Characterization and Vector Competence Studies of Chikungunya Virus Lacking Repetitive Motifs in the 3' Untranslated Region of the Genome.

ABSTRACT: Using reverse genetics, we analyzed a chikungunya virus (CHIKV) isolate of the Indian Ocean lineage lacking direct repeat (DR) elements in the 3' untranslated region, namely DR1a and DR2a. While this deletion mutant CHIKV-∆DR exhibited growth characteristics comparable to the wild-type virus in Baby Hamster Kidney cells, replication of the mutant was reduced in Aedes albopictus C6/36 and Ae. aegypti Aag2 cells. Using oral and intrathoracic infection of mosquitoes, viral infectivity, dissemination, and transmission of CHIKV-∆DR could be shown for the well-known CHIKV vectors Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Oral infection of Ae. vexans and Culex pipiens mosquitoes with mutant or wild-type CHIKV showed very limited infectivity. Dissemination, transmis

SUBMITTER: Karliuk Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7999577 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature