Aedes Anphevirus: an Insect-Specific Virus Distributed Worldwide in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes That Has Complex Interplays with Wolbachia and Dengue Virus Infection in Cells

Abstract

Insect specific viruses (ISVs) of the yellow fever mosquito have been demonstrated to modulate transmission of arboviruses such as dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus by the mosquito. The diversity and composition of the virome of, however, remains poorly understood. In this study, we characterised Aedes anphevirus (AeAV), a negative-sense RNA virus from the order AeAV identified from cell lines were infectious to both and cells, but not to three mammalian cell lines. To understand the incidence and genetic diversity of AeAV, we assembled 17 coding-complete and two partial genomes of AeAV from available RNA-Seq data. AeAV appears to transmit vertically and be present in laboratory colonies, wild-caught mosquitoes and cell lines worldwide. Phylogenetic analysis of AeAV strains indicates that as the mosquito has expanded into the Americas and Asia-Pacific, AeAV has evolved into monophyletic African, American and Asia-Pacific lineages. The endosymbiotic bacterium restricts positive-sense RNA viruses in Re-analysis of a small RNA library of cells co-infected with AeAV and produces an abundant RNAi response consistent with persistent virus replication. We found enhances replication of AeAV when compared to a tetracycline cleared cell line, and AeAV modestly reduces DENV replication The results from our study improve understanding of the diversity and evolution of the virome of and adds to previous evidence that shows does not restrict a range of negative strand RNA viruses. The mosquito transmits a number of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as dengue virus and Zika virus. Mosquitoes also harbour insect-specific viruses that may affect replication of pathogenic arboviruses in their body. Currently, however, there are only a handful of insect-specific viruses described from in the literature. Here, we characterise a novel negative strand virus, Aedes anphevirus (AeAV). Meta-analysis of samples showed that it is present in mosquitoes worldwide and is vertically transmitted. transinfected mosquitoes are currently being used in biocontrol as they effectively block transmission of several positive sense RNA viruses in mosquitoes. Our results demonstrate that enhances the replication of AeAV and modestly reduces dengue virus replication in a cell line model. This study expands our understanding of the virome in as well as providing insight into the complexity of the virus restriction phenotype.

Under-the-Radar Dengue Virus Infections in Natural Populations of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes

“…Note that our analysis was conducted on pools of mosquitoes, which limits the conclusions that can be drawn in this study versus an analysis conducted on individual mosquitoes and interviral dynamics. For example, although Anphevirus (described in our analyses) has been shown to reduce DENV titers in vitro during coinfections, further analysis performed using individual mosquitoes of this specific dynamic is necessary to fully determine whether Anphevirus coinfection (occurring singly or concomitantly with other ISVs) can mediate multigenerational dengue virus persistence in mosquitoes (12).…”

Dianke virus: A new mesonivirus species isolated from mosquitoes in Eastern Senegal

“…Indeed, it has been shown that dual viral infections in mosquito can alter viral infectivity (Fujita et al, 2018) and ISVs are more and more considered as potential disease control agents in vector populations (Guzman et al, 2018;Öhlund et al, 2019). Virus phenotypic restriction could be more complex as Parry and Asgari (2018) highlighted that restriction of Dengue virus replication in Ae.aegypti mosquitoes could be hindered by interactions between a novel ISV and the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. In contrast, Zhang et al (2017) pointed out that Cell fusing agent virus, another ISV, favor Dengue virus replication in Ae.aegypti cell lines.…”

Vector competence of anthropophilic mosquitoes for a new mesonivirus in Senegal

“…For instance, it has been shown that dual viral infections in mosquito can alter viral infectivity [47] and ISVs are more and more considered as potential disease control agents in vector populations [40,48]. Virus restriction phenotypic could be more complex as Parry and Asgari [49] highlighted that restriction of Dengue virus replication in Ae.aegypti mosquitoes could be hindered by interactions between Aedes anphevirus (AeAV) a novel ISV and the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. In contrast, Zhang et al [50] pointed out that Cell fusing agent virus, another ISV, favour Dengue virus replication in Ae.aegypti cell lines.…”