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Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II
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Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2025 | Viewed by 6100

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rafael Freitas de Oliveira França

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife 50740-465, Brazil
Interests: chikungunya; dengue virus; pathogenesis; positive-strand RNA zika virus; alphaviruses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Stabeli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Interests: immune correlates in arbovirus infection; CHIKV; zika; tropical diseases
Dr. Mylena R. Pereira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: CHIKV; alphaviruses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We recently unveiled a Viruses Special Issue entitled "Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses," which has garnered remarkable interest and received numerous submissions. Given the outstanding success of the previous Special Issue, we are excited to extend an invitation to our colleagues to participate in a second volume of this Special Issue. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a resurging arthropod-borne virus that is prevalent in tropical regions. Belonging to the Alphavirus genus, it is transmitted to humans through the bites of Aedes spp. infected mosquitoes, which are commonly found in many populous urban areas. CHIKV exerts a profound impact on global public health, particularly in middle- and low-income countries where healthcare access is often limited. Chikungunya infection typically manifests with an abrupt onset of fever, frequently followed by severe joint pain. The joint pain induced by the Chikungunya virus is often an incapacitating symptom, persisting for a few days to several weeks or even months. Additionally, other atypical neurological manifestations have been documented, including meningo-encephalitis, meningoencephalo-myeloradiculitis, myeloradiculitis, myelitis, myeloneuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and more. In addition to CHIKV, other significant Alphaviruses including Mayaro, Ross River, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis, among others, can cause diseases in humans. Despite their significance, as of now, there are no available treatments or vaccines to effectively manage Alphavirus infections.

Despite notable scientific progress, exemplified by the development of cutting-edge mRNA vaccines, the emergence of new viruses and the resurgence of existing ones continue to present substantial challenges to the field. For this Special Issue, we enthusiastically invite the submission of original research articles, comprehensive review articles, and concise short communications. We encourage contributions that advance our comprehension of Alphaviruses. The following topics are of particular interest for this Special Issue:
- Alphaviruses epidemiology and virus surveillance (emergence and virus evolution);
- Advances in diagnostics, treatment and vaccines;
- Basic virology molecular aspects;
- Alphaviruses pathogenesis (including, but not limited to, host response and host factors affecting infection outcome, animal models of infection, host innate and adaptive immunity, and virus immune response evasion);
- Measures for control and prevention.

Dr. Rafael Freitas de Oliveira França
Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Stabeli
Dr. Mylena R. Pereira
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. Viruses 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 2600 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 virus
  • innate immune response
  • adaptive immune response
  • epidemiology
  • diagnosis
  • prevention
  • vaccine
  • animal model
  • pathogenesis
  • viral evolution
  • in vitro
  • in vivo

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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14 pages, 2043 KiB  
Article
Predicting Immunogenic Epitopes Variation of Envelope 2 Gene Among Chikungunya Virus Clonal Lineages by an In Silico Approach
by Sung-Yeon Cho, Dong-Gun Lee, Jung Yeon Park, Won-Bok Kim, Raeseok Lee, Dukhee Nho, Eun-Jee Oh, Hyeyoung Lee and Chulmin Park
Viruses 2024, 16(11), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16111689 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 409
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), responsible for a mosquito-borne viral illness, has rapidly spread worldwide, posing a significant global health threat. In this study, we explored the immunogenic variability of CHIKV envelope 2 (E2), a pivotal component in the anti-CHIKV immune response, using an in [...] Read more.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), responsible for a mosquito-borne viral illness, has rapidly spread worldwide, posing a significant global health threat. In this study, we explored the immunogenic variability of CHIKV envelope 2 (E2), a pivotal component in the anti-CHIKV immune response, using an in silico approach. After extracting the representative sequence types of the CHIKV E2 antigen, we predicted the structure-based B-cell epitopes and MHC I and II binding T-cell epitopes. Variations in key T-cell epitopes were further analyzed using molecular docking simulations. We extracted 258 E2 gene sequences from a pool of 1660 blast hits, displaying homology levels ranging from 93.6% to 100%. This revealed 44 sequence types, each representing a unique genetic variant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct geographically distributed clonal lineages (clades I-IV). The B-cell linear and discontinuous epitopes demonstrated a similar distribution across the E2 protein of different strains, spanning domains A, B, and C, with some slight variations. Moreover, T-cell epitope prediction revealed eight conserved MHC class I hot spots and three MHC II hot spots, displaying variations among lineages. Among clade II strains, there were significant variations (N5H, S118G, G194S, L248F/S, and I255V/T) observed in epitopes, distinct from strains belonging to other lineages. Additionally, molecular docking showed that variations in MHC I epitopes across clonal lineages induced changes in the structure of the peptide–MHC complexes, potentially resulting in immunogenic disparities. We expect that this in silico approach will serve as a complementary tool to experimental platforms for exploring immunogenic variation or developing biomarkers for vaccine design and other related studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II)
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16 pages, 2821 KiB  
Article
Accurate Recapitulation of Chikungunya Virus Complete Coding Sequence Phylogeny Using Variable Genome Regions for Genomic Surveillance
by Eduardo D. Rodríguez-Aguilar, Everardo Gutiérrez-Millán and Mario H. Rodríguez
Viruses 2024, 16(6), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16060926 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1047
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by mosquito bites and causes chikungunya fever (CHIKF). CHIKV has a single-stranded RNA genome and belongs to a single serotype with three genotypes. The Asian lineage has recently emerged in the Western Hemisphere, likely due to travel-associated introduction. [...] Read more.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by mosquito bites and causes chikungunya fever (CHIKF). CHIKV has a single-stranded RNA genome and belongs to a single serotype with three genotypes. The Asian lineage has recently emerged in the Western Hemisphere, likely due to travel-associated introduction. Genetic variation accumulates in the CHIKV genome as the virus replicates, creating new lineages. Whole genome sequencing is ideal for studying virus evolution and spread but is expensive and complex. This study investigated whether specific, highly variable regions of the CHIKV genome could recapitulate the phylogeny obtained with a complete coding sequence (CDS). Our results revealed that concatenated highly variable regions accurately reconstructed CHIKV phylogeny, exhibiting statistically indistinguishable branch lengths and tree confidence compared to CDS. In addition, these regions adequately inferred the evolutionary relationships among CHIKV isolates from the American outbreak with similar results to the CDS. This finding suggests that highly variable regions can effectively capture the evolutionary relationships among CHIKV isolates, offering a simpler approach for future studies. This approach could be particularly valuable for large-scale surveillance efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II)
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15 pages, 5242 KiB  
Article
Evolutionary Profile of Mayaro Virus in the Americas: An Update into Genome Variability
by Mikaela dos Santos Marinho, Giulia Magalhães Ferreira, Victória Riquena Grosche, Nilson Nicolau-Junior, Túlio de Lima Campos, Igor Andrade Santos and Ana Carolina Gomes Jardim
Viruses 2024, 16(5), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16050809 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1457
Abstract
The Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus with emerging potential, though with a limited understanding of its epidemiology and evolution due to the lack of studies and surveillance. Here, we investigated 71 MAYV genome sequences from the Americas available at GenBank and characterized [...] Read more.
The Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus with emerging potential, though with a limited understanding of its epidemiology and evolution due to the lack of studies and surveillance. Here, we investigated 71 MAYV genome sequences from the Americas available at GenBank and characterized the phylogenetic relationship among virus strains. A phylogenetic analysis showed that sequences were grouped according to the genotypes L, D, and N. Genotype D sequences were closely related to sequences collected in adjacent years and from their respective countries, suggesting that isolates may have originated from circulating lineages. The coalescent analysis demonstrated similar results, indicating the continuous circulation of the virus between countries as well. An unidentified sequence from the USA was grouped with genotype D, suggesting the insertion of this genotype in the country. Furthermore, the recombination analysis detected homologous and three heterologous hybrids which presented an insertion into the nsP3 protein. Amino acid substitutions among sequences indicated selective pressure sites, suggesting viral adaptability. This also impacted the binding affinity between the E1–E2 protein complex and the Mxra8 receptor, associated with MAYV entry into human cells. These results provide information for a better understanding of genotypes circulating in the Americas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II)
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12 pages, 2477 KiB  
Article
The High Capacity of Brazilian Aedes aegypti Populations to Transmit a Locally Circulating Lineage of Chikungunya Virus
by Amanda de Freitas, Fernanda Rezende, Silvana de Mendonça, Lívia Baldon, Emanuel Silva, Flávia Ferreira, João Almeida, Siad Amadou, Bruno Marçal, Sara Comini, Marcele Rocha, Hegger Fritsch, Ellen Santos, Thiago Leite, Marta Giovanetti, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara, Luciano Moreira and Alvaro Ferreira
Viruses 2024, 16(4), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040575 - 9 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1516
Abstract
The incidence of chikungunya has dramatically surged worldwide in recent decades, imposing an expanding burden on public health. In recent years, South America, particularly Brazil, has experienced outbreaks that have ravaged populations following the rapid dissemination of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which was [...] Read more.
The incidence of chikungunya has dramatically surged worldwide in recent decades, imposing an expanding burden on public health. In recent years, South America, particularly Brazil, has experienced outbreaks that have ravaged populations following the rapid dissemination of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which was first detected in 2014. The primary vector for CHIKV transmission is the urban mosquito species Aedes aegypti, which is highly prevalent throughout Brazil. However, the impact of the locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of local mosquito populations on vector competence remains unexplored. Here, we experimentally analyzed and compared the infectivity and transmissibility of the CHIKV-ECSA lineage recently isolated in Brazil among four Ae. aegypti populations collected from different regions of the country. When exposed to CHIKV-infected AG129 mice for blood feeding, all the mosquito populations displayed high infection rates and dissemination efficiency. Furthermore, we observed that all the populations were highly efficient in transmitting CHIKV to a vertebrate host (naïve AG129 mice) as early as eight days post-infection. These results demonstrate the high capacity of Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations to transmit the locally circulating CHIKV-ECSA lineage. This observation could help to explain the high prevalence of the CHIKV-ECSA lineage over the Asian lineage, which was also detected in Brazil in 2014. However, further studies comparing both lineages are necessary to gain a better understanding of the vector’s importance in the epidemiology of CHIKV in the Americas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II)
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6 pages, 912 KiB  
Case Report
Neurological Manifestation Associated with Chikungunya Infection in a Pediatric Patient from Itacoatiara, Brazilian Amazon: A Case Report
by Samuel Benjamin Aguiar de Oliveira, Barbara Aparecida Chaves, Maurício Teixeira Lima, Alexandre Vilhena Silva-Neto, Jady Shayenne Mota Cordeiro, Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro, Michele de Souza Bastos and Vanderson de Souza Sampaio
Viruses 2024, 16(11), 1658; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16111658 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 616
Abstract
A 9-year-old male with autism and a history of well-controlled epilepsy presented with acute headache, fever, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Initial diagnostics, including imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, were inconclusive. However, further serological testing suggested the presence of the chikungunya virus, establishing a [...] Read more.
A 9-year-old male with autism and a history of well-controlled epilepsy presented with acute headache, fever, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Initial diagnostics, including imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, were inconclusive. However, further serological testing suggested the presence of the chikungunya virus, establishing a diagnosis of chikungunya-associated neurological manifestation. The patient was treated with anticonvulsants, antibiotics for secondary bacterial pneumonia, and supportive care, leading to a gradual recovery. This case highlights the importance of considering systemic viral infections in pediatric patients with neurological symptoms and underscores the potential for arboviruses like chikungunya to cause neurological manifestation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chikungunya Virus and Emerging Alphaviruses—Volume II)
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