Culex Y Virus: A Native Virus of Culex Species Characterized In Vivo
Mareike Heinig-Hartberger,
Fanny Hellhammer,
David D. J. A. Zöller,
Susann Dornbusch,
Stella Bergmann,
Katerina Vocadlova,
Sandra Junglen,
Michael Stern,
Kwang-Zin Lee,
Stefanie C. Becker
Affiliations
Mareike Heinig-Hartberger
Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
Fanny Hellhammer
Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
David D. J. A. Zöller
Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
Susann Dornbusch
Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
Stella Bergmann
Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
Katerina Vocadlova
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
Sandra Junglen
Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt-University Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Michael Stern
Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
Kwang-Zin Lee
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
Stefanie C. Becker
Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
Mosquitoes are vectors of various pathogens that cause diseases in humans and animals. To prevent the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases, it is essential to control vector populations, as treatment or vaccination for mosquito-borne diseases are often unavailable. Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) have previously been described as being potentially helpful against arboviral disease outbreaks. In this study, we present the first in vivo characterization of the ISV Culex Y virus (CYV). CYV was first isolated from free-living Culex pipiens mosquitoes in 2010; then, it was found in several mosquito cell lines in a further study in 2018. For mammalian cells, we were able to confirm that CYV does not replicate as it was previously described. Additionally, we found that CYV does not replicate in honey bees or locusts. However, we detected replication in the Culex pipiens biotype molestus, Aedes albopictus, and Drosophila melanogaster, thus indicating dipteran specificity. We detected significantly higher mortality in Culex pipiens biotype molestus males and Drosophila melanogaster, but not in Aedes albopictus and female Culex pipiens biotype molestus. CYV could not be transmitted transovarially to offspring, but we detected venereal transmission as well as CYV in mosquitos’ saliva, indicating that an oral route of infection would also be possible. CYV’s dipteran specificity, transmission routes, and killing effect with respect to Culex males may be used as powerful tools with which to destabilize arbovirus vector populations in the future.
