Antiviral RNA Interference Activity in Cells of the Predatory Mosquito, <i>Toxorhynchites amboinensis</i>.

ABSTRACT: Arthropod vectors control the replication of arboviruses through their innate antiviral immune responses. In particular, the RNA interference (RNAi) pathways are of notable significance for the control of viral infections. Although much has been done to understand the role of RNAi in vector populations, little is known about its importance in non-vector mosquito species. In this study, we investigated the presence of an RNAi response in Toxorhynchites amboinensis, which is a non-blood feeding species proposed as a biological control agent against pest mosquitoes. Using a derived cell line (TRA-171), we demonstrate that these mosquitoes possess a functional RNAi response that is active against a mosquito-borne alphavirus, Semliki Forest virus. As observed in vector mosquito species,

SUBMITTER: Donald CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6316411 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature