scholarly journals Susceptibility of Midge and Mosquito Vectors to SARS-CoV-2

Author(s):  
Velmurugan Balaraman ◽  
Barbara S Drolet ◽  
Natasha N Gaudreault ◽  
William C Wilson ◽  
Jeana Owens ◽  
...  

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is a recently emerged, highly contagious virus and the cause of the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is a zoonotic virus, although its animal origin is not clear yet. Person-to-person transmission occurs by inhalation of infected droplets and aerosols, or by direct contact with contaminated fomites. Arthropods transmit numerous viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases; however, the potential role of arthropods in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not fully understood. Thus far, a few studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 replication is not supported in cells from certain insect species nor in certain species of mosquitoes after intrathoracic inoculation. In this study, we expanded the work of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility to biting insects after ingesting a SARS-CoV-2-infected bloodmeal. Species tested included Culicoides sonorensis (Wirth & Jones) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges, as well as Culex tarsalis (Coquillett) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), all known biological vectors for numerous RNA viruses. Arthropods were allowed to feed on SARS-CoV-2-spiked blood and at a time point postinfection analyzed for the presence of viral RNA and infectious virus. Additionally, cell lines derived from C. sonorensis (W8a), Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) (C6/36), Cx. quinquefasciatus (HSU), and Cx. tarsalis (CxTrR2) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Our results indicate that none of the biting insects, nor the insect cell lines evaluated support SARS-CoV-2 replication, suggesting that these species are unable to be biological vectors of SARS-CoV-2.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Velmurugan Balaraman ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet ◽  
Natasha N Gaudreault ◽  
William C. Wilson ◽  
Jeana Owens ◽  
...  

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is a recently emerged, highly contagious virus and the cause of the current pandemic. It is a zoonotic virus, although its animal origin is not clear yet. Person-to-person transmission occurs by inhalation of infected droplets and aerosols, or by direct contact with contaminated fomites. Arthropods transmit numerous viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases; however, the potential role of arthropods in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not fully understood. Thus far, a few studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 replication is not supported in cells from certain insect species nor in certain species of mosquitoes after intrathoracic inoculation. In this study, we expanded the work of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility to biting insects after ingesting a SARS-CoV-2infected blood meal. Species tested included Culicoides sonorensis biting midges, as well as Culex tarsalis and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, all known biological vectors for numerous RNA viruses. Arthropods were allowed to feed on SARS-CoV-2 spiked blood and at various time points post infection analyzed for the presence of viral RNA and infectious virus. Additionally, cell lines derived from C. sonorensis (W8a), Ae. aegypti (C6/36), Cx. quinquefasciatus (HSU), and Cx. tarsalis (CxTrR2) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Our results indicate that none of the biting insects, nor the insect cell lines support SARS-CoV-2 replication. We conclude, that biting insect do not pose a risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans or animals following a SARS-CoV-2 infected blood meal.


Author(s):  
S.V. Dandapani ◽  
C. Nguyen ◽  
F. Hofman ◽  
T. Chen ◽  
H.J. Lenz ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Mehrpour Layeghi ◽  
Maedeh Arabpour ◽  
Rezvan Esmaeili ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh ◽  
Javad Tavakkoly Bazzaz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Luminal subtype is the most common subgroup of breast cancer (BC), accounting for more than 70% of this cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of RNAs which play critical roles in diverse cellular processes. It is proved that dysregulation of them can contribute to the development of various cancers, including BC. LINC00961 was reported to be downregulated in several cancers, however, its expression level in BC remains largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible role of LINC00961 in luminal A and B subtypes of BC. Methods To obtain novel lncRNAs associated with different cancers and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) between BC tumor and normal tissues, Lnc2Cancer and GDC databases were used, respectively. After performing literature review, the expression level of the selected lncRNA (LINC00961) was evaluated in 79 luminal A and B BC specimens and adjacent non-cancerous tissues by Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). LINC00961 expression was also evaluated in two luminal A BC cell lines, compared to a normal breast cell line. The comparison of the differences between tumor and adjacent non-tumor samples was performed by paired sample t-test. Moreover, correlation analysis between LINC00961 expression and clinicopathological features was performed using the chi-square, fisher exact, and independent t-test. In order to investigate the possible roles of LINC00961 in luminal A and B BC, different bioinformatics analyses such as functional annotation of the LINC00961 co-expressed genes and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks construction were also performed. Results LINC00961 was selected as a significant DElncRNA which had not been studied in BC. According to q-RT PCR assay, LINC00961 was downregulated in luminal BC tissues and cell lines. Its expression was correlated with smoking status and the age of menarche in luminal BC patients. Also, the results of the bioinformatics analysis were consistent with the data obtained from q-RT PCR assay. The final results indicated that LINC00961 might be involved in multiple cancer-associated pathways such as chemokine, Ras and PI3K–Akt signaling pathways, GPCR ligand binding, and signal transduction in luminal subtypes of BC. CDH5, GNG11, GNG8, SELL, S1PR1, CCL19, FYN, ACAN, CD3E, ACVRL1, CAV1, and PPARGC1A were identified as the top hub genes of the PPI networks across luminal subgroup. Conclusion Our findings suggested that LINC00961 was significantly downregulated in luminal A and B subtypes of BC. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis provided a basis for better identification of the potential role of LINC00961 in luminal subtype of BC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Qiang Sun ◽  
Xueyi Gong ◽  
Jianlong Wu ◽  
Zhipeng Hu ◽  
Qiao Zhang ◽  
...  

This study primarily focused on the effect of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1/miR186/KLF5 axis on the occurrence and progression of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). miR186 was found both in the lncRNA PVT1 targeting miRNAs and KLF5 targeting miRNAs using bioinformatic analysis. The expression of lncRNA PVT1 and KLF5 in the TFK-1, QBC939, and HuCCT1 cell lines and normal biliary epithelial HIBEpiC cells was detected by RT-qPCR. The significance of lncRNA PVT1 and KLF5 on cell proliferation was analyzed using the MTT assay and clone formation assay in lncRNA PVT1 and KLF5 silencing HuCCT1 cell lines and lncRNA PVT1and KLF5 overexpressing TFK-1 and QBC939 cell lines, respectively. The potential role of lncRNA PVT1 and KLF5 in cell migration was detected using the transwell invasion assay in CCA cell lines and tumor formation assay. Additionally, lncRNA PVT1 and KLF5 were proved to be highly expressed in CCA tissues and cell lines. Silencing and overexpressing of lncRNA PVT1 or KLF5 markedly inhibited or increased the cell proliferation and cell invasion in CCA cell lines, respectively. Silencing and overexpressing of lncRNA PVT1 significantly inhibited and increased the expression of KLF5 in CCA cell lines, respectively. Silencing of lncRNA PVT1 increased the expression of miR186, and silencing of miR186 increased the expression of KLF5 in CCA cell lines. Cotransfection of lncRNA PVT1 and miR186 increased the expression of KLF5 compared with controls. Overall, these results demonstrated that the lncRNA PVT1/miR186/KLF5 axis might exert a key role in the occurrence and progression of CCA, and this axis might provide a new target for treating CCA.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Bethany L. McGregor ◽  
C. Roxanne Connelly ◽  
Joan L. Kenney

Oropouche virus (OROV), a vector-borne Orthobunyavirus circulating in South and Central America, causes a febrile illness with high rates of morbidity but with no documented fatalities. Oropouche virus is transmitted by numerous vectors, including multiple genera of mosquitoes and Culicoides biting midges in South America. This study investigated the vector competence of three North American vectors, Culex tarsalis, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Culicoides sonorensis, for OROV. Cohorts of each species were fed an infectious blood meal containing 6.5 log10 PFU/mL OROV and incubated for 10 or 14 days. Culex tarsalis demonstrated infection (3.13%) but not dissemination or transmission potential at 10 days post infection (DPI). At 10 and 14 DPI, Cx. quinquefasciatus demonstrated 9.71% and 19.3% infection, 2.91% and 1.23% dissemination, and 0.97% and 0.82% transmission potential, respectively. Culicoides sonorensis demonstrated 86.63% infection, 83.14% dissemination, and 19.77% transmission potential at 14 DPI. Based on these data, Cx. tarsalis is unlikely to be a competent vector for OROV. Culex quinquefasciatus demonstrated infection, dissemination, and transmission potential, although at relatively low rates. Culicoides sonorensis demonstrated high infection and dissemination but may have a salivary gland barrier to the virus. These data have implications for the spread of OROV in the event of a North American introduction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunish Mohanan ◽  
Brian D. Cherrington ◽  
Sachi Horibata ◽  
John L. McElwee ◽  
Paul R. Thompson ◽  
...  

The peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of posttranslational modification enzymes that catalyze the conversion of positively charged protein-bound arginine and methylarginine residues to the uncharged, nonstandard amino acid citrulline. This enzymatic activity is referred to as citrullination or, alternatively, deimination. Citrullination can significantly affect biochemical pathways by altering the structure and function of target proteins. Five mammalian PAD family members (PADs 1–4 and 6) have been described and show tissue-specific distribution. Recent reviews on PADs have focused on their role in autoimmune diseases. Here, we will discuss the potential role of PADs in tumor progression and tumor-associated inflammation. In the context of cancer, increasing clinical evidence suggests that PAD4 (and possibly PAD2) has important roles in tumor progression. The link between PADs and cancer is strengthened by recent findings showing that treatment of cell lines and mice with PAD inhibitors significantly suppresses tumor growth and, interestingly, inflammatory symptoms. At the molecular level, transcription factors, coregulators, and histones are functional targets for citrullination by PADs, and citrullination of these targets can affect gene expression in multiple tumor cell lines. Next generation isozyme-specific PAD inhibitors may have therapeutic potential to regulate both the inflammatory tumor microenvironment and tumor cell growth.


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