REALM: An Altmetrics-based Framework to Map Science Impacts on Society. A Case Study on Zika Research

In this paper the authors describe an altmetrics-based framework which allows the identification of specialists and important research in specific research scenarios.

Yeast-produced subunit protein vaccine elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies that protect mice against Zika virus lethal infection

Yeast-derived EDIII is a safe and effective ZIKV vaccine candidate with desirable production traits.

A New High-Throughput Tool to Screen Mosquito-Borne Viruses in Zika Virus Endemic/Epidemic Areas

The authors present and show a new tool that can detect endemic and epidemic viruses in different mosquito species in an epidemic context. This fast and low-cost method can be suggested as a novel epidemiological surveillance tool to identify circulating arboviruses.

High specificity and sensitivity of Zika EDIII-based ELISA diagnosis highlighted by a large human reference panel

Researchers developed a ZEDIII-based ELISA that can discriminate between past or current DENV and ZIKV infections, allowing the detection of a serological scar from other flaviviruses. This could be used to confirm exposure of pregnant women or to follow the spread of an endemic disease.

Combining genetic crosses and pool targeted DNA‐seq for untangling genomic variations associated with resistance to multiple insecticides in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

This study provides a simple and cost‐effective approach to improve the specificity of resistance allele's detection in multi‐resistant populations while reducing false positives frequently arising when comparing populations showing divergent genetic backgrounds.

16th International Dengue Course organized by the Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí"

Complex Scenario of Homotypic and Heterotypic Zika Virus Immune Enhancement

Letter to the Editor

Evolution and biological significance of flaviviral elements in the genome of the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus

Results from this study show a complex association between NIRVS and DENV/CHIKV opening a new avenue for investigating the functional role of NIRVS as antiviral elements shaping vector competence of mosquitoes to arboviruses.

Stable distinct core eukaryotic viromes in different mosquito species from Guadeloupe, using single mosquito viral metagenomics

In this article, the authors applied their optimized viral metagenomics protocol (NetoVIR) to compare the virome of single and pooled Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes collected from different locations in Guadeloupe, in 2016 and 2017.

ZIKV infection induces robust Th1-like Tfh cell and long-term protective antibody responses in immunocompetent mice

This study suggests that specific modulation of the Th1-like Tfh cell response during infection or vaccination may augment the induction of antiviral antibody response to ZIKV and other viruses.

Sloths host Anhanga virus‐related phleboviruses across large distances in time and space

In this study, researchers confirmed the association of Anhanga virus (ANHV)‐related viruses with both extant two‐toed sloth species in the Choloepus genus across 3,000 km distance and half a century between the both detections.

Impact of Zika Virus Emergence in French Guiana: A Large General Population Seroprevalence Survey

This study described a large-scale representative ZIKV seroprevalence study in South America from the recent 2015–2016 Zika epidemic. The findings reveal that the majority of the population remains susceptible to ZIKV, which could potentially allow future reintroductions of the virus.

ZIKAlliance and ReCoDID working together to promote data and sample sharing across infectious disease cohort studies

Advances in Visualization Tools for Phylogenomic and Phylodynamic Studies of Viral Diseases

The authors of this study focus on solutions that address joint temporal and spatial visualization but also consider what the future may bring in terms of visualization and how this may become of value for the coming era of real-time digital pathogen surveillance, where actionable results and adequate intervention strategies need to be obtained within days.

Experimental Assessment of Zika Virus Mechanical Transmission by Aedes aegypti

In this study, researchers evaluated the propensity of Aedes aegypti to transmit mechanically Zika virus (ZIKV) using an experimental design.

Better Research for Better Health: University of Oxford and Fiocruz partner to improve health research and capacity development globally

Cross-Protection of Dengue Virus Infection against Congenital Zika Syndrome, Northeastern Brazil

The results reported in this study suggest that multitypic dengue virus infection may protect from, rather than enhance, development of congenital Zika syndrome.

European Aedes caspius mosquitoes are experimentally unable to transmit Zika virus

The results of the present study reveal that the tested Ae. caspius population has a strong midgut escape barrier that limits the dissemination or transmission of the virus. As such, it seems unlikely that European Ae. caspius mosquitoes could be involved in ZIKV transmission if ZIKV was introduced into Europe. This information may help in designing a better strategy to European surveillance and control programmes for ZIKV.

Zika virus differentially infects human neural progenitor cells according to their state of differentiation and dysregulates neurogenesis through the Notch pathway

Results from this research show that the differentiation state of hNPCs is a significant factor contributing to the outcome of ZIKV infection and furthermore suggest that ZIKV infection might initiate early activation of the Notch pathway resulting in an abnormal differentiation process, implicated in ZIKV-induced brain injury.

Enhanced Molecular Surveillance of Chikungunya Virus

The authors of this study developed two highly sensitive nested RT-PCR assays that cover hot spots of vector adaptation in CHIKV envelope domains. The new assays allow unprecedented molecular surveillance across all CHIKV genotypes and diagnostic use in resource-limited settings globally.