Effect of nitric oxide on Dengue virus replication in Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus.
Dengue virus (DENV) is transmitted to humans by Aedes sp. mosquitoes. Little is known about the cellular and molecular interactions between the virus and the mosquito. The identification of resistance mechanisms could provide insight for the development of control strategies based on genetic manipulation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) donors/inhibitors on DENV replication in Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus.


METHODS
Ae. aegypti and An. albimanus were fed with a blood suspension supplemented with DENV and donors/inhibitors of NO; DENV replication was assessed by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and qRT-PCR parallel to NO measurement by means of the Griess reaction.


RESULTS
DENV replicates at 3x10(6) genome copies/day/mosquito in Aedes. In comparison, no evidence of virus genome accumulation was detected when 2 mM sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, were added to the infected blood meal. DENV did not replicate in Anopheles unless 1 mM L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester, a NO synthesis inhibitor, was added to the infected blood meal, although the absolute viral load was significantly lower than in Aedes.


CONCLUSIONS
As in humans, NO participates in the control of the virus load in mosquitoes. However, other mechanisms could also be involved in virus resistance in Anopheles.
Ramos-Castañeda
José
J
Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México.
González
Cassandra
C
Jiménez
Marco Antonio
MA
Duran
Josefina
J
Hernández-Martínez
Salvador
S
Rodríguez
Mario Henry
MH
Lanz-Mendoza
Humberto
H
D000330:Aedes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000276:immunology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide