1999 Findings 

Many important properties of Togaviruses remain to be elucidated.  Important steps towards establishing the mechanism of host-range exclusion were made in the past year using Togavirus models.  Additionally, new sequencing studies have helped virologists understand evolutionary relationships between the Alphaviruses.
 
 

• In a January 2000 study, researchers sequenced the entire genome of the Western Equine Encephalitis virus.  It was shown to be aprox. 82% homologous with that of Easter Equine Encephalitis virus, indicating a close evolutionary tie.

              Netolitzsky, D. et al. Journal of General Virology, Jan 2000.
 

• In a January 2000 study, researchers showed that the host range of the Alphavirus Sindbis virus is linked to the carbohydrate-processing mechanism of the host by testing a host-range deficient mutant in vitro.

                Boehme, K. et al.  Journal of General Virology, Jan 2000.
 

• In a January 2000 study, researchers showed that the route of infection of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus is via dendritic cells.  This explains the previously vexing question of how VEE particles reached the lymph nodes from the skin while undergoing only one round of replication.

                MacDonald, E. et al.  Journal of Virology, Jan 2000.
 

• In a December 1999 study, researchers found that men mount a faster and more complete memory immune response to the MMR booster shot than women.  This may be due to hormonal factors, and may account for the increase risk of remimmunization against Rubella for women.

                Mitchell, L.  Journal of Medical Microbiology, Dec 1999.
 

• In an October 1999 study, researchers proposes a revision of the EEE virus taxonomic system based on their study of the antigenic differences across strains of EEE virus from North, South, and Central America.

                Brault, A. et al.  American Journal of Tropical Medicine, Oct 1999.
 

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