This volume explores dengue's path from viral emergence to a global health crisis, providing a comprehensive examination of one of the world's most resilient and adaptable arboviruses. The individual chapters, written by leading experts in the field of dengue research, encompass multidisciplinary perspectives and illuminate the intricate dance between the dengue virus, its hosts and its environment. The viral biology and the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis, its evolution and clinical manifestations are presented in detail. In addition, the volume offers insights into the response of the host immune system to the virus and discusses diagnostics, new vaccines and treatment strategies. In a unique way, the volume explores the link between climate change and the dynamics of virus transmission and shows groundbreaking surveillance methods that help with real-time tracking and prediction of potential outbreaks.
This book is aimed at researchers, advanced students and healthcare professionals in academia, industry and public authorities.
Dr. Claudia Nunes Duarte dos Santos currently works as a senior researcher at the Carlos Chagas Institute in Brazil, and serves as the coordinator of the Molecular Virology Laboratory (ViroMol-FIOCRUZ/PR). Her main lines of investigation are focused on interactions between flavivirus/alphavirus/robovirus and host cells, aimed at elucidating diverse aspects of viral morphogenesis and pathogenesis. She also coordinates the Emerging Viruses Reference Laboratory (LRV-FIOCRUZ/PR), designated by the Ministry of Health as responsible for diagnosis and characterization of emerging viruses of interest in human, animal and vector samples. These laboratories are also involved in reagent research and development, e.g., recombinant antigens and monoclonal antibodies, and diagnostic platforms for the identification of novel viruses. ViroMol also investigates the activity of viral proteins, and uses reverse genetics to study viral morphogenesis and develop vaccine platforms. Another research interest is the identification/repurposing of new/existing drugs and molecules to inhibit emerging viral infections.
Dr. Marta Giovanetti's research focuses on gene flow in pathogen populations using a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health. By combining phylogenetics, phylogeography, and ecological data, she studies arboviral outbreaks in Latin America. She develops tools to integrate viral genetic data with clinical, demographic, and environmental information to inform public health policies. After completing her PhD in RNA virus molecular evolution at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, she conducted fieldwork in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak, emphasizing zoonotic transmission and environmental factors. At FIOCRUZ, she focused on arthropod-borne virus evolution, and she is now a Visiting Researcher there and an Associate Professor at Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma. Her work integrates One Health principles in genomic surveillance of emerging viral pathogens, collaborating with PAHO/WHO to understand drivers of disease spread, including climate change and land use. Leveraging nanopore sequencing, her team has generated over 100,000 viral genomes across Latin America. As part of CLIMADE, they develop tools and interventions to address climate-amplified diseases. Her research combines real-time genome sequencing with large-scale data analysis to study viral origins and transmission dynamics, addressing global public health challenges.
