Mosquito vector competence for dengue is modulated by insect-specific viruses

• DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01289-4
• Publication Date: 2023-01-05T17:04:38Z
• Authors: Roenick P. Olmo; Yaovi M. H. Todjro; Eric R. G. R. Aguiar; João Paulo P. de ...; Flávia V. Ferreira; Juliana N. Armache; Isaque J. S. de F...; Alvaro G. A. Ferr...; Siad C. G. Amadou; Ana Teresa S. Silva; Kátia P. R. de Souza; Ana Paula P. Vilela; Antinea Babarit; Cheong H. Tan; Mawlouth Diallo; Alioune Gaye; Christophe Paupy; Judicaël Obame-Nk...; Tessa M. Visser; Constantianus J. ...; Merril A. Wongsok...; Ana Luiza C. Cruz; Mariliza T. Prieto; Maisa C. P. Parra; Maurício L. Nogueira; Vivian Avelino-Silva; Renato N. Mota; Magno A. Z. Borges; Betânia P. Drumond; Erna G. Kroon; Mario Recker; Luigi Sedda; Eric Marois; Jean-Luc Imler; João T. Marques
• Keywords: 570; 0303 health sciences; Zika Virus Infection; 610; Insect Viruses; Zika Virus; Mosquito Vectors; Dengue Virus; 3. Good health; Dengue; 03 medical and health sciences; Aedes; 11. Sustainability; Life Science; [SDV.IMM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Immunology; Animals; Humans; RNA Viruses; Arboviruses

Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes are the main vectors for dengue virus (DENV) and other arboviruses, including Zika virus (ZIKV). Understanding the factors that affect transmission of arboviruses from mosquitoes to humans is a priority because it could inform public health and targeted interventions. Reasoning that interactions among viruses in the vector insect might affect transmission, we analysed the viromes of 815 urban Aedes mosquitoes collected from 12 countries worldwide. Two mosquito-specific viruses, Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV) and Humaita Tubiacanga virus (HTV), were the most abundant in A. aegypti worldwide. Spatiotemporal analyses of virus circulation in an endemic urban area revealed a 200% increase in chances of having DENV in wild A. aegypti mosquitoes when both HTV and PCLV were present. Using a mouse model in the laboratory, we showed that the presence of HTV and PCLV increased the ability of mosquitoes to transmit DENV and ZIKV to a vertebrate host. By transcriptomic analysis, we found that in DENV-infected mosquitoes, HTV and PCLV block the downregulation of histone H4, which we identify as an important proviral host factor in vivo.