In recent decades, waves of yellow fever virus (YFV) from the Amazon Rainforest have spread and caused outbreaks in other regions of Brazil, including the Cerrado, a savannah-like biome through which YFV usually moves before arriving at the Atlantic Forest. To identify the vectors involved in the maintenance of the virus in semiarid environments, an entomological survey was conducted after confirmation of yellow fever (YF) epizootics at the peak of the dry season in the Cerrado areas of the state of Minas Gerais. In total, 917 mosquitoes from 13 taxa were collected and tested for the presence of YFV. Interestingly, mosquitoes of the Sabethes genus represented 95% of the diurnal captured specimens, displaying a peak of biting activity never previously recorded, between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. Molecular analysis identified three YFV-positive pools, two from Sabethes chloropterus —from which near-complete genomes were generated—and one from Sa. albiprivus , whose low viral load prevented sequencing. Sa. chloropterus was considered the primary vector due to the high number of copies of YFV RNA and the high relative abundance detected. Its bionomic characteristics allow its survival in dry places and dry time periods. For the first time in Brazil, Sa. albiprivus was found to be naturally infected with YFV and may have played a role as a secondary vector. Despite its high relative abundance, fewer copies of viral RNA were found, as well as a lower Minimum Infection Rate (MIR). Genomic and phylogeographic analysis showed that the virus clustered in the sub-lineage YFV PA-MG , which circulated in Pará in 2017 and then spread into other regions of the country. The results reported here contribute to the understanding of the epidemiology and mechanisms of YFV dispersion and maintenance, especially in adverse weather conditions. The intense viral circulation, even outside the seasonal period, increases the importance of surveillance and YFV vaccination to protect human populations in affected areas.

The 2021 re-emergence of yellow fever in non-human primates in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southernmost Brazil, resulted in the death of many howler monkeys (genus Alouatta) and led the state to declare a Public Health Emergency of State Importance, despite no human cases reported. In this study, near-complete genomes of yellow fever virus (YFV) recovered from the outbreak were sequenced and examined aiming at a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and the spatio-temporal dynamics of the virus distribution. Our results suggest that the most likely sequence of events involved the reintroduction of YFV from the state of São Paulo to RS through the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, by the end of 2020. These findings reinforce the role of genomic surveillance in determining the pathways of distribution of the virus and in providing references for the implementation of preventive measures for populations in high risk areas.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the basic source for dietary energy of 500 million people in the world. In Brazil, Erinnyis ello ello (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) is a major pest of cassava crops and a bottleneck for its production. In the 1980s, a naturally occurring baculovirus was isolated from E. ello larva and successfully applied as a bio-pesticide in the field. Here, we described the structure, the complete genome sequence, and the phylogenetic relationships of the first sphingid-infecting betabaculovirus. The baculovirus isolated from the cassava hornworm cadavers is a betabaculovirus designated Erinnyis ello granulovirus (ErelGV). The 102,759 bp long genome has a G + C content of 38.7%. We found 130 putative ORFs coding for polypeptides of at least 50 amino acid residues. Only eight genes were found to be unique. ErelGV is closely related to ChocGV and PiraGV isolates. We did not find typical homologous regions and cathepsin and chitinase homologous genes are lacked. The presence of he65 and p43 homologous genes suggests horizontal gene transfer from Alphabaculovirus. Moreover, we found a nucleotide metabolism-related gene and two genes that could be acquired probably from Densovirus. The ErelGV represents a new virus species from the genus Betabaculovirus and is the closest relative of ChocGV. It contains a dUTPase-like, a he65-like, p43-like genes, which are also found in several other alpha- and betabaculovirus genomes, and two Densovirus-related genes. Importantly, recombination events between insect viruses from unrelated families and genera might drive baculovirus genomic evolution.

The yellow fever virus (YFV) re-emergence in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, raised big concerns and led the state to declare a Public Health Emergency of State Importance. Here, we generated near-complete genomes from the ongoing outbreak in Southern Brazil, aiming to better understand the phylogenetic aspects and also spatio-temporal dynamics of the virus. Our findings highlight the path and dispersion in Rio Grande do Sul and that YFV was reintroduced from São Paulo to the Rio Grande do Sul state through Paraná and Santa Catarina states, at the end of 2020.

Background: Monkeypox virus, the etiological agent of Mpox, is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus that has attracted increasing attention due to sporadic outbreaks in humans. In 2022, it was responsible for the largest Mpox outbreak outside the African continent, infecting over 117,000 individuals worldwide. In Brazil, since the first confirmed case in June 2022, more than 13,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus. Methods: In July 2022, we developed the first molecular test for the detection of monkeypox virus in the Midwest region of the country, allowing the diagnosis of the disease in various patients, mainly residents of the Federal District. Thus, in this work, we present the validation of a laboratory-developed qPCR test (LDT) for monkeypox virus detection, as well as a retrospective epidemiological analysis based on laboratory results. Results: The developed qPCR test demonstrated 100% accuracy, with a detection limit of 21.25 copies per reaction, and was validated for samples from swabbed pustule exudates and lesion crusts. To date, 295 tests have been conducted, with 88 (30%) returning positive. The positivity rate was 41.15% in male patients and 2.41% in female patients. A peak in positivity was observed in August 2022. From 2023 to 2024, there was a marked decline in test demand with occasional positive results. Conclusions: The rapid implementation of the test by our laboratory allowed for an immediate response to patients and provided important data for understanding the dynamics of monkeypox virus spread in Brazil, particularly in the Midwest region.

Yellow fever virus (YFV) exhibits a sylvatic cycle of transmission involving wild mosquitoes and non-human primates (NHP). In Brazil, YFV is endemic in the Amazon region, from where waves of epidemic expansion towards other Brazilian states eventually occur. During such waves, the virus usually follows the route from North to the Central-West and Southeast Brazilian regions. Amidst these journeys, outbreaks of Yellow Fever (YF) in NHPs, with spillovers to humans have been observed. In the present work, we describe a surveillance effort encompassing the technology of smartphone applications and the coordinated action of several research institutions and health services that succeeded in the first confirmation of YFV in NHPs in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Southeast region, in 2021, followed by genome sequencing in an interval of only ten days. Samples from two NHPs (one of the species Alouatta caraya in the municipality of Icaraí de Minas and the other of the species Callithrix penicillata in the municipality of Ubaí) were collected and the presence of YFV was confirmed by RT-qPCR. We generated three near-complete by Nanopore sequencer MinION. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all viral genomes recovered are equal and related to lineage South America 1, clustering with a genome detected in the Amazon region (Pará state) in 2017. These findings reveal the occurrence of a new wave of viral expansion in MG, six years after the beginning of the major outbreak in the state, between 2015-2018. No human cases were reported to date, showing the importance of coordinated work between local surveillance based on available technologies and support laboratories to ensure a quick response and implementation of contingency measures towards avoiding the occurrence of YF cases in humans.