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Alphavirus Transducing System: Tools for Visualizing Infection in Mosquito Vectors
Published on: November 24, 2010
Mosquito Saliva Reshapes Alphavirus Infection and Immunopathogenesis
Siew-Wai Fong1,2, R Manjunatha Kini1, Lisa F P Ng3,4
1Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
Alphaviruses are transmitted to humans via bites of infected mosquitoes. Although alphaviruses have caused a wide range of outbreaks and crippling disease, the availability of licensed vaccines or antiviral therapies remains limited. Mosquito vectors such as Aedes and Culex are the main culprits in the transmission of alphaviruses. This review explores how mosquito saliva may promote alphavirus infection. Identifying the roles of mosquito-derived factors in alphavirus pathogenesis will generate novel tools to circumvent and control mosquito-borne alphavirus infections in humans.
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