Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
11:28
Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus
Published on: October 7, 2011
Bridging two hosts: how intracellular environments shape flaviviral infection
Pavithra Umashankar1, Shwetha Shivaprasad1
1Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India.
Mbio
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Mosquito-borne flaviviruses face different intracellular environments in human and mosquito cells. These host factors influence viral replication, infection outcomes, and potential for cross-species transmission.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Mosquito-borne flaviviruses infect distinct host environments in humans and mosquitoes.
- Understanding intracellular factors is key to flavivirus infection dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review intracellular factors regulating flavivirus replication in human and mosquito cells.
- To highlight conserved and host-specific mechanisms influencing viral infection outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of host-pathogen interactions in mammalian and mosquito cells.
- Focus on intracellular proteins, metabolites, innate immunity, and stress sensors.
- Emphasis on dengue virus as a model flavivirus.
Main Results:
- Host cells exhibit species-specific differences in receptor usage, membrane remodeling, and RNA translation.
- Mammalian cells mount interferon responses leading to cytopathic effects and apoptosis.
- Mosquito cells support persistent, non-cytopathic infections via RNA interference and antioxidant defenses.
Conclusions:
- Host intracellular environments significantly shape flavivirus infection efficiency and outcomes.
- Divergent host responses influence viral persistence and potential for cross-species transmission.
- Identifying intracellular determinants is crucial for predicting viral emergence and developing interventions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
01:10Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
02:33Retroviruses
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
01:25Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...