This study identifies sfRNA in mosquito saliva that enhances orthoflavivirus transmission by inhibiting MDA5-mediated interferon response in human skin cells.

Nature Communications · Aug 29, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

The RLR-MAVS-IRF3 axis activates the IFN pathway to restrict Tonate virus (TONV) infection

Thomas Labadie, Roger-Junior Eloiflin, Zoé Denis, Marie Motos, Joanna Re, Moritz Schüssler, Morgane Chemarin, Isabelle Moltini-Conclois, Valérie Courgnaud, Dorothée Missé, Nadine Laguette, Karim Majzoub

This study identifies the RIG-I/MDA5-MAVS-IRF3 axis as the pathway sensing TONV infection and activating the IFN-I response to restrict viral replication.

bioRxiv · Jul 10, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Single-cell characterization of skin response to a bite by West Nile virus-infected mosquito reveals fibroblast-mediated barrier to transmission

Hacène Medkour, Federico Bocci, Norman Schneider, Idalba Serrato-Pomar, Félix Rey-Cadilhac, Yingzi Liu, Elliott F. Miot, Axel A. Almet, Marine Louarn, Nicolas Aubourg, Wilfried A. A. Saron, Ghizlane Maarifi, Dorothée Missé, Qing Hua Nie, Duncan R. Smith, , Julien Pompon

This study uses single-cell RNA-sequencing to analyze skin responses to West Nile virus-infected mosquito bites, identifying fibroblasts as key cells restricting viral transmission.

bioRxiv · Apr 20, 2026 · PreprintZoology

Dengue virus harnesses mosquito Syntenin to load and secrete viral RNA into salivary exosomes

Florian Rachenne, Norman Schneider, Félix Rey-Cadilhac, Idalba Serrato-Pomar, Lauryne Pruvost, Laura Di Pietro, Jacques Dainat, Audrey Vernet, Chantal Cazevieille, Aurélie Ancelin, Joséphine Lai‐Kee‐Him, Sander Jansen, Elliott F. Miot, Jérémy Fraering, Laurianne Simon, , Julien Pompon

This study identifies how dengue virus uses mosquito Syntenin to package and secrete viral RNA into salivary exosomes, revealing a mechanism for viral RNA incorporation into extracellular vesicles.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Mar 16, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Sphingomyelins in mosquito saliva modify the host lipidome to enhance transmission of flaviviruses by promoting viral protein levels

Hacène Medkour, Lauryne Pruvost, Elliott F. Miot, Xiaoqian Gong, Virginie Vaissayre, Mihra Tavadia, Pascal Boutinaud, Justine Revel, Atitaya Hitakarun, Wannapa Sornjai, Jim Zoladek, Duncan Richard Smith, Sébastien Nisole, Esther N. M. Nolte‐‘t Hoen, Justine Bertrand‐Michel, , Julien Pompon

This study identifies sphingomyelins in mosquito salivary extracellular vesicles that enhance flavivirus transmission by altering the host lipidome and increasing viral protein levels.

Cell Metabolism · Jun 20, 2025Peer-reviewedPathology

Longitudinal Survey of Astrovirus infection in different bat species in Zimbabwe: Evidence of high genetic Astrovirus diversity

Vimbiso Chidoti, Helene Marie De Nys, M.K. Abdi, Getrude Mashura, Valérie Pinarello, Ngoni Chiweshe, Gift Matope, Laure Guerrini, Davies Mubika Pfukenyi, Julien Cappelle, Ellen Mwandiringana, Dorothée Missé, Elizabeth Gori, Mathieu Bourgarel, Florian Liégeois

The paper surveys Astrovirus infection in Zimbabwean bat species, finding high genetic diversity and co-infection with Coronaviruses.

Peer Community Journal · Nov 8, 2023Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology