Emerging zoonoses and vector-borne diseases: the case of alphaviruses and phleboviruses

Summary

"EMERGING ZOONOSES AND VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES: the case of alphaviruses and phleboviruses"

The Alphaviruses genus includes more than 40 members in the Togaviridae family which are able to infect various large and small vertebrates such as humans, horses, rodents, fishes and birds as well as invertebrates. Transmission between species and individuals occurs mainly via mosquitoes. By studying both infections in mammals and insects, in vitro and in vivo, our purpose wants to unveil the viral and/or host factors responsible for pathogenicity or resistance. Using different model alphaviruses, we want to explore: i) the host factors involved in entry, interspecies transmission and host susceptibility; and ii) the role of cell response, like apoptosis, in virus replication, in vivo spreading and difference of cytopathogenicity. These understanding will help to develop new strategies to fight these public health and veterinary threats.
Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) and Toscana virus (TOSV) are members of the Phlebovirus genera of the Bunyaviridae family. RVFV and TOSV share similar genome structures but display differences in terms of host interactions. RVFV is responsible of severe infectious diseases in both animals (mostly ruminants) and humans, TOSV is strictly a human pathogen. RVFV is transmitted by mosquitoes of several species belonging to Aedes or Culex genera as well as through aerosol while sand flies are the main vectors of TOSV. Using a comparative approach, our objectives are to investigate the role of the Seg-M of RVFV and TOSV in relation to i) species barrier, ii) tissue tropism and pathogenicity, iii) route of transmission and iv) vector competence