Differential effect of acute persistent insect-specific flavivirus infection on superinfection exclusion of West Nile, Zika and chikungunya viruses in RNAi-competent and -deficient mosquito cells.

Millions of people are annually infected by mosquito-transmitted arboviruses including dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus (WNV), Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs), which only infect mosquitoes and cannot replicate in vertebrates, can offers a potential one health strategy to block the transmission of arboviruses by reducing the mosquito's susceptibility for subsequent arbovirus infections through superinfection exclusion (SIE),. Most SIE studies focus on acute ISF infections in RNAi-deficient C6/36 cells.

Japanese encephalitis virus-induced DNA methylation contributes to blood-brain barrier permeability by modulating tight junction protein expression.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a neurotropic and neuroinvasive flavivirus causing viral encephalitis, which seriously threatens the development of animal husbandry and human health. DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification involved in viral pathogenesis, yet how DNA methylation affects JEV infection remains unknown. Here, we show genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the brains of JEV-infected mice compared to mock-infected mice.

Versatility of the Zinc-Finger Antiviral Protein (ZAP) As a Modulator of Viral Infections.

The zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a restriction factor that proficiently impedes the replication of a variety of RNA and DNA viruses. In recent years, the affinity of ZAP's zinc-fingers for single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) rich in CpG dinucleotides was uncovered. High frequencies of CpGs in RNA may suggest a non-self origin, which underscores the importance of ZAP as a potential cellular sensor of (viral) RNA.

The virome of the invasive Asian bush mosquito in Europe.

The Asian bush mosquito is rapidly invading North America and Europe. Due to its potential to transmit multiple pathogenic arthropod-borne (arbo)viruses including Zika virus, West Nile virus, and chikungunya virus, it is important to understand the biology of this vector mosquito in more detail. In addition to arboviruses, mosquitoes can also carry insect-specific viruses that are receiving increasing attention due to their potential effects on host physiology and arbovirus transmission.