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Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Alphavirus Transducing System: Tools for Visualizing Infection in Mosquito Vectors
Published on: November 24, 2010
Impact of alphavirus 3'UTR plasticity on mosquito transmission
Claudia V Filomatori1, Fernando Merwaiss1, Eugenia S Bardossy1
1Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Argentina.
Abstract:
Alphaviruses such as chikungunya and western equine encephalitis viruses are important human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes that have recently caused large epidemic and epizootic outbreaks. The epidemic potential of alphaviruses is often related to enhanced mosquito transmission. Tissue barriers and antiviral responses impose bottlenecks to viral populations in mosquitoes. Substitutions in the envelope proteins and the presence of repeated sequence elements (RSEs) in the 3'UTR of epidemic viruses were proposed to be specifically associated to efficient replication in mosquito vectors. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that originated RSEs, the evolutionary forces that shape the 3'UTR of alphaviruses, and the significance of RSEs for mosquito transmission. Finally, the presence of RSEs in the 3'UTR of viral genomes appears as evolutionary trait associated to mosquito adaptation and emerges as a common feature among viruses from the alphavirus and flavivirus genera.
Insights
Repeated sequence elements (RSEs) in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of alphaviruses enhance mosquito transmission. These RSEs are an evolutionary trait linked to alphavirus adaptation and spread in mosquito vectors.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Alphaviruses, including chikungunya and western equine encephalitis viruses, are significant mosquito-borne human pathogens responsible for widespread outbreaks.
- Efficient transmission by mosquitoes is a key factor in the epidemic potential of alphaviruses.
- Viral replication in mosquitoes is constrained by tissue barriers and antiviral responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the molecular mechanisms behind the origin of repeated sequence elements (RSEs) in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of alphaviruses.
- To examine the evolutionary forces shaping the 3'UTR of alphaviruses.
- To elucidate the significance of RSEs for efficient mosquito transmission.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and analysis of existing data on alphavirus genome structure and evolution.
- Comparative genomics to identify conserved and variable regions within alphavirus 3'UTRs.
- Bioinformatic analysis to investigate the origin and evolution of RSEs.
- Functional inference based on sequence features and known viral-mosquito interactions.
Main Results:
- Substitutions in envelope proteins and the presence of RSEs in the 3'UTR are associated with efficient replication in mosquito vectors.
- RSEs are identified as an evolutionary trait linked to alphavirus adaptation in mosquitoes.
- The presence of RSEs in the 3'UTR is a common feature in both alphavirus and flavivirus genera.
Conclusions:
- RSEs in the alphavirus 3'UTR play a crucial role in adaptation and enhanced transmission by mosquitoes.
- Understanding RSEs provides insights into viral evolution and vector competence.
- RSEs represent a convergent evolutionary strategy for mosquito adaptation across different virus genera.
