Dataset Information

Flavivirus RNA in phlebotomine sandflies.

ABSTRACT: Sandfly-transmitted phleboviruses, such as Toscana, sandfly fever Sicilian, and sandfly fever Naples, can cause human disease and circulate at high rates in Mediterranean countries. Previous studies have also established that viruses other than phleboviruses may be detected in and isolated from sand flies. The recent detection and isolation (in a large variety of mosquito species) of insect-only flaviviruses related to cell fusing agent virus has indicated that the latter is not an evolutionary remnant but the first discovered member of a group of viruses, larger than initially assumed, that has high genetic heterogeneity. Insect-only flaviviruses have been detected in and/or isolated from various species of mosquitoes, but nevertheless only from mosquitoes to date; other dipterans have not been screened for the presence of insect-only flaviviruses. The possible presence of flaviviruses, including insect-only flaviviruses, was investigated in sand flies collected around the Mediterranean during a trapping campaign already underway. Accordingly, a total of 1508 sand flies trapped in France and Algeria, between August 2006 and July 2007, were tested for the presence of flaviviruses using a PCR assay previously demonstrated experimentally to amplify all recognized members of the genus Flavivirus, including insect-only flaviviruses. Two of 67 pools consisting of male Phlebotomus perniciosus trapped in Algeria were positive. The two resulting sequences formed a monophyletic group and appeared more closely related to insect-only flaviviruses associated with Culex mosquitoes than with Aedes mosquitoes, and more closely related to insect-only flaviviruses than to arthropod-borne or to no-known-vector vertebrate flaviviruses. This is the first description of insect-only flaviviruses in dipterans distinct from those belonging to the family Culicidae (including Aedes, Culex, Mansonia, Culiseta, and Anopheles mosquito genera), namely sand flies within the family Psychodidae. Accordingly, we propose their designation as phlebotomine-associated flaviviruses.

SUBMITTER: Moureau G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3496374 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Flavivirus RNA in phlebotomine sandflies.

Moureau Gregory G Ninove Laetitia L Izri Arezki A Cook Shelley S De Lamballerie Xavier X Charrel Remi N RN

Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) 20100301 2

Sandfly-transmitted phleboviruses, such as Toscana, sandfly fever Sicilian, and sandfly fever Naples, can cause human disease and circulate at high rates in Mediterranean countries. Previous studies have also established that viruses other than phleboviruses may be detected in and isolated from sand flies. The recent detection and isolation (in a large variety of mosquito species) of insect-only flaviviruses related to cell fusing agent virus has indicated that the latter is not an evolutionary ...[more]

PMID: 19492949

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Project description:The West Nile virus (WNV), primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, is one of the most widespread flaviviruses globally, with past outbreaks occurring in the USA and Europe. Recent studies in parts of Africa, including Kenya, have identified the West Nile virus Koutango lineage (WN-KOUTV) among phlebotomine sandfly populations, however, our understanding of this virus remains limited. This study aimed to characterize WN-KOUTV from phlebotomine sandflies. Sandflies were sampled between 12th -16th March 2021 and 16th -20th March 2023 from six villages each in Baringo and Isiolo Counties, using CDC light traps. Female sandflies were taxonomically identified and pooled based on genus and site of collection. Virus isolation was performed in Vero cells. Viral genomes were determined using next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses were done to decipher the virus's evolutionary relationships. Comparative analyses of amino acid sequences were performed to determine variations. Protein modeling in Pymol was conducted to elucidate variations in key protein regions. Evolutionary pressure analysis investigated the selection pressures on the virus. In vitro experiments were done to investigate the virus growth kinetics in mammalian Vero E6 and mosquito C6/36 cells. We report the isolation of WN-KOUTV from Salabani in Baringo and Aremet in Isiolo, Kenya. The isolated WN-KOUTVs clustered with previously identified WN-KOUTV strains. Comparative analysis revealed a unique amino acid at NS5 653. The WN-KOUTV lineage as a whole is under purifying selective pressure, with diversifying pressure acting at site NS3 267. The current WN-KOUTV replicated in Vero E6 and C6/36 cells comparable to West Nile virus Lineage 1a, isolated from mosquitoes. Subsequent isolations of WN-KOUTV in phlebotomine sandflies suggest potential vectors, however, vector competence studies would confirm this. Replication in mammalian and insect cell lines suggests there may exist a vector/host relationship. We speculate the close genetic relationship of WN-KOUTV strains from East and West Africa may potentially be enabled by bird migratory routes between the two regions. If proven, this could point to a potential future pandemic pathway for this virus.

Dataset Information

Flavivirus RNA in phlebotomine sandflies.

Publications

Flavivirus RNA in phlebotomine sandflies.

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