Molecular evolution of dengue viruses: Contributions of phylogenetics to understanding the history and epidemiology of the preeminent arboviral disease

Abstract

Dengue viruses (DENV) are the most important arboviral pathogens in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, putting at risk of infection nearly a third of the global human population. Evidence from the historical record suggests a long association between these viruses and humans. The transmission of DENV includes a sylvatic, enzootic cycle between nonhuman primates and arboreal mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, and an urban, endemic/epidemic cycle between Aedes aegypti, a mosquito with larval development in peridomestic water containers, and human reservoir hosts. DENV are members of the genus Flavivirus in the Family Flaviviridae and comprise of 4 antigenically distinct serotypes (DENV-1-4). Although they are nearly identical epidemiologically, the 4 DENV serotypes are genetically quite distinct. Utilization of phylogenetic analyses based on partial and/or complete genomic sequences has elucidated the origins, epidemiology (genetic diversity, transmission dynamics and epidemic potential), and the forces that shape DENV molecular evolution (rates of evolution, selection pressures, population sizes, putative recombination and evolutionary constraints) in nature. In this review, we examine how phylogenetics have improved understanding of DENV population dynamics and sizes at various stages of infection and transmission, and how this information may influence pathogenesis and improve our ability to understand and predict DENV emergence.

Dengue Infection in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Positive Patient Chronically Infected with Hepatitis B Virus in Western Mexico

“…They are genetically different, but share similar epidemiologic behavior. 7 HIV/DENV coinfection has not been extensively studied. To date, six clinical reports have described the clinical presentations of dengue infection in HIV-1-infected patients.…”

Dengue en Colombia: diez años de evolución

“…En América, el dengue comenzó a ser considerado como un problema importante de salud pública sólo hasta hace unas cuantas décadas 2 . En 1950 se inició un programa que tenía como objetivo erradicar el mosquito Aedes aegypti, principal vector del DENV y aunque este programa, coordinado por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) fue exitoso en muchos países, el mosquito no pudo erradicarse por completo de toda la región 3 . A finales de la década de 1970, consecuencia de la disminución del apoyo económico para la vigilancia y el control del mosquito, en la mayoría de países de la región tropical de América se volvió a incrementar la población del vector 3 .…”

“…En 1950 se inició un programa que tenía como objetivo erradicar el mosquito Aedes aegypti, principal vector del DENV y aunque este programa, coordinado por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) fue exitoso en muchos países, el mosquito no pudo erradicarse por completo de toda la región 3 . A finales de la década de 1970, consecuencia de la disminución del apoyo económico para la vigilancia y el control del mosquito, en la mayoría de países de la región tropical de América se volvió a incrementar la población del vector 3 . Como resultado, además de la emergencia de nuevos serotipos virales, conocimos la mayor epidemia de dengue hemorrágico (DH) en toda la región 4 .…”

Comparative complete genome analysis of dengue virus type 3 circulating in India between 2003 and 2008

“…The pathogenesis of DHF and DSS is poorly understood. However, several hypotheses, such as antibody dependent enhancement in heterotypic secondary dengue infections, involvement of a virulent viral genotype and host factors, have been suggested to explain this mechanism (Leitmeyer et al, 1999;Rico-Hesse et al, 1997;Messer et al, 2003).All the DENV serotypes are further classified into multiple subtypes/genotypes based on their genomic diversity (Weaver & Vasilakis, 2009). Five distinct genotypes of DENV-3 have been identified to date (Lanciotti et al, 1994;Wittke et al, 2002;Uzcategui et al, 2003).…”