The hidden threats posed by Japanese encephalitis virus genotype V

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) remains a major cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Among its five genotypes (GI-GV), genotype V (GV) has re-emerged and become the predominant lineage in mosquitoes in the Republic of Korea, with sporadic human cases also reported. GV JEV displays differences from...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of virology Vol. 99; no. 11; p. e0164425
Main Authors: Li, Qi, Mishra, Hridesh, Kain, Kevin C., Wang, Ran
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 25.11.2025
Subjects:
Animals
Arboviruses
Central Nervous System Infections
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Editor’s Pick
Emerging and Re-Emerging Vector-Borne Viruses
Emerging Topics
Emerging Vector-Borne Viruses
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese - classification
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese - genetics
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese - immunology
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese - pathogenicity
Encephalitis, Japanese - epidemiology
Encephalitis, Japanese - immunology
Encephalitis, Japanese - prevention & control
Encephalitis, Japanese - virology
Genotype
genotype V
Humans
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines - immunology
Japanese Encephalitis Virus
Minireview
Mosquito Vectors - virology
Overview and Classification
pathogenicity
phylogenetic analysis
Republic of Korea - epidemiology
vaccine
Vector-Borne Transmission
Viral Encephalitis
Virology
Republic of Korea
Japanese encephalitis virus
pathogenicity
phylogenetic analysis
vaccine
genotype V
ISSN:0022-538X, 1098-5514, 1098-5514
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) remains a major cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Among its five genotypes (GI-GV), genotype V (GV) has re-emerged and become the predominant lineage in mosquitoes in the Republic of Korea, with sporadic human cases also reported. GV JEV displays differences from other genotypes in genomic sequence, antigenicity, and pathogenicity, and animal studies indicate higher lethality. Importantly, all currently used vaccines are based on GIII strains and provide partial but insufficient protection against GV JEV, with breakthrough infections documented. These findings raise concerns that GV circulation could undermine existing control strategies. Although shifts in mosquito vectors have been observed, the broader epidemiological and clinical impact of GV JEV remains poorly defined. In the absence of specific antiviral therapies, systematic evaluation is needed to determine whether GV-based vaccines are warranted. This review summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, molecular and biological characteristics, and vaccine protection of GV JEV, and highlights priorities for surveillance and future research.
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ISSN:0022-538X
1098-5514
1098-5514
DOI:10.1128/jvi.01644-25