Papers by Philippe Dussart
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2008
During a dengue-3 outbreak in Paraguay at the beginning of 2007, capillary blood samples absorbed... more During a dengue-3 outbreak in Paraguay at the beginning of 2007, capillary blood samples absorbed onto filter papers were collected from 44 suspected cases. These samples were subjected to three molecular and serologic tests, and 31 of the 44 samples gave a positive result by at least one of the techniques used. Molecular analyses detected the dengue-3 serotype in 22 patients and additionally the dengue-2 serotype in two patients. Therefore two different serotypes were co-circulating during this outbreak. Overall, this study validates the use of dried-blood samples for field screening investigations. Indeed, all types of laboratory studies of dengue were possible with samples consisting of a few drops of dried blood from finger pricks.
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2010
Journal of Virology, 2012

Virus Research, 2006
Mayaro (MAY) virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Alphaviruses ar... more Mayaro (MAY) virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Alphaviruses are distributed throughout the world and cause a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. Here, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of MAY from a viral strain isolated from a French Guianese patient. The deduced MAY genome was 11,429 nucleotides in length, excluding the 5 cap nucleotide and 3 poly(A) tail. Nucleotide and amino acid homologies, as well as phylogenetic analyses of the obtained sequence confirmed that MAY is not a recombinant virus and belongs to the Semliki Forest complex according to the antigenic complex classification. Furthermore, analyses based on the E1 region revealed that MAY is closely related to Una virus, the only other South American virus clustering with the Old World viruses. On the basis of our results and of the alphaviruses diversity and pathogenicity, we suggest that alphaviruses may have an Old World origin.
Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses, 2009
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2012
RT-PCR = reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. † Laboratory-confirmed dengue cases bas... more RT-PCR = reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. † Laboratory-confirmed dengue cases based on positive NS1 or/and IgM patients reported by the laboratories. * RT-PCR = reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. † Laboratory-confirmed dengue cases based on positive NS1 or/and IgM patients reported by laboratories.

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2009
In South America, dengue is the arbovirus-transmitted disease with the highest incidence. Unlike ... more In South America, dengue is the arbovirus-transmitted disease with the highest incidence. Unlike other arboviruses, wild mammals have no confirmed role in the cycle of dengue in the neotropics, although serological studies have suggested a possible secondary amplification cycle involving mammals other than nonhuman primates. In French Guiana, where all four serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4) are present, the disease is endemic with outbreak events. To determine whether wild mammals can be infected by DENV, rodents, marsupials, and bats were captured over several periods, from 2001 to 2007, at two sites. The first location is a secondary forest surrounded by an urban area where dengue is endemic. The second location is a forest edge site where the disease has not yet emerged. A total of 10,000 trap-nights were performed and 616 mammals were captured. RNAs representing the four DENV serotypes were detected at both sites by reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction in the livers and/or sera of 92 mammals belonging to 14 out of 32 species distributed among all the orders investigated: Rodentia (33 positive/146 tested), Marsupialia (40/318), and Chiroptera (19/152). Sequence analyses of a portion of the capsid and premembrane junction revealed that mammal strains of DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 had only 92.6%, 89%, 95%, and 95.8% identity, respectively, with strains circulating in the human population during the same periods. Regarding DENV-2, strains related (99% identity) to those responsible for an epidemic event in humans in French Guiana concurrent to the capture sessions were also evidenced, suggesting that wild mammals in edge habitats can be infected by circulating human strains. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that neotropical wild mammals can be infected with dengue virus. The question of whether mammals maintain DENV in enzootic cycles and can play a role in its reemergence in human populations remains to be answered.
Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses, 2009
Revue Francophone des Laboratoires, 2009
article reçu le 23 juin, accepté le 21 septembre 2009.

Recognition determinants of broadly neutralizing human antibodies against dengue viruses
Nature, 2015
Dengue disease is caused by four different flavivirus serotypes, which infect 390 million people ... more Dengue disease is caused by four different flavivirus serotypes, which infect 390 million people yearly with 25% symptomatic cases and for which no licensed vaccine is available. Recent phase III vaccine trials showed partial protection, and in particular no protection for dengue virus serotype 2 (refs 3, 4). Structural studies so far have characterized only epitopes recognized by serotype-specific human antibodies. We recently isolated human antibodies potently neutralizing all four dengue virus serotypes. Here we describe the X-ray structures of four of these broadly neutralizing antibodies in complex with the envelope glycoprotein E from dengue virus serotype 2, revealing that the recognition determinants are at a serotype-invariant site at the E-dimer interface, including the exposed main chain of the E fusion loop and the two conserved glycan chains. This 'E-dimer-dependent epitope' is also the binding site for the viral glycoprotein prM during virus maturation in the secretory pathway of the infected cell, explaining its conservation across serotypes and highlighting an Achilles' heel of the virus with respect to antibody neutralization. These findings will be instrumental for devising novel immunogens to protect simultaneously against all four serotypes of dengue virus.

Virus Research, 2006
Mayaro (MAY) virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Alphaviruses ar... more Mayaro (MAY) virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Alphaviruses are distributed throughout the world and cause a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. Here, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of MAY from a viral strain isolated from a French Guianese patient. The deduced MAY genome was 11,429 nucleotides in length, excluding the 5 cap nucleotide and 3 poly(A) tail. Nucleotide and amino acid homologies, as well as phylogenetic analyses of the obtained sequence confirmed that MAY is not a recombinant virus and belongs to the Semliki Forest complex according to the antigenic complex classification. Furthermore, analyses based on the E1 region revealed that MAY is closely related to Una virus, the only other South American virus clustering with the Old World viruses. On the basis of our results and of the alphaviruses diversity and pathogenicity, we suggest that alphaviruses may have an Old World origin.

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2009
In South America, dengue is the arbovirus-transmitted disease with the highest incidence. Unlike ... more In South America, dengue is the arbovirus-transmitted disease with the highest incidence. Unlike other arboviruses, wild mammals have no confirmed role in the cycle of dengue in the neotropics, although serological studies have suggested a possible secondary amplification cycle involving mammals other than nonhuman primates. In French Guiana, where all four serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4) are present, the disease is endemic with outbreak events. To determine whether wild mammals can be infected by DENV, rodents, marsupials, and bats were captured over several periods, from 2001 to 2007, at two sites. The first location is a secondary forest surrounded by an urban area where dengue is endemic. The second location is a forest edge site where the disease has not yet emerged. A total of 10,000 trap-nights were performed and 616 mammals were captured. RNAs representing the four DENV serotypes were detected at both sites by reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction in the livers and/or sera of 92 mammals belonging to 14 out of 32 species distributed among all the orders investigated: Rodentia (33 positive/146 tested), Marsupialia (40/318), and Chiroptera (19/152). Sequence analyses of a portion of the capsid and premembrane junction revealed that mammal strains of DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 had only 92.6%, 89%, 95%, and 95.8% identity, respectively, with strains circulating in the human population during the same periods. Regarding DENV-2, strains related (99% identity) to those responsible for an epidemic event in humans in French Guiana concurrent to the capture sessions were also evidenced, suggesting that wild mammals in edge habitats can be infected by circulating human strains. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that neotropical wild mammals can be infected with dengue virus. The question of whether mammals maintain DENV in enzootic cycles and can play a role in its reemergence in human populations remains to be answered.
Wild terrestrial rainforest mammals as potential reservoirs for flaviviruses (yellow fever, dengue 2 and St Louis encephalitis viruses) in French Guiana
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2004
A serological survey for yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue 2 virus (DENV-2), and St Louis encephal... more A serological survey for yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue 2 virus (DENV-2), and St Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) was undertaken using a seroneutralization technique in 27 wild forest mammal species (574 individuals) in French Guiana. Evidence of yellow fever infection was observed in 10 species, with high prevalence recorded in howler monkey (18%) and agouti (20%). Antibodies against DENV-2 and SLEV were found sporadically in various species. This potential host diversity and the range of potential vectors might explain the behaviour of the viruses in epidemic outbreaks and the emergence of periurban loci.
Febrile illness at the emergency department of Cayenne Hospital, French Guiana
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2008
Febrile illness is a common cause of attendance at emergency departments. The purpose of this stu... more Febrile illness is a common cause of attendance at emergency departments. The purpose of this study was to describe infectious aetiologies of fever in a tropical setting. We prospectively included 1443 febrile patients, all French Guiana residents, who presented at Cayenne Hospital emergency department. This report will propose an overview of aetiologies of febrile illness in French Guiana, and tropical diseases such as malaria and arbovirus infections are discussed. Almost 30% of fevers remained unexplained. Further prospective multicentre studies are warranted to improve the diagnosis of overlooked pathogens in French Guiana. Such studies would lead to conclusions of specific interest in the travel medicine field.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2012
Background: Detection of dengue NS1 antigen in acute infection has been proposed for early diagno... more Background: Detection of dengue NS1 antigen in acute infection has been proposed for early diagnosis of dengue disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and virological factors influencing the performance of the Platelia NS1 Ag kit (BioRad) and to assess the potential use of NS1 antigen and dengue viral loads as markers of dengue disease severity.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2008
Background: We compared the performance of two new commercial tests for the detection of dengue N... more Background: We compared the performance of two new commercial tests for the detection of dengue NS1 protein during the clinical phase of dengue virus (DENV) infection-an immunochromatographic test allowing rapid detection of the NS1 antigen, Dengue NS1 Ag STRIP (Bio-Rad Laboratories -Marnes La Coquette, France), and a two-step sandwich-format microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), pan-E Dengue Early ELISA (Panbio -Brisbane, Australia)-with a one-step sandwich-format microplate ELISA, the Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag test (Bio-Rad).
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Papers by Philippe Dussart