Understanding the interaction between the bluetongue virus (BTV), the Culicoides vector and the ruminant host is essential to control bluetongue (BT). This triangle of interaction can be understood individually at the level of the virus, the level of vector and the host level. BTV-vector-host interactions involve physiological and ecological mechanisms, and they have evolved under a specific set of environmental conditions. Recent advances in understanding this interaction include increased knowledge of the virus replication cycle, BTV immunology and pathogenesis in the vertebrate host, as well as the virulence and pathogenicity features of newly discovered BTV serotypes. To understand the virus-host-vector interaction, new molecular biology techniques and experimental infection biology methods have been widely used. The next-generation sequencing, the establishment of a reverse genetics system for the virus, and development of novel infection models and refinement of the existing BTV experimental infection methodologies have proven very helpful. This progress in biotechnology has also made it possible to develop new-generation BTV vaccines, such as disabled infectious single cycle (DISC) vaccines and disabled infectious single animal (DISA) vaccines. However, several questions still need to be answered, such as those concerning cellular pathways involved in the induction of innate immunity and the function of NS4 in the BTV replication cycle. In addition, the identities of specific molecular determinants and the role of quasi-species diversity in determining BTV phenotype are still unclear and should be better explained.
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