Genomic patterns recognition associated with virus-host specificity for the Yellow Fever virus

• Grant number: 24/12881-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Marielton dos Passos Cunha
• Grantee: Elisa Zamboin Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Yellow Fever is an infectious disease caused by an arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family, manifesting itself in both sylvatic and urban transmission cycles. From the 2000s onwards, the return of the disease outside the Amazon region and the possibility of a new expansion of areas of viral circulation, denoted how the reemergence and/or emergence of arboviruses represent a growing threat to global Public Health, and mainly to Brazil. To prevent outbreaks and epidemics caused by both the Yellow Fever virus and others of similar concern, it is essential to understand their genomic patterns that determine virus-host specificity. This project aims to investigate biological aspects linked to virus-host specificity for one of the main arboviruses that circulate in forest areas in Brazilian territory. To achieve these goals, the material to be investigated will come from genomic sequences available in public databases, and using this data, we characterize the use of nucleotides and codons, in addition to calculating the codon adaptation index comparing with the genomes of hosts and putative vectors. The methods to be employed involve computational tools for genomic data analysis, data integration and data mining. The expected results will enable a detailed understanding of the genomic patterns linked to adaptation to vertebrate hosts and vectors. This will allow the advancement of knowledge about the ecology, evolution and epidemiology of the YFV and other arboviruses, which have the potential to emerge and spread to Brazil, and other countries with tropical and subtropical climates in the world.