Notifiable flaviviral pathogens, particularly dengue, continue to pose significant health and economic challenges worldwide, especially in tropical regions where these infections remain endemic. In the Philippines, the risk remains high following the 2019 withdrawal of the Dengvaxia vaccine, with no alternative immunization currently available locally. Recent interest in nucleic acid-based immunogens highlights the need for scalable, non-infectious vaccine production platforms; however, generating high-dose DNA constructs capable of inducing effective immune responses without live-virus propagation remains challenging. Our work from 2018 to 2024 addressed this need through the development of computationally designed, cell-free, PCR-amplifiable DNA constructs using algorithmic overlap extension PCR (OE-PCR) and an improved technique, asymmetric extension supported by a simulator for oligonucleotide extension (AESOE). Subsequent integration of machine learning, including recurrent neural network-based amplification prediction and LAMP primer design, further improved synthesis efficiency and expanded applications for surveillance and diagnostics. The AESOE-guided OE-PCR platform enabled the assembly of synthetic flaviviral DNA fragments of at least 1 kilobase in length from overlapping oligonucleotides, supporting scalable production of synthetic immunogens without the need for infectious viral materials. These live-virus-free strategies may enhance biosafety, reduce development timelines, and improve accessibility for laboratories in resource-limited settings, potentially supporting next-generation vaccine development for dengue and other flaviviral diseases.

Mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose major global public health challenges, necessitating the development of sustainable, environmentally safe, and effective vector control strategies. Conventional reliance on chemical insecticides has led to increasing concerns regarding insecticide resistance, environmental contamination, and adverse effects on non-target organisms. In this context, biological control methods, which exploit the natural predators, parasites, and pathogens of mosquitoes, have emerged as promising alternatives and complementary tools within Integrated Vector Management (IVM) frameworks. This review synthesizes recent advances in biological control approaches for mosquito management, with a focus on protozoan, fungal, helminthic, arthropod, and chordate-based agents. Protozoan pathogens such as Vavraia culicis have demonstrated potential in reducing mosquito longevity, pupation success, and vectorial capacity, leading to significant suppression of Anopheles, Culex, and Stegomyia populations. Entomopathogenic fungi, including Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae , exhibit broad-spectrum efficacy, with strain- specific virulence and adaptability to diverse ecological and tropical environments. Helminthic interventions, particularly mermithid nematodes like Romanomermis iyengari , effectively parasitize mosquito larvae in a variety of aquatic habitats. Arthropod predators such as copepods, dragonfly nymphs, and Toxorhynchites mosquitoes have been successfully employed against container-breeding and floodwater mosquitoes, while chordate-based interventions using larvivorous fish, notably Gambusia affinis and Poecilia reticulata , continue to play a significant role in public health programmes. Although biological control agents offer species specificity and environmental compatibility, challenges related to scalability, habitat suitability, and potential non-target effects remain. Integrating these biological methods with existing vector control strategies provides a sustainable and ecologically sound approach to reducing mosquito-borne disease transmission.

The Zika virus has emerged as a major public health concern due to its potential to cause serious complications, particularly in pregnant women and their unborn children. Transmitted primarily by infected Aedes mosquitoes, the virus is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Recent outbreaks in Pune, Maharashtra, underscore the need for vigilant preventive strategies. While most infected individuals remain asymptomatic, symptomatic cases may present with fever, rash, and joint pain. The primary concern is the risk of congenital abnormalities, notably microcephaly, associated with maternal infection. Preventive strategies such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites, using repellents, and seeking prompt medical attention are crucial. Public health awareness and proactive prevention remain key to mitigating the threat of Zika virus infections during pregnancy.

Ticks are arthropod vectors that transmit a wide range of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases (VBDs), many of which are of considerable zoonotic importance. Recently, tick-borne diseases (TBDs), particularly those caused by arboviruses, have emerged as a significant public health concern in West Africa. The complex socio-ecological landscape in West Africa contributes to the circulation of several tick-borne arboviruses (TBAs), including Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Dugbe virus (DUGV), both members of the genus Orthonairovirus, as well as other tick-borne flaviviruses such as Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV). These pathogens, transmitted primarily by ixodid and argasid ticks, have been linked to hemorrhagic fevers, febrile illnesses, and encephalitis in both humans and animals. The biological adaptations of ticks, such as transovarial and transstadial transmission, co-feeding, and prolonged host associations, enhance their vector competence and persistence across generations. This review examines epidemiology, host-vector dynamics, life cycles, ecology, dispersal mechanisms and factors affecting ticks and the distribution of tick-borne viruses in West Africa. We also examined the ecological and socio-economic drivers that influence tick populations and virus transmission dynamics, such as climate variability, livestock movement, and deforestation. Notably, surveillance gaps, diagnostic challenges, and limited integration of tick ecology into disease control strategies remain major constraints to effective prevention and response against the occurrence, sustenance, and spread of tick-borne diseases. We therefore propose a coordinated One Health approach integrating epidemiological surveillance, vector control, and targeted community education with enhanced laboratory infrastructure and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Arboviral diseases in Indonesia remain a public health problem and a threat. The annual increase in cases is caused by changes in bioclimatological factors, increased reports of resistance to insecticides and larvicides, and low community participation in vector control, resulting in an uncontrolled abundance of the species. Therefore, an alternative, safe, effective, and evidence-based vector control approach is needed. This narrative review, conducted via the SANRA protocol encompassing PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2014-2024), aims to (1) synthesize current Insect-Specific Flavivirus (ISF) biology, classification, and distribution with emphasis on Indonesia and Southeast Asia; (2) evaluate evidence for ISF-mediated interference with pathogenic flavivirus transmission; (3) compare ISF with Wolbachia-based biocontrol strategies; and (4) identify research priorities and implementation considerations for ISF-based vector control in Indonesia. Eleven articles were further analyzed. Three ISF species (cell-fusion agent virus , Culex flavivirus , and Aedes flavivirus) have been detected in Indonesian mosquito populations. Experimental studies have shown that Nhumirim virus reduces Zika transmission, whereas Palm Creek virus suppresses West Nile virus replication. The Binjari virus -based chimeric vaccine platform produced a good prevention and control model; however, the varying vertical transmission of ISF, lack of field validation, and absence of a regulatory framework are barriers to implementation. However, ISF still requires optimization of population persistence and the development of large-scale application methods. Research priorities include field effectiveness validation, characterization of ISF interactions, and development of standardized release protocols for the translation of ISF technology as a complement to integrated vector control in Indonesia.

Japanese encephalitis virus infection manifests as acute encephalitis syndrome leading to significant neurological disability with estimated incidence around 85,000 cases per year and case fatality rate of 30%. Treatment remains largely conservative as there is no specific antiviral available till date. Clinical trials have failed to show the benefit of drugs studied, except minocycline which has some limited evidence. Preclinical studies and in silico analysis led to identification of various synthetic and natural compounds which could be potential therapies in the future. This article provides an overview of the potential therapeutic options for Japanese encephalitis available in the literature with a description of a case treated to have significant neurological recovery at a resource poor setting.

Breakbone fever, a mosquito-borne viral illness, is characterized by a spectrum of hematologic abnormalities, most notably thrombocytopenia, which is often a key determinant in clinical decision-making. Platelet transfusion is frequently administered to correct severe thrombocytopenia and prevent hemorrhagic complications, yet its role in modifying hematologic profiles and improving outcomes in dengue remains controversial. The present review summarizes evidence on platelet transfusion effects on platelet indices and leukocyte dynamics, including counts and immune responses. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted. Studies meeting defined inclusion and exclusion criteria on platelet transfusion were analyzed. Total 9 studies with 1,849 participants with the mean age of 38.32±11.21 years were included for analysis. Findings indicate that transfusion reliably produces short-term increases in platelet count and plateletcrit, while effects on mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width are variable and often influenced by donor characteristics and storage conditions. Leukocyte alterations post-transfusion are typically modest and transient, with limited clinical relevance. Evidence questions prophylactic transfusion's benefit in stable patients due to risks and costs. Gaps include unclear transfusion thresholds, limited immunologic insight, and poor cost-effectiveness evaluation. Future research should prioritize multicenter trials, mechanistic studies, comprehensive hematologic profiling, and standardized reporting to guide evidence-based transfusion practices. The review emphasizes judicious platelet transfusion to enhance safety and resource efficiency.