Browsing by Author "Schmidt-Chanasit, J."
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- Co-circulation of a novel phlebovirus and Massilia virus in sandflies, PortugalPublication . Amaro, Fátima; Zé-Zé, Líbia; Alves, M.J.; Börstler, J.; Clos, J.; Lorenzen, S.; Becker, S. C.; Schmidt-Chanasit, J.; Cadar, D.Background: In Portugal, entomological surveys to detect phleboviruses in their natural vectors have not been performed so far. Thus, the aims of the present study were to detect, isolate and characterize phleboviruses in sandfly populations of Portugal. Findings: From May to October 2007–2008, 896 female sandflies were trapped in Arrábida region, located on the southwest coast of Portugal. Phlebovirus RNA was detected by using a pan-phlebovirus RT-PCR in 4 out of 34 Phlebotomus perniciosus pools. Direct sequencing of the amplicons showed that 2 samples exhibited 72 % nucleotide identity with Arbia virus, and two showed 96 % nucleotide identity with Massilia virus. The Arbia-like virus (named Alcube virus) was isolated in cell culture and complete genomic sequences of one Alcube and two Massila viruses were determined using next-generation sequencing technology. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Alcube virus clustered with members of the Salehabad virus species complex. Within this clade, Alcube virus forms a monophyletic lineage with the Arbia, Salehabad and Adana viruses sharing a common ancestor. Arbia virus has been identified as the most closely related virus with 20-28 % nucleotide and 10-27 % amino acid divergences depending on the analysed segment. Conclusions: We have provided genetic evidence for the circulation of a novel phlebovirus species named Alcube virus in Ph. perniciosus and co-circulation of Massilia virus, in Arrábida region, southwest of Portugal. Further epidemiological investigations and surveillance for sandfly-borne phleboviruses in Portugal are needed to elucidate their medical importance.
- The contribution of the European high containment laboratories during the 2014-2015 Ebola Virus Disease emergencyPublication . Nisii, C.; Vincenti, D.; Fusco, F.M.; Schmidt-Chanasit, J.; Carbonnelle, C.; Raoul, H.; Eickmann, M.; Hewson, R.; Brave, A.; Nuncio, M.S.; Sanchez-Seco, M.P.; Palyi, B.; Kis, Z.; Zange, S.; Nitsche, A.; Kurth, A.; Strasser, M.; Capobianchi, M.R.; Ozin, A.; Guglielmetti, P.; Menel-Lemos, C.; Jacob, D.; Grunow, R.; Ippolito, G.; Di Caro, A.Since December 2013, the world has experienced the worst ever epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD), which has caused thousands of deaths in several West African countries. When the epidemic began, the European Union (EU) was not unprepared, thanks to the 10-year-long commitment of the European Commission (EC) to fund several networks in the area of highly infectious diseases. The European Network of Biosafety-Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories (Euronet-P4, later called ENP4-Lab) was one of them; it has been operating since 2004, bringing together the facilities where RiskGroup 4 (RG-4) pathogens such as Ebola virus can be safely handled. In 2010, with the aim of increasing European preparedness in the fight against highly infectious trans-border threats, a new Joint Action was launched, resulting from the union of the networks that had previously worked on the diagnostics of highly infectious viruses and bacteria: ENP4-Lab and EQADeBa (Establishment of Quality Assurance for Detection of Highly Pathogenic Bacteria of Potential Bioterrorism Risk). (...)