Infectious diseases caused by arboviruses are a public health concern in Pakistan. However, the studies on data prevalence and threats posed by arboviruses are limited. This study investigated the seroprevalence of arboviruses in a healthy population in Pakistan, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Tamdy virus (TAMV), and Karshi virus (KSIV) based on a newly established luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assays, and Zika virus (ZIKV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Neutralizing activities against these arboviruses were further examined from the antibody positive samples. The results showed that the seroprevalence of SFTSV, CCHFV, TAMV, KSIV, and ZIKV was 17.37%, 7.58%, 4.41%, 1.10%, and 6.48%, respectively, and neutralizing to SFTSV (1.79%), CCHFV (2.62%), and ZIKV (0.69%) were identified, as well as to the SFTSV-related Guertu virus (GTV, 0.83%). Risk factors associated with the incidence of exposure and levels of antibody response were analyzed. Moreover, co-exposure to different arboviruses was demonstrated, as thirty-seven individuals were having antibodies against multiple viruses and thirteen showed neutralizing activity. Males, individuals aged ≤40 years, and outdoor workers had high risk of exposure to arboviruses. All these results reveal the substantial risks of infection with arboviruses in Pakistan, and indicate the threat from co-exposure to multiple arboviruses. The findings raise the need for further epidemiologic investigation in expanded regions and populations and the necessity to improve health surveillance in Pakistan.

Recent studies have reported Anopheles mosquitoes captured at high-altitude (40-290 m above ground) in the Sahel. Here, we describe this migration modality across genera and species of African Culicidae and examine its implications for disease transmission and control. As well as Anopheles, six other genera-Culex, Aedes, Mansonia, Mimomyia, Lutzia, and Eretmapodites comprised 90% of the 2,340 mosquitoes captured at altitude. Of the 50 molecularly confirmed species (N = 2,107), 33 species represented by multiple specimens were conservatively considered high-altitude windborne migrants, suggesting it is a common migration modality in mosquitoes (31-47% of the known species in Mali), and especially in Culex (45-59%). Overall species abundance varied between 2 and 710 specimens/species (in Ae. vittatus and Cx. perexiguus, respectively). At altitude, females outnumbered males 6:1, and 93% of the females have taken at least one blood meal on a vertebrate host prior to their departure. Most taxa were more common at higher sampling altitudes, indicating that total abundance and diversity are underestimated. High-altitude flight activity was concentrated between June and November coinciding with availability of surface waters and peak disease transmission by mosquitoes. These hallmarks of windborne mosquito migration bolster their role as carriers of mosquito-borne pathogens (MBPs). Screening 921 mosquitoes using pan-Plasmodium assays revealed that thoracic infection rate in these high-altitude migrants was 2.4%, providing a proof of concept that vertebrate pathogens are transported by windborne mosquitoes at altitude. Fourteen of the 33 windborne mosquito species had been reported as vectors to 25 MBPs in West Africa, which represent 32% of the MBPs known in that region and include those that inflict the heaviest burden on human and animal health, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and Rift Valley fever. We highlight five arboviruses that are most likely affected by windborne mosquitoes in West Africa: Rift Valley fever, O\'nyong\'nyong, Ngari, Pangola, and Ndumu. We conclude that the study of windborne spread of diseases by migrating insects and the development of surveillance to map the sources, routes, and destinations of vectors and pathogens is key to understand, predict, and mitigate existing and new threats of public health.

OBJECTIVE: To isolate a potassium ion channel Kv4.1 inhibitor from centipede venom, and to determine its sequence and structure.
METHODS: Ion-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography were performed to separate and purify peptide components of centipede venom, and their inhibiting effect on Kv4.1 channel was determined by whole-cell patch clamp recording. The molecular weight of isolated peptide Kv4.1 channel inhibitor was identified with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry; its primary sequence was determined by Edman degradation sequencing and two-dimensional mass spectrometry; its structure was established based on iterative thread assembly refinement online analysis.
RESULTS: A peptide SsTx-P2 was separated from centipede venom with the molecular weight of 6122.8, and its primary sequence consists of 53 amino acid residues NH2-ELTWDFVRTCCKLFPDKSECTKACATEFTGGDESRLKDVWPRKLRSGDSRLKD-OH. Peptide SsTx-P2 potently inhibited the current of Kv4.1 channel transiently transfected in HEK293 cell, with 1.0 μmol/L SsTx-P2 suppressing 95% current of Kv4.1 channel. Its structure showed that SsTx-P2 shared a conserved helical structure.
CONCLUSIONS: The study has isolated a novel peptide SsTx-P2 from centipede venom, which can potently inhibit the potassium ion channel Kv4.1 and displays structural conservation.
目的: 挖掘蜈蚣毒液中的电压门控钾离子通道Kv4.1多肽抑制剂，确定其一级结构，并对其空间结构进行建模分析。方法: 利用离子交换层析和反相高效液相色谱对蜈蚣毒液的多肽组分进行分离纯化，通过全细胞膜片钳技术鉴定能够抑制Kv4.1通道的多肽；运用基质辅助激光解析电离-飞行时间质谱鉴定多肽的分子量，借助Edman降解测序和二维质谱测序确定多肽的一级结构；基于迭代线程装配细化在线分析建立多肽空间结构模型。结果: 从蜈蚣毒液中分离纯化得到一条能够抑制Kv4.1通道的多肽SsTx-P2，分子量为6122.8，氨基酸序列为NH2-ELTWDFVRTCCKLFPDKSECTKACATEFTGGDESRLKDVWPRKLRSGDSRLKD-OH，其在1.0 μmol/L浓度下能够抑制Kv4.1通道超过95%的电流。空间结构模型显示，多肽SsTx-P2拥有一个保守的螺旋结构。结论: 本文通过分离纯化从蜈蚣毒液中得到一条多肽SsTx-P2，能够强效抑制钾离子通道Kv4.1，其空间结构具有一定的保守性。.

Arbovirus is a group of virus transmitted by blood-sucking arthropod bites, which infects both arthropods and vertebrates. More than 600 arboviruses have been characterized worldwide until now, including 65 highly pathogenic viruses, which pose a high threat to public health. The risk of arbovirus transmission is increasing due to climate change, international trade and urbanization. The review summarizes the discovery and distribution of emerging and reemerging arboviruses and novel arboviruses with potential pathogenic risks, and proposes responses to the arbovirus transmission risk, so as to provide insights into the research and management of arboviruses and arthropod-borne infectious diseases in China.
［摘要］ 虫媒病毒 (arbovirus) 是一类由吸血节肢动物叮咬传播, 既能感染节肢动物、也能感染脊椎动物的病毒。全球已发现虫媒 病毒 600 余种, 其中高致病性病毒达 65 种, 给公共卫生带来严重 威胁。受气候变化、国际贸易、城市化等因素影响, 虫媒病毒传播 流行风险正在增加。本文总结了 70 年来我国新发和再现虫媒病 毒和具有潜在致病风险的新虫媒病毒的发现和分布, 并且对未来 应对措施提出了相应建议, 以期为我国虫媒病毒和虫媒传染病研 究和防控提供参考。.

Insects are the host or vector of diverse viruses including those that infect vertebrates, plants, and fungi. Insect viruses reside inside their insect hosts and are vertically transmitted from parent to offspring. The insect virus-host relationship is intricate, as these viruses can impact various aspects of insect biology, such as development, reproduction, sex ratios, and immunity. Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that cause substantial global health or agricultural problems can also be vertically transmitted to insect vector progeny. Multiple infections with insect viruses and arboviruses are common in nature. Such coinfections involve complex interactions, including synergism, dependence, and antagonism. Recent studies have shed light on the influence of insect viruses on the competence of insect vectors for arboviruses. In this review, we focus on the biological effects of insect viruses on the transmission of arboviruses by insects. We also discuss the potential mechanisms by which insect viruses affect the ability of hosts to transmit arboviruses, as well as potential strategies for disease control through manipulation of insect viruses. Analyses of the interactions among insect vectors, insect viruses and arboviruses will provide new opportunities for development of innovative strategies to control arbovirus transmission.

Ticks act as vectors and hosts of numerous arboviruses. Examples of medically important arboviruses include the tick-borne encephalitis virus, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Recently, some novel arboviruses have been identified in blood specimens of patients with unexplained fever and a history of tick bites in Inner Mongolia. Consequently, tick-borne viruses are a major focus of infectious disease research. However, the spectrum of tick-borne viruses in subtropical areas of China has yet to be sufficiently characterized. In this study, we collected 855 ticks from canine and bovine hosts in four locations in Hainan Province. The ticks were combined into 18 pools according to genus and location. Viral RNA-sequence libraries were subjected to transcriptome sequencing analysis. Molecular clues from metagenomic analyses were used to classify sequence reads into virus species, genera, or families. The diverse viral reads closely associated with mammals were assigned to 12 viral families and important tick-borne viruses, such as Jingmen, Beiji nairovirus, and Colorado tick fever. Our virome and phylogenetic analyses of the arbovirus strains provide basic data for preventing and controlling human infectious diseases caused by tick-borne viruses in the subtropical areas of China.

UNASSIGNED: Venomous arthropods have substances in their venom with antiproliferative potential for neoplastic cells.
UNASSIGNED: To identify a polypeptide from Myrmeleon bore (antlion) with antiproliferative activity against neoplastic cells, and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the activity.
UNASSIGNED: We used gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography to purify a polypeptide with antiproliferative activity against MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells from a proteinaceous extract of antlion. The polypeptide was sequenced and the stability of its antiproliferative activity was tested under a range of conditions in vitro. An 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the antiproliferative activity of the polypeptide against the MG-63 osteosarcoma cells and MC3T3-E1 mouse calvarial osteoblasts, which were used as a non-neoplastic control. We used western blotting to compare the levels of expression of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and protein kinase B alpha (ATK1) in MG-63 osteosarcoma cells and their mouse homologs in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts after their treatment with the antlion antiproliferative polypeptide (ALAPP).
UNASSIGNED: The 85-amino-acid ALAPP has a 56% sequence identity with the human heat shock factor binding protein 1 (HSBP1). The antiproliferative activity of the polypeptide is relatively insensitive to temperature, pH, and metal ions. ALAPP has a strong concentration-dependent antiproliferative activity against MG-63 osteosarcoma cells compared with its effect on MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. ALAPP significantly upregulates the expression of HSF1 in MC3T3-EL osteoblasts, but not in MG-63 osteosarcoma. ALAPP significantly downregulated the expression of HSP90, CDK4, and AKT1 expression in MG-63 osteosarcoma, but not in the osteoblasts.
UNASSIGNED: ALAPP has significant antiproliferative activity against MG-63 osteosarcoma cells, but not nonneoplastic MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. We speculate that non-neoplastic cells may evade the antiproliferative effect of ALAPP by upregulating HSF1 to maintain their HSP90, CDK4, and AKT1 expression at a relatively constant level.

Venoms produced by arthropods act as chemical weapons to paralyze prey or deter competitors. The utilization of venom is an essential feature in the biology and ecology of venomous arthropods. Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are medically important venomous ants. They have acquired different patterns of venom use to maximize their competitive advantages rendered by the venom when facing different challenges. The major components of fire ant venom are piperidine alkaloids, which have strong insecticidal and antibiotic activities. The alkaloids protect fire ants from pathogens over the course of their lives and can be used to defend them from predators and competitors. They are also utilized by some of the fire ants\' natural enemies, such as phorid flies to locate host ants. Collectively, these ants\' diverse alkaloid compositions and functions have ecological significance for their survival, successful invasion, and rapid range expansion. The venom alkaloids with powerful biological activities may have played an important role in shaping the assembly of communities in both native and introduced ranges.

Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is a tick-borne segmented positive-sense ssRNA virus that can cause human disease. This virus has been confirmed to be widespread, having a wide host range. In human it can cause fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, and asthenia. Therefore, JMTV poses a threat to public health. In this study, we collected 478 ticks from imported cattle on three quarantine farms near the Yunnan border to detect medically significant tick-borne viruses. Our findings show that JMTV was the only detected virus, with an incidence rate of 56.67%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that our JMTV is more closely related to previously reported JMTV strains from Yunnan Province and neighboring Laos, implying that the tick-borne virus was most likely imported from Laos. In conclusion, we identified and characterized a novel JMTV strain in tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) from Yunnan imported cattle, emphasizing the importance of arbovirus quarantine of livestock imports.

Mosquitoes are capable of carrying complex pathogens, and their feeding habits on the mammalian blood can easily mediate the spread of viruses. Surveillance of mosquito-based arbovirus enables the early prevention and control of mosquito-borne arboviral diseases. The climate and geography of Yunnan Province in China are ideal for mosquitoes. Yunnan shares borders with several other countries; therefore, there exists a high risk of international transmission of mosquito-mediated infectious diseases. Previous studies have focused more on the Sino-Laos and Sino-Myanmar borders. Therefore, we focused on the neighborhoods of Malipo and Funing counties in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, which are located along the Sino-Vietnam border, to investigate the species of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses in the residential areas of this region. This study collected 10,800 mosquitoes from 29 species of 8 genera and grouped to isolate mosquito-borne viruses. In total, 62 isolates were isolated and classified into 11 viral categories. We demonstrated a new distribution of mosquito-borne viruses among mosquitoes in border areas, including Tembusu and Getah viruses, which can cause animal outbreaks. In addition, Dak Nong and Sarawak viruses originating from Vietnam and Malaysia, respectively, were identified for the first time in China, highlighting the complexity of mosquito-borne viruses in the Sino-Vietnam border region. The awareness of the importance of viral surveillance and prevention measures in border areas should be further encouraged to prevent future outbreaks of potentially infectious diseases.