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Plaque formation by Japanese encephalitis virus bound to mosquito C6/36 cells after low pH exposure on the cell

Masaru Nawa1, Sanae Machida, Tomohiko Takasaki

  • 1Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-0495, Japan. mnawa@saitama-med.ac.jp

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases
|May 23, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infects mosquito cells at acidic pH. JEV fuses with the cell membrane below pH 6.2, leading to plaque formation and productive infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Mosquito-borne diseases

Background:

  • Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a significant mosquito-borne pathogen.
  • Understanding JEV entry mechanisms into host cells is crucial for developing control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of pH in Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection of mosquito C6/36 cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of JEV entry and subsequent plaque formation.

Main Methods:

  • JEV plaque assays were performed on C6/36 cell layers.
  • Cells and virus were exposed to varying pH conditions.
  • Virus was treated with a JEV-neutralizing antibody (503) or a V-ATPase inhibitor (bafilomycin A1).

Main Results:

  • Plaque formation occurred at pH values below 6.2, with increased formation between pH 6.2 and 5.8.
  • Neutralizing antibodies blocked plaque formation post-adsorption.
  • V-ATPase inhibitor did not affect plaque formation, indicating pH-dependent fusion.

Conclusions:

  • JEV infection of C6/36 cells is dependent on acidic pH conditions.
  • JEV fuses with the C6/36 cell membrane at the cell surface under acidic conditions (pH < 6.2).
  • This fusion event is essential for productive JEV infection and plaque formation in mosquito cells.

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