Isolation and characterization of densonucleosis virus from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and its distribution in India.
OBJECTIVE
Mosquito densonucleosis viruses (DNVs) are known to persistently infect the insect cell line and mosquito population in nature, causing mortality in mosquitoes. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a DNV from Aedes aegypti and its distribution among different Ae. aegypti populations from India.


METHODS
We screened Ae. aegypti mosquito populations from different states of India by PCR. Virus isolation and purification was performed using a cesium chloride gradient from a positive mosquito colony. Characterization of this isolate was carried out by electron microscopy, Western blot and sequencing.


RESULTS
Electron microscopy showed the presence of parvovirus-like particles, and Western blot showed the presence of 2 viral proteins of 40 and 41 kDa. A total of 3,776 bases of genome were sequenced, which included a 3'UTR of 128 bases, a coding region of 3,507 bases and a 5'UTR of 141 bases. Three open reading frames (ORFs) were identified and characterized. The NIVDNV genome showed 95% similarity with Culex pipiens pallens DNV and 93% similarity with Ae. aegypti DNV.


CONCLUSIONS
Phylogenetic analysis of all 3 ORFs showed that this new isolate falls in the lineage of Brevidensovirus along with other mosquito DNVs.
Sivaram
A
A
Microbial Containment Complex, National Institute of Virology, Pune, India.
Barde
P V
PV
Kumar
S R P
SR
Yadav
P
P
Gokhale
M D
MD
Basu
A
A
Mourya
D T
DT