arboviral diseases spread by mosquitoes cause significant morbidity and mortality throughout much of the world. The treatment and prevention of these diseases through medication and vaccination is often limited, which makes controlling arboviruses at the level of the vector ideal. One way to prevent the spread of an arbovirus would be to stop its vector from developing a disseminated infection, which is required for the virus to make its way to the saliva of the mosquito to be potentially transmitted to a new host. The midgut of the mosquito provides one such opportunity to stop an arbovirus in its tracks. It has been known for many years that in certain arbovirus–vector combinations, or under certain circumstances, an arbovirus can infect and replicate in the midgut but is unable to escape from the tissue to cause disseminated infection. This situation is known as a midgut escape barrier. If we better understand why this barrier occurs, it might aid in the development of more informed control strategies. In this review, we discuss how the midgut escape barrier contributes to virus–vector specificity and possible mechanisms that may allow this barrier to be overcome in successful virus–vector combinations. We also discuss several of the known factors that either increase or decrease the likelihood of midgut escape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Diseases)
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