2'-O-methyltransferase-deficient yellow fever virus: Restricted replication in the midgut and secondary tissues of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes severely limits dissemination.

ABSTRACT: The RNA genome of orthoflaviviruses encodes a methyltransferase within the non-structural protein NS5, which is involved in 2'-O-methylation of the 5'-terminal nucleotide of the viral genome resulting in a cap1 structure. While a 2'-O-unmethylated cap0 structure is recognized in vertebrates by the RNA sensor RIG-I, the cap1 structure allows orthoflaviviruses to evade the vertebrate innate immune system. Here, we analyzed whether the cap0 structure is also recognized in mosquitoes. Replication analyses of 2'-O-methyltransferase deficient yellow fever virus mutants (YFV NS5-E218A) of the vaccine 17D and the wild-type Asibi strain in mosquito cells revealed a distinct downregulation of the cap0 viruses. Interestingly, the level of inhibition differed for various mosquito cells. The most strik

SUBMITTER: Vom Hemdt A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11472933 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature