Details:

Alternative Title:
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002670
Personal Author:
Kading, Rebekah C. ; Crabtree, Mary B. ; Bird, Brian H. ; Nichol, Stuart T. ; Erickson, Bobbie Rae ; ... More +
Kading, Rebekah C. ; Crabtree, Mary B. ; Bird, Brian H. ; Nichol, Stuart T. ; Erickson, Bobbie Rae ; Horiuchi, Kalanthe ; Biggerstaff, Brad J. ; Miller, Barry R. Less -
Description:
Background

Previously, we investigated the role of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) virulence genes NSs and NSm in mosquitoes and demonstrated that deletion of NSm significantly reduced the infection, dissemination, and transmission rates of RVFV in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The specific aim of this study was to further characterize midgut infection and escape barriers of RVFV in Ae. aegypti infected with reverse genetics-generated wild type RVFV (rRVF-wt) or RVFV lacking the NSm virulence gene (rRVF-ΔNSm) by examining sagittal sections of infected mosquitoes for viral antigen at various time points post-infection.

Methodology and Principal Findings

Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were fed an infectious blood meal containing either rRVF-wt or rRVF-ΔNSm. On days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 post-infection, mosquitoes from each experimental group were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and examined for RVFV antigen by immunofluorescence assay. Remaining mosquitoes at day 14 were assayed for infection, dissemination, and transmission. Disseminated infections were observed in mosquitoes as early as three days post infection for both virus strains. However, infection rates for rRVF-ΔNSm were statistically significantly less than for rRVF-wt. Posterior midgut infections in mosquitoes infected with rRVF-wt were extensive, whereas midgut infections of mosquitoes infected with rRVF-ΔNSm were confined to one or a few small foci.

Conclusions/Significance

Deletion of NSm resulted in the reduced ability of RVFV to enter, replicate, and disseminate from the midgut epithelial cells. NSm appears to have a functional role in the vector competence of mosquitoes for RVFV at the level of the midgut barrier.


Subject:
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Aedes
Animals
Biology
Female
Gastrointestinal Tract
Gene Deletion
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Research Article
Rift Valley Fever Virus
Virus Replication

Source:
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014; 8(2).
Document Type:
Journal Article
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:b1158b9f0b7ea9c4fb7cecdb9866ebb772c42e42c29b6e0a6e81d67a4e55af5f
File Type:

Supporting Files

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