Pathogen-specific resistance to Rift Valley fever virus infection is induced in mosquito cells by expression of the recombinant nucleoprotein but not NSs non-structural protein sequences.
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus of the BUNYAVIRIDAE: family, causing recurrent disease outbreaks in Africa. Natural vertebrate hosts include cattle and humans. Several mosquito species belonging to the AEDES: and CULEX: genera act as vectors of this phlebovirus. To test whether pathogen-derived resistance against RVFV could be induced by expressing genomic sequences in mosquito cells, as has been shown for La Crosse and dengue 2 viruses, we generated various recombinant Semliki Forest viruses expressing the S segment (or its genes) in the genomic or antigenomic sense. Expression of the N but not the NSs gene interfered with the production of RVFV in mosquito cells and this phenomenon was RNA- but not protein-dependent. These results raise questions on the molecular mechanisms involved in virus resistance.
Billecocq
A
A
Groupe des Bunyaviridés1 and Unité d'écologie des systèmes vectoriels2, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Vazeille-Falcoz
M
M
Groupe des Bunyaviridés1 and Unité d'écologie des systèmes vectoriels2, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Rodhain
F
F
Groupe des Bunyaviridés1 and Unité d'écologie des systèmes vectoriels2, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Bouloy
M
M
Groupe des Bunyaviridés1 and Unité d'écologie des systèmes vectoriels2, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
D000330:Aedes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007303:Insect Vectors; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012672:Semliki forest virus / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins