Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Chitosan/Interfering RNA Nanoparticle Mediated Gene Silencing in Disease Vector Mosquito Larvae
Published on: March 25, 2015
Long-term transmission of defective RNA viruses in humans and Aedes mosquitoes
John Aaskov1, Katie Buzacott, Hlaing Myat Thu
1School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, 4001, Australia.
Abstract:
In 2001, dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) populations in humans and mosquitoes from Myanmar acquired a stop-codon mutation in the surface envelope (E) protein gene. Within a year, this stop-codon strain had spread to all individuals sampled. The presence of truncated E protein species within individual viral populations, along with a general relaxation in selective constraint, indicated that the stop-codon strain represents a defective lineage of DENV-1. We propose that such long-term transmission of defective RNA viruses in nature was achieved through complementation by coinfection of host cells with functional viruses.
Related Concept Videos
Viral Mutations
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Transmission of Pathogens
Rabies
Arboviral Encephalitis
Yellow Fever

