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de Faria IJS, de Almeida JPP, Marques JT. Impact of symbiotic insect-specific viruses on mosquito vector competence for arboviruses. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 63:101194. [PMID: 38522648 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors for arboviruses, such as dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. Symbiotic interactions can affect the intrinsic ability of mosquitoes to acquire and transmit arboviruses, referred to as vector competence. Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) are commonly found in symbiotic associations with mosquitoes in the wild and can affect many aspects of mosquito biology. Here, we review current knowledge on the effects of symbiotic ISV-mosquito interactions on vector competence. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these interactions and their implications for shaping new biological control strategies. Finally, we highlight the need for field data analyzing the circulation of ISVs in mosquitoes associated with mechanistic studies in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaque J S de Faria
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - João P P de Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - João T Marques
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Université de Strasbourg, INSERM U1257, CNRS UPR9022, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
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Manzano-Alvarez J, Terradas G, Holmes CJ, Benoit JB, Rasgon JL. Dehydration stress and Mayaro virus vector competence in Aedes aegypti. J Virol 2023; 97:e0069523. [PMID: 38051046 PMCID: PMC10734514 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00695-23] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Relative humidity (RH) is an environmental variable that affects mosquito physiology and can impact pathogen transmission. Low RH can induce dehydration in mosquitoes, leading to alterations in physiological and behavioral responses such as blood-feeding and host-seeking behavior. We evaluated the effects of a temporal drop in RH (RH shock) on mortality and Mayaro virus vector competence in Ae. aegypti. While dehydration induced by humidity shock did not impact virus infection, we detected a significant effect of dehydration on mosquito mortality and blood-feeding frequency, which could significantly impact transmission dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Manzano-Alvarez
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Universidad El Bosque, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Saneamiento Ecológico, Salud y Medio Ambiente, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gerard Terradas
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jason L. Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Aragão CF, da Silva SP, do Nascimento BLS, da Silva FS, Nunes Neto JP, Pinheiro VCS, Cruz ACR. Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing Reveals Virome Composition of Mosquitoes from a Transition Ecosystem of North-Northeast Brazil. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1443. [PMID: 37510347 PMCID: PMC10379392 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide diversity of pathogenic mosquito-borne viruses circulate in the Brazilian Amazon, and the intense deforestation can contribute to the spread of these viruses. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the viral diversity in mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Culex, Haemagogus, and Sabethes from a transition area between the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes in Brazil. Metagenomic high-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the virome of 20 mosquito pools. A total of 15 virus-like genomes were identified, comprising species genomically close to insect-specific viruses of the families Iflaviridae, Metaviridae, Lispiviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Xinmoviridae, and Parvoviridae and species of plant viruses of the families Solemoviridae, Virgaviridae, and Partitiviridae. However, sequences of viruses associated with human and animal diseases were not detected. Most of the recovered genomes were divergent from those previously described. These findings reveal that there are a large number of unknown viruses to be explored in the middle-north of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Fortes Aragão
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Sandro Patroca da Silva
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Bruna Laís Sena do Nascimento
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Fábio Silva da Silva
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Joaquim Pinto Nunes Neto
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Cecília Ribeiro Cruz
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
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Joseph RE, Bozic J, Werling KL, Urakova N, Rasgon JL. Eilat virus (EILV) causes superinfection exclusion against West NILE virus (WNV) in a strain specific manner in Culex tarsalis mosquitoes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.25.542294. [PMID: 37292979 PMCID: PMC10245884 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.25.542294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the United States. There are currently no human vaccines or therapies available for WNV, and vector control is the primary strategy used to control WNV transmission. The WNV vector Culex tarsalis is also a competent host for the insect-specific virus (ISV) Eilat virus (EILV). ISVs such as EILV can interact with and cause superinfection exclusion (SIE) against human pathogenic viruses in their shared mosquito host, altering vector competence for these pathogenic viruses. The ability to cause SIE and their host restriction make ISVs a potentially safe tool to target mosquito-borne pathogenic viruses. In the present study, we tested whether EILV causes SIE against WNV in mosquito C6/36 cells and Culex tarsalis mosquitoes. The titers of both WNV strains-WN02-1956 and NY99-were suppressed by EILV in C6/36 cells as early as 48-72 h post superinfection at both multiplicity of infections (MOIs) tested in our study. The titers of WN02-1956 at both MOIs remained suppressed in C6/36 cells, whereas those of NY99 showed some recovery towards the final timepoint. The mechanism of SIE remains unknown, but EILV was found to interfere with NY99 attachment in C6/36 cells, potentially contributing to the suppression of NY99 titers. However, EILV had no effect on the attachment of WN02-1956 or internalization of either WNV strain under superinfection conditions. In Cx. tarsalis, EILV did not affect the infection rate of either WNV strain at either timepoint. However, in mosquitoes, EILV enhanced NY99 infection titers at 3 days post superinfection, but this effect disappeared at 7 days post superinfection. In contrast, WN02-1956 infection titers were suppressed by EILV at 7 days post-superinfection. The dissemination and transmission of both WNV strains were not affected by superinfection with EILV at either timepoint. Overall, EILV caused SIE against both WNV strains in C6/36 cells; however, in Cx. tarsalis, SIE caused by EILV was strain specific potentially owing to differences in the rate of depletion of shared resources by the individual WNV strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renuka E. Joseph
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Jovana Bozic
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Kristine L. Werling
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Current affiliation: Sherlock Biosciences, Watertown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Nadya Urakova
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Current affiliation: Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jason L. Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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Kong L, Xiao J, Yang L, Sui Y, Wang D, Chen S, Liu P, Chen XG, Gu J. Mosquito densovirus significantly reduces the vector susceptibility to dengue virus serotype 2 in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:48. [PMID: 37161462 PMCID: PMC10169196 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue virus (DENV) is a major public health threat, with Aedes albopictus being the confirmed vector responsible for dengue epidemics in Guangzhou, China. Mosquito densoviruses (MDVs) are pathogenic mosquito-specific viruses, and a novel MDV was previously isolated from Ae. albopictus in Guangzhou. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MDVs in wild Ae. albopictus populations and investigate their potential interactions with DENV and impact on vector susceptibility for DENV. METHODS The prevalence of MDV in wild mosquitoes in China was investigated using open access sequencing data and PCR detection in Ae. albopictus in Guangzhou. The viral infection rate and titers in MDV-persistent C6/36 cells were evaluated at 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h post infection (hpi) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The midgut infection rate (MIR), dissemination rate (DR), and salivary gland infection rate (SGIR) in various tissues of MDV-infected mosquitoes were detected and quantified at 0, 5, 10, and 15 days post infection (dpi) by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The chi-square test evaluated dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) and Aedes aegypti densovirus (AaeDV) infection rates and related indices in mosquitoes, while Tukey's LSD and t-tests compared viral titers in C6/36 cells and tissues over time. RESULTS The results revealed a relatively wide distribution of MDVs in Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles mosquitoes in China and an over 68% positive rate. In vitro, significant reductions in DENV-2 titers in supernatant at 120 hpi, and an apparent decrease in DENV-2-positive cells at 96 and 120 hpi were observed. In vivo, DENV-2 in the ovaries and salivary glands was first detected at 10 dpi in both monoinfected and superinfected Ae. albopictus females, while MDV superinfection with DENV-2 suppressed the salivary gland infection rate at 15 dpi. DENV-2 titer in the ovary and salivary glands of Ae. albopictus was reduced in superinfected mosquitoes at 15 dpi. CONCLUSIONS MDVs is widespread in natural mosquito populations, and replication of DENV-2 is suppressed in MDV-infected Ae. albopictus, thus reducing vector susceptibility to DENV-2. Our study supports the hypothesis that MDVs may contribute to reducing transmission of DENV and provides an alternative strategy for mosquito-transmitted disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuan Sui
- Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Duoquan Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shaoqiang Chen
- Shenzhen Aiming Pest Control Operation Service Company Limited, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Peiwen Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jinbao Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
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Heinig-Hartberger M, Hellhammer F, Zöller DDJA, Dornbusch S, Bergmann S, Vocadlova K, Junglen S, Stern M, Lee KZ, Becker SC. Culex Y Virus: A Native Virus of Culex Species Characterized In Vivo. Viruses 2023; 15:235. [PMID: 36680275 PMCID: PMC9863036 DOI: 10.3390/v15010235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors of various pathogens that cause diseases in humans and animals. To prevent the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases, it is essential to control vector populations, as treatment or vaccination for mosquito-borne diseases are often unavailable. Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) have previously been described as being potentially helpful against arboviral disease outbreaks. In this study, we present the first in vivo characterization of the ISV Culex Y virus (CYV). CYV was first isolated from free-living Culex pipiens mosquitoes in 2010; then, it was found in several mosquito cell lines in a further study in 2018. For mammalian cells, we were able to confirm that CYV does not replicate as it was previously described. Additionally, we found that CYV does not replicate in honey bees or locusts. However, we detected replication in the Culex pipiens biotype molestus, Aedes albopictus, and Drosophila melanogaster, thus indicating dipteran specificity. We detected significantly higher mortality in Culex pipiens biotype molestus males and Drosophila melanogaster, but not in Aedes albopictus and female Culex pipiens biotype molestus. CYV could not be transmitted transovarially to offspring, but we detected venereal transmission as well as CYV in mosquitos' saliva, indicating that an oral route of infection would also be possible. CYV's dipteran specificity, transmission routes, and killing effect with respect to Culex males may be used as powerful tools with which to destabilize arbovirus vector populations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Heinig-Hartberger
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Fanny Hellhammer
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - David D. J. A. Zöller
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Susann Dornbusch
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stella Bergmann
- Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Katerina Vocadlova
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - 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
| | - Michael Stern
- Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Kwang-Zin Lee
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Stefanie C. Becker
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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Werling KL, Johnson RM, Metz HC, Rasgon JL. Sexual transmission of Anopheles gambiae densovirus (AgDNV) leads to disseminated infection in mated females. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:218. [PMID: 35725627 PMCID: PMC9210586 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05341-4] [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] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anopheles gambiae densovirus (AgDNV) is an insect-specific, single-stranded DNA virus that infects An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.), the major mosquito species responsible for transmitting malaria parasites throughout sub-Saharan Africa. AgDNV is a benign virus that is very specific to its mosquito host and therefore has the potential to serve as a vector control tool via paratransgenesis (genetic modification of mosquito symbionts) to limit transmission of human pathogens. Prior to being engineered into a control tool, the natural transmission dynamics of AgDNV between An. gambiae mosquitoes needs to be fully understood. Additionally, improved knowledge of AgDNV infection in male mosquitoes is needed. In the study presented here, we examined the tissue tropism of AgDNV in the male reproductive tract and investigated both venereal and vertical transmission dynamics of the virus. Methods Anopheles gambiae s.s. adult males were infected with AgDNV via microinjection, and reproductive tissues were collected and assayed for AgDNV using qPCR. Next, uninfected females were introduced to AgDNV-infected or control males and, after several nights of mating, both the spermatheca and female carcass were assessed for venereally transmitted AgDNV. Finally, F1 offspring of this cross were collected and assayed to quantify vertical transmission of the virus. Results AgDNV infected the reproductive tract of male mosquitoes, including the testes and male accessory glands, without affecting mating rates. AgDNV-infected males venereally transmitted the virus to females, and these venereally infected females developed disseminated infection throughout the body. However, AgDNV was not vertically transmitted to the F1 offspring of this cross. Conclusions Infected male releases could be an effective strategy to introduce AgDNV-based paratransgenic tools into naïve populations of An. gambiae s.s. females. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine L Werling
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca M Johnson
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, 06504, USA
| | - Hillery C Metz
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. .,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. .,The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Altinli M, Schnettler E, Sicard M. Symbiotic Interactions Between Mosquitoes and Mosquito Viruses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:694020. [PMID: 34527601 PMCID: PMC8435781 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.694020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes not only transmit human and veterinary pathogens called arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) but also harbor mosquito-associated insect-specific viruses (mosquito viruses) that cannot infect vertebrates. In the past, studies investigating mosquito viruses mainly focused on highly pathogenic interactions that were easier to detect than those without visible symptoms. However, the recent advances in viral metagenomics have highlighted the abundance and diversity of viruses which do not generate mass mortality in host populations. Over the last decade, this has facilitated the rapid growth of virus discovery in mosquitoes. The circumstances around the discovery of mosquito viruses greatly affected how they have been studied so far. While earlier research mainly focused on the pathogenesis caused by DNA and some double-stranded RNA viruses during larval stages, more recently discovered single-stranded RNA mosquito viruses were heavily studied for their putative interference with arboviruses in female adults. Thus, many aspects of mosquito virus interactions with their hosts and host-microbiota are still unknown. In this context, considering mosquito viruses as endosymbionts can help to identify novel research areas, in particular in relation to their long-term interactions with their hosts (e.g. relationships during all life stages, the stability of the associations at evolutionary scales, transmission routes and virulence evolution) and the possible context-dependent range of interactions (i.e. beneficial to antagonistic). Here, we review the symbiotic interactions of mosquito viruses considering different aspects of their ecology, such as transmission, host specificity, host immune system and interactions with other symbionts within the host cellular arena. Finally, we highlight related research gaps in mosquito virus research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Altinli
- Molecular Entomology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Esther Schnettler
- Molecular Entomology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mathieu Sicard
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
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