Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters

doi:10.3390/v11050471

Review

. 2019 May 23;11(5):471.

doi: 10.3390/v11050471.

Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters

Nikos Vasilakis^{1

2

3

4}, Robert B Tesh^{5

6

7

8}, Vsevolod L Popov^{9

10

11

12}, Steve G Widen¹³, Thomas G Wood¹⁴, Naomi L Forrester^{15

16

17

18}, Jean Paul Gonzalez¹⁹, Jean Francois Saluzzo²⁰, Sergey Alkhovsky²¹, Sai Kit Lam²², John S Mackenzie²³, Peter J Walker²⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
² Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
³ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
⁴ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
⁵ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁶ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁷ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁸ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁹ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹⁰ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹¹ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹² Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston TX 77555, USA. sgwiden@utmb.edu.
¹⁴ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston TX 77555, USA. tgwood@utmb.edu.
¹⁵ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁶ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁷ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁸ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁹ Center of Excellence for Emerging & Zoonotic Animal Disease, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA. jpgonzalez@vet.k-state.edu.
²⁰ Oncovita, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France. jfsaluzzo@gmail.com.
²¹ Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098, 18 Gamaleya str., Moscow, Russia. salkh@yandex.ru.
²² Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. lamsk@nipahvirus.org.
²³ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia. J.Mackenzie@curtin.edu.au.
²⁴ School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. peter.walker@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 31126128
PMCID: PMC6563318
DOI: 10.3390/v11050471

Review

Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters

Nikos Vasilakis et al. Viruses. 2019.

. 2019 May 23;11(5):471.

doi: 10.3390/v11050471.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
² Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
³ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
⁴ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.
⁵ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁶ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁷ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁸ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rtesh@utmb.edu.
⁹ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹⁰ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹¹ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹² Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. vpopov@utmb.edu.
¹³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston TX 77555, USA. sgwiden@utmb.edu.
¹⁴ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston TX 77555, USA. tgwood@utmb.edu.
¹⁵ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁶ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁷ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁸ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. naforres@utmb.edu.
¹⁹ Center of Excellence for Emerging & Zoonotic Animal Disease, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA. jpgonzalez@vet.k-state.edu.
²⁰ Oncovita, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France. jfsaluzzo@gmail.com.
²¹ Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098, 18 Gamaleya str., Moscow, Russia. salkh@yandex.ru.
²² Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. lamsk@nipahvirus.org.
²³ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia. J.Mackenzie@curtin.edu.au.
²⁴ School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. peter.walker@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 31126128
PMCID: PMC6563318
DOI: 10.3390/v11050471

Abstract

In recent years, it has become evident that a generational gap has developed in the community of arbovirus research. This apparent gap is due to the dis-investment of training for the next generation of arbovirologists, which threatens to derail the rich history of virus discovery, field epidemiology, and understanding of the richness of diversity that surrounds us. On the other hand, new technologies have resulted in an explosion of virus discovery that is constantly redefining the virosphere and the evolutionary relationships between viruses. This paradox presents new challenges that may have immediate and disastrous consequences for public health when yet to be discovered arboviruses emerge. In this review we endeavor to bridge this gap by providing a historical context for the work being conducted today and provide continuity between the generations. To this end, we will provide a narrative of the thrill of scientific discovery and excitement and the challenges lying ahead.

Keywords: arbovirus discovery; arbovirus history; electron microscopy; metagenomics; next generation sequencing; taxonomy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
The field station in Bozo, Central African Republic.

**Figure 2**
The building in Brisbane that was occupied by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) from 1947 until 1979 (provided with permission from QIMR).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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1. Clarke D.H., Casals J. Techniques for hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition with arthropod-borne viruses. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1958;7:561–573. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1958.7.561. - DOI - PubMed
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[1] Downs W.G. The rockefller foundation virus program: 1951–1971 with update to 1981. Annu. Rev. Med. 1982;33:1–29. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.33.020182.000245. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Downs W.G. The rockefller foundation virus program: 1951–1971 with update to 1981. Annu. Rev. Med. 1982;33:1–29. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.33.020182.000245. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Theiler M., Downs W.G. The Arthropod-Borne Viruses of Vertebrates. An Account of the Rockefeller Foundation Virus Program. Yale University Press; New Haven, CT, USA: 1973.

[4] Theiler M., Downs W.G. The Arthropod-Borne Viruses of Vertebrates. An Account of the Rockefeller Foundation Virus Program. Yale University Press; New Haven, CT, USA: 1973.

[5] Strode G.K., Bugher J.C., Austin-Kerr J., Smith H.H., Smithburn K.C., Taylor R.M., Theiler M., Warren A.J., Whitman L. Yellow Fever. McGraw-Hill Book Company; New York, NY, USA: 1951.

[6] Strode G.K., Bugher J.C., Austin-Kerr J., Smith H.H., Smithburn K.C., Taylor R.M., Theiler M., Warren A.J., Whitman L. Yellow Fever. McGraw-Hill Book Company; New York, NY, USA: 1951.

[7] Clarke D.H., Casals J. Techniques for hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition with arthropod-borne viruses. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1958;7:561–573. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1958.7.561. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Clarke D.H., Casals J. Techniques for hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition with arthropod-borne viruses. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1958;7:561–573. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1958.7.561. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Casals J., Whitman L. A new antigenic group of arthropod-borne viruses: The bunyamwera group. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1960;9:73–77. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1960.9.73. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Casals J., Whitman L. A new antigenic group of arthropod-borne viruses: The bunyamwera group. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1960;9:73–77. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1960.9.73. - DOI - PubMed

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Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters

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Exploiting the Legacy of the Arbovirus Hunters

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