Characterization of Three New Insect-Specific Flaviviruses: Their Relationship to the Mosquito-Borne Flavivirus Pathogens

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Feb;98(2):410-419. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0350. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Abstract

Three novel insect-specific flaviviruses, isolated from mosquitoes collected in Peru, Malaysia (Sarawak), and the United States, are characterized. The new viruses, designated La Tina, Kampung Karu, and Long Pine Key, respectively, are antigenically and phylogenetically more similar to the mosquito-borne flavivirus pathogens, than to the classical insect-specific viruses like cell fusing agent and Culex flavivirus. The potential implications of this relationship and the possible uses of these and other arbovirus-related insect-specific flaviviruses are reviewed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culicidae / virology*
  • Flavivirus / genetics
  • Flavivirus / pathogenicity
  • Florida
  • Humans
  • Malaysia
  • Mosquito Vectors / genetics
  • Mosquito Vectors / pathogenicity
  • Mosquito Vectors / virology
  • Peru
  • Phylogeny
  • Virology / methods
  • Virology / trends*