The tortoise or the hare? Impacts of within-host dynamics on transmission success of arthropod-borne viruses.

ABSTRACT: Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are maintained in a cycle of alternating transmission between vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. Arboviruses possess RNA genomes capable of rapid diversification and adaptation, and the between-host trade-offs inherent to host alternation impose well-documented constraints on arbovirus evolution. Here, we investigate the less well-studied within-host trade-offs that shape arbovirus replication dynamics and transmission. Arboviruses generally establish lifelong infection in vectors but transient infection of variable magnitude (i.e. peak virus concentration) and duration in vertebrate hosts. In the majority of experimental infections of vertebrate hosts, both the magnitude and duration of arbovirus replication depended upon the dose of virus admini

SUBMITTER: Althouse BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4528497 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature