Production of virus-derived ping-pong-dependent piRNA-like small RNAs in the mosquito soma.

ABSTRACT: The natural maintenance cycles of many mosquito-borne pathogens require establishment of persistent non-lethal infections in the invertebrate host. The mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood, but we have previously shown that an antiviral response directed by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is important in modulating the pathogenesis of alphavirus infections in the mosquito. However, we report here that infection of mosquitoes with an alphavirus also triggers the production of another class of virus-derived small RNAs that exhibit many similarities to ping-pong-dependent piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). However, unlike ping-pong-dependent piRNAs that have been described previously from repetitive elements or piRNA clusters, our work suggests production in the soma. We also pr

SUBMITTER: Morazzani EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3252369 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature