PulseExploreJournal ClubResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeJournal ClubExplore
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
February 19, 2026PLoS PathogensOpen Access

Zoological transmission of encephalomyocarditis virus in the United States: Virus evolution, host ecology, and capsid antigenicity derived from an outbreak

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Why the study?

Little is known about North American encephalomyocarditis virus diversity, reservoir hosts, and zoo outbreak epidemiology, which has impeded understanding how genetic and antigenic variation affects pathogenicity and vaccine protection.

Does an autogenous vaccine induce long-term neutralizing antibody responses and cross-protection against divergent EMCV strains in elephants?

Population

Fatal zoo animal cases, local rodent species, and elephants following an outbreak in Florida

Comparison

Autogenous vaccine evaluation across divergent strains and serotypes

Design

Comparative phylogenomic, longitudinal serologic, and reverse genetics study

Follow-up

Monthly for multiple years

Key result

Autogenous EMCV vaccination in elephants elicited long-term neutralizing antibodies, with cross-protection confirmed against diverse EMCV strains via reverse genetics.

Authors

AAAastha AdhikariKFKurtis H. FengASAyusha Shrestha

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Overview

May guide EMCV vaccination in captive elephants; leaves open field validation and translation to other species.

Key Points

  • To investigate the transmission, diversity, and antibody responses related to EMCV outbreaks in zoo animals in North America.
  • Conducted comparative phylogenomic analysis of virus isolates from zoo cases and local rodents.
  • Identified key rodent species involved in EMCV transmission.
  • Developed an autogenous vaccine and monitored antibody responses in elephants over multiple years.
  • Constructed a reverse genetics system to study cross-protection from vaccination against divergent EMCV strains.
  • Identified both invasive and native rodent species as significant hosts for EMCV in zoo outbreaks.
  • Provided comprehensive long-term data on neutralizing antibody responses in elephants post-vaccination.
  • Demonstrated varying levels of cross-protection by the autogenous vaccine against different EMCV strains.

Structured PICO

Does an autogenous vaccine induce long-term neutralizing antibody responses and cross-protection against divergent EMCV strains in elephants?

P
Population
Zoo mammals (specifically elephants) and local rodent species (non-native invasive rodents, native mice, and rats) involved in an Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) outbreak in Florida
I
Intervention
Autogenous vaccine against Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)
O
Outcome
Duration and magnitude of neutralizing antibody responsessurrogate

This study provides a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of EMCV transmission in Florida and demonstrates the long-term neutralizing antibody response and cross-protection of an autogenous vaccine in elephants.

Cite This Study

Adhikari et al. (2026) studied this question. Autogenous EMCV vaccination in elephants elicited long-term neutralizing antibodies, with cross-protection confirmed against diverse EMCV strains via reverse genetics.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6996a879ecb39a600b3ef2bchttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013861
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share