Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus?
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Varicella (chickenpox) exhibits a characteristic epidemiological pattern which is associated with climate. In general, primary infections in tropical regions are comparatively less frequent among children than in temperate regions. T...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-07-01
|
| Series: | Virology Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/370 |
| _version_ | 1818919211784732672 |
|---|---|
| author | Escobar-Gutiérrez Alejandro Anaya Luis Vazquez-Pichardo Mauricio Cazares Fernando Carpio-Pedroza Juan C Fonseca-Coronado Salvador Rivera-Osorio Pilar Ramírez-González José E Ruiz-Tovar Karina Cruz-Rivera Mayra Y Rodríguez-Castillo Araceli Vaughan Gilberto |
| author_facet | Escobar-Gutiérrez Alejandro Anaya Luis Vazquez-Pichardo Mauricio Cazares Fernando Carpio-Pedroza Juan C Fonseca-Coronado Salvador Rivera-Osorio Pilar Ramírez-González José E Ruiz-Tovar Karina Cruz-Rivera Mayra Y Rodríguez-Castillo Araceli Vaughan Gilberto |
| author_sort | Escobar-Gutiérrez Alejandro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Varicella (chickenpox) exhibits a characteristic epidemiological pattern which is associated with climate. In general, primary infections in tropical regions are comparatively less frequent among children than in temperate regions. This peculiarity regarding varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection among certain age groups in tropical regions results in increased susceptibility during adulthood in these regions. Moreover, this disease shows a cyclic behavior in which the number of cases increases significantly during winter and spring. This observation further supports the participation of environmental factors in global epidemiology of chickenpox. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this distinctive disease behavior are not understood completely. In a recent publication, Philip S. Rice has put forward an interesting hypothesis suggesting that ultra-violet (UV) radiation is the major environmental factor driving the molecular evolution of VZV.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>While we welcomed the attempt to explain the mechanisms controlling VZV transmission and distribution, we argue that Rice's hypothesis takes lightly the circulation of the so called "temperate VZV genotypes" in tropical regions and, to certain degree, overlooks the predominance of such lineages in certain non-temperate areas. Here, we further discuss and present new information about the overwhelming dominance of temperate VZV genotypes in Mexico regardless of geographical location and climate.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>UV radiation does not satisfactorily explain the distribution of VZV genotypes in different tropical and temperate regions of Mexico. Additionally, the cyclic behavior of varicella does not shown significant differences between regions with different climates in the country. More studies should be conducted to identify the factors directly involved in viral spreading. A better understanding of the modes of transmissions exploited by VZV and their effect on viral fitness is likely to facilitate the implementation of preventive measures for disease control.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:02:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-151071c61c4f4b6f9618a76d1844b3b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1743-422X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:02:15Z |
| publishDate | 2011-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virology Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-151071c61c4f4b6f9618a76d1844b3b52022-12-21T19:58:57ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2011-07-018137010.1186/1743-422X-8-370Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus?Escobar-Gutiérrez AlejandroAnaya LuisVazquez-Pichardo MauricioCazares FernandoCarpio-Pedroza Juan CFonseca-Coronado SalvadorRivera-Osorio PilarRamírez-González José ERuiz-Tovar KarinaCruz-Rivera Mayra YRodríguez-Castillo AraceliVaughan Gilberto<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Varicella (chickenpox) exhibits a characteristic epidemiological pattern which is associated with climate. In general, primary infections in tropical regions are comparatively less frequent among children than in temperate regions. This peculiarity regarding varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection among certain age groups in tropical regions results in increased susceptibility during adulthood in these regions. Moreover, this disease shows a cyclic behavior in which the number of cases increases significantly during winter and spring. This observation further supports the participation of environmental factors in global epidemiology of chickenpox. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this distinctive disease behavior are not understood completely. In a recent publication, Philip S. Rice has put forward an interesting hypothesis suggesting that ultra-violet (UV) radiation is the major environmental factor driving the molecular evolution of VZV.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>While we welcomed the attempt to explain the mechanisms controlling VZV transmission and distribution, we argue that Rice's hypothesis takes lightly the circulation of the so called "temperate VZV genotypes" in tropical regions and, to certain degree, overlooks the predominance of such lineages in certain non-temperate areas. Here, we further discuss and present new information about the overwhelming dominance of temperate VZV genotypes in Mexico regardless of geographical location and climate.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>UV radiation does not satisfactorily explain the distribution of VZV genotypes in different tropical and temperate regions of Mexico. Additionally, the cyclic behavior of varicella does not shown significant differences between regions with different climates in the country. More studies should be conducted to identify the factors directly involved in viral spreading. A better understanding of the modes of transmissions exploited by VZV and their effect on viral fitness is likely to facilitate the implementation of preventive measures for disease control.</p>http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/370VaricellaUltra-violet radiationMexico |
| spellingShingle | Escobar-Gutiérrez Alejandro Anaya Luis Vazquez-Pichardo Mauricio Cazares Fernando Carpio-Pedroza Juan C Fonseca-Coronado Salvador Rivera-Osorio Pilar Ramírez-González José E Ruiz-Tovar Karina Cruz-Rivera Mayra Y Rodríguez-Castillo Araceli Vaughan Gilberto Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus? Virology Journal Varicella Ultra-violet radiation Mexico |
| title | Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus? |
| title_full | Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus? |
| title_fullStr | Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus? |
| title_short | Is ultra-violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella-zoster virus? |
| title_sort | is ultra violet radiation the main force shaping molecular evolution of varicella zoster virus |
| topic | Varicella Ultra-violet radiation Mexico |
| url | http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/370 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT escobargutierrezalejandro isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT anayaluis isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT vazquezpichardomauricio isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT cazaresfernando isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT carpiopedrozajuanc isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT fonsecacoronadosalvador isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT riveraosoriopilar isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT ramirezgonzalezjosee isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT ruiztovarkarina isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT cruzriveramayray isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT rodriguezcastilloaraceli isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus AT vaughangilberto isultravioletradiationthemainforceshapingmolecularevolutionofvaricellazostervirus |