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Alphavirus Transducing System: Tools for Visualizing Infection in Mosquito Vectors
Published on: November 24, 2010
Sindbis virus infection of two model insect cell systems--a comparative study
Usharani Mudiganti1, Raquel Hernandez, Davis Ferreira
1Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, Campus Box 7622, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Virus Research
|July 21, 2006
Summary
Sindbis virus infects mosquito cells, causing disease. This study shows Drosophila S2 cells can model persistent Sindbis virus infection, offering a new invertebrate host system for research.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Entomology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Sindbis virus, an Alphavirus, causes mosquito-borne diseases in mammals.
- It replicates in diverse vertebrate and invertebrate cells.
- Drosophila melanogaster offers extensive genetic resources for studying invertebrate-host interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare Sindbis virus infection in Drosophila Schneider-2 (S2) cells with mosquito Aedes albopictus (U4.4) cells.
- To evaluate S2 cells as an invertebrate model for Sindbis virus infection.
- To investigate virus production, persistence establishment, and cellular changes in S2 cells post-infection.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study of Sindbis virus infection in S2 and U4.4 cells.
- Monitoring virus production over time.
- Assessing cell survival, cytopathology, morphology, and growth characteristics.
Main Results:
- S2 cells survived acute Sindbis infection without significant cytopathology.
- S2 cells exhibited persistent infection, producing low virus levels (10 PFU/cell day 1, 2 PFU/cell day 2).
- U4.4 cells peaked virus production on day 2 and established persistence by day 5; neither cell type showed altered morphology or growth.
Conclusions:
- Drosophila S2 cells serve as a viable invertebrate model for studying Sindbis virus interactions.
- Persistent Sindbis virus infection in S2 cells does not alter cell morphology or growth.
- This establishes S2 cells as an additional model system for invertebrate host-virus interaction research.
