Ou study highlights the potential for future re-emergence and underscores the importance of maintaining vigilant epidemiological and laboratory surveillance for this “new old acquaintance.”
06.03.2026 13:07 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Ou study highlights the potential for future re-emergence and underscores the importance of maintaining vigilant epidemiological and laboratory surveillance for this “new old acquaintance.”
06.03.2026 13:07 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Rocio virus has not disappeared.
It is likely maintained in nature through a transmission cycle that science still does not fully understand.
Genome analysis revealed numerous mutations, accumulated during more than 40 years of silent circulation in nature.
06.03.2026 13:07 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
In our study, we detected Rocio virus in a horse that died of encephalitis in Paraná state in 2013.
This represents the first viral isolation and genome sequencing of this flavivirus since the 1970s epidemic.
Rocio is a flavivirus transmitted by insect bites.
After the 1970s' epidemic, however, the virus disappear as mysteriously as it had emerged.
Here is an interesting read (in Portuguese) for those who never heard about Rocio.
oglobo.globo.com/rio/rocio-ma...
ROCV is one of the great mysteries of Brazilian virology.
In the 1970s, it caused the largest epidemic of viral encephalitis ever recorded in the country. Between 1975 and 1978, thousands of human cases were reported in the coast of São Paulo state.
Estimates suggest more than 1,000 deaths.
In our most recente study, we report a case of fatal equine encephalitis caused by Rocio virus. We isolated the virus and sequenced its full genome, revealing that it is still circulating in nature and may re-emerge from its elusive sylvatic cycle.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
🙏 Acknowledgements
This study was made possible by the collaboration of Brazil’s LACENs and the Fiocruz Genomic Surveillance Network, whose work in diagnostics, sequencing, and data sharing is essential for dengue surveillance and public health action.
The re-emergence of DENV-3 highlights the need for continuous genomic surveillance integrated with clinical and epidemiological data to guide preparedness and response.
30.12.2025 02:12 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0The association between DENV-3 and severe dengue may be partially influenced by secondary heterotypic infections, but co-circulation of multiple serotypes clearly increases severe epidemic risks.
30.12.2025 02:12 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Among children ≤2 years (likely primary infections), DENV-2 remained strongly associated with severity, while DENV-3 showed no significant association, likely due to limited sample size.
30.12.2025 02:12 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Multivariable logistic regression of national surveillance data (2023–2025) showed higher odds of severe dengue for DENV-2 and DENV-3 infections compared with DENV-1.
30.12.2025 02:12 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0DENV-3 re-emerged in a hyperendemic setting, co-circulating with DENV-1 and DENV-2 during record dengue activity in Brazil.
30.12.2025 02:12 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
🧬 We sequenced 87 near-complete DENV-3 genomes from 9 states and analyzed them with public data. Phylogeographic analyses reveal multiple independent introductions of the new lineage (3III_B.3.2) into Brazil in 2023–2024, followed by regional spread.
30.12.2025 02:12 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
🦟 Dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) has re-emerged in Brazil after ~15 years of low circulation.
We combined genomic and epidemiological data to assess its spread and public health impact. 🧵⬇️
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Two cases of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a dangerous viral infection, detected in France in travellers from the Arabian Peninsula.
Another reminder that our world is deeply interconnected & vigilance for imported infections is essential.
tinyurl.com/4mdhwfdz
Researchers found evidence that common vampire bats living along Peru’s coast were exposed to H5N1 during a massive outbreak of the virus that started in late 2022. https://scim.ag/4pyxuob
28.11.2025 17:15 — 👍 43 🔁 12 💬 1 📌 1
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I will keep it short and sweet. Great news out of Brazil today 👇.
Congratulations to the interdisciplinary teams that made it a reality!
@mauriciolnogueira.bsky.social @astmh.bsky.social #Burantan
New paper on climate variation and the importance of considering serotype competition in dengue dynamics, with @emiliefinch.bsky.social @drrachellowe.bsky.social and others www.nature.com/articles/s41...
24.11.2025 09:51 — 👍 18 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 0
Interesting point: the viruses in both studies may belong to the same subgenus — their phylogenetic positions are compatible, even though not analyzed together.
However, Wallau et al. found no FCS at S1/S2 and reported a highly divergent S1 but a conserved S2 region when compared to other betacovs
Since the topic of the moment is the new betacoronavirus with FCS found in Brazil, I would like to draw attention to this preprint. It describes two new betacoronaviruses found in the same genus of bats as Takada et al, and propose a new subgenus, the ambecoviruses.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Both were found in the same genus of bats, but in different locations in Brazil. The phylogenies, although analyzing different regions of the genome, are compatible with the hypothesis that both preprints are referring to very similar viruses.
03.11.2025 02:21 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
This new virus may be part of a new subgenus of betacoronaviruses, described in this preprint and tentatively called ambecovirus (American betacoronavirus)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Esse achado é muito importante, mas tem um cheiro Helicopter Science ...
02.11.2025 18:03 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
“Furin cleavage site”, that is. Just casually, and naturally, sitting there in one of the most evolutionarily active parts of the genome.
Mystery solved.
We’ve identified a highly divergent betacoronavirus from South American bat that encodes a functional furin cleavage site.
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Viro3D paper is out! We predicted 85,000 protein structures from human & animal viruses. 1/5 🧵
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
📢New preprint on the impact of dengue virus genetic diversity on inhibition by Wolbachia 🦟🦠🧬
Project led by Afeez Sodeinde, @emiliefinch.bsky.social, and @keli5734.bsky.social! ✨
Key findings in thread below 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Confused writing is usually a symptom of confused thinking. As we struggle to clarify writing, we clarify our thoughts. AI writing aids rob us of that struggle, leaving clean-looking text and thoughts still confused for lack of inspection. Writing is not just a product; it is a diagnostic tool.
05.09.2025 15:20 — 👍 396 🔁 126 💬 6 📌 15