The small non-coding RNA response to virus infection in the < i > Leishmania < /i > vector < i > Lutzomyia longipalpis < /i >

by Fl ávia Viana Ferreira, Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha Aguiar, Roenick Proveti Olmo, Karla Pollyanna Vieira de Oliveira, Emanuele Guimarães Silva, Maurício Roberto Viana Sant'Anna, Nelder de Figueiredo Gontijo, Erna Geessien Kroon, Jean Luc Imler, João Trindade Marques Sandflies are well known vectors forLeishmania but also transmit a number of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Few studies have addressed the interaction between sandflies and arboviruses. RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms utilize small non-coding RNAs to regulate different aspects of host-pathogen interactions. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is a broad antiviral mechanism in insects. In addition, at least in mosquitoes, another RNAi mechanism mediated by PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs) is activated by viral infection. Finally, endogenous microRNAs (miRNA) may also regulate host immune responses. Here, we analyzed the small non-coding RNA response toVesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in the sandflyLutzoymia longipalpis. We detected abundant production of virus-derived siRNAs after VSV infection in adult sandflies. However, there was no production of virus-derived piRNAs and only mild changes in the expression of vector miRNAs in response to infection. We also observed abundant production of virus-derived siRNAs against two other viruses inLutzomyia Lulo cells. Together, our results suggest that the siRNA but not the piRNA pathway mediates an antiviral response in sandflies. In agr...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research