Mosquitoes as Suitable Vectors for Alphaviruses
Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia
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Viruses 2018, 10(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10020084
Received: 8 January 2018
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Revised: 7 February 2018
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Accepted: 8 February 2018
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Published: 14 February 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Alphavirus Research)
Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne viruses and are predominantly transmitted via mosquito vectors. This vector preference by alphaviruses raises the important question of the determinants that contribute to vector competence. There are several tissue barriers of the mosquito that the virus must overcome in order to establish a productive infection. Of importance are the midgut, basal lamina and the salivary glands. Infection of the salivary glands is crucial for virus transmission during the mosquito’s subsequent bloodfeed. Other factors that may contribute to vector competence include the microflora and parasites present in the mosquito, environmental conditions, the molecular determinants of the virus to adapt to the vector, as well as the effect of co-infection with other viruses. Though mosquito innate immunity is a contributing factor to vector competence, it will not be discussed in this review. Detailed understanding of these factors will be instrumental in minimising transmission of alphaviral diseases.
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Keywords:
arbovirus; vector competence; mosquito; infection; barriers; parasites; Wolbachia; microfilaria
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MDPI and ACS Style
Lim, E.X.Y.; Lee, W.S.; Madzokere, E.T.; Herrero, L.J. Mosquitoes as Suitable Vectors for Alphaviruses. Viruses 2018, 10, 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/v10020084
AMA Style
Lim EXY, Lee WS, Madzokere ET, Herrero LJ. Mosquitoes as Suitable Vectors for Alphaviruses. Viruses. 2018; 10(2):84. https://doi.org/10.3390/v10020084
Chicago/Turabian StyleLim, Elisa X. Y., Wai Suet Lee, Eugene T. Madzokere, and Lara J. Herrero. 2018. "Mosquitoes as Suitable Vectors for Alphaviruses" Viruses 10, no. 2: 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/v10020084
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