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Mosquito-Associated Virus Isolation from Field-Collected Mosquitoes
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Mosquito-Associated Virus Isolation from Field-Collected Mosquitoes

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Mesoniviruses are mosquito-specific viruses with extensive geographic distribution and host range

Nikos Vasilakis1, Hilda Guzman, Cadhla Firth

  • 1Department of Pathology and Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA. nivasila@utmb.edu.

Virology Journal
|June 3, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Thirteen new mesoniviruses were discovered in mosquitoes across three countries. These novel viruses, belonging to the order Nidovirales, expand our understanding of mosquito-borne viruses and their global distribution.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Arbovirology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The family Mesoniviridae comprises positive-sense, single-stranded RNA ([+]ssRNA) viruses primarily isolated from mosquitoes.
  • Mesoniviruses are significant components of the order Nidovirales.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel mesoniviruses from mosquito populations in Indonesia, Thailand, and the USA.
  • To determine the phylogenetic relationships and genomic features of newly discovered mosquito-specific viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Virus isolation from mosquito samples collected in Indonesia, Thailand, and the USA.
  • Electron microscopy for virion morphology assessment.
  • Full genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis to determine phylogenetic relationships and identify novel species.

Main Results:

  • Thirteen novel insect-specific virus isolates were obtained, with virions appearing as spherical particles (~50 nm in diameter).
  • Genome analysis revealed positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genomes ranging from 20,129 to 20,777 nucleotides with a poly-A tail.
  • Five isolates were identified as variants of Alphamesonivirus-1, while eight isolates represented three new mesonivirus species (Alphamesonivirus-5, -6, and -7), characterized by unique insertions in ORF1a.

Conclusions:

  • Thirteen new viruses were identified as members of the Mesoniviridae family, order Nidovirales.
  • Five isolates belong to the Alphamesonivirus-1 species, and eight represent three new mesonivirus species.
  • The widespread distribution and broad host range suggest mesoniviruses are common globally in mosquito populations.

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