A Novel Highly Divergent Strain of Cell Fusing Agent Virus (CFAV) in Mosquitoes from the Brazilian Amazon Region

Fernandes, Lícia Natal; Coletti, Thaís M.; Monteiro, Fred Júlio Costa; Rêgo, Márlisson Octávio da Silva; Ribeiro, Edcelha Soares D’Athaide; Ribeiro, Geovani de Oliveira; Marinho, Robson dos Santos Souza; Komninakis, Shirley Vasconcelos; Deng, Xutao; Delwart, Eric; Sabino, Éster Cerdeira; Leal, Élcio; Costa, Antônio Charlys da

doi:10.3390/v10120666

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…It has subsequently been detected in several Aedes and Culex spp. mosquitoes from locations in Asia, Africa and the American continent [40], and recently reported from Brasil [51]. AEFV is another ubiquituous ISF, previously also detected in mosquitoes from Italy and United States, following its initial characterization in Japan [52–56].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Arboviral screening of invasive Aedes species in northeastern Turkey: West Nile virus circulation and detection of insect-only viruses

et al. 2019

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Background The recent reports of Aedes aegypti and Ae . albopictus populations in Turkey, in parallel with the territorial expansion identified in several surrounding countries, have raised concerns about the establishment and re-establishment of these invasive Aedes mosquitoes in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was performed to detect Aedes aegypti and Ae . albopictus in regions of recent incursions, and screen for viral pathogens known to be transmitted elsewhere by these species. Methodology Mosquitoes were collected at several locations in Artvin, Rize and Trabzon provinces of the Black Sea region during 2016–2017, identified morphologically, pooled and analyzed via generic or specific nucleic acid amplification assays. Viruses in positive pools were identified by product sequencing, cell culture inoculation and next generation sequencing (NGS) in selected specimens. Principal findings The study group comprised 791 specimens. Aedes albopictus was the most abundant species in all locations (89.6%), followed by Ae . aegypti (7.8%) and Culex pipiens (2.5%). Mosquitoes were screened for viruses in 65 pools where fifteen (23.1%) were reactive. The infecting strains was identified as West Nile virus (WNV) in 5 pools (7.7%) with Ae . albopictus or Cx . pipiens mosquitoes. The obtained WNV sequences phylogenetically grouped with local and global lineage 1 clade 1a viruses. In 4 (6.2%) and 6 (9.2%) pools, respectively, cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) and Aedes flavivirus (AEFV) sequences were characterized. NGS provided a near-complete AEFV genome in a pool of Ae . albopictus . The strain is provisionally called “AEFV-Turkey”, and functional analysis of the genome revealed several conserved motifs and regions associated with virus replication. Merida-like virus Turkey (MERDLVT), a recently-described novel rhabdovirus, was also co-detected in a Cx . pipiens pool also positive for WNV. Conclusions/Significance Invasive Aedes mosquitoes are established in certain locations of northeastern Turkey. Herein we conclusively show the role of these species in WNV circulation in the region. Biosurveillance is imperative to monitor the spread of these species further into Asia Minor and to detect possible introduction of pathogens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Arboviral screening of invasive Aedes species in northeastern Turkey: West Nile virus circulation and detection of insect-only viruses

et al. 2019

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“…For example, the Amazon region is identified as the starting point for transmission of the yellow fever virus in a recent outbreak in Brazil that killed almost 700 people between December 2016 and March 2018 and the Amazon rainforest functions as a 'reservoir' region for several arboviruses [42]. Other studies have been identified novel virus presents in the mosquito microbiota in this region, in the host Aedes aegypti and anophelines [17,18,43], reinforcing the idea that our current knowledge about the diversity of viruses is still very limited. Furthermore, insect-specific virus (ISV) compose the majority of mosquito virome the virus-virus interactions may affect the transmission of some viral pathogens [44,45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies from our group have described unusual viral sequences from Flaviridae and Reoviridae families in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in the Amazon [17,18]. Using an NGS metagenomic approach, this study aimed to identify novel viruses in Ae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aedes aegypti from Amazon Basin Harbor High Diversity of Novel Viral Species

Ribeiro

Morais

Monteiro

et al. 2020

Viruses

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Viruses are the most diverse and abundant microorganisms on earth, highly adaptive to a wide range of hosts. Viral diversity within invertebrate hosts has gained notoriety in recent years in public health as several such viruses have been of medical importance. Aedes aegypti serves as a vector for several viruses that have caused epidemics within the last year throughout Brazil; including Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. This study aimed to identify new viral agents within Aedes aegypti mosquito in a city of the Amazonian region, where it is highly endemic. Metagenomic investigation was performed on 60 mosquito pools and viral RNA sequences present in their microbiota were characterized using genomic and phylogenetic tools. In total, we identified five putative novel virus species related to the Sobemovirus genus, Iflavirus genus and Permutatetraviridae family. These findings indicate a diverse taxonomy of viruses present in the mosquito microbiota of the Amazon, the region with the greatest invertebrate diversity in the world.

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“…There has been a rapid expansion of known members of ISFs and other insect-specific viruses, but little is known about their biology and maintenance in mosquito populations. This is true even for CFAV, an ISF first discovered in 1975 and with global distribution in a major vector species and sustained seasonal infection (Baidaliuk et al 2020; Jeffries et al 2020; Martin et al 2020; Ajamma et al 2018; Fernandes et al 2018; Bolling et al 2015; Yamanaka et al 2013; Espinoza-Gomez et al 2011; Cook et al 2006). The detection of infected larvae or pupae and lack of other known hosts has led to speculation that ISFs are vertically transmitted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical and horizontal transmission of cell fusing agent virus in Aedes aegypti

Logan

Quek

Muthoni

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) is an insect specific flavivirus (ISF) found in field and laboratory populations of Aedes aegypti. ISFs have recently demonstrated the ability to block the transmission of arboviruses such as dengue, West Nile and Zika viruses. It is thought that vertical transmission is the main route for ISF infections. This has been observed with CFAV, but there is evidence of horizontal and venereal transmission in other ISFs. Understanding the route of transmission can inform strategies to spread ISFs to wild vector populations as a method of controlling pathogenic arboviruses. We crossed individually reared male and female mosquitoes from both a naturally occurring CFAV-positive Ae. aegypti colony and its negative counterpart to provide information on maternal, paternal, and horizontal transmission. RT-PCR was used to detect CFAV in individual female mosquito pupal exuviae and was 89% sensitive, but only 41% in male mosquito pupal exuviae. This is a possible way to screen individuals for infection without destroying the adults. Female-to-male horizontal transmission was not observed during this study, however there was a 31% transmission rate from mating pairs of CFAV-positive males to negative female mosquitoes. Maternal vertical transmission was observed with a filial infection rate of 93%. The rate of paternal transmission was 85% when the female remained negative, 61% when the female acquired CFAV horizontally, and 76% overall. Maternal and paternal transmission of CFAV could allow the introduction of this virus into wild Ae. aegypti populations through male or female mosquito releases, and thus provides a potential strategy for ISF-derived arbovirus control.

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A Novel Highly Divergent Strain of Cell Fusing Agent Virus (CFAV) in Mosquitoes from the Brazilian Amazon Region

Cited by 10 publications

References 48 publications

Arboviral screening of invasive Aedes species in northeastern Turkey: West Nile virus circulation and detection of insect-only viruses

Arboviral screening of invasive Aedes species in northeastern Turkey: West Nile virus circulation and detection of insect-only viruses

Aedes aegypti from Amazon Basin Harbor High Diversity of Novel Viral Species

Vertical and horizontal transmission of cell fusing agent virus in Aedes aegypti

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