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Farías AA, Laberdolive V, Stein M, Juri MJD, Visintin A, Almirón WR, Contigiani MS, Re VE, Diaz A. Diversity and molecular characterization of insect-specific flaviviruses in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in central and northern Argentina. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2024; 96:e20230452. [PMID: 38922274 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202420230452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus comprises approximately 80 different viruses. Phylogenetic relationships among its members indicate a clear ecological separation between those viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, with no known vector, and insect-specific Flaviviruses. The diversity and phylogenetic relationships among insect-specific flaviviruses circulating in the central and northern regions of Argentina were studied by performing molecular detection and characterization of the NS5 protein gene in mosquitoes collected in Córdoba, Chaco and Tucumán provinces. Overall, 68 out of 1776 pools were positive. CxFV, KRV and CFAV circulate in the 3 studied provinces. Several mosquito species (Aedes aegypti, Culex bidens, Cx. dolosus, Cx. interfor, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. saltanensis, Haemagogus spegazzini) were found infected. A wide circulation of CxFV was observed in the central-northern region of Argentina. CxFV strains detected in our study clustered with strains circulating in Santa Fe and Buenos Aires provinces (Argentina), and other countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, Uganda and Taiwan. The presence of these viruses in mosquitoes could play an important role from the public health perspective, because it has been shown that previous CxFV infection can increase or block the infection of the mosquito by other pathogenic flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián A Farías
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Victoria Laberdolive
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marina Stein
- Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Departamento de Entomología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Avenida Las Heras 727, CP 3500, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, CABA, Argentina
| | - María Julia Dantur Juri
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, CABA, Argentina
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo (CONICET-Fundación Miguel Lillo), Miguel Lillo 251, CP 4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Andrés Visintin
- Universidad Nacional de la Rioja, Instituto de Biología de la Conservación y Paleobiología (IBiCoPa), Centro de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (CENIIT), Avenida Luis Vernet y Apóstol Felipe s/n, F5200, La Rioja, Argentina
| | - Walter R Almirón
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, CABA, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIBYT), CONICET- Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marta S Contigiani
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Viviana E Re
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, CABA, Argentina
| | - Adrián Diaz
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Laboratorio de Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, CABA, Argentina
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Lwande OW, Näslund J, Sjödin A, Lantto R, Luande VN, Bucht G, Ahlm C, Agwanda B, Obanda V, Evander M. Novel strains of Culex flavivirus and Hubei chryso-like virus 1 from the Anopheles mosquito in western Kenya. Virus Res 2024; 339:199266. [PMID: 37944758 PMCID: PMC10682293 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Surveillance of mosquito vectors is critical for early detection, prevention and control of vector borne diseases. In this study we used advanced molecular tools, such as DNA barcoding in combination with novel sequencing technologies to discover new and already known viruses in genetically identified mosquito species. Mosquitoes were captured using BG sentinel traps in Western Kenya during May and July 2019, and homogenized individually before pooled into groups of ten mosquitoes. The pools and individual samples were then used for molecular analysis and to infect cell cultures. Of a total of fifty-four (54) 10-pools, thirteen (13) showed cytopathic effect (CPE) on VeroB4 cells, eighteen (18) showed CPE on C6/36 cells. Eight (8) 10-pools out of the 31 CPE positive pools showed CPE on both VeroB4 and C6/36 cells. When using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Sanger sequencing and Twist Comprehensive Viral Research Panel (CVRP) (Twist Biosciences), all pools were found negative by RT-PCR when using genus specific primers targeting alphaviruses, orthobunyaviruses and virus specific primers towards o'nyong-nyong virus, chikungunya virus and Sindbis virus (previously reported to circulate in the region). Interestingly, five pools were RT-PCR positive for flavivirus. Two of the RT-PCR positive pools showed CPE on both VeroB4 and C6/36 cells, two pools showed CPE on C6/36 cells alone and one pool on VeroB4 cells only. Fifty individual mosquito homogenates from the five RT-PCR positive 10-pools were analyzed further for flavivirus RNA. Of these, 19 out of the 50 individual mosquito homogenates indicated the presence of flavivirus RNA. Barcoding of the flavivirus positive mosquitoes revealed the mosquito species as Aedes aegypti (1), Mansonia uniformis (6), Anopheles spp (3), Culex pipiens (5), Culex spp (1), Coquilletidia metallica (2) and Culex quinquefasciatus (1). Of the 19 flavivirus positive individual mosquitoes, five (5) virus positive homogenates were sequenced. Genome sequences of two viruses were completed. One was identified as the single-stranded RNA Culex flavivirus and the other as the double-stranded RNA Hubei chryso-like virus 1. Both viruses were found in the same Anopheles spp. homogenate extracted from a sample that showed CPE on both VeroB4 and C6/36 cells. The detection of both viruses in a single mosquito homogenate indicated coinfection. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that the Culex flavivirus sequence detected was closely related to a Culex flavivirus isolated from Uganda in 2008. All four Hubei chryso-like virus 1 segments clusters closely to Hubei chryso-like virus 1 strains isolated in Australia, China and USA. Two novel strains of insect-specific viruses in Anopheles mosquitoes were detected and characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Wesula Lwande
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå 901-85, Sweden; Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå 901-87, Sweden.
| | - Jonas Näslund
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, CBRN, Defence and Security, Umeå 901 82, Sweden
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, CBRN, Defence and Security, Umeå 901 82, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Lantto
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå 901-85, Sweden
| | | | - Göran Bucht
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå 901-85, Sweden
| | - Clas Ahlm
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå 901-85, Sweden; Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå 901-87, Sweden
| | - Bernard Agwanda
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 40658-00100, Kenya
| | - Vincent Obanda
- Department of Research Permitting and Compliance Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Naivasha 842-20117, Kenya
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå 901-85, Sweden; Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå 901-87, Sweden
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Dong HL, He MJ, Wang QY, Cui JZ, Chen ZL, Xiong XH, Zhang LC, Cheng H, Xiong GQ, Hu A, Lu YY, Cheng CL, Meng ZX, Zhu C, Zhao G, Liu G, Chen HP. Rapid Generation of Recombinant Flaviviruses Using Circular Polymerase Extension Reaction. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1250. [PMID: 37515065 PMCID: PMC10383701 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071250] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus is a group of arthropod-borne single-stranded RNA viruses, which includes important human and animal pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Reverse genetics has been a useful tool for understanding biological properties and the pathogenesis of flaviviruses. However, the conventional construction of full-length infectious clones for flavivirus is time-consuming and difficult due to the toxicity of the flavivirus genome to E. coli. Herein, we applied a simple, rapid, and bacterium-free circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) method to synthesize recombinant flaviviruses in vertebrate cells as well as insect cells. We started with the de novo synthesis of the JEV vaccine strain SA-14-14-2 in Vero cells using CPER, and then modified the CPER method to recover insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) in mosquito C6/36 cells. Chimeric Zika virus (ChinZIKV) based on the Chaoyang virus (CYV) backbone and the Culex flavivirus reporter virus expressing green fluorescent protein (CxFV-GFP) were subsequently rescued in C6/36 cells. CPER is a simple method for the rapid generation of flaviviruses and other potential RNA viruses. A CPER-based recovery system for flaviviruses of different host ranges was established, which would facilitate the development of countermeasures against flavivirus outbreaks in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Long Dong
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Mei-Juan He
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qing-Yang Wang
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jia-Zhen Cui
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhi-Li Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | | | | | - Hao Cheng
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Guo-Qing Xiong
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Ao Hu
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Lu
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Chun-Lin Cheng
- School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Zhi-Xin Meng
- School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Chen Zhu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Guang Zhao
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hui-Peng Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
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Martínez D, Gómez M, De Las Salas JL, Hernández C, Flórez AZ, Muñoz M, Ramírez JD. Employing Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) for understanding the ecology and transmission dynamics of flaviviruses in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from eastern Colombia. Acta Trop 2023:106972. [PMID: 37331645 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Studies focused on identifying the viral species of Flavivirus in vectors are scarce in Latin America and particularly in Colombia. Therefore, the frequency of infection of the Flavivirus genus and its feeding preferences were identified in the mosquito species circulating in the municipality of Puerto Carreño-Vichada, located in the Eastern Plains of Colombia. This was done by sequencing the viral NS5 and vertebrate 12S rRNA genes, respectively, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). A total of 1,159 mosquitoes were captured, with the most abundant species being Aedes serratus at 73.6% (n=853). All the mosquitoes were processed in 230 pools (2-6 individuals) and 51 individuals, where 37.01% (n=104) were found to be infected with Flavivirus. In these samples, infection by arboviruses of epidemiological importance, such as dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), was ruled out by PCR. However, through sequencing, infection by different insect-specific viruses (ISFVs) and a medically important virus, West Nile virus (WNV), were identified in a mosquito of the Culex browni species. Additionally, the feeding patterns showed that most species present a generalist behavior. Given the above, conducting entomovirological surveillance studies is crucial, especially in areas of low anthropogenic intervention, due to the high probability that potentially pathogenic viruses could generate spillover events under deforestation scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marcela Gómez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas (NÚCLEO) Facultad de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Universidad de Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia
| | | | - Carolina Hernández
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Centro de Tecnología en Salud (CETESA), Innovaseq SAS, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Culex Flavivirus Isolation from Naturally Infected Mosquitoes Trapped at Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13050477. [PMID: 35621811 PMCID: PMC9143766 DOI: 10.3390/insects13050477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The Flavivirus genus groups a wide range of species capable of infecting vertebrates and invertebrates, both terrestrial and aquatic. According to phylogenetic analyses, the flavivirus genomes cluster into three main branches; the first one containing viruses that infect vertebrates, also called arboviruses; the second called arbovirus-affiliated insect-specific flaviviruses or dual-host insect-specific flaviviruses (dISF), that preserve genomic similarity with arboviruses, but its replication is apparently restricted to invertebrates and insect-specific classical flaviviruses (ISF), with infection restricted to invertebrates. Culex Flavivirus (CxFV) is a classical insect-specific virus, which has aroused interest after the first indication that it can produce in nature superinfection exclusion of viruses of medical interest such as West Nile. Despite the detection of CxFV in different regions, CxFV ecology and the influence of co-circulation of arboviruses remains poorly understood. Therefore, our primary goals are to observe the occurrence of CxFV infection in mosquitoes trapped in an urban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, characterize the virus circulation, and provide isolates. A prospective study was carried out for eight months on the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro campus trapping adult mosquitoes. The CxFV minimum infection rates were determined in this period, and the virus isolation process is fully described. Samples from this study were grouped into genotype 2, along with CxFV sequences from Latin America and Africa. Abstract Culex Flavivirus (CxFV) is a classical insect-specific virus, which has aroused interest after the first indication that it can produce in nature superinfection exclusion of viruses of medical interest such as West Nile. Despite the detection of CxFV in different regions, CxFV ecology and the influence of co-circulation of arboviruses remains poorly understood. Therefore, our primary goals are to observe the occurrence of CxFV infection in mosquitoes trapped in an urban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, characterize the virus circulating, and provide isolates. A prospective study was carried out for eight months on the campus of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, trapping adult mosquitoes. The CxFV minimum infection rates were determined in this period, and the virus isolation process is fully described. Samples from this study were grouped into genotype 2, along with CxFV sequences from Latin America and Africa.
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Bonica MB, Balcazar DE, Chuchuy A, Barneche JA, Torres C, Micieli MV. Detection of Flaviviral-Like DNA Sequences in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected From Argentina. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2406-2411. [PMID: 33939805 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diseases caused by flaviviruses are a major public health burden across the world. In the past decades, South America has suffered dengue epidemics, the re-emergence of yellow fever and St. Louis encephalitis viruses, and the introduction of West Nile and Zika viruses. Many insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) that cannot replicate in vertebrate cells have recently been described. In this study, we analyzed field-collected mosquito samples from six different ecoregions of Argentina to detect flaviviruses. We did not find any RNA belonging to pathogenic flaviviruses or ISFs in adults or immature stages. However, flaviviral-like DNA similar to flavivirus NS5 region was detected in 83-100% of Aedes aegypti (L.). Despite being previously described as an ancient element in the Ae. aegypti genome, the flaviviral-like DNA sequence was not detected in all Ae. aegypti samples and sequences obtained did not form a monophyletic group, possibly reflecting the genetic diversity of mosquito populations in Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa B Bonica
- Laboratorio de Insectos Vectores, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT La Plata-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dario E Balcazar
- Laboratorio de Insectos Vectores, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT La Plata-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ailen Chuchuy
- Laboratorio de Insectos Vectores, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT La Plata-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge A Barneche
- Laboratorio de Insectos Vectores, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT La Plata-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Torres
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBaViM), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María V Micieli
- Laboratorio de Insectos Vectores, Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT La Plata-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Harrison JJ, Hobson-Peters J, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Hall RA. Chimeric Vaccines Based on Novel Insect-Specific Flaviviruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1230. [PMID: 34835160 PMCID: PMC8623431 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne flaviviruses are responsible for nearly half a billion human infections worldwide each year, resulting in millions of cases of debilitating and severe diseases and approximately 115,000 deaths. While approved vaccines are available for some of these viruses, the ongoing efficacy, safety and supply of these vaccines are still a significant problem. New technologies that address these issues and ideally allow for the safe and economical manufacture of vaccines in resource-poor countries where flavivirus vaccines are in most demand are urgently required. Preferably a new vaccine platform would be broadly applicable to all flavivirus diseases and provide new candidate vaccines for those diseases not yet covered, as well as the flexibility to rapidly pivot to respond to newly emerged flavivirus diseases. Here, we review studies conducted on novel chimeric vaccines derived from insect-specific flaviviruses that provide a potentially safe and simple system to produce highly effective vaccines against a broad spectrum of flavivirus diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J. Harrison
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (J.H.-P.); (H.B.-O.); (R.A.H.)
| | - Jody Hobson-Peters
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (J.H.-P.); (H.B.-O.); (R.A.H.)
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (J.H.-P.); (H.B.-O.); (R.A.H.)
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - Roy A. Hall
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (J.H.-P.); (H.B.-O.); (R.A.H.)
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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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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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10
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Altinli M, Lequime S, Atyame C, Justy F, Weill M, Sicard M. Wolbachia modulates prevalence and viral load of Culex pipiens densoviruses in natural populations. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:4000-4013. [PMID: 32854141 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The inadequacy of standard mosquito control strategies calls for ecologically safe novel approaches, for example the use of biological agents such as the endosymbiotic α-proteobacteria Wolbachia or insect-specific viruses (ISVs). Understanding the ecological interactions between these "biocontrol endosymbionts" is thus a fundamental step. Wolbachia are transmitted vertically from mother to offspring and modify their hosts' phenotypes, including reproduction (e.g., cytoplasmic incompatibility) and survival (e.g., viral interference). In nature, Culex pipiens (sensu lato) mosquitoes are always found infected with genetically diverse Wolbachia called wPip that belong to five phylogenetic groups. In recent years, ISVs have also been discovered in these mosquito species, although their interactions with Wolbachia in nature are unknown. Here, we studied the interactions between a widely prevalent ISV, the Culex pipiens densovirus (CpDV, Densovirinae), and Wolbachia in northern Tunisian C. pipiens populations. We showed an influence of different Wolbachia groups on CpDV prevalence and a general positive correlation between Wolbachia and CpDV loads. By investigating the putative relationship between CpDV diversification and wPip groups in the different sites, we detected a signal linked to wPip groups in CpDV phylogeny in sites where all larvae were infected by the same wPip group. However, no such signal was detected where the wPip groups coexisted, suggesting CpDV horizontal transfer between hosts. Overall, our results provide good evidence for an ecological influence of Wolbachia on an ISV, CpDV, in natural populations and highlight the importance of integrating Wolbachia in our understanding of ISV ecology in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Altinli
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France.,Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,German Centre for Infection research (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lequime
- Cluster of Microbial Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Celestine Atyame
- Ile de La Réunion, Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM U1187, IRD 249, Sainte-Clotilde, France
| | - Fabienne Justy
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Mylene Weill
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Mathieu Sicard
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
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11
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Goenaga S, Chuchuy A, Micieli MV, Natalini B, Kuruc J, Kowalewski M. Expansion of the Distribution of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae): New Records in Northern Argentina and Their Implications From an Epidemiological Perspective. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:1310-1313. [PMID: 32020186 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Since the last yellow fever (YF) outbreak was detected in Argentina in 2009, vector surveillance and studies of arbovirus infections are carried out intermittently specifically in areas where nonhuman primates of the Alouatta genus are present. We report in these areas of Corrientes province the detection of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Dyar and Shannon) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Sabethes albiprivus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), both species involved in the forest YF cycle, and also the presence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in new areas in Argentina, which represents the southernmost citation for this species in South America. Aedes albopictus, a mosquito species native to Asia, was reported for the first time in Argentina in 1998, in Misiones province. Since then, no other report has indicated the extension of the distribution of this mosquito. This report shows the importance of performing continual entomological and arboviruses surveillance and highlights the impact that could result from the expansion of Ae. albopictus across Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Goenaga
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas 'Dr. Julio I.Maiztegui' (INEVH-ANLIS), Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Chuchuy
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M V Micieli
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - B Natalini
- Estación Biológica Corrientes-Museo Argentino de Cs. Naturales B Rivadavia (CONICET)
| | - J Kuruc
- Base Nacional de Control de Vectores Corrientes. Coordinación de Vectores. Dirección de Epidemiología y Análisis de Situación de Salud. Secretaría de Gobierno de Salud. Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social de la Nación
| | - M Kowalewski
- Estación Biológica Corrientes-Museo Argentino de Cs. Naturales B Rivadavia (CONICET)
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Goenaga S, Goenaga J, Boaglio ER, Enria DA, Levis SDC. Superinfection exclusion studies using West Nile virus and Culex flavivirus strains from Argentina. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200012. [PMID: 32520074 PMCID: PMC7265678 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In Argentina, many Flavivirus were recognised including West Nile virus (WNV). During 2009 several strains of Culex Flavivirus (CxFV), an insect-specific flavivirus, were isolated in the same region where circulation of WNV was detected. Hence, the objective of this study was to analyse the effect of co-infection in vitro assays using CxFV and WNV Argentinean strains in order to evaluate if CxFV could affect WNV replication. Our results showed that WNV replication was suppressed when multiplicity of infection (MOI) for CxFV was 10 or 100 times higher than WNV. Nevertheless, in vivo assays are necessary in order to evaluate the superinfection exclusion potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvina Goenaga
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr Julio I Maiztegui, Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Goenaga
- Århus University, Århus Institute of Advanced Studies, Århus, Denmark
| | - Estefanía Raquel Boaglio
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr Julio I Maiztegui, Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Delia Alcira Enria
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr Julio I Maiztegui, Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvana Del Carmen Levis
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr Julio I Maiztegui, Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Ramos-Nino ME, Fitzpatrick DM, Eckstrom KM, Tighe S, Hattaway LM, Hsueh AN, Stone DM, Dragon JA, Cheetham S. Metagenomic analysis of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Grenada, West Indies. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231047. [PMID: 32282857 PMCID: PMC7153883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Diptera: Culicidae) are two major vectors of arthropod-borne pathogens in Grenada, West Indies. As conventional vector control methods present many challenges, alternatives are urgently needed. Manipulation of mosquito microbiota is emerging as a field for the development of vector control strategies. Critical to this vector control approach is knowledge of the microbiota of these mosquitoes and finding candidate microorganisms that are common to the vectors with properties that could be used in microbiota modification studies. Results showed that bacteria genera including Asaia, Escherichia, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, and Serratia are common to both major arboviral vectors in Grenada and have previously been shown to be good candidates for transgenetic studies. Also, for the first time, the presence of Grenada mosquito rhabdovirus 1 is reported in C. quinquefasciatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Ramos-Nino
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Daniel M. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Korin M. Eckstrom
- University of Vermont Massively Parallel Sequencing Facility, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Scott Tighe
- University of Vermont Massively Parallel Sequencing Facility, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Lindsey M. Hattaway
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Andy N. Hsueh
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Diana M. Stone
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Julie A. Dragon
- University of Vermont Massively Parallel Sequencing Facility, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Sonia Cheetham
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
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14
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Öhlund P, Lundén H, Blomström AL. Insect-specific virus evolution and potential effects on vector competence. Virus Genes 2019; 55:127-137. [PMID: 30632016 PMCID: PMC6458977 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-018-01629-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The advancement in high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics tools has spurred a new age of viral discovery. Arthropods is the largest group of animals and has shown to be a major reservoir of different viruses, including a group known as insect-specific viruses (ISVs). The majority of known ISVs have been isolated from mosquitoes and shown to belong to viral families associated with animal arbovirus pathogens, such as Flaviviridae, Togaviridae and Phenuiviridae. These insect-specific viruses have a strict tropism and are unable to replicate in vertebrate cells, these properties are interesting for many reasons. One is that these viruses could potentially be utilised as biocontrol agents using a similar strategy as for Wolbachia. Mosquitoes infected with the viral agent could have inferior vectorial capacity of arboviruses resulting in a decrease of circulating arboviruses of public health importance. Moreover, insect-specific viruses are thought to be ancestral to arboviruses and could be used to study the evolution of the switch from single-host to dual-host. In this review, we discuss new discoveries and hypothesis in the field of arboviruses and insect-specific viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pontus Öhlund
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanna Lundén
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anne-Lie Blomström
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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15
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Miranda J, Mattar S, Gonzalez M, Hoyos-López R, Aleman A, Aponte J. First report of Culex flavivirus infection from Culex coronator (Diptera: Culicidae), Colombia. Virol J 2019; 16:1. [PMID: 30606229 PMCID: PMC6318882 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-018-1108-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flaviviruses are important pathogens for humans and animals (Dengue viruses, Yellow fever virus, Zika virus and West Nile virus). Culex flavivirus (CxFV) is an insect-specific virus of the genus Flavivirus, detected in a wide variety of mosquito species. OBJECTIVE To detect Flavivirus in mosquitoes of a tropical region of the Colombian Caribbean. METHODS In 2014, an entomological surveillance of arboviruses was conducted in the department of Cordoba area of the Caribbean, Colombia. A total of 8270 mosquitoes were captured as follow: Mansonia (n = 3271/39.5%), Culex (n = 2668/32.26%), Anopheles (n = 840/10.15%), Aedeomyia (n = 411/4.9%), Psorophora (n = 397/4.8%), Coquilletidia (n = 369/4.46%), Uranotaenia (n = 261/3.15%) and Aedes (n = 53/0.6%). All mosquito species were collected in dry tropical forest of the Caribbean area. Universal primers for NS5 gene (958 pb), RT-PCR for flavivirus and sequencing were used for molecular identification of viruses detected. RESULTS Two pools belonging to Culex coronator were positive for flavivirus RNA sequence by RT-PCR. The sequences of the PCR amplicons, matched that of the Culex flaviviruses, CxFv COL PM_149 (GenBank: KR014201) and CxFv COL PM_212 (GenBank: KT307717). Phylogenetic analysis of the NS5 protein sequences of the Culex flaviviruses sequences with those of reference sequences available in GenBank indicated viruses of Genotype II, closely related to the Brazilian strain, BR_SJRP_01_ (GenBank: KT726939), from Culex sp. The alignment of Culex flavivirus sequences CxFv COL_ PM 212 and CxFv COL_ PM 149 with sequences of strains detected in different geographical regions grouped the strains in a Latin American clade reported in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. CONCLUSIONS The present work illustrated that CxFV was circulating among vectors of human pathogenic arboviruses in Colombia, but the impact of CxFV on other flaviviruses which are endemic in the study area still remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Miranda
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Marco Gonzalez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Richard Hoyos-López
- Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales y Resistencia Bacteriana, Universidad del Sinú, Montería, Colombia
| | - Ader Aleman
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Jose Aponte
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
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A Novel Highly Divergent Strain of Cell Fusing Agent Virus (CFAV) in Mosquitoes from the Brazilian Amazon Region. Viruses 2018; 10:v10120666. [PMID: 30477235 PMCID: PMC6315449 DOI: 10.3390/v10120666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical insect-specific flaviviruses (cISFs) have been widely detected in different countries in the last decades. Here, we characterize the near full-length genomes of two cISFs detected in mosquitoes collected in the city of Macapá, state of Amapá, Amazon region of Brazil. A total of 105 pools of female mosquitos were analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis identified three strains of cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) and two of Culex flavivirus (CxFV). All sequences were obtained from pools of Culex sp., except for one sequence of CFAV detected in a pool of Aedes aegypti. Both CxFV strains are phylogenetically related to a strain isolated in 2012 in the Southeast region of Brazil. The CFAV strains are the first of this species to be identified in Brazil and one of them is highly divergent from other strains of CFAV that have been detected worldwide. In conclusion, CFAV and CxFV, circulate in mosquitoes in Brazil. One strain of CFAV is highly divergent from others previously described, suggesting that a novel strain of CFAV is present in this region.
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17
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Gravina HD, Suzukawa AA, Zanluca C, Cardozo Segovia FM, Tschá MK, Martins da Silva A, Faoro H, da Silva Ribeiro R, Mendoza Torres LP, Rojas A, Ferrerira L, Costa Ribeiro MCVD, Delfraro A, Duarte Dos Santos CN. Identification of insect-specific flaviviruses in areas of Brazil and Paraguay experiencing endemic arbovirus transmission and the description of a novel flavivirus infecting Sabethes belisarioi. Virology 2018; 527:98-106. [PMID: 30476788 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Viral infection was examined with pan-flavivirus and pan-alphavirus sets of primers in mosquitoes collected in four South American regions with confirmed pathogenic arbovirus circulation. Positive pools for flavivirus infection were sequenced and screened for specific arboviruses, which were not detected. However, NS5 gene sequencing showed that most sequences corresponded to the insect-specific Culex flavivirus. One sequence retrieved from an Aedes albopictus pool grouped with the insect-specific Aedes flavivirus and two Sabethes belisarioi pools were infected by a previously unknown flavivirus, tentatively named Sabethes flavivirus (SbFV). Phylogenetic inference placed SbFV as ancestral to a clade formed by Culiseta flavivirus, Mercadeo, and Calbertado. SbFV polyprotein showed an average aminoacidic identity of 51% in comparison to these flaviviruses. In vitro studies suggest that SbFV infects insect cells, but not vertebrate cells, therefore, we propose it as a new insect-specific flavivirus. These results highlight the wide distribution of insect-specific flaviviruses concomitant with the circulation of emergent arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreia Akemi Suzukawa
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Camila Zanluca
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Fatima María Cardozo Segovia
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS), Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), Paraguay
| | - Marcel Kruchelski Tschá
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Allan Martins da Silva
- Laboratório Central, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde (SESA), São José dos Pinhais, PR, Brazil
| | - Helisson Faoro
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica (LRGEN), Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Ricardo da Silva Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Vigilância Ambiental, Centro de Vigilância em Saúde Ambiental (CVSA), Secretaria de Estado de Saúde (SESA), Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Laura Patricia Mendoza Torres
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS), Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), Paraguay
| | - Alejandra Rojas
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS), Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), Paraguay
| | - Luis Ferrerira
- Servicio Nacional de Erradicación del Paludismo (SENEPA), Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social, Asunción, Paraguay
| | | | - Adriana Delfraro
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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18
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Roundy CM, Azar SR, Rossi SL, Weaver SC, Vasilakis N. Insect-Specific Viruses: A Historical Overview and Recent Developments. Adv Virus Res 2016; 98:119-146. [PMID: 28433051 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) have in recent years become a tremendous global health concern resulting in substantial human morbidity and mortality. With the widespread utilization of molecular technologies such as next-generation sequencing and the advancement of bioinformatics tools, a new age of viral discovery has commenced. Many of the novel agents being discovered in recent years have been isolated from mosquitoes and exhibit a highly restricted host range. Strikingly, these insect-specific viruses have been found to be members of viral families traditionally associated with human arboviral pathogens, including but not limited to the families Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Reoviridae, and Bunyaviridae. These agents therefore present novel opportunities in the fields of viral evolution and viral/vector interaction and have tremendous potential as agents for biocontrol of vectors and or viruses of medical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Roundy
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Sasha R Azar
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Shannan L Rossi
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Nikos Vasilakis
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
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19
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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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Fernandes LN, Paula MBD, Araújo AB, Gonçalves EFB, Romano CM, Natal D, Malafronte RDS, Marrelli MT, Levi JE. Detection of Culex flavivirus and Aedes flavivirus nucleotide sequences in mosquitoes from parks in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Acta Trop 2016; 157:73-83. [PMID: 26829359 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The dengue viruses are widespread in Brazil and are a major public health concern. Other flaviviruses also cause diseases in humans, although on a smaller scale. The city of São Paulo is in a highly urbanized area with few green spaces apart from its parks, which are used for recreation and where potential vertebrate hosts and mosquito vectors of pathogenic Flavivirus species can be found. Although this scenario can contribute to the transmission of Flavivirus to humans, little is known about the circulation of members of this genus in these areas. In light of this, the present study sought to identify Flavivirus infection in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in parks in the city of São Paulo. Seven parks in different sectors of the city were selected. Monthly mosquito collections were carried out in each park from March 2011 to February 2012 using aspiration and traps (Shannon and CD C-CO2). Nucleic acids were extracted from the mosquitoes collected and used for reverse-transcriptase and real-time polymerase chain reactions with genus-specific primers targeting a 200-nucleotide region in the Flavivirus NS5 gene. Positive samples were sequenced, and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Culex and Aedes were the most frequent genera of Culicidae collected. Culex flavivirus (CxFV)-related and Aedes flavivirus (AEFV)- related nucleotide sequences were detected in 17 pools of Culex and two pools of Aedes mosquitoes, respectively, among the 818 pools of non-engorged females analyzed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CxFV and AEFV in the city of São Paulo and Latin America, respectively. Both viruses are insect- specific flaviviruses, a group known to replicate only in mosquito cells and induce a cytopathic effect in some situations. Hence, our data suggests that CxFV and AEFV are present in Culex and Aedes mosquitoes, respectively, in parks in the city of São Paulo. Even though Flavivirus species of medical importance were not detected, surveillance is recommended in the study areas because of the presence of vertebrates and mosquitoes that could act as amplifying hosts and vectors of flaviviruses, providing the required conditions for circulation of these viruses.
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21
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Ecuador Paraiso Escondido Virus, a New Flavivirus Isolated from New World Sand Flies in Ecuador, Is the First Representative of a Novel Clade in the Genus Flavivirus. J Virol 2015; 89:11773-85. [PMID: 26355096 PMCID: PMC4645344 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01543-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED A new flavivirus, Ecuador Paraiso Escondido virus (EPEV), named after the village where it was discovered, was isolated from sand flies (Psathyromyia abonnenci, formerly Lutzomyia abonnenci) that are unique to the New World. This represents the first sand fly-borne flavivirus identified in the New World. EPEV exhibited a typical flavivirus genome organization. Nevertheless, the maximum pairwise amino acid sequence identity with currently recognized flaviviruses was 52.8%. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete coding sequence showed that EPEV represents a distinct clade which diverged from a lineage that was ancestral to the nonvectored flaviviruses Entebbe bat virus, Yokose virus, and Sokoluk virus and also the Aedes-associated mosquito-borne flaviviruses, which include yellow fever virus, Sepik virus, Saboya virus, and others. EPEV replicated in C6/36 mosquito cells, yielding high infectious titers, but failed to reproduce either in vertebrate cell lines (Vero, BHK, SW13, and XTC cells) or in suckling mouse brains. This surprising result, which appears to eliminate an association with vertebrate hosts in the life cycle of EPEV, is discussed in the context of the evolutionary origins of EPEV in the New World. IMPORTANCE The flaviviruses are rarely (if ever) vectored by sand fly species, at least in the Old World. We have identified the first representative of a sand fly-associated flavivirus, Ecuador Paraiso Escondido virus (EPEV), in the New World. EPEV constitutes a novel clade according to current knowledge of the flaviviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the virus genome showed that EPEV roots the Aedes-associated mosquito-borne flaviviruses, including yellow fever virus. In light of this new discovery, the New World origin of EPEV is discussed together with that of the other flaviviruses.
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22
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Vasilakis N, Tesh RB. Insect-specific viruses and their potential impact on arbovirus transmission. Curr Opin Virol 2015; 15:69-74. [PMID: 26322695 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are the causative agents of significant morbidity and mortality among humans and animals globally. In the past few years, the widespread adoption of next generation sequencing and metagenomics has led to a new era of virus discovery, where many novel viruses have been documented, exhibiting a restricted host-range in mosquitoes. They represent a wide-range of insect-specific viruses within the families of Bunyaviridae, Flaviviridae, Mesoniviridae, Reoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Togaviridae, and the newly recognized taxon of Negeviruses. Collectively, their discovery has opened new vistas about the extent of viral diversity and evolution, their influence on vector competence and ability of their insect hosts to transmit human pathogens (e.g. arboviruses), and their potential development as biological control agents or novel vaccine platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Vasilakis
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Institute for Human Infectious and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, United States.
| | - Robert B Tesh
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Institute for Human Infectious and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, United States.
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23
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Calzolari M, Zé-Zé L, Vázquez A, Sánchez Seco MP, Amaro F, Dottori M. Insect-specific flaviviruses, a worldwide widespread group of viruses only detected in insects. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2015; 40:381-388. [PMID: 26235844 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Several flaviviruses are important pathogens for humans and animals (Dengue viruses, Japanese encephalitis virus, Yellow-fever virus, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, West Nile virus). In recent years, numerous novel and related flaviviruses without known pathogenic capacity have been isolated worldwide in the natural mosquito population. However, phylogenetic studies have shown that genomic sequences of these viruses diverge from other flaviviruses. Moreover, these viruses seem to be exclusive of insects (they do not seem to grow on vertebrate cell lines), and were already defined as mosquito-only flaviviruses or insect-specific flaviviruses. At least eleven of these viruses were isolated worldwide, and sequences ascribable to other eleven putative viruses were detected in several mosquito species. A large part of the cycle of these viruses is not well known, and their persistence in the environment is poorly understood. These viruses are detected in a wide variety of distinct mosquito species and also in sandflies and chironomids worldwide; a single virus, or the genetic material ascribable to a virus, was detected in several mosquito species in different countries, often in different continents. Furthermore, some of these viruses are carried by invasive mosquitoes, and do not seem to have a depressive action on their fitness. The global distribution and the continuous detection of new viruses in this group point out the likely underestimation of their number, and raise interesting issues about their possible interactions with the pathogenic flaviviruses, and their influence on the bionomics of arthropod hosts. Some enigmatic features, as their integration in the mosquito genome, the recognition of their genetic material in DNA forms in field-collected mosquitoes, or the detection of the same virus in both mosquitoes and sandflies, indicate that the cycle of these viruses has unknown characteristics that could be of use to reach a deeper understanding of the cycle of related pathogenic flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Calzolari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Líbia Zé-Zé
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health, Avenida da Liberdade 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal; University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences, BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Ana Vázquez
- Laboratory of Arbovirus and Imported Viral Diseases, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health "Carlos III", Ctra Pozuelo-Majadahonda km 2, 28220 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mari Paz Sánchez Seco
- Laboratory of Arbovirus and Imported Viral Diseases, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health "Carlos III", Ctra Pozuelo-Majadahonda km 2, 28220 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fátima Amaro
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health, Avenida da Liberdade 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal.
| | - Michele Dottori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
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Liang W, He X, Liu G, Zhang S, Fu S, Wang M, Chen W, He Y, Tao X, Jiang H, Lin X, Gao X, Hu W, Liu Y, Feng L, Cao Y, Yang G, Jing C, Liang G, Wang H. Distribution and phylogenetic analysis of Culex flavivirus in mosquitoes in China. Arch Virol 2015; 160:2259-68. [PMID: 26118548 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-015-2492-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Culex flavivirus (CxFV) is an insect-specific virus of the genus Flavivirus. CxFV strains have been isolated from Cx. pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and other Cx. species in Asia, Africa, North America, Central America and South America. CxFV was isolated for the first time in China in 2006. As this is a novel flavivirus, we explored the distribution and genetic characteristics of Culex flavivirus in China. A total of 46,649 mosquitoes were collected in seven provinces between 2004 and 2012 and were analysed in 871 pools. 29 CxFV RNAs from Cx. pipiens, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Anopheles Sinensis, and Culex spp. tested positive for CxFV in real-time RT-PCR. 6 CxFV strains were isolated from Cx. species collected in Shandong, Henan, and Shaanxi provinces, while no virus or viral RNA was detected in samples from Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Fujian. Phylogenetic analysis of the envelope gene indicated that Chinese strains formed a robust subgroup of genotype 1, together with viruses from the United States and Japan. This study demonstrates that the geographic distribution of CxFV in China is widespread, but geographical boundaries to spread are apparent. Our findings suggest that CxFV can infect various mosquito species in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenkai Liang
- Department to Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, People's Republic of China,
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25
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Isolation of Japanese encephalitis virus and a novel insect-specific flavivirus from mosquitoes collected in a cowshed in Japan. Arch Virol 2015; 160:2151-9. [PMID: 26085283 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-015-2488-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Cattle do not generally appear to develop severe viremia when infected with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and they can be infected without showing clinical signs. However, two cattle in Japan recently died from JEV infection. In this study, we investigated the presence of different species of mosquitoes and flavivirus in a cowshed in the southwest region of Japan. In this cowshed, the two most common species of mosquitoes collected were Culex tritaeniorhynchus (including Culex pseudovishnui) and Anopheles sinensis. We performed virus isolation from the collected mosquitoes and obtained two flaviviruses: JEV and a novel insect-specific flavivirus, tentatively designated Yamadai flavivirus (YDFV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all three JEV isolates belonged to JEV genotype I and were closely related to a JEV strain that was isolated from the brains of cattle exhibiting neurological symptoms in Japan. Genetic characterization of YDFV revealed that the full genome RNA (10,863 nucleotides) showed homology with the Culex-associated insect-specific flaviviruses Quang Binh virus (79% identity) and Yunnan Culex flavivirus (78% identity), indicating that YDFV is a novel insect-specific flavivirus.
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Blitvich BJ, Firth AE. Insect-specific flaviviruses: a systematic review of their discovery, host range, mode of transmission, superinfection exclusion potential and genomic organization. Viruses 2015; 7:1927-59. [PMID: 25866904 PMCID: PMC4411683 DOI: 10.3390/v7041927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) discovered in the last decade. Historically, these viruses have generated limited interest due to their inability to infect vertebrate cells. This viewpoint has changed in recent years because some ISFs have been shown to enhance or suppress the replication of medically important flaviviruses in co-infected mosquito cells. Additionally, comparative studies between ISFs and medically important flaviviruses can provide a unique perspective as to why some flaviviruses possess the ability to infect and cause devastating disease in humans while others do not. ISFs have been isolated exclusively from mosquitoes in nature but the detection of ISF-like sequences in sandflies and chironomids indicates that they may also infect other dipterans. ISFs can be divided into two distinct phylogenetic groups. The first group currently consists of approximately 12 viruses and includes cell fusing agent virus, Kamiti River virus and Culex flavivirus. These viruses are phylogenetically distinct from all other known flaviviruses. The second group, which is apparently not monophyletic, currently consists of nine viruses and includes Chaoyang virus, Nounané virus and Lammi virus. These viruses phylogenetically affiliate with mosquito/vertebrate flaviviruses despite their apparent insect-restricted phenotype. This article provides a review of the discovery, host range, mode of transmission, superinfection exclusion ability and genomic organization of ISFs. This article also attempts to clarify the ISF nomenclature because some of these viruses have been assigned more than one name due to their simultaneous discoveries by independent research groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley J Blitvich
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Andrew E Firth
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
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