Arbovirus-mosquito interactions: RNAi pathway

Autor(es): Olson, Ken E.; Blair, Carol D.


Resumo: Arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses infect hematophagous arthropods (vectors) to maintain virus transmission between vertebrate hosts. The mosquito vector actively controls arbovirus infection to minimize its fitness costs. The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway is the major antiviral response vectors use to restrict arbovirus infections. We know this because depleting RNAi gene products profoundly impacts arbovirus replication, the antiviral RNAi pathway genes undergo positive, diversifying selection and arboviruses have evolved strategies to evade the vector's RNAi responses. The vector's RNAi defense and arbovirus countermeasures lead to an arms race that prevents potential virus-induced fitness costs yet maintains arbovirus infections needed for transmission. This review will discuss the latest findings in RNAi-arbovirus interactions in the model insect (Drosophila melanogaster) and in specific mosquito vectors.


Palavras-Chave: West Nile - Virus; Disease - Vector mosquitos; Double stranded - RNA; Aedes aegypti; Drosophila - Melanogaster; Culex – Quinque fasciatus; Genetic interference; Comparative genomics; Antiviral immunity; Mutant spectrum


Imprenta: Current Opinion in Virology, v. 15, p. 119-126, 2015


Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1016/j.coviro.2015.10.001


Descritores: Aedes aegypti - RNA ; Aedes aegypti - Virus


Data de publicação: 2015