title: Knockdown of piRNA pathway proteins results in enhanced Semliki Forest virus production in mosquito cells.
abstract: The exogenous siRNA pathway is important in restricting arbovirus infection in mosquitoes. Less is known about the role of the PIWI-interacting RNA pathway, or piRNA pathway, in antiviral responses. Viral piRNA-like molecules have recently been described following infection of mosquitoes and derived cell lines with several arboviruses. The piRNA pathway has thus been suggested to function as an additional small RNA-mediated antiviral response to the known infection-induced siRNA response. Here we show that piRNA-like molecules are produced following infection with the naturally mosquito-borne Semliki Forest virus in mosquito cell lines. We show that knockdown of piRNA pathway proteins enhances the replication of this arbovirus and defines the contribution of piRNA pathway effectors, thus characterizing the antiviral properties of the piRNA pathway. In conclusion, arbovirus infection can trigger the piRNA pathway in mosquito cells, and knockdown of piRNA proteins enhances virus production.
authors.affiliation: MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 8 Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.|The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schnettler
authors.affiliation: MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 8 Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.|The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Donald
authors.affiliation: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK.|The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Human
authors.affiliation: ARK Genomics, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Mick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Ricky W C
authors.initials: RWC
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.affiliation: MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 8 Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK.|The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Fazakerley
authors.affiliation: MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 8 Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.|The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.affiliation: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK.|The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Rennos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fragkoudis
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012672:Semliki forest virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
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