PIWIs Go Viral: Arbovirus-Derived piRNAs in Vector Mosquitoes

PLoS Pathog. 2016 Dec 29;12(12):e1006017. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006017. eCollection 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Vector mosquitoes are responsible for transmission of the majority of arthropod-borne (arbo-) viruses. Virus replication in these vectors needs to be sufficiently high to permit efficient virus transfer to vertebrate hosts. The mosquito immune response therefore is a key determinant for arbovirus transmission. Mosquito antiviral immunity is primarily mediated by the small interfering RNA pathway. Besides this well-established antiviral machinery, the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway processes viral RNA into piRNAs. In recent years, significant progress has been made in characterizing the biogenesis and function of these viral piRNAs. In this review, we discuss these developments, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest directions for future research.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arboviruses / genetics*
  • Culicidae / virology*
  • Insect Vectors / virology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This work is financially supported by a PhD fellowship from Radboud University Medical Center (www.radboudumc.nl) to PM, an ECHO project grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO, grant no. 711.013.001) to RPvR, and European Research Council Consolidator Grant under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (ERC, grant no. 615680) to RPvR. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.