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Nag DK, Efner KJ. Transovarial Transmission of Cell-Fusing Agent Virus in Naturally Infected Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. Viruses 2024; 16:1116. [PMID: 39066278 PMCID: PMC11281400 DOI: 10.3390/v16071116] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne arboviruses include several pathogens that are responsible for many diseases of significant public health burden. Mosquitoes also host many insect-specific viruses that cannot replicate in vertebrate cells. These insect-specific viruses persist in nature predominantly via vertical transmission (VT), and they exhibit high VT rates (VTRs). Cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV), an insect-specific orthoflavivirus, shows high VTRs in naturally infected mosquitoes but not in artificially infected mosquitoes. To determine whether the high VTRs are due to transovarial transmission, we investigated VT and ovary infection patterns in naturally CFAV-infected Aedes aegypti (Bangkok) mosquitoes. VT was monitored by detecting CFAV among the progeny by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and ovary infection was determined by in situ hybridization using a virus-specific probe. We showed that in CFAV-positive mosquitoes, ovarian follicles were infected, suggesting that VT occurs by transovarial transmission in naturally infected mosquitoes. Additionally, mosquitoes harbored dormant, non-replicative CFAV that remained below the detection level. These results suggested that CFAV persists via VT in nature and has the potential to remain dormant in diapausing mosquitoes during unfavorable conditions. Understanding this VT mechanism is crucial for comprehending the persistence of insect-specific viruses (and potentially dual-host arboviruses) in their natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilip K. Nag
- Griffin Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA;
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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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3
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Nag DK, Efner K. Cell fusing agent virus rarely transmits vertically in artificially infected laboratory-colonized Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:177. [PMID: 38575981 PMCID: PMC10996217 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06232-6] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vertical transmission (VT) of arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) can serve as an essential link in the transmission cycle during adverse environmental conditions. The extent of VT among mosquito-borne arboviruses can vary significantly among different virus families and even among different viruses within the same genus. For example, orthobunyaviruses exhibit a higher VT rate than orthoflaviviruses and alphaviruses. Mosquitoes are also the natural hosts of a large number of insect-specific viruses (ISV) that belong to several virus families, including Bunyaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Togaviridae. Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV), an insect-specific orthoflavivirus, displays higher VT rates than other dual-host orthoflaviviruses, such as Zika and dengue viruses. High VT rates require establishment of stabilized infections in the germinal tissues of female vectors. To delve deeper into understanding the mechanisms governing these differences in VT rates and the establishment of stabilized infections, the ovary infection patterns and VT of Zika virus (ZIKV) and CFAV were compared. METHODS Laboratory colonized Aedes aegypti females were infected with either ZIKV or CFAV by intrathoracic injection. Ovary infection patterns were monitored by in situ hybridization using virus-specific probes, and VT was determined by detecting the presence of the virus among the progeny, using a reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. RESULTS Both ZIKV and CFAV infect mosquito ovaries after intrathoracic injection. Infections then become widespread following a non-infectious blood meal. VT rates of ZIKV are similar to previously reported results (3.33%). CFAV, on the contrary transmits vertically very rarely. VT was not observed in the first gonotrophic cycle following intrathoracic injection, and only rarely in the second gonotrophic cycle. VT of CFAV is mosquito population independent, since similar results were obtained with Aedes aegypti collected from two different geographic locations. CONCLUSIONS Although CFAV infects mosquito ovaries, the occurrence of VT remains infrequent in artificially infected Ae. aegypti, despite the observation of high VT rates in field-collected mosquitoes. These results suggest that infections of insect-specific viruses are stabilized in mosquitoes by some as yet unidentified mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilip K Nag
- Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA.
| | - Kathryn Efner
- Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA
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Rawle DJ, Hugo LE, Cox AL, Devine GJ, Suhrbier A. Generating prophylactic immunity against arboviruses in vertebrates and invertebrates. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01016-6. [PMID: 38570719 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01016-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization recently declared a global initiative to control arboviral diseases. These are mainly caused by pathogenic flaviviruses (such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses) and alphaviruses (such as chikungunya and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses). Vaccines represent key interventions for these viruses, with licensed human and/or veterinary vaccines being available for several members of both genera. However, a hurdle for the licensing of new vaccines is the epidemic nature of many arboviruses, which presents logistical challenges for phase III efficacy trials. Furthermore, our ability to predict or measure the post-vaccination immune responses that are sufficient for subclinical outcomes post-infection is limited. Given that arboviruses are also subject to control by the immune system of their insect vectors, several approaches are now emerging that aim to augment antiviral immunity in mosquitoes, including Wolbachia infection, transgenic mosquitoes, insect-specific viruses and paratransgenesis. In this Review, we discuss recent advances, current challenges and future prospects in exploiting both vertebrate and invertebrate immune systems for the control of flaviviral and alphaviral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Rawle
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leon E Hugo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Abigail L Cox
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- GVN Centre of Excellence, Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andreas Suhrbier
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- GVN Centre of Excellence, Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Kholodilov IS, Aibulatov SV, Khalin AV, Polienko AE, Klimentov AS, Belova OA, Rogova AA, Medvedev SG, Karganova GG. Orthoflavivirus Lammi in Russia: Possible Transovarial Transmission and Trans-Stadial Survival in Aedes cinereus (Diptera, Culicidae). Viruses 2024; 16:527. [PMID: 38675870 PMCID: PMC11054007 DOI: 10.3390/v16040527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of discovered viruses that are transmitted by arthropods. Some of them are pathogenic for humans and mammals, and the pathogenic potential of others is unknown. The genus Orthoflavivirus belongs to the family Flaviviridae and includes arboviruses that cause severe human diseases with damage to the central nervous system and hemorrhagic fevers, as well as viruses with unknown vectors and viruses specific only to insects. The latter group includes Lammi virus, first isolated from a mosquito pool in Finland. It is known that Lammi virus successfully replicates in mosquito cell lines but not in mammalian cell cultures or mice. Lammi virus reduces the reproduction of West Nile virus during superinfection and thus has the potential to reduce the spread of West Nile virus in areas where Lammi virus is already circulating. In this work, we isolated Lammi virus from a pool of adult Aedes cinereus mosquitoes that hatched from larvae/pupae collected in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This fact may indicate transovarial transmission and trans-stadial survival of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan S. Kholodilov
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Sergey V. Aibulatov
- Laboratory for the Study of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (S.V.A.); (A.V.K.); (S.G.M.)
| | - Alexei V. Khalin
- Laboratory for the Study of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (S.V.A.); (A.V.K.); (S.G.M.)
| | - Alexandra E. Polienko
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Alexander S. Klimentov
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Oxana A. Belova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Anastasiya A. Rogova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
| | - Sergey G. Medvedev
- Laboratory for the Study of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (S.V.A.); (A.V.K.); (S.G.M.)
| | - Galina G. Karganova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI “Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS” (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.P.); (O.A.B.); (A.A.R.); (G.G.K.)
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119146 Moscow, Russia
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Lamichhane B, Brockway C, Evasco K, Nicholson J, Neville PJ, Levy A, Smith D, Imrie A. Metatranscriptomic Sequencing of Medically Important Mosquitoes Reveals Extensive Diversity of RNA Viruses and Other Microbial Communities in Western Australia. Pathogens 2024; 13:107. [PMID: 38392845 PMCID: PMC10892203 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes harbor a wide diversity of microorganisms, including viruses that are human pathogens, or that are insect specific. We used metatranscriptomics, an unbiased high-throughput molecular approach, to describe the composition of viral and other microbial communities in six medically important mosquito species from across Western Australia: Aedes vigilax, Culex annulirostris, Cx. australicus, Cx. globocoxitus, Cx. pipiens biotype molestus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus. We identified 42 viral species, including 13 novel viruses, from 19 families. Culex mosquitoes exhibited a significantly higher diversity of viruses than Aedes mosquitoes, and no virus was shared between the two genera. Comparison of mosquito populations revealed a heterogenous distribution of viruses between geographical regions and between closely related species, suggesting that geography and host species may play a role in shaping virome composition. We also detected bacterial and parasitic microorganisms, among which Wolbachia bacteria were detected in three members of the Cx. pipiens complex, Cx. australicus, Cx. pipiens biotype molestus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus. In summary, our unbiased metatranscriptomics approach provides important insights into viral and other microbial diversity in Western Australian mosquitoes that vector medically important viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binit Lamichhane
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Craig Brockway
- Biological and Applied Environmental Health Hazards, Department of Health, Perth, WA 6000, Australia; (C.B.); (K.E.); (J.N.); (P.J.N.)
| | - Kimberly Evasco
- Biological and Applied Environmental Health Hazards, Department of Health, Perth, WA 6000, Australia; (C.B.); (K.E.); (J.N.); (P.J.N.)
| | - Jay Nicholson
- Biological and Applied Environmental Health Hazards, Department of Health, Perth, WA 6000, Australia; (C.B.); (K.E.); (J.N.); (P.J.N.)
| | - Peter J. Neville
- Biological and Applied Environmental Health Hazards, Department of Health, Perth, WA 6000, Australia; (C.B.); (K.E.); (J.N.); (P.J.N.)
| | - Avram Levy
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; (A.L.); (D.S.)
| | - David Smith
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; (A.L.); (D.S.)
- UWA Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Allison Imrie
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
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Suzuki Y, Suzuki T, Miura F, Reyes JIL, Asin ICA, Mitsunari W, Uddin MM, Sekii Y, Watanabe K. No detectable fitness cost of infection by cell-fusing agent virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231373. [PMID: 38204783 PMCID: PMC10776230 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Aedes mosquitoes are well-known vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Mosquitoes are more frequently infected with insect-specific viruses (ISVs) that cannot infect vertebrates. Some ISVs interfere with arbovirus replication in mosquito vectors, which has gained attention for potential use against arbovirus transmission. Cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV), a widespread ISV, can reduce arbovirus dissemination in Ae. aegypti. However, vectorial capacity is largely governed by other parameters than pathogen load, including mosquito survival and biting behaviour. Understanding how ISVs impact these mosquito fitness-related traits is critical to assess the potential risk of using ISVs as biological agents. Here, we examined the effects of CFAV infection on Ae. aegypti mosquito fitness. We found no significant reduction in mosquito survival, blood-feeding behaviour and reproduction, suggesting that Ae. aegypti is tolerant to CFAV. The only detectable effect was a slight increase in human attraction of CFAV-infected females in one out of eight trials. Viral tolerance is beneficial for introducing CFAV into natural mosquito populations, whereas the potential increase in biting activity must be further investigated. Our results provide the first insight into the link between ISVs and Aedes mosquito fitness and highlight the importance of considering all aspects of vectorial capacity for arbovirus control using ISVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutsugu Suzuki
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Takahiro Suzuki
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Fuminari Miura
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jerica Isabel L. Reyes
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Irish Coleen A. Asin
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Wataru Mitsunari
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Faculty of Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Mohammad Mosleh Uddin
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB), Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU), Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh
| | - Yu Sekii
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Kozo Watanabe
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
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Pinheiro BSS, Rodrigues JG, Dias FCR, de Oliveira Gomes A, de Lucca Moreira Gomes M. Hepatic damage caused by flaviviruses: A systematic review. Life Sci 2023; 331:122074. [PMID: 37683724 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122074] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Flaviviruses infect arthropods and mammals and their pathologies are a considerable global health problem, affecting about 400 million people per year. The symptoms of these flaviviruses range from mild manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, and headache to more serious cases such as hemorrhage, meningitis, microcephaly, kidney, and liver failure. This review aims to compile the morphological changes that occur due to infections caused by dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, as well as to describe possible mechanisms of action of such flaviviruses in the liver. PRISMA guidelines were used to search for studies associating flavivirus with liver disorders. Two independent reviewers selected the studies on PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus search platforms. The SYRCLE software was used for the evaluation of the study's quality. Eighteen experimental articles were included. The experimental animals often used in experiments were monkeys (5 %), hamsters (10 %), chicken embryos (10 %), and mice (75 %). It is evident that there is a strong hepatic interaction with flaviviruses, and the main hepatic alterations found were steatosis, apoptosis, necrosis, hemorrhage, elevation of ALT and AST levels, and total bilirubin. Flavivirus infection, in general, trigger an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to structural changes in mitochondria that activate cascades of cellular death and promote insulin resistance. The majority of the studies primarily focus on dengue and yellow fever viruses, while the findings related to Zika virus exposure are still relatively limited and require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Santana Silva Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Julia Gonçalves Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Carolina Ribeiro Dias
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil; Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Angelica de Oliveira Gomes
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Marcos de Lucca Moreira Gomes
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil.
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Tang X, Li R, Qi Y, Li W, Liu Z, Wu J. The identification and genetic characteristics of Quang Binh virus from field-captured Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Guizhou Province, China. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:318. [PMID: 37679786 PMCID: PMC10486134 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05938-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes carry a variety of viruses that can cause disease in humans, animals and livestock. Surveys for viruses carried by wild mosquitoes can significantly contribute to surveillance efforts and early detection systems. In addition to mosquito-borne viruses, mosquitoes harbor many insect-specific viruses (ISVs). Quang Binh virus (QBV) is one such example, categorized as an ISV within the Flavivirus genus (family Flaviviridae). QBV has been specifically documented in Vietnam and China, with reports limited to several mosquito species. METHODS The homogenate obtained from female mosquitoes was cultured on C6/36 (Aedes albopictus) and BHK-21 (baby hamster kidney) cell lines. Positive cultures were identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT‒PCR) with taxon- or species-specific primers. Next-generation sequencing was employed to sequence the complete genomes of the identified positive samples. Subsequently, phylogenetic, gene homology, molecular evolutionary and genetic variation analyses were conducted. RESULT In 2021, a total of 32,177 adult female mosquitoes were collected from 15 counties in Guizhou Province, China. The predominant mosquito species identified were Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Armigeres subalbatus and Anopheles sinensis. Among the collected mosquitoes, three positive cultures were obtained from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus pools, revealing the presence of Quang Binh virus (QBV) RNA sequences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the three Guizhou isolates, along with the prototype isolate from Vietnam, formed distinct branches. These branches were primarily closely related to other QBV isolates reported in China. Comparative analysis revealed a high degree of nucleotide and amino acid homology between the Guizhou isolates and both Vietnamese and other indigenous Chinese isolates. Additionally, nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) were observed in these strains compared to the QBV prototype strain. CONCLUSION This study represents the first report of QBV presences in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes in Guizhou Province, China. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the three Guizhou isolates were most closely related to the QBV genes found in China. In addition, the study of the genetic characteristics and variation of this virus provided a deeper understanding of QBV and enriched the baseline data of these insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFVs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Tang
- Characteristic Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Rongting Li
- Characteristic Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yanfei Qi
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, California Health Sciences University, Clovis, CA, 93611, USA
| | - Weiyi Li
- Characteristic Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Zhihao Liu
- Characteristic Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Jiahong Wu
- Characteristic Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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Mohamed Ali S, Rakotonirina A, Heng K, Jacquemet E, Volant S, Temmam S, Boyer S, Eloit M. Longitudinal Study of Viral Diversity Associated with Mosquito Species Circulating in Cambodia. Viruses 2023; 15:1831. [PMID: 37766237 PMCID: PMC10535147 DOI: 10.3390/v15091831] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) pose a significant global health threat and are primarily transmitted by mosquitoes. In Cambodia, there are currently 290 recorded mosquito species, with at least 17 of them considered potential vectors of arboviruses to humans. Effective surveillance of virome profiles in mosquitoes from Cambodia is vital, as it could help prevent and control arbovirus diseases in a country where epidemics occur frequently. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the viral diversity in mosquitoes collected during a one-year longitudinal study conducted in various habitats across Cambodia. For this purpose, we used a metatranscriptomics approach and detected the presence of chikungunya virus in the collected mosquitoes. Additionally, we identified viruses categorized into 26 taxa, including those known to harbor arboviruses such as Flaviviridae and Orthomyxoviridae, along with a group of viruses not yet taxonomically identified and provisionally named "unclassified viruses". Interestingly, the taxa detected varied in abundance and composition depending on the mosquito genus, with no significant influence of the collection season. Furthermore, most of the identified viruses were either closely related to viruses found exclusively in insects or represented new viruses belonging to the Rhabdoviridae and Birnaviridae families. The transmission capabilities of these novel viruses to vertebrates remain unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souand Mohamed Ali
- Pathogen Discovery Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France; (S.M.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Antsa Rakotonirina
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia; (A.R.); (S.B.)
| | - Kimly Heng
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia; (A.R.); (S.B.)
| | - Elise Jacquemet
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France (S.V.)
| | - Stevenn Volant
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France (S.V.)
| | - Sarah Temmam
- Pathogen Discovery Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France; (S.M.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Sebastien Boyer
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh 12201, Cambodia; (A.R.); (S.B.)
- Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Marc Eloit
- Pathogen Discovery Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France; (S.M.A.); (S.T.)
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, University of Paris-Est, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
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11
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Vertical and Horizontal Transmission of Cell Fusing Agent Virus in Aedes aegypti. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0106222. [PMID: 36036577 PMCID: PMC9499017 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01062-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) is an insect-specific flavivirus (ISF) found in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. ISFs have demonstrated the ability to modulate the infection or transmission of arboviruses such as dengue, West Nile, and Zika viruses. It is thought that vertical transmission is the main route for ISF maintenance in nature. This has been observed with CFAV, but there is evidence of horizontal and venereal transmission in other ISFs. Understanding the route of transmission can inform strategies to spread ISFs to vector populations as a method of controlling pathogenic arboviruses. We crossed individually reared male and female mosquitoes from both a naturally occurring CFAV-positive Ae. aegypti colony and its negative counterpart to provide information on maternal, paternal, and horizontal transmission. RT-PCR was used to detect CFAV in individual female pupal exuviae and was 89% sensitive, but only 42% in male pupal exuviae. This is a possible way to screen individuals for infection without destroying the adults. Female-to-male horizontal transmission was not observed during this study. However, there was a 31% transmission rate from mating pairs of CFAV-positive males to negative female mosquitoes. Maternal vertical transmission was observed with a filial infection rate of 93%. The rate of paternal transmission was 85% when the female remained negative, 61% when the female acquired CFAV horizontally, and 76% overall. Maternal and paternal transmission of CFAV could allow the introduction of this virus into wild Ae. aegypti populations through male or female mosquito releases, and thus provides a potential strategy for ISF-derived arbovirus control. IMPORTANCE Insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs), are a group of nonpathogenic flaviviruses that only infect insects. ISFs can have a high prevalence in mosquito populations, but their transmission routes are not well understood. The results of this study confirm maternal transmission of cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) and demonstrate that paternal transmission is also highly efficient. Horizontal transmission of CFAV was also observed, aided by evaluation of the pupal infection status before mating with an infected individual. This technique of detecting infection in discarded pupae exuviae has not been evaluated previously and will be a useful tool for others in the field of studying viral transmission in mosquitoes. Identifying these routes of transmission provides information about how CFAV could be maintained in wild populations of mosquitoes and can aid future studies focusing on interactions of CFAV with their hosts and other viruses that infect mosquitoes.
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Konstantinidis K, Bampali M, de Courcy Williams M, Dovrolis N, Gatzidou E, Papazilakis P, Nearchou A, Veletza S, Karakasiliotis I. Dissecting the Species-Specific Virome in Culicoides of Thrace. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:802577. [PMID: 35330767 PMCID: PMC8940260 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.802577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Biting midges (Culicoides) are vectors of arboviruses of both veterinary and medical importance. The surge of emerging and reemerging vector-borne diseases and their expansion in geographical areas affected by climate change has increased the importance of understanding their capacity to contribute to novel and emerging infectious diseases. The study of Culicoides virome is the first step in the assessment of this potential. In this study, we analyzed the RNA virome of 10 Culicoides species within the geographical area of Thrace in the southeastern part of Europe, a crossing point between Asia and Europe and important path of various arboviruses, utilizing the Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform and a custom bioinformatics pipeline based on TRINITY assembler and alignment algorithms. The analysis of the RNA virome of 10 Culicoides species resulted in the identification of the genomic signatures of 14 novel RNA viruses, including three fully assembled viruses and four segmented viruses with at least one segment fully assembled, most of which were significantly divergent from previously identified related viruses from the Solemoviridae, Phasmaviridae, Phenuiviridae, Reoviridae, Chuviridae, Partitiviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Flaviviridae families. Each Culicoides species carried a species-specific set of viruses, some of which are related to viruses from other insect vectors in the same area, contributing to the idea of a virus-carrier web within the ecosystem. The identified viruses not only expand our current knowledge on the virome of Culicoides but also set the basis of the genetic diversity of such viruses in the area of southeastern Europe. Furthermore, our study highlights that such metagenomic approaches should include as many species as possible of the local virus-carrier web that interact and share the virome of a geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Bampali
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | | | - Nikolas Dovrolis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Elisavet Gatzidou
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | | | | | - Stavroula Veletza
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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