Non-specific antiviral response detected in RNA-treated cultured cells of the sandfly, Lutzomyia longipalpis.
Lutzomyia longipalpis is the principal vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas, and can also transmit some viruses. To help develop a gene-silencing system for this sandfly, we transfected cultured embryonic cells with various double-stranded RNAs using West Nile virus (WNV) virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing luciferase as the target RNA to demonstrate effective gene knock-down. When luciferase dsRNA was introduced into these cells, they produced the expected reduction in VLP-encoded luciferase, suggesting specific silencing of the luciferase gene. Surprisingly, we found that unrelated dsRNAs, which included those specific for several L. longipalpis gene sequences and Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, diminished replication of the VLP-encoded genome. These results are the first indication for a nucleic acid-induced, non-specific antiviral response in this important insect vector.
Pitaluga
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Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanosomatídeos e Flebotomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Mason
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PW
Traub-Cseko
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YM
D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D008156:Luciferases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase