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Kholodilov IS, Aibulatov SV, Khalin AV, Polienko AE, Klimentov AS, Belova OA, Rogova AA, Medvedev SG, Karganova GG. Orthoflavivirus Lammi in Russia: Possible Transovarial Transmission and Trans-Stadial Survival in Aedes cinereus (Diptera, Culicidae). Viruses 2024; 16:527. [PMID: 38675870 PMCID: PMC11054007 DOI: 10.3390/v16040527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of discovered viruses that are transmitted by arthropods. Some of them are pathogenic for humans and mammals, and the pathogenic potential of others is unknown. The genus Orthoflavivirus belongs to the family Flaviviridae and includes arboviruses that cause severe human diseases with damage to the central nervous system and hemorrhagic fevers, as well as viruses with unknown vectors and viruses specific only to insects. The latter group includes Lammi virus, first isolated from a mosquito pool in Finland. It is known that Lammi virus successfully replicates in mosquito cell lines but not in mammalian cell cultures or mice. Lammi virus reduces the reproduction of West Nile virus during superinfection and thus has the potential to reduce the spread of West Nile virus in areas where Lammi virus is already circulating. In this work, we isolated Lammi virus from a pool of adult Aedes cinereus mosquitoes that hatched from larvae/pupae collected in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This fact may indicate transovarial transmission and trans-stadial survival of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan S. Kholodilov
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Sergey V. Aibulatov
- Laboratory for the Study of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (S.V.A.); (A.V.K.); (S.G.M.)
| | - Alexei V. Khalin
- Laboratory for the Study of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (S.V.A.); (A.V.K.); (S.G.M.)
| | - Alexandra E. Polienko
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Alexander S. Klimentov
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Oxana A. Belova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Anastasiya A. Rogova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Sergey G. Medvedev
- Laboratory for the Study of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (S.V.A.); (A.V.K.); (S.G.M.)
| | - Galina G. Karganova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119146 Moscow, Russia
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Ogola EO, Bastos ADS, Slothouwer I, Getugi C, Osalla J, Omoga DCA, Ondifu DO, Sang R, Torto B, Junglen S, Tchouassi DP. Viral diversity and blood-feeding patterns of Afrotropical Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1325473. [PMID: 38249470 PMCID: PMC10797016 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1325473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of arboviral pathogens that primarily affect livestock represented by Schmallenberg virus (SBV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV). In Kenya, studies examining the bionomic features of Culicoides including species diversity, blood-feeding habits, and association with viruses are limited. Methods Adult Culicoides were surveyed using CDC light traps in two semi-arid ecologies, Baringo and Kajiado counties, in Kenya. Blood-fed specimens were analysed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) barcoding region. Culicoides pools were screened for virus infection by generic RT-PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results Analysis of blood-fed specimens confirmed that midges had fed on cattle, goats, sheep, zebra, and birds. Cox1 barcoding of the sampled specimens revealed the presence of known vectors of BTV and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) including species in the Imicola group (Culicoides imicola) and Schultzei group (C. enderleni, C. kingi, and C. chultzei). Culicoides leucostictus and a cryptic species distantly related to the Imicola group were also identified. Screening of generated pools (11,006 individuals assigned to 333 pools) by generic RT-PCR revealed presence of seven phylogenetically distinct viruses grouping in the genera Goukovirus, Pacuvirus and Orthobunyavirus. The viruses showed an overall minimum infection rate (MIR) of 7.0% (66/333, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.5-8.9). In addition, full coding sequences of two new iflaviruses, tentatively named Oloisinyai_1 and Oloisinyai_2, were generated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) from individual homogenate of Culicoides pool. Conclusion The results indicate a high genetic diversity of viruses in Kenyan biting midges. Further insights into host-vector-virus interactions as well as investigations on the potential clinical significance of the detected viruses are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin O. Ogola
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Armanda D. S. Bastos
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Inga Slothouwer
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Caroline Getugi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Josephine Osalla
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dorcus C. A. Omoga
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dickens O. Ondifu
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosemary Sang
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Baldwyn Torto
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - David P. Tchouassi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
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Hermanns K, Marklewitz M, Zirkel F, Kopp A, Kramer-Schadt S, Junglen S. Mosquito community composition shapes virus prevalence patterns along anthropogenic disturbance gradients. eLife 2023; 12:e66550. [PMID: 37702388 PMCID: PMC10547478 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously unknown pathogens often emerge from primary ecosystems, but there is little knowledge on the mechanisms of emergence. Most studies analyzing the influence of land-use change on pathogen emergence focus on a single host-pathogen system and often observe contradictory effects. Here, we studied virus diversity and prevalence patterns in natural and disturbed ecosystems using a multi-host and multi-taxa approach. Mosquitoes sampled along a disturbance gradient in Côte d'Ivoire were tested by generic RT-PCR assays established for all major arbovirus and insect-specific virus taxa including novel viruses previously discovered in these samples based on cell culture isolates enabling an unbiased and comprehensive approach. The taxonomic composition of detected viruses was characterized and viral infection rates according to habitat and host were analyzed. We detected 331 viral sequences pertaining to 34 novel and 15 previously identified viruses of the families Flavi-, Rhabdo-, Reo-, Toga-, Mesoni- and Iflaviridae and the order Bunyavirales. Highest host and virus diversity was observed in pristine and intermediately disturbed habitats. The majority of the 49 viruses was detected with low prevalence. However, nine viruses were found frequently across different habitats of which five viruses increased in prevalence towards disturbed habitats, in congruence with the dilution effect hypothesis. These viruses were mainly associated with one specific mosquito species (Culex nebulosus), which increased in relative abundance from pristine (3%) to disturbed habitats (38%). Interestingly, the observed increased prevalence of these five viruses in disturbed habitats was not caused by higher host infection rates but by increased host abundance, an effect tentatively named abundance effect. Our data show that host species composition is critical for virus abundance. Environmental changes that lead to an uneven host community composition and to more individuals of a single species are a key driver of virus emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Hermanns
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-Universtiy Berlin, and Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | - Marco Marklewitz
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-Universtiy Berlin, and Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | - Florian Zirkel
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical CentreBerlinGermany
| | - Anne Kopp
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-Universtiy Berlin, and Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | - Stephanie Kramer-Schadt
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-Universtiy Berlin, and Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
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Ogola EO, Bastos ADS, Rotich G, Kopp A, Slothouwer I, Omoga DCA, Sang R, Torto B, Junglen S, Tchouassi DP. Analyses of Mosquito Species Composition, Blood-Feeding Habits and Infection with Insect-Specific Flaviviruses in Two Arid, Pastoralist-Dominated Counties in Kenya. Pathogens 2023; 12:967. [PMID: 37513814 PMCID: PMC10386387 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs), although not known to be pathogenic to humans and animals, can modulate the transmission of arboviruses by mosquitoes. In this study, we screened 6665 host-seeking, gravid and blood-fed mosquitoes for infection with flaviviruses and assessed the vertebrate hosts of the blood-fed mosquitoes sampled in Baringo and Kajiado counties; both dryland ecosystem counties in the Kenyan Rift Valley. Sequence fragments of two ISFs were detected. Cuacua virus (CuCuV) was found in three blood-fed Mansonia (Ma.) africana. The genome was sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS), confirming 95.8% nucleotide sequence identity to CuCuV detected in Mansonia sp. in Mozambique. Sequence fragments of a potential novel ISF showing nucleotide identity of 72% to Aedes flavivirus virus were detected in individual blood-fed Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae s.l., Ma. africana and Culex (Cx.) univittatus, all having fed on human blood. Blood-meal analysis revealed that the collected mosquitoes fed on diverse hosts, primarily humans and livestock, with a minor representation of wild mammals, amphibians and birds. The potential impact of the detected ISFs on arbovirus transmission requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin O Ogola
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Armanda D S Bastos
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Gilbert Rotich
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
| | - Anne Kopp
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Inga Slothouwer
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dorcus C A Omoga
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Rosemary Sang
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
| | - Baldwyn Torto
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - David P Tchouassi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
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Ogola EO, Kopp A, Bastos ADS, Slothouwer I, Omoga DCA, Osalla J, Sang R, Torto B, Junglen S, Tchouassi DP. Phlebovirus diversity in ticks from livestock in arid ecologies in Kenya. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102087. [PMID: 36459866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Phleboviruses are emerging pathogens of public health importance. However, their association with ticks is poorly described, particularly in Africa. Here, adult ticks infesting cattle, goats and sheep were collected in two dryland pastoralist ecosystems of Kenya (Baringo and Kajiado counties) and were screened for infection with phleboviruses. Ticks mainly belonged to the species Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Hyalomma impeltatum, and Hyalomma rufipes. A fragment of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene was identified in thirty of 671 tick pools, of which twenty-nine were from livestock sampled in Baringo county. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that twenty-five sequences were falling in three clades within the group of tick-associated phleboviruses. The sequences of the three clades showed nucleotide distances 8%, 19% and 22%, respectively, to previously known viruses suggesting that these sequence fragments may belong to three distinct viruses. Viruses of the group of tick-associated phleboviruses have been found in several countries and continents but so far have not been associated with disease in humans or animals. In addition, five sequences were found to group with the sandfly-associated phleboviruses Bogoria virus, Perkerra virus and Ntepes virus recently detected in the same region. Further studies are needed to investigate the transmission and maintenance cycles of these viruses, as well as to assess their potential to infect vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin O Ogola
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Anne Kopp
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Armanda D S Bastos
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Inga Slothouwer
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dorcus C A Omoga
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Josephine Osalla
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosemary Sang
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Baldwyn Torto
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - David P Tchouassi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Evidence that untranslated genomic sequences are key determinants of insect-specific flavivirus host restriction. Virology 2022; 574:102-114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ogola EO, Kopp A, Bastos ADS, Slothouwer I, Marklewitz M, Omoga D, Rotich G, Getugi C, Sang R, Torto B, Junglen S, Tchouassi DP. Jingmen Tick Virus in Ticks from Kenya. Viruses 2022; 14:1041. [PMID: 35632782 PMCID: PMC9147648 DOI: 10.3390/v14051041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is an arbovirus with a multisegmented genome related to those of unsegmented flaviviruses. The virus first described in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected in Jingmen city (Hubei Province, China) in 2010 is associated with febrile illness in humans. Since then, the geographic range has expanded to include Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, and Uganda. However, the ecology of JMTV remains poorly described in Africa. We screened adult ticks (n = 4550, 718 pools) for JMTV infection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Ticks were collected from cattle (n = 859, 18.88%), goats (n = 2070, 45.49%), sheep (n = 1574, 34.59%), and free-ranging tortoises (Leopard tortoise, Stigmochelys pardalis) (n = 47, 1.03%) in two Kenyan pastoralist-dominated areas (Baringo and Kajiado counties) with a history of undiagnosed febrile human illness. Surprisingly, ticks collected from goats (0.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.5), sheep (1.8%, 95% CI 1.2-2.5), and tortoise (74.5%, 95% CI 60.9-85.4, were found infected with JMTV, but ticks collected from cattle were all negative. JMTV ribonucleic acid (RNA) was also detected in blood from tortoises (66.7%, 95% CI 16.1-97.7). Intragenetic distance of JMTV sequences originating from tortoise-associated ticks was greater than that of sheep-associated ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of seven complete-coding genome sequences generated from tortoise-associated ticks formed a monophyletic clade within JMTV strains from other countries. In summary, our findings confirm the circulation of JMTV in ticks in Kenya. Further epidemiological surveys are needed to assess the potential public health impact of JMTV in Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin O. Ogola
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa;
| | - Anne Kopp
- Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (A.K.); (I.S.); (M.M.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site Charité, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Armanda D. S. Bastos
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa;
| | - Inga Slothouwer
- Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (A.K.); (I.S.); (M.M.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site Charité, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Marklewitz
- Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (A.K.); (I.S.); (M.M.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site Charité, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dorcus Omoga
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Gilbert Rotich
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Caroline Getugi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Rosemary Sang
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Off Raila Odinga Way, Nairobi P.O. Box 54840-00200, Kenya
| | - Baldwyn Torto
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa;
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (A.K.); (I.S.); (M.M.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Site Charité, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - David P. Tchouassi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya; (E.O.O.); (D.O.); (G.R.); (C.G.); (R.S.); (B.T.)
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Replication is the key barrier during the dual-host adaptation of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2110491119. [PMID: 35294288 PMCID: PMC8944775 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110491119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Most viruses have a relatively narrow host range. In contrast, vector-borne flaviviruses, such as dengue virus and Zika virus, maintain their transmission cycle between arthropods and vertebrates, belonging to different phyla. How do these viruses adapt to the distinct cellular environments of two phyla? By comparing the single-host insect--specific flavivirus and dual-host Zika virus, we identified three key molecular factors that determine MBF host tropism. This study will greatly increase the understanding of entry, replication, and cross-species evolution of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Mosquito-borne flaviviruses (MBFs) adapt to a dual-host transmission circle between mosquitoes and vertebrates. Dual-host affiliated insect-specific flaviviruses (dISFs), discovered from mosquitoes, are phylogenetically similar to MBFs but do not infect vertebrates. Thus, dISF–MBF chimeras could be an ideal model to study the dual-host adaptation of MBFs. Using the pseudoinfectious reporter virus particle and reverse genetics systems, we found dISFs entered vertebrate cells as efficiently as the MBFs but failed to initiate replication. Exchange of the untranslational regions (UTRs) of Donggang virus (DONV), a dISF, with those from Zika virus (ZIKV) rescued DONV replication in vertebrate cells, and critical secondary RNA structures were further mapped. Essential UTR-binding host factors were screened for ZIKV replication in vertebrate cells, displaying different binding patterns. Therefore, our data demonstrate a post-entry cross-species transmission mechanism of MBFs, while UTR-host interaction is critical for dual-host adaptation.
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Daidoji T, Morales Vargas RE, Hagiwara K, Arai Y, Watanabe Y, Nishioka K, Murakoshi F, Garan K, Sadakane H, Nakaya T. Development of genus-specific universal primers for the detection of flaviviruses. Virol J 2021; 18:187. [PMID: 34526049 PMCID: PMC8442469 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01646-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Flaviviruses are representative arboviruses carried by arthropods and/or vertebrates; these viruses can pose a public health concern in many countries. By contrast, it is known that a novel virus group called insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) also infects arthropods, although no such virus has yet been isolated from vertebrates. The characteristics of ISFs, which affect replication of human-pathogenic flaviviruses within co-infected mosquito cells or mosquitoes without affecting the mosquitoes themselves, mean that we should pay attention to both ISFs and human-pathogenic flaviviruses, despite the fact that ISFs appear not to be directly hazardous to human health. To assess the risk of diseases caused by flaviviruses, and to better understand their ecology, it is necessary to know the extent to which flaviviruses are harbored by arthropods. Methods We developed a novel universal primer for use in a PCR-based system to detect a broad range of flaviviruses. We then evaluated its performance. The utility of the novel primer pair was evaluated in a PCR assay using artificially synthesized oligonucleotides derived from a template viral genome sequence. The utility of the primer pair was also examined by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) using cDNA templates prepared from virus-infected cells or crude supernatants prepared from virus-containing mosquito homogenates. Results The novel primer pair amplified the flavivirus NS5 sequence (artificially synthesized) in all samples tested (six species of flavivirus that can cause infectious diseases in humans, and flaviviruses harbored by insects). In addition, the novel primer pair detected viral genomes in cDNA templates prepared from mosquito cells infected with live flavivirus under different infectious conditions. Finally, the viral genome was detected with high sensitivity in crude supernatants prepared from pooled mosquito homogenates. Conclusion This PCR system based on a novel primer pair makes it possible to detect arthropod-borne flaviviruses worldwide (the primer pair even detected viruses belonging to different genetic subgroups). As such, an assay based on this primer pair may help to improve public health and safety, as well as increase our understanding of flavivirus ecology. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-021-01646-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomo Daidoji
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
| | | | - Katsuro Hagiwara
- Veterinary Virology, School of Veterinary Medicine , Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido, 069-8501, Japan
| | - Yasuha Arai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Yohei Watanabe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nishioka
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Fumi Murakoshi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Kotaro Garan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sadakane
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Takaaki Nakaya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
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10
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Auguste AJ, Langsjoen RM, Porier DL, Erasmus JH, Bergren NA, Bolling BG, Luo H, Singh A, Guzman H, Popov VL, Travassos da Rosa APA, Wang T, Kang L, Allen IC, Carrington CVF, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Isolation of a novel insect-specific flavivirus with immunomodulatory effects in vertebrate systems. Virology 2021; 562:50-62. [PMID: 34256244 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We describe the isolation and characterization of a novel insect-specific flavivirus (ISFV), tentatively named Aripo virus (ARPV), that was isolated from Psorophora albipes mosquitoes collected in Trinidad. The ARPV genome was determined and phylogenetic analyses showed that it is a dual host associated ISFV, and clusters with the main mosquito-borne flaviviruses. ARPV antigen was significantly cross-reactive with Japanese encephalitis virus serogroup antisera, with significant cross-reactivity to Ilheus and West Nile virus (WNV). Results suggest that ARPV replication is limited to mosquitoes, as it did not replicate in the sandfly, culicoides or vertebrate cell lines tested. We also demonstrated that ARPV is endocytosed into vertebrate cells and is highly immunomodulatory, producing a robust innate immune response despite its inability to replicate in vertebrate systems. We show that prior infection or coinfection with ARPV limits WNV-induced disease in mouse models, likely the result of a robust ARPV-induced type I interferon response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Auguste
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Rose M Langsjoen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Danielle L Porier
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Jesse H Erasmus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Nicholas A Bergren
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Bethany G Bolling
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Huanle Luo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Ankita Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Hilda Guzman
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Vsevolod L Popov
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | | | - Tian Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Lin Kang
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, LA, 71203, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
| | - Irving C Allen
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
| | - Christine V F Carrington
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Robert B Tesh
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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11
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Mechanisms Underlying Host Range Variation in Flavivirus: From Empirical Knowledge to Predictive Models. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:329-340. [PMID: 34059925 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10013-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Preventing and controlling epidemics caused by vector-borne viruses are particularly challenging due to their diverse pool of hosts and highly adaptive nature. Many vector-borne viruses belong to the Flavivirus genus, whose members vary greatly in host range and specificity. Members of the Flavivirus genus can be categorized to four main groups: insect-specific viruses that are maintained solely in arthropod populations, mosquito-borne viruses and tick-borne viruses that are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by mosquitoes or ticks via blood feeding, and those with no-known vector. The mosquito-borne group encompasses the yellow fever, dengue, and West Nile viruses, all of which are globally spread and cause severe morbidity in humans. The Flavivirus genus is genetically diverse, and its members are subject to different host-specific and vector-specific selective constraints, which do not always align. Thus, understanding the underlying genetic differences that led to the diversity in host range within this genus is an important aspect in deciphering the mechanisms that drive host compatibility and can aid in the constant arms-race against viral threats. Here, we review the phylogenetic relationships between members of the genus, their infection bottlenecks, and phenotypic and genomic differences. We further discuss methods that utilize these differences for prediction of host shifts in flaviviruses and can contribute to viral surveillance efforts.
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12
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Agboli E, Zahouli JBZ, Badolo A, Jöst H. Mosquito-Associated Viruses and Their Related Mosquitoes in West Africa. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050891. [PMID: 34065928 PMCID: PMC8151702 DOI: 10.3390/v13050891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-associated viruses (MAVs), including mosquito-specific viruses (MSVs) and mosquito-borne (arbo)viruses (MBVs), are an increasing public, veterinary, and global health concern, and West Africa is projected to be the next front for arboviral diseases. As in-depth knowledge of the ecologies of both western African MAVs and related mosquitoes is still limited, we review available and comprehensive data on their diversity, abundance, and distribution. Data on MAVs’ occurrence and related mosquitoes were extracted from peer-reviewed publications. Data on MSVs, and mosquito and vertebrate host ranges are sparse. However, more data are available on MBVs (i.e., dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, and Rift Valley fever viruses), detected in wild and domestic animals, and humans, with infections more concentrated in urban areas and areas affected by strong anthropogenic changes. Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes albopictus are incriminated as key arbovirus vectors. These findings outline MAV, related mosquitoes, key knowledge gaps, and future research areas. Additionally, these data highlight the need to increase our understanding of MAVs and their impact on host mosquito ecology, to improve our knowledge of arbovirus transmission, and to develop specific strategies and capacities for arboviral disease surveillance, diagnostic, prevention, control, and outbreak responses in West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Agboli
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany;
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho PMB 31, Ghana
| | - Julien B. Z. Zahouli
- Centre d’Entomologie Médicale et Vétérinaire, Université Alassane Ouattara, Bouake, 27 BP 529 Abidjan 27, Cote D’Ivoire;
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Département de Recherche et Développement, 01 BP 1303 Abidjan 01, Cote D’Ivoire
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Athanase Badolo
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Entomology, Universitée Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou 03 BP 7021, Burkina Faso;
| | - Hanna Jöst
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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13
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Guggemos HD, Fendt M, Hieke C, Heyde V, Mfune JKE, Borgemeister C, Junglen S. Simultaneous circulation of two West Nile virus lineage 2 clades and Bagaza virus in the Zambezi region, Namibia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009311. [PMID: 33798192 PMCID: PMC8046352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses include a great diversity of mosquito-borne arboviruses with epidemic potential and high global disease burden. Several flaviviruses are circulating in southern Africa affecting humans and livestock, among them West Nile virus (WNV) and Wesselsbron virus. Despite their high relevance, no arbovirus surveillance study has been conducted for more than 35 years in Namibia. In this study we assessed the diversity of flaviviruses circulating in mosquitoes in the densely populated, semi-tropical Zambezi region of north-eastern Namibia. In total, 10,206 mosquitoes were sampled in Bwabwata and Mudumu national parks and Mashi and Wuparo conservancies and screened for flavivirus infections. A high infection rate with insect-specific flaviviruses was found with 241 strains of two previously known and seven putative novel insect-specific flaviviruses. In addition, we identified ten strains of WNV in the main vector Cx. univittatus sampled in the Mashi conservancy. Surprisingly, the strains fell into two different clades of lineage 2, 2b and 2d. Further, three strains of Bagaza Virus (BAGV) were found in Cx. univittatus mosquitoes originating from Mudumu national park. Assessment of BAGV growth in different cell lines showed high replication rates in mosquito and duck cells and about 100,000fold lower replication in human, primate and rodent cells. We demonstrate a wide genetic diversity of flaviviruses is circulating in mosquitoes in the Zambezi region. Importantly, WNV and BAGV can cause outbreaks including severe disease and mortality in humans and birds, respectively. Future studies should focus on WNV and BAGV geographic distribution, as well as on their potential health impacts in and the associated social and economic implications for southern Africa. Mosquitoes serve as vectors for the transmission of infectious diseases. Some of the most important mosquito-borne arboviruses belong to the genus Flavivirus, which can induce severe disease in humans and livestock. Surveillance of vector populations provide information on circulating arboviruses and may help to identify local outbreaks. Here we sampled mosquitoes over three wet seasons in the densely populated, semi-tropical Zambezi region of north-eastern Namibia and tested them for infections with flaviviruses. We observed simultaneous circulation of two different West Nile virus clades in the main vector species Cx. univittatus. Humans infected with West Nile virus can develop flu-like symptoms or in rare cases meningoencephalitis. Further, we detected Bagaza virus in Cx. univittatus from another locality and season. Bagaza virus infects birds leading to high mortality rates and may also infect humans. Our data suggest that both viruses are endemic in the Zambezi region and may affect human health and well-being in Namibia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko D. Guggemos
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Fendt
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Hieke
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
| | - Verena Heyde
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
| | - John K. E. Mfune
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
| | | | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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14
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Insect-Specific Flavivirus Replication in Mammalian Cells Is Inhibited by Physiological Temperature and the Zinc-Finger Antiviral Protein. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040573. [PMID: 33805437 PMCID: PMC8066048 DOI: 10.3390/v13040573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus contains pathogenic vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses (VIFs) and insect-specific flaviviruses (ISF). ISF transmission to vertebrates is inhibited at multiple stages of the cellular infection cycle, via yet to be elucidated specific antiviral responses. The zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) in vertebrate cells can bind CpG dinucleotides in viral RNA, limiting virus replication. Interestingly, the genomes of ISFs contain more CpG dinucleotides compared to VIFs. In this study, we investigated whether ZAP prevents two recently discovered lineage II ISFs, Binjari (BinJV) and Hidden Valley viruses (HVV) from replicating in vertebrate cells. BinJV protein and dsRNA replication intermediates were readily observed in human ZAP knockout cells when cultured at 34 °C. In ZAP-expressing cells, inhibition of the interferon response via interferon response factors 3/7 did not improve BinJV protein expression, whereas treatment with kinase inhibitor C16, known to reduce ZAP’s antiviral function, did. Importantly, at 34 °C, both BinJV and HVV successfully completed the infection cycle in human ZAP knockout cells evident from infectious progeny virus in the cell culture supernatant. Therefore, we identify vertebrate ZAP as an important barrier that protects vertebrate cells from ISF infection. This provides new insights into flavivirus evolution and the mechanisms associated with host switching.
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15
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Tangudu CS, Charles J, Nunez-Avellaneda D, Hargett AM, Brault AC, Blitvich BJ. Chimeric Zika viruses containing structural protein genes of insect-specific flaviviruses cannot replicate in vertebrate cells due to entry and post-translational restrictions. Virology 2021; 559:30-39. [PMID: 33812340 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Long Pine Key virus (LPKV) and Lammi virus are insect-specific flaviviruses that phylogenetically affiliate with dual-host flaviviruses. The goal of this study was to provide insight into the genetic determinants that condition this host range restriction. Chimeras were initially created by replacing select regions of the Zika virus genome, including the premembrane and envelope protein (prM-E) genes, with the corresponding regions of the LPKV genome. Of the four chimeras produced, one (the prM-E swap) yielded virus that replicated in mosquito cells. Another chimeric virus with a mosquito replication-competent phenotype was created by inserting the prM-E genes of Lammi virus into a Zika virus genetic background. Vertebrate cells did not support the replication of either chimeric virus although trace to modest amounts of viral antigen were produced, consistent with suboptimal viral entry. These data suggest that dual-host affiliated insect-specific flaviviruses cannot replicate in vertebrate cells due to entry and post-translational restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra S Tangudu
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jermilia Charles
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Daniel Nunez-Avellaneda
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Alissa M Hargett
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Aaron C Brault
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Bradley J Blitvich
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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16
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Fang Y, Zhang W, Xue JB, Zhang Y. Monitoring Mosquito-Borne Arbovirus in Various Insect Regions in China in 2018. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:640993. [PMID: 33791242 PMCID: PMC8006455 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.640993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increases in global travel and trade are changing arbovirus distributions worldwide. Arboviruses can be introduced by travelers, migratory birds, or vectors transported via international trade. Arbovirus surveillance in field-collected mosquitoes may provide early evidence for mosquito-borne disease transmission. Methods During the seasons of high mosquito activity of 2018, 29,285 mosquitoes were sampled from seven sentinel sites in various insect regions. The mosquitoes were analyzed by RT-PCR for alphaviruses, flaviviruses, and orthobunyaviruses. Results We detected three strains of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), five strains of Getah virus (GETV), and 45 strains of insect-specific flaviviruses including Aedes flavivirus (AeFV, 1), Chaoyang virus (CHAOV, 1), Culex flavivirus (CxFV, 17), Hanko virus (HANKV, 2), QuangBinh virus (QBV, 22), and Yunnan Culex flavivirus (YNCxFV, 2). Whole genomes of one strain each of GETV, CxFV, CHAOV, and AeFV were successfully amplified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new JEV strains detected in the Shanghai and Hubei Provinces belong to the GI-b strain and are phylogenetically close to the NX1889 strain (MT134112) isolated from a patient during a JE outbreak in Ningxia in 2018. GETVs were found in Inner Mongolia, Hubei, and Hainan and belonged to Group III. They were closely related to strains isolated from swine. HANKV was recorded for the first time in China and other ISFVs were newly detected at several sentinel sites. The bias-corrected maximum likelihood estimation value for JEV in Jinshan, Shanghai was 4.52/1,000 (range 0.80-14.64). Hence, there is a potential risk of a JEV epidemic in that region. Conclusion GI-b is the dominant circulating JEV genotype in nature and poses a health risk to animals and humans. The potential threat of widespread GETV distribution as a zoonosis is gradually increasing. The present study also disclosed the dispersion and host range of ISFVs. These findings highlight the importance of tracing the movements of the vectors and hosts of mosquito-borne pathogens in order to prevent and control arbovirus outbreaks in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Zichuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zibo, China
| | - Jing-Bo Xue
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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17
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de Oliveira Ribeiro G, da Costa AC, Gill DE, Ribeiro ESD, Rego MODS, Monteiro FJC, Villanova F, Nogueira JS, Maeda AY, de Souza RP, Tahmasebi R, Morais VS, Pandey RP, Raj VS, Scandar SAS, da Silva Vasami FG, D'Agostino LG, Maiorka PC, Deng X, Nogueira ML, Sabino EC, Delwart E, Leal É, Cunha MS. Guapiaçu virus, a new insect-specific flavivirus isolated from two species of Aedes mosquitoes from Brazil. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4674. [PMID: 33633167 PMCID: PMC7907106 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83879-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical insect-flaviviruses (cISFVs) and dual host-related insect-specific flavivirus (dISFV) are within the major group of insect-specific flavivirus. Remarkably dISFV are evolutionarily related to some of the pathogenic flavivirus, such as Zika and dengue viruses. The Evolutionary relatedness of dISFV to flavivirus allowed us to investigate the evolutionary principle of host adaptation. Additionally, dISFV can be used for the development of flavivirus vaccines and to explore underlying principles of mammalian pathogenicity. Here we describe the genetic characterization of a novel putative dISFV, termed Guapiaçu virus (GUAPV). Distinct strains of GUAPV were isolated from pools of Aedes terrens and Aedes scapularis mosquitoes. Additionally, we also detected viral GUAPV RNA in a plasma sample of an individual febrile from the Amazon region (North of Brazil). Although GUAPV did not replicate in tested mammalian cells, 3′UTR secondary structures duplication and codon usage index were similar to pathogenic flavivirus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Danielle Elise Gill
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Edcelha Soares D'Athaide Ribeiro
- Public Health Laboratory of Amapa-LACEN/AP, Health Surveillance Superintendence of Amapa, Rua Tancredo Neves, 1.118, Macapá, AP, CEP 68905-230, Brazil
| | - Marlisson Octavio da S Rego
- Public Health Laboratory of Amapa-LACEN/AP, Health Surveillance Superintendence of Amapa, Rua Tancredo Neves, 1.118, Macapá, AP, CEP 68905-230, Brazil
| | - Fred Julio Costa Monteiro
- Public Health Laboratory of Amapa-LACEN/AP, Health Surveillance Superintendence of Amapa, Rua Tancredo Neves, 1.118, Macapá, AP, CEP 68905-230, Brazil
| | - Fabiola Villanova
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-000, Brazil
| | - Juliana Silva Nogueira
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Virology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Adriana Yurika Maeda
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Virology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Renato Pereira de Souza
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Virology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Roozbeh Tahmasebi
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Vanessa S Morais
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Ramendra Pati Pandey
- Centre for Drug Design Discovery and Development (C4D), SRM University, Delhi-NCR, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonepat, Haryana, India
| | - V Samuel Raj
- Centre for Drug Design Discovery and Development (C4D), SRM University, Delhi-NCR, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonepat, Haryana, India
| | | | | | | | - Paulo César Maiorka
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Xutao Deng
- Vitalant Research Institute, 270 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118-4417, USA.,Department Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | | | - Ester Cerdeira Sabino
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Eric Delwart
- Vitalant Research Institute, 270 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118-4417, USA. .,Department Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Élcio Leal
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-000, Brazil.
| | - Mariana Sequetin Cunha
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil. .,Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Virology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, 01246-000, Brazil.
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18
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Carvalho VL, Long MT. Insect-Specific Viruses: An overview and their relationship to arboviruses of concern to humans and animals. Virology 2021; 557:34-43. [PMID: 33631523 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The group of Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) includes viruses apparently restricted to insects based on their inability to replicate in the vertebrates. Increasing numbers of ISVs have been discovered and characterized representing a diverse number of viral families. However, most studies have focused on those ISVs belonging to the family Flaviviridae, which highlights the importance of ISV study from other viral families, which allow a better understanding for the mechanisms of transmission and evolution used for this diverse group of viruses. Some ISVs have shown the potential to modulate arboviruses replication and vector competence of mosquitoes. Based on this, ISVs may be used as an alternative tool for biological control, development of vaccines, and diagnostic platforms for arboviruses. In this review, we provide an update of the general characteristics of ISVs and their interaction with arboviruses that infect vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria L Carvalho
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1945 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA; Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of Health, Rodovia BR-316, Km 7, S/n, Ananindeua, Para, 67030-000, Brazil.
| | - Maureen T Long
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1945 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
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19
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Discoveries of Exoribonuclease-Resistant Structures of Insect-Specific Flaviviruses Isolated in Zambia. Viruses 2020; 12:v12091017. [PMID: 32933075 PMCID: PMC7551683 DOI: 10.3390/v12091017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To monitor the arthropod-borne virus transmission in mosquitoes, we have attempted both to detect and isolate viruses from 3304 wild-caught female mosquitoes in the Livingstone (Southern Province) and Mongu (Western Province) regions in Zambia in 2017. A pan-flavivirus RT-PCR assay was performed to identify flavivirus genomes in total RNA extracted from mosquito lysates, followed by virus isolation and full genome sequence analysis using next-generation sequencing and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. We isolated a newly identified Barkedji virus (BJV Zambia) (10,899 nt) and a novel flavivirus, tentatively termed Barkedji-like virus (BJLV) (10,885 nt) from Culex spp. mosquitoes which shared 96% and 75% nucleotide identity with BJV which has been isolated in Israel, respectively. These viruses could replicate in C6/36 cells but not in mammalian and avian cell lines. In parallel, a comparative genomics screening was conducted to study evolutionary traits of the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of isolated viruses. Bioinformatic analyses of the secondary structures in the UTRs of both viruses revealed that the 5'-UTRs exhibit canonical stem-loop structures, while the 3'-UTRs contain structural homologs to exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs (xrRNAs), SL-III, dumbbell, and terminal stem-loop (3'SL) structures. The function of predicted xrRNA structures to stop RNA degradation by Xrn1 exoribonuclease was further proved by the in vitro Xrn1 resistance assay.
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20
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Hobson-Peters J, Harrison JJ, Watterson D, Hazlewood JE, Vet LJ, Newton ND, Warrilow D, Colmant AMG, Taylor C, Huang B, Piyasena TBH, Chow WK, Setoh YX, Tang B, Nakayama E, Yan K, Amarilla AA, Wheatley S, Moore PR, Finger M, Kurucz N, Modhiran N, Young PR, Khromykh AA, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Suhrbier A, Hall RA. A recombinant platform for flavivirus vaccines and diagnostics using chimeras of a new insect-specific virus. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/522/eaax7888. [PMID: 31826984 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax7888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Flaviviruses such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis virus present substantial global health burdens. New vaccines are being sought to address safety and manufacturing issues associated with current live attenuated vaccines. Here, we describe a new insect-specific flavivirus, Binjari virus, which was found to be remarkably tolerant for exchange of its structural protein genes (prME) with those of the aforementioned pathogenic vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses (VIFs). Chimeric BinJ/VIF-prME viruses remained replication defective in vertebrate cells but replicated with high efficiency in mosquito cells. Cryo-electron microscopy and monoclonal antibody binding studies illustrated that the chimeric BinJ/VIF-prME virus particles were structurally and immunologically similar to their parental VIFs. Pilot manufacturing in C6/36 cells suggests that high yields can be reached up to 109.5 cell culture infectious dose/ml or ≈7 mg/liter. BinJ/VIF-prME viruses showed utility in diagnostic (microsphere immunoassays and ELISAs using panels of human and equine sera) and vaccine applications (illustrating protection against Zika virus challenge in murine IFNAR-/- mouse models). BinJ/VIF-prME viruses thus represent a versatile, noninfectious (for vertebrate cells), high-yield technology for generating chimeric flavivirus particles with low biocontainment requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jody Hobson-Peters
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Jessica J Harrison
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel Watterson
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jessamine E Hazlewood
- Inflammation Biology Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Laura J Vet
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalee D Newton
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Warrilow
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Department of Health, Queensland Government, PO Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Agathe M G Colmant
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carmel Taylor
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Department of Health, Queensland Government, PO Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bixing Huang
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Department of Health, Queensland Government, PO Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thisun B H Piyasena
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Weng Kong Chow
- Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Gallipoli Barracks, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yin Xiang Setoh
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bing Tang
- Inflammation Biology Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Eri Nakayama
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kexin Yan
- Inflammation Biology Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Alberto A Amarilla
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Wheatley
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Department of Health, Queensland Government, PO Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter R Moore
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Department of Health, Queensland Government, PO Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mitchell Finger
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Department of Health, Queensland Government, PO Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nina Kurucz
- Centre for Disease Control, Health Protection Division, Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Naphak Modhiran
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul R Young
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander A Khromykh
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland Gatton Campus, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Andreas Suhrbier
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Inflammation Biology Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Roy A Hall
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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21
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Elrefaey AME, Abdelnabi R, Rosales Rosas AL, Wang L, Basu S, Delang L. Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Host Restriction of Insect-Specific Viruses. Viruses 2020; 12:E964. [PMID: 32878245 PMCID: PMC7552076 DOI: 10.3390/v12090964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses contribute significantly to global mortality and morbidity in humans and animals. These viruses are mainly transmitted between susceptible vertebrate hosts by hematophagous arthropod vectors, especially mosquitoes. Recently, there has been substantial attention for a novel group of viruses, referred to as insect-specific viruses (ISVs) which are exclusively maintained in mosquito populations. Recent discoveries of novel insect-specific viruses over the past years generated a great interest not only in their potential use as vaccine and diagnostic platforms but also as novel biological control agents due to their ability to modulate arbovirus transmission. While arboviruses infect both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, the replication of insect-specific viruses is restricted in vertebrates at multiple stages of virus replication. The vertebrate restriction factors include the genetic elements of ISVs (structural and non-structural genes and the untranslated terminal regions), vertebrate host factors (agonists and antagonists), and the temperature-dependent microenvironment. A better understanding of these bottlenecks is thus warranted. In this review, we explore these factors and the complex interplay between ISVs and their hosts contributing to this host restriction phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rana Abdelnabi
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (R.A.); (A.L.R.R.); (L.W.)
| | - Ana Lucia Rosales Rosas
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (R.A.); (A.L.R.R.); (L.W.)
| | - Lanjiao Wang
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (R.A.); (A.L.R.R.); (L.W.)
| | - Sanjay Basu
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, UK;
| | - Leen Delang
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (R.A.); (A.L.R.R.); (L.W.)
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22
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Hermanns K, Marklewitz M, Zirkel F, Overheul GJ, Page RA, Loaiza JR, Drosten C, van Rij RP, Junglen S. Agua Salud alphavirus defines a novel lineage of insect-specific alphaviruses discovered in the New World. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:96-104. [PMID: 31674898 PMCID: PMC7414432 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Alphavirus harbours mostly insect-transmitted viruses that cause severe disease in humans, livestock and wildlife. Thus far, only three alphaviruses with a host range restricted to insects have been found in mosquitoes from the Old World, namely Eilat virus (EILV), Taï Forest alphavirus (TALV) and Mwinilunga alphavirus (MWAV). In this study, we found a novel alphavirus in one Culex declarator mosquito sampled in Panama. The virus was isolated in C6/36 mosquito cells, and full genome sequencing revealed an 11 468 nt long genome with maximum pairwise nucleotide identity of 62.7 % to Sindbis virus. Phylogenetic analyses placed the virus as a solitary deep rooting lineage in a basal relationship to the Western equine encephalitis antigenic complex and to the clade comprising EILV, TALV and MWAV, indicating the detection of a novel alphavirus, tentatively named Agua Salud alphavirus (ASALV). No growth of ASALV was detected in vertebrate cell lines, including cell lines derived from ectothermic animals, and replication of ASALV was strongly impaired above 31 °C, suggesting that ASALV represents the first insect-restricted alphavirus of the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Hermanns
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Marklewitz
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama.,Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Zirkel
- Present address: Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gijs J Overheul
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel A Page
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Jose R Loaiza
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama.,Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), Panama City, Republic of Panama.,Programa Centroamericano de Maestría en Entomología, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad de Panamá, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Christian Drosten
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Junglen
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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23
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First Isolation of a Novel Aquatic Flavivirus from Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Its In Vivo Replication in a Piscine Animal Model. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.00337-20. [PMID: 32434883 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00337-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The first isolation of a flavivirus from fish was made from moribund Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from the Eel River, California, USA. Following the observation of cytopathic effect in a striped-snakehead fish cell line, 35-nm virions with flaviviral morphology were visualized using electron microcopy. Next-generation sequencing and rapid amplification of cDNA ends obtained the complete genome. Reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) confirmed the presence of viral RNA in formalin-fixed tissues from the wild salmon. For the first time, in vivo replication of an aquatic flavivirus was demonstrated following intracoelomic injection in a Chinook salmon model of infection. RT-qPCR demonstrated viral replication in salmon brains up to 15 days postinjection. Infectious virus was then reisolated in culture, fulfilling Rivers' postulates. Only limited replication occurred in the kidneys of Chinook salmon or in tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The proposed salmon flavivirus (SFV) has a 10.3-kb genome that encodes a rare dual open reading frame, a feature uncharacteristic of classical flaviviruses. Phylogenetic analysis places SFV in a basal position among a new subgroup of recently recognized aquatic and bat flaviviruses distinct from the established mosquito-borne, tick-borne, insect-only, and unknown-vector flavivirus groups. While the pathogenic potential of the virus remains to be fully elucidated, its basal phylogeny and the in vivo infection model will allow SFV to serve as a prototype for aquatic flaviviruses. Ongoing field and laboratory studies will facilitate better understanding of the potential impacts of SFV infection on ecologically and economically important salmonid species.IMPORTANCE Chinook salmon are a keystone fish species of great ecological and commercial significance in their native northern Pacific range and in regions to which they have been introduced. Threats to salmon populations include habitat degradation, climate change, and infectious agents, including viruses. While the first isolation of a flavivirus from wild migrating salmon may indicate an emerging disease threat, characterization of the genome provides insights into the ecology and long evolutionary history of this important group of viruses affecting humans and other animals and into an expanding group of recently discovered aquatic flaviviruses.
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24
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Antigenic Characterization of New Lineage II Insect-Specific Flaviviruses in Australian Mosquitoes and Identification of Host Restriction Factors. mSphere 2020; 5:5/3/e00095-20. [PMID: 32554715 PMCID: PMC7300350 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00095-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe two new insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) isolated from mosquitoes in Australia, Binjari virus (BinJV) and Hidden Valley virus (HVV), that grow efficiently in mosquito cells but fail to replicate in a range of vertebrate cell lines. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BinJV and HVV were closely related (90% amino acid sequence identity) and clustered with lineage II (dual-host affiliated) ISFs, including the Lammi and Nounané viruses. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies prepared to BinJV viral proteins, we confirmed a close relationship between HVV and BinJV and revealed that they were antigenically quite divergent from other lineage II ISFs. We also constructed chimeric viruses between BinJV and the vertebrate-infecting West Nile virus (WNV) by swapping the structural genes (prM and E) to produce BinJ/WNVKUN-prME and WNVKUN/BinJV-prME. This allowed us to assess the role of different regions of the BinJV genome in vertebrate host restriction and revealed that while BinJV structural proteins facilitated entry to vertebrate cells, the process was inefficient. In contrast, the BinJV replicative components in wild-type BinJV and BinJ/WNVKUN-prME failed to initiate replication in a wide range of vertebrate cell lines at 37°C, including cells lacking components of the innate immune response. However, trace levels of replication of BinJ/WNVKUN-prME could be detected in some cultures of mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient in antiviral responses (IFNAR-/- MEFs or RNase L-/- MEFs) incubated at 34°C after inoculation. This suggests that BinJV replication in vertebrate cells is temperature sensitive and restricted at multiple stages of cellular infection, including inefficient cell entry and susceptibility to antiviral responses.IMPORTANCE The globally important flavivirus pathogens West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue viruses, and yellow fever virus can infect mosquito vectors and be transmitted to humans and other vertebrate species in which they cause significant levels of disease and mortality. However, the subgroup of closely related flaviviruses, known as lineage II insect-specific flaviviruses (Lin II ISFs), only infect mosquitoes and cannot replicate in cells of vertebrate origin. Our data are the first to uncover the mechanisms that restrict the growth of Lin II ISFs in vertebrate cells and provides new insights into the evolution of these viruses and the mechanisms associated with host switching that may allow new mosquito-borne viral diseases to emerge. The new reagents generated in this study, including the first Lin II ISF-reactive monoclonal antibodies and Lin II ISF mutants and chimeric viruses, also provide new tools and approaches to enable further research advances in this field.
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25
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Piyasena TBH, Newton ND, Hobson-Peters J, Vet LJ, Setoh YX, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Khromykh AA, Hall RA. Chimeric viruses of the insect-specific flavivirus Palm Creek with structural proteins of vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses identify barriers to replication of insect-specific flaviviruses in vertebrate cells. J Gen Virol 2020; 100:1580-1586. [PMID: 31524580 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report the generation of novel chimeric flaviviruses, which express the prM and E proteins of either dengue or Zika viruses on the genomic backbone of Palm Creek virus (PCV), an insect-specific flavivirus. The chimeric virus particles were antigenically indistinguishable from their parental prM-E donors, but were unable to infect vertebrate cells. An additional chimera (PCV structural genes in the backbone of West Nile virus - WNV/PCV-prME) was also unable to infect vertebrate cells, but transfection with RNA from this virus resulted in detectable RNA replication and translation but no infectious virion production. These data suggest multiple blocks at the entry, RNA replication and assembly/release stages of insect-specific flavivirus (ISF) infection in vertebrate cells. Serial passaging of these chimeric viruses in mosquito cells identified amino acid substitutions that may lead to increased replication efficiency. These chimeric viruses provide unique tools to further dissect the mechanisms of the host restriction of ISFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thisun B H Piyasena
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalee D Newton
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jody Hobson-Peters
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laura J Vet
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yin X Setoh
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander A Khromykh
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roy A Hall
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
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26
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Applying a pan-flavivirus RT-qPCR assay in Brazilian public health surveillance. Arch Virol 2020; 165:1863-1868. [PMID: 32474687 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04680-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to improve flavivirus field monitoring in Brazil using a reliable probe-based RT-qPCR assay. Standard flavivirus strains were employed to evaluate the performance of the assay, and its applicability was evaluated using 235 stored pools of Culicidae samples collected between 1993 and 1997 and in 2016. Flavivirus species were identified by sequencing. Sixteen (6.8%) samples tested positive: Ilheus virus, Iguape virus, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus were identified in historical specimens from 1993-1994, while insect-specific flaviviruses were detected in the samples from 2016. This approach was demonstrated to be accurate for flavivirus detection and characterization, and it can be successfully applied for vector surveillance and for monitoring and discovery of insect specific flaviviruses.
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27
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Rana J, Slon Campos JL, Poggianella M, Burrone OR. Dengue virus capsid anchor modulates the efficiency of polyprotein processing and assembly of viral particles. J Gen Virol 2019; 100:1663-1673. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly and secretion of flaviviruses are part of an elegantly regulated process. During maturation, the viral polyprotein undergoes several co- and post-translational cleavages mediated by both viral and host proteases. Among these, sequential cleavage at the N and C termini of the hydrophobic capsid anchor (Ca) is crucial in deciding the fate of viral infection. Here, using a refined dengue pseudovirus production system, along with cleavage and furin inhibition assays, immunoblotting and secondary structure prediction analysis, we show that Ca plays a key role in the processing efficiency of dengue virus type 2 (DENV2) structural proteins and viral particle assembly. Replacement of the DENV2 Ca with the homologous regions from West nile or Zika viruses or, alternatively, increasing its length, improved cleavage and hence particle assembly. Further, we showed that substitution of the Ca conserved proline residue (P110) to alanine abolishes pseudovirus production, regardless of the Ca sequence length. Besides providing the results of a biochemical analysis of DENV2 structural polyprotein processing, this study also presents a system for efficient production of dengue pseudoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Rana
- Present address: Gene and Cell Therapy group, IU School of Medicine, Wells Center of Pediatric Research, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - José Luis Slon Campos
- Present address: Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Monica Poggianella
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Oscar R. Burrone
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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28
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Liu ZY, Qin CF. Structure and function of cis-acting RNA elements of flavivirus. Rev Med Virol 2019; 30:e2092. [PMID: 31777997 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus is a group of single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that includes numerous human pathogens with global impact, such as dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). The approximately 11-kilobase genome is flanked by highly structured untranslated regions (UTRs), which contain various cis-acting RNA elements with unique structures and functions. Moreover, local RNA elements circularize the genome non-covalently through long-range interactions. Interestingly, many flavivirus cis-acting RNA elements contain group-specific motifs or are specific for the given phylogenetic groups, suggesting their potential association with flavivirus evolution and diversification. In this review, we summarize recent advances about the structure and function of cis-acting RNA elements in flavivirus genomes and highlight the potential implications for flavivirus evolution. Finally, the scientific questions remained to be answered in the field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Yu Liu
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Medicine Shenzhen, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,The No. 8 People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng-Feng Qin
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,The No. 8 People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Fredericks AC, Russell TA, Wallace LE, Davidson AD, Fernandez-Sesma A, Maringer K. Aedes aegypti (Aag2)-derived clonal mosquito cell lines reveal the effects of pre-existing persistent infection with the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus on arbovirus replication. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007346. [PMID: 31693659 PMCID: PMC6860454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aedes aegypti is a vector mosquito of major public health importance, transmitting arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Wild mosquito populations are persistently infected at high prevalence with insect-specific viruses that do not replicate in vertebrate hosts. In experimental settings, acute infections with insect-specific viruses have been shown to modulate arbovirus infection and transmission in Ae. aegypti and other vector mosquitoes. However, the impact of persistent insect-specific virus infections, which arboviruses encounter more commonly in nature, has not been investigated extensively. Cell lines are useful models for studying virus-host interactions, however the available Ae. aegypti cell lines are poorly defined and heterogenous cultures. Methodology/Principle findings We generated single cell-derived clonal cell lines from the commonly used Ae. aegypti cell line Aag2. Two of the fourteen Aag2-derived clonal cell lines generated harboured markedly and consistently reduced levels of the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) known to persistently infect Aag2 cells. In contrast to studies with acute insect-specific virus infections in cell culture and in vivo, we found that pre-existing persistent PCLV infection had no major impact on the replication of the flaviviruses dengue virus and Zika virus, the alphavirus Sindbis virus, or the rhabdovirus vesicular stomatitis virus. We also performed a detailed characterisation of the morphology, transfection efficiency and immune status of our Aag2-derived clonal cell lines, and have made a clone that we term Aag2-AF5 available to the research community as a well-defined cell culture model for arbovirus-vector interaction studies. Conclusions/Significance Our findings highlight the need for further in vivo studies that more closely recapitulate natural arbovirus transmission settings in which arboviruses encounter mosquitoes harbouring persistent rather than acute insect-specific virus infections. Furthermore, we provide the well-characterised Aag2-derived clonal cell line as a valuable resource to the arbovirus research community. Mosquito-borne viruses usually only infect humans through the bite of a mosquito that carries the virus. Viruses transmitted by the ‘yellow fever mosquito’ Aedes aegypti, including dengue virus, Zika virus, yellow fever virus and chikungunya virus, are causing an ever-increasing number of human disease cases globally. Mosquito-borne viruses have to infect and replicate inside the mosquito before they are transmitted to humans, and the presence of other infectious agents can change the efficiency of virus transmission. Mosquitoes are known to be infected with ‘insect-specific viruses’ that only infect mosquitoes and cannot cause human disease. We have shown here that in laboratory cell cultures derived from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, pre-existing infection with an insect-specific virus called Phasi Charoen-like virus does not affect the infection and growth of the mosquito-borne viruses dengue virus, Zika virus, Sindbis virus or vesicular stomatitis virus. Our research provides important new insights into whether and how insect-specific viruses may affect mosquito-borne virus replication. Ultimately, this information could inform ongoing research into whether insect-specific viruses could be used to prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses to reduce global disease burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C. Fredericks
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Tiffany A. Russell
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa E. Wallace
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AF-S); (KM)
| | - Kevin Maringer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (AF-S); (KM)
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30
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Fredericks AC, Russell TA, Wallace LE, Davidson AD, Fernandez-Sesma A, Maringer K. Aedes aegypti (Aag2)-derived clonal mosquito cell lines reveal the effects of pre-existing persistent infection with the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus on arbovirus replication. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007346. [PMID: 31693659 DOI: 10.1101/596205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti is a vector mosquito of major public health importance, transmitting arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Wild mosquito populations are persistently infected at high prevalence with insect-specific viruses that do not replicate in vertebrate hosts. In experimental settings, acute infections with insect-specific viruses have been shown to modulate arbovirus infection and transmission in Ae. aegypti and other vector mosquitoes. However, the impact of persistent insect-specific virus infections, which arboviruses encounter more commonly in nature, has not been investigated extensively. Cell lines are useful models for studying virus-host interactions, however the available Ae. aegypti cell lines are poorly defined and heterogenous cultures. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS We generated single cell-derived clonal cell lines from the commonly used Ae. aegypti cell line Aag2. Two of the fourteen Aag2-derived clonal cell lines generated harboured markedly and consistently reduced levels of the insect-specific bunyavirus Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) known to persistently infect Aag2 cells. In contrast to studies with acute insect-specific virus infections in cell culture and in vivo, we found that pre-existing persistent PCLV infection had no major impact on the replication of the flaviviruses dengue virus and Zika virus, the alphavirus Sindbis virus, or the rhabdovirus vesicular stomatitis virus. We also performed a detailed characterisation of the morphology, transfection efficiency and immune status of our Aag2-derived clonal cell lines, and have made a clone that we term Aag2-AF5 available to the research community as a well-defined cell culture model for arbovirus-vector interaction studies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings highlight the need for further in vivo studies that more closely recapitulate natural arbovirus transmission settings in which arboviruses encounter mosquitoes harbouring persistent rather than acute insect-specific virus infections. Furthermore, we provide the well-characterised Aag2-derived clonal cell line as a valuable resource to the arbovirus research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Fredericks
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Tiffany A Russell
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa E Wallace
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin Maringer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Agboli E, Leggewie M, Altinli M, Schnettler E. Mosquito-Specific Viruses-Transmission and Interaction. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090873. [PMID: 31533367 PMCID: PMC6784079 DOI: 10.3390/v11090873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-specific viruses (MSVs) are a subset of insect-specific viruses that are found to infect mosquitoes or mosquito derived cells. There has been an increase in discoveries of novel MSVs in recent years. This has expanded our understanding of viral diversity and evolution but has also sparked questions concerning the transmission of these viruses and interactions with their hosts and its microbiome. In fact, there is already evidence that MSVs interact with the immune system of their host. This is especially interesting, since mosquitoes can be infected with both MSVs and arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses of public health concern. In this review, we give an update on the different MSVs discovered so far and describe current data on their transmission and interaction with the mosquito immune system as well as the effect MSVs could have on an arboviruses-co-infection. Lastly, we discuss potential uses of these viruses, including vector and transmission control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Agboli
- Molecular Entomology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho PMB 31, Ghana.
| | - Mayke Leggewie
- Molecular Entomology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Mine Altinli
- Molecular Entomology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Esther Schnettler
- Molecular Entomology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
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32
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Atoni E, Zhao L, Karungu S, Obanda V, Agwanda B, Xia H, Yuan Z. The discovery and global distribution of novel mosquito-associated viruses in the last decade (2007-2017). Rev Med Virol 2019; 29:e2079. [PMID: 31410931 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade, virus hunting and discovery has gained pace. This achievement has been driven by three major factors: (a) advancements in sequencing technologies, (b) scaled-up routine arbovirus surveillance strategies, and (c) the "hunt" for emerging pathogens and novel viruses. Many novel viruses have been discovered from a myriad of hosts, vectors, and environmental samples. To help promote understanding of the global diversity and distribution of mosquito-associated viruses and facilitate future studies, we review mosquito-associated viruses discovered between years 2007 and 2017, across the world. In the analyzed period, novel mosquito-associated viruses belonging to 25 families and a general group of unclassified viruses were categorized. The top three discovered novel mosquito-associated viruses belonged to families Flaviviridae (n=32), Rhabdoviridae (n=16), and Peribunyaviridae (n=14). Also, 67 unclassified viruses were reported. Majority of these novel viruses were identified from Culex spp, Anopheles spp, Aedes spp, and Mansonia spp mosquitoes, respectively. Notably, the number of these discovered novels is not representative of intercontinental virus diversity but rather is influenced by the number of studies done in the study period. Some of these newly discovered mosquito-associated viruses have medical significance, either directly or indirectly. For instance, in the study period, 14 novel mosquito-borne viruses that infect mammalian cells in vitro were reported. These viruses pose a danger to the global health security on emerging viral diseases. On the other hand, some of the newly discovered insect specific viruses described herein have potential application as future biocontrol and vaccine agents against known pathogenic arboviruses. Overall, this review outlines the crucial role played by mosquitoes as viral vectors in the global virosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evans Atoni
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Samuel Karungu
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Vincent Obanda
- Veterinary Services Department, Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Han Xia
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiming Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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33
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Schneider ADB, Wolfinger MT. Musashi binding elements in Zika and related Flavivirus 3'UTRs: A comparative study in silico. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6911. [PMID: 31061405 PMCID: PMC6502878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43390-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to a class of neurotropic viruses that have the ability to cause congenital infection, which can result in microcephaly or fetal demise. Recently, the RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 (Msi1), which mediates the maintenance and self-renewal of stem cells and acts as a translational regulator, has been associated with promoting ZIKV replication, neurotropism, and pathology. Msi1 predominantly binds to single-stranded motifs in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of RNA that contain a UAG trinucleotide in their core. We systematically analyzed the properties of Musashi binding elements (MBEs) in the 3'UTR of flaviviruses with a thermodynamic model for RNA folding. Our results indicate that MBEs in ZIKV 3'UTRs occur predominantly in unpaired, single-stranded structural context, thus corroborating experimental observations by a biophysical model of RNA structure formation. Statistical analysis and comparison with related viruses show that ZIKV MBEs are maximally accessible among mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Our study addresses the broader question of whether other emerging arboviruses can cause similar neurotropic effects through the same mechanism in the developing fetus by establishing a link between the biophysical properties of viral RNA and teratogenicity. Moreover, our thermodynamic model can explain recent experimental findings and predict the Msi1-related neurotropic potential of other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano de Bernardi Schneider
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson St, Suite A, San Diego, CA, 92103, United States of America
| | - Michael T Wolfinger
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstraße 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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34
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Soghaier MA, Abdelgadir DM, Abdelkhalig SM, Kafi H, Zarroug IMA, Sall AA, Eldegai MH, Elageb RM, Osman MM, Khogali H. Evidence of pre-existing active Zika virus circulation in Sudan prior to 2012. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:906. [PMID: 30567583 PMCID: PMC6299991 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-4027-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to provide the first evidence of Zika virus circulation (ZIK) in Sudan. Zika virus was first isolated in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947, and in 2016, the World Health Assembly declared it a public health emergency of international concern. The discovery of Zika virus circulation in Sudan came as a secondary finding in a 2012 country-wide yellow fever prevalence study, when laboratory tests were done to exclude cross-reactions between flaviviruses. The study was cross-sectional community-based, with randomly selected participants through multi-stage cluster sampling. A sub-set of samples were tested for the Zika virus using ELISA, and the ones that demonstrated reactive results were subsequently tested by PRNT. RESULTS The prevalence of Zika IgG antibodies among ELISA-tested samples was 62.7% (59.4 to 66.1, 95% CI), and only one sample was found positive when tested by PRNT. This provided the first documented evidence for the pre-existing circulation of Zika virus circulation in Sudan. This evidence provides the foundation for future research in this field, and further structured studies should be conducted to determine the epidemiology and burden of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. Soghaier
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Deena M. Abdelgadir
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Sozan M. Abdelkhalig
- The Department of Epidemiology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Heath, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hamoda Kafi
- Department of Integrated Vector Management, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Isam M. A. Zarroug
- The Department of Medical Entomology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - Mawahib H. Eldegai
- The Department of Epidemiology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Heath, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Rehab M. Elageb
- The Department of Epidemiology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Heath, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Muntasir M. Osman
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hayat Khogali
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
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35
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Camp JV, Bakonyi T, Soltész Z, Zechmeister T, Nowotny N. Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 are attracted to sound, feed on amphibians, and are infected with multiple viruses. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:456. [PMID: 30081963 PMCID: PMC6090806 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3030-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 is a species of mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) native to central Europe. Recently a novel lineage of the West Nile virus (WNV-lineage 4c) was identified in pools of adult female Ur. unguiculata. To increase the body of knowledge about this species, various trapping methods were evaluated to determine the most efficient method for capturing adult female Ur. unguiculata. Results Sound traps collected equivalent numbers of female Ur. unguiculata as low-hanging light-baited downdraft traps. Hosts were identified as Pelophylax lessonae and P. ridibunda (Anura: Ranidae) species group frogs from the blood found in engorged females. In addition to confirming infection by WNV-lin. 4c, a potentially integrated flavivirus sequence was detected in male mosquitoes. A novel Alphamesonivirus 1 (Nidovirales: Mesoniviridae) was found to be widespread in the Ur. unguiculata population and is herein described. Conclusions Efficient collection methods for Ur. unguiculata for arbovirus surveillance reflect mosquito questing behavior. Uranotaenia unguiculata targets frog species which call from the water, and it is likely that the novel WNV-lin. 4c is maintained in a frog-mosquito transmission cycle. The improved trapping methods listed here will assist future studies of the vector status of Ur. unguiculata for WNV and other arboviruses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3030-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Tamás Bakonyi
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Soltész
- Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary.,Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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36
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Kenney JL, Anishchenko M, Hermance M, Romo H, Chen CI, Thangamani S, Brault AC. Generation of a Lineage II Powassan Virus (Deer Tick Virus) cDNA Clone: Assessment of Flaviviral Genetic Determinants of Tick and Mosquito Vector Competence. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 18:371-381. [PMID: 29782238 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Flavivirus genus comprises a diverse group of viruses that utilize a wide range of vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. The genus includes viruses that are transmitted solely by mosquitoes or vertebrate hosts as well as viruses that alternate transmission between mosquitoes or ticks and vertebrates. Nevertheless, the viral genetic determinants that dictate these unique flaviviral host and vector specificities have been poorly characterized. In this report, a cDNA clone of a flavivirus that is transmitted between ticks and vertebrates (Powassan lineage II, deer tick virus [DTV]) was generated and chimeric viruses between the mosquito/vertebrate flavivirus, West Nile virus (WNV), were constructed. These chimeric viruses expressed the prM and E genes of either WNV or DTV in the heterologous nonstructural (NS) backbone. Recombinant chimeric viruses rescued from cDNAs were characterized for their capacity to grow in vertebrate and arthropod (mosquito and tick) cells as well as for in vivo vector competence in mosquitoes and ticks. Results demonstrated that the NS elements were insufficient to impart the complete mosquito or tick growth phenotypes of parental viruses; however, these NS genetic elements did contribute to a 100- and 100,000-fold increase in viral growth in vitro in tick and mosquito cells, respectively. Mosquito competence was observed only with parental WNV, while infection and transmission potential by ticks were observed with both DTV and WNV-prME/DTV chimeric viruses. These data indicate that NS genetic elements play a significant, but not exclusive, role for vector usage of mosquito- and tick-borne flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan L Kenney
- 1 Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Michael Anishchenko
- 1 Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Meghan Hermance
- 2 Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Hannah Romo
- 1 Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Ching-I Chen
- 3 Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California , Davis, Davis, California
| | - Saravanan Thangamani
- 2 Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Aaron C Brault
- 1 Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Fort Collins, Colorado
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37
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Corrigendum to "Seroprevalence of Dengue IgG Antibodies among Healthy Adult Population in Lahore, Pakistan". INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARLY RESEARCH NOTICES 2018. [PMID: 29360112 DOI: 10.1155/2013/521396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2013/521396.].
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38
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Calisher CH, Higgs S. The Discovery of Arthropod-Specific Viruses in Hematophagous Arthropods: An Open Door to Understanding the Mechanisms of Arbovirus and Arthropod Evolution? ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 63:87-103. [PMID: 29324047 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of an odd virus from hematophagous arthropods 40 years ago by Stollar and Thomas described cell fusing agent virus in cells derived from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Then came the report of Kamiti River virus from Ae. macintoshi in 1999, followed by worldwide reports of the discovery of other viruses of mosquitoes, ticks, and midges that replicate only in arthropods and not in vertebrates or in vertebrate cells. These viruses (now totaling at least 64 published) have genomes analogous to viruses in various families that include arboviruses and nonarboviruses. It is likely that some of these viruses have been insufficiently studied and may yet be shown to infect vertebrates. However, there is no doubt that the vast majority are restricted to arthropods alone and that they represent a recently recognized clade. Their biology, modes of transmission, worldwide distribution (some have been detected in wild-caught mosquitoes in both Asia and the United States, for example), molecular characteristics of their genomes, and potential for becoming vertebrate pathogens, or at least serving as virus reservoirs, are fascinating and may provide evidence useful in understanding virus evolution. Because metagenomics studies of arthropods have shown that arthropod genomes are the sources of arthropod virus genomes, further studies may also provide insights into the evolution of arthropods. More recently, others have published excellent papers that briefly review discoveries of arthropod viruses and that characterize certain genomic peculiarities, but, to now, there have been no reviews that encompass all these facets. We therefore anticipate that this review is published at a time and in a manner that is helpful for both virologists and entomologists to make more sense and understanding of this recently recognized and obviously important virus group. This review focuses specifically on arthropod viruses in hematophagous arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Calisher
- Arthropod-borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1690;
| | - Stephen Higgs
- Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-7600;
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39
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Varghese FS, van Rij RP. Insect Virus Discovery by Metagenomic and Cell Culture-Based Approaches. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1746:197-213. [PMID: 29492897 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7683-6_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Insects are the most abundant and diverse group of animals on earth, but our knowledge of their viruses is biased toward insect-borne viruses that cause disease in plants, animals, or humans. Recent metagenomic studies and systematic surveys of viruses in wild-caught insects have identified an unanticipated large repertoire of novel viruses and viral sequences. These include new members of existing clades, new clades, and even entirely new virus families. These studies greatly expand the known virosphere in insects, provide opportunities to study virus-host interactions, and generate new insights into virus evolution. In this chapter, we discuss the methods used to identify novel viruses in insects and highlight some notable surprises arising from these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finny S Varghese
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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40
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Öncü C, Brinkmann A, Günay F, Kar S, Öter K, Sarıkaya Y, Nitsche A, Linton YM, Alten B, Ergünay K. West Nile virus, Anopheles flavivirus, a novel flavivirus as well as Merida-like rhabdovirus Turkey in field-collected mosquitoes from Thrace and Anatolia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 57:36-45. [PMID: 29128516 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are involved in the transmission and maintenance of several viral diseases with significant health impact. Biosurveillance efforts have also revealed insect-specific viruses, observed to cocirculate with pathogenic strains. This report describes the findings of flavivirus and rhabdovirus screening, performed in eastern Thrace and Aegean region of Anatolia during 2016, including and expanding on locations with previously-documented virus activity. A mosquito cohort of 1545 individuals comprising 14 species were collected and screened in 108 pools via generic and specific amplification and direct metagenomics by next generation sequencing. Seven mosquito pools (6.4%) were positive in the flavivirus screening. West Nile virus lineage 1 clade 1a sequences were characterized in a pool Culex pipiens sensu lato specimens, providing the initial virus detection in Aegean region following 2010 outbreak. In an Anopheles maculipennis sensu lato pool, sequences closely-related to Anopheles flaviviruses were obtained, with similarities to several African and Australian strains of this new insect-specific flavivirus clade. In pools comprising Uranotaenia unguiculata (n=3), Cx. pipiens s.l. (n=1) and Aedes caspius (n=1) mosquitoes, sequences of a novel flavivirus, distantly-related to Flavivirus AV2011, identified previously in Spain and Turkey, were characterized. Moreover, DNA forms of the novel flavivirus were detected in two Ur. unguiculata pools. These sequences were highly-similar to the sequences amplified from viral RNA, with undisrupted reading frames, suggest the occurrence of viral DNA forms in natural conditions within mosquito hosts. Rhabdovirus screening revealed sequences of a recently-described novel virus, named the Merida-like virus Turkey (MERDLVT) in 5 Cx. pipiens s.l. pools (4.6%). Partial L and N gene sequences of MERDLVT were well-conserved among strains, with evidence for geographical clustering in phylogenetic analyses. Metagenomics provided the near-full genomic sequence in a specimen, revealing an identical genome organization and limited divergence from the prototype MERDLVT isolate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceren Öncü
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Filiz Günay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sırrı Kar
- Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Kerem Öter
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Turkey
| | - Yasemen Sarıkaya
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, MD, USA; Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bülent Alten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Ergünay
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany; Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, Turkey.
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Halbach R, Junglen S, van Rij RP. Mosquito-specific and mosquito-borne viruses: evolution, infection, and host defense. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 22:16-27. [PMID: 28805635 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent virus discovery programs have identified an extensive reservoir of viruses in arthropods. It is thought that arthropod viruses, including mosquito-specific viruses, are ancestral to vertebrate-pathogenic arboviruses. Mosquito-specific viruses are restricted in vertebrate cells at multiple levels, including entry, RNA replication, assembly, and by the inability to replicate at high temperatures. Moreover, it is likely that the vertebrate immune system suppresses replication of these viruses. The evolution from single to dual-host tropism may also require changes in the course of infection in the mosquito host. In this review we explore the adaptive changes required for a switch from a mosquito-specific to a mosquito-borne transmission cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Halbach
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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42
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Zhang G, Asad S, Khromykh AA, Asgari S. Cell fusing agent virus and dengue virus mutually interact in Aedes aegypti cell lines. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6935. [PMID: 28761113 PMCID: PMC5537255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07279-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus contains more than 70 single-stranded, positive-sense arthropod-borne RNA viruses. Some flaviviruses are particularly medically important to humans and other vertebrates including dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus. These viruses are transmitted to vertebrates by mosquitoes and other arthropod species. Mosquitoes are also infected by insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) that do not appear to be infective to vertebrates. Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) was the first described ISF, which was discovered in an Aedes aegypti cell culture. We found that while CFAV infection could be significantly reduced by application of RNAi against the NS5 gene, removal of the treatment led to quick restoration of CFAV replication. Interestingly, we found that CFAV infection significantly enhanced replication of DENV, and vice versa, DENV infection significantly enhanced replication of CFAV in mosquito cells. We have shown that CFAV infection leads to increase in the expression of ribonuclease kappa (RNASEK), which is known to promote infection of viruses that rely on endocytosis and pH-dependent entry. Knockdown of RNASEK by dsRNA resulted in reduced DENV replication. Thus, increased expression of RNASEK induced by CFAV is likely to contribute to enhanced DENV replication in CFAV-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangmei Zhang
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sultan Asad
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander A Khromykh
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sassan Asgari
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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43
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Abstract
Flaviviruses present substantial differences in their host range and transmissibility. We studied the evolution of base composition, dinucleotide biases, codon usage and amino acid frequencies in the genus Flavivirus within a phylogenetic framework by principal components analysis. There is a mutual interplay between the evolutionary history of flaviviruses and their respective vectors and/or hosts. Hosts associated to distinct phylogenetic groups may be driving flaviviruses at different pace and through various sequence landscapes, as can be seen for viruses associated with Aedes or Culex spp., although phylogenetic inertia cannot be ruled out. In some cases, viruses face even opposite forces. For instance, in tick-borne flaviviruses, while vertebrate hosts exert pressure to deplete their CpG, tick vectors drive them to exhibit GC-rich codons. Within a vertebrate environment, natural selection appears to be acting on the viral genome to overcome the immune system. On the other side, within an arthropod environment, mutational biases seem to be the dominant forces.
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44
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Hermanns K, Zirkel F, Kopp A, Marklewitz M, Rwego IB, Estrada A, Gillespie TR, Drosten C, Junglen S. Discovery of a novel alphavirus related to Eilat virus. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:43-49. [PMID: 28206905 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Most alphaviruses are transmitted by arthropods and infect vertebrate hosts. An exception is Eilat virus (EILV), the only described alphavirus with a host range restricted to insects. We established a new generic reverse transcription PCR assay for alphaviruses and tested 8860 tropical mosquitoes. We detected a novel alphavirus, tentatively named Taï Forest alphavirus (TALV), in Culex decens mosquitoes collected in Ivory Coast. The full genome was sequenced, and closest similarity was found to EILV. Pairwise amino acid identities to EILV ranged between 67 and 88 % for the corresponding proteins, suggesting that TALV defines a proposed new alphavirus species. Phylogenetic analyses placed TALV as a sister species to EILV with a basal relationship to the western equine encephalitis virus complex. In comparison to the highly abundant insect-specific flaviviruses, insect-specific alphaviruses seem to be rare. This new PCR assay can detect novel alphaviruses and may facilitate the identification of additional new alphaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Hermanns
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Florian Zirkel
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anne Kopp
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marco Marklewitz
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Innocent B Rwego
- College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Present address: Ecosystem Health Initiative, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences and Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alejandro Estrada
- Estación de Biología Tropical Los Tuxtlas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences and Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christian Drosten
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Junglen
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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45
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A novel flavivirus detected in two Aedes spp. collected near the demilitarized zone of the Republic of Korea. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:1122-1131. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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46
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Al-Saeed MS, El-Kafrawy SA, Farraj SA, Al-Subhi TL, Othman NA, Alsultan A, Ben Helaby HG, Alshawdari MM, Hassan AM, Charrel RN, Azhar EI, Hashem AM. Phylogenetic characterization of circulating Dengue and Alkhumra Hemorrhagic Fever viruses in western Saudi Arabia and lack of evidence of Zika virus in the region: A retrospective study, 2010-2015. J Med Virol 2017; 89:1339-1346. [PMID: 28198548 PMCID: PMC7167144 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Flaviviruses represent a global public health concern. They consist of ∼70 viruses with almost half of them causing human diseases with unspecified febrile illnesses. Cities in western Saudi Arabia are endemic for viruses (DENV) with sporadic infections due to Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV). They also represent a major destination for travelers coming for annual religious pilgrimages (Hajj and Umrah) from all over the world. However, whether other flaviviruses are circulating is not known because of the limited number of surveillance studies. Here, we retrospectively screened 690 samples for flaviviruses in samples from patients with unexplained febrile illnesses between 2010 and 2015 in western Saudi Arabia using a pan‐flaviviruses RT‐PCR assay. Despite Zika virus RNA was not detected, this study confirms circulation and/or sporadic spread of DENV‐2, DENV‐3, and AHFV, higher prevalence of DENV‐2, and a role for visitors from DENV endemic countries in DENV importation into the Kingdom. Further analysis also showed very low genetic diversity of AHFV confirming its slow microevolution. Accordingly, continuous and prospective surveillance for flaviviruses using such assay are warranted in Saudi Arabia which receives millions of Muslims annually to implement effective control measures in light of the global widespread and outbreaks of several flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moneerah S Al-Saeed
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherif A El-Kafrawy
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suha A Farraj
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tagreed L Al-Subhi
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Norah A Othman
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arwa Alsultan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huda G Ben Helaby
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa M Alshawdari
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Hassan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Remi N Charrel
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,UMR "Emergence des Pathologies Virales" (EPV: Aix-Marseille university-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-EHESP), Marseille, France.,Institut hospitalo-universitaire Méditerranée infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Esam I Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M Hashem
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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47
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Host Range Restriction of Insect-Specific Flaviviruses Occurs at Several Levels of the Viral Life Cycle. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00375-16. [PMID: 28101536 PMCID: PMC5227070 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00375-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus contains emerging arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) infecting vertebrates, as well as insect-specific viruses (ISVs) (i.e., viruses whose host range is restricted to insects). ISVs are evolutionary precursors to arboviruses. Knowledge of the nature of the ISV infection block in vertebrates could identify functions necessary for the expansion of the host range toward vertebrates. Mapping of host restrictions by complementation of ISV and arbovirus genome functions could generate knowledge critical to predicting arbovirus emergence. Here we isolated a novel flavivirus, termed Niénokoué virus (NIEV), from mosquitoes sampled in Côte d'Ivoire. NIEV groups with insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) in phylogeny and grows in insect cells but not in vertebrate cells. We generated an infectious NIEV cDNA clone and a NIEV reporter replicon to study growth restrictions of NIEV in comparison to yellow fever virus (YFV), for which the same tools are available. Efficient RNA replication of the NIEV reporter replicon was observed in insect cells but not in vertebrate cells. Initial translation of the input replicon RNA in vertebrate cells was functional, but RNA replication did not occur. Chimeric YFV carrying the envelope proteins of NIEV was recovered via electroporation in C6/36 insect cells but did not infect vertebrate cells, indicating a block at the level of entry. Since the YF/NIEV chimera readily produced infectious particles in insect cells but not in vertebrate cells despite efficient RNA replication, restriction is also determined at the level of assembly/release. Taking the results together, the ability of ISF to infect vertebrates is blocked at several levels, including attachment/entry and RNA replication as well as assembly/release. IMPORTANCE Most viruses of the genus Flavivirus, e.g., YFV and dengue virus, are mosquito borne and transmitted to vertebrates during blood feeding of mosquitoes. Within the last decade, an increasing number of viruses with a host range exclusively restricted to insects in close relationship to the vertebrate-pathogenic flaviviruses were discovered in mosquitoes. To identify barriers that could block the arboviral vertebrate tropism, we set out to identify the steps at which the ISF replication cycle fails in vertebrates. Our studies revealed blocks at several levels, suggesting that flavivirus host range expansion from insects to vertebrates was a complex process that involved overcoming multiple barriers.
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48
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Hall RA, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, McLean BJ, O'Brien CA, Colmant AMG, Piyasena TBH, Harrison JJ, Newton ND, Barnard RT, Prow NA, Deerain JM, Mah MGKY, Hobson-Peters J. Commensal Viruses of Mosquitoes: Host Restriction, Transmission, and Interaction with Arboviral Pathogens. Evol Bioinform Online 2017; 12:35-44. [PMID: 28096646 PMCID: PMC5226260 DOI: 10.4137/ebo.s40740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in virus detection strategies and deep sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of a multitude of new viruses that persistently infect mosquitoes but do not infect vertebrates. These are usually referred to as insect-specific viruses (ISVs). These novel viruses have generated considerable interest in their modes of transmission, persistence in mosquito populations, the mechanisms that restrict their host range to mosquitoes, and their interactions with pathogens transmissible by the same mosquito. In this article, we discuss studies in our laboratory and others that demonstrate that many ISVs are efficiently transmitted directly from the female mosquito to their progeny via infected eggs, and, moreover, that persistent infection of mosquito cell cultures or whole mosquitoes with ISVs can restrict subsequent infection, replication, and transmission of some mosquito-borne viral pathogens. This suggests that some ISVs may act as natural regulators of arboviral transmission. We also discuss viral and host factors that may be responsible for their host restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy A Hall
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Breeanna J McLean
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Caitlin A O'Brien
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Agathe M G Colmant
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Thisun B H Piyasena
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jessica J Harrison
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalee D Newton
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ross T Barnard
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie A Prow
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Joshua M Deerain
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Marcus G K Y Mah
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Jody Hobson-Peters
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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49
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Zhang G, Etebari K, Asgari S. Wolbachia suppresses cell fusing agent virus in mosquito cells. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:3427-3432. [PMID: 27902358 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus contains a large number of positive-sense ssRNA viruses. While some are transmitted by mosquitoes or other arthropods and are pathogenic to humans and animals (e.g. dengue and Zika viruses), some are insect-specific and do not replicate in vertebrate cells. These are known as insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs). Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) was the first described ISF, which was detected in an Aedes aegypti cell line, Aag2. Here, we investigated the effect of Wolbachia, a widespread endosymbiont of many insect species, that is known to block replication of several pathogenic flaviviruses, on CFAV. Our results demonstrated that, in mosquito cells, Wolbachia vastly suppresses replication of CFAV, with significantly less CFAV viral interfering small RNAs produced in the cells. However, removal of Wolbachia with tetracycline led to increased CFAV replication. These results suggest that Wolbachia is also able to suppress an ISF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guagmei Zhang
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kayvan Etebari
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sassan Asgari
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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50
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Misencik MJ, Grubaugh ND, Andreadis TG, Ebel GD, Armstrong PM. Isolation of a Novel Insect-Specific Flavivirus from Culiseta melanura in the Northeastern United States. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:181-90. [PMID: 26807512 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus includes a number of newly recognized viruses that infect and replicate only within mosquitoes. To determine whether insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) may infect Culiseta (Cs.) melanura mosquitoes, we screened pools of field-collected mosquitoes for virus infection by RT-PCR targeting conserved regions of the NS5 gene. NS5 nucleotide sequences amplified from Cs. melanura pools were genetically similar to other ISFs and most closely matched Calbertado virus from Culex tarsalis, sharing 68.7% nucleotide and 76.1% amino acid sequence identity. The complete genome of one virus isolate was sequenced to reveal a primary open reading frame (ORF) encoding a viral polyprotein characteristic of the genus Flavivirus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this virus represents a distinct evolutionary lineage that belongs to the classical ISF group. The virus was detected solely in Cs. melanura pools, occurred in sampled populations from Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine, and infected both adult and larval stages of the mosquito. Maximum likelihood estimate infection rates (MLE-IR) were relatively stable in overwintering Cs. melanura larvae collected monthly from November of 2012 through May of 2013 (MLE-IR = 0.7-2.1/100 mosquitoes) and in host-seeking females collected weekly from June through October of 2013 (MLE-IR = 3.8-11.5/100 mosquitoes). Phylogenetic analysis of viral sequences revealed limited genetic variation that lacked obvious geographic structure among strains in the northeastern United States. This new virus is provisionally named Culiseta flavivirus on the basis of its host association with Cs. melanura.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Misencik
- 1 Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases , The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Nathan D Grubaugh
- 2 Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Theodore G Andreadis
- 1 Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases , The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Gregory D Ebel
- 2 Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Philip M Armstrong
- 1 Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases , The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
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