title: PIWIs Go Viral: Arbovirus-Derived piRNAs in Vector Mosquitoes.
abstract: Vector mosquitoes are responsible for transmission of the majority of arthropod-borne (arbo-) viruses. Virus replication in these vectors needs to be sufficiently high to permit efficient virus transfer to vertebrate hosts. The mosquito immune response therefore is a key determinant for arbovirus transmission. Mosquito antiviral immunity is primarily mediated by the small interfering RNA pathway. Besides this well-established antiviral machinery, the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway processes viral RNA into piRNAs. In recent years, significant progress has been made in characterizing the biogenesis and function of these viral piRNAs. In this review, we discuss these developments, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joep
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0482-1143
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joosten
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0221-4689
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: van Rij
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral