Encapsidated Host Factors in Alphavirus Particles Influence Midgut Infection of Aedes aegypti

Transmission of mosquito-borne viruses requires the efficient infection of both a permissive vertebrate host and a competent mosquito vector. The infectivity of Sindbis virus (SINV), the type species of the Alphavirus genus, is influenced by both the original and new host cell. We have shown that infection of vertebrate cells by SINV, chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Ross River virus (RRV) produces two subpopulations of virus particles separable based on density. In contrast, a single population of viral particles is produced by mosquito cells. Previous studies demonstrated that the denser vertebrate-derived particles and the mosquito-derived particles contain components of the small subunit of the host cell ribosome, whereas the less dense vertebrate-derived particles do not. Infection of mice with RRV showed that both particle subpopulations are produced in an infected vertebrate, but in a tissue specific manner with serum containing only the less dense version of the virus particles. Previous infectivity studies using SINV particles have shown that the denser particles (SINV(Heavy)) and mosquito derived particles SINV(C6/36) are significantly more infectious in vertebrate cells than the less dense vertebrate derived particles (SINV(Light)). The current study shows that SINV(Light) particles, initiate the infection of the mosquito midgut more efficiently than SINV(Heavy) particles and that this enhanced infectivity is associated with an exacerbated immune response to SINV(Light) infection in midgut tissues. The enhanced infection of SINV(Light) is specific to the midgut as intrathoracically injected virus do not exhibit the same fitness advantage. Together, our data indicate a biologically significant role for the SINV(Light) subpopulation in the efficient transmission from infected vertebrates to the mosquito vector.