Review

Nature Reviews Microbiology 2, 789-801 (October 2004) | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1006

Transmission cycles, host range, evolution and emergence of arboviral disease

Scott C. Weaver1 & Alan D. T. Barrett2  About the authors

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Many pandemics have been attributed to the ability of some RNA viruses to change their host range to include humans. Here, we review the mechanisms of disease emergence that are related to the host-range specificity of selected mosquito-borne alphaviruses and flaviviruses. We discuss viruses of medical importance, including Venezuelan equine and Japanese encephalitis viruses, dengue viruses and West Nile viruses.

Author affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA.
  2. Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA.

Correspondence to: Scott C. Weaver1 Email: sweaver@utmb.edu

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