Role of skin immune cells on the host susceptibility to mosquito-borne viruses

Abstract

Due to climate change and the propagation of competent arthropods worldwide, arboviruses have become pathogens of major medical importance. Early transmission to vertebrates is initiated by skin puncture and deposition of virus together with arthropod saliva in the epidermis and dermis. Saliva components have the capacity to modulate skin cell responses by enhancing and/or counteracting initial replication and establishment of systemic viral infection. Here, we review the nature of the cells targeted by arboviruses at the skin level and discuss the type of cellular responses elicited by these pathogens in light of the immunomodulatory properties of arthropod vector-derived salivary factors injected at the inoculation site. Understanding cutaneous arbovirus-host interactions may provide new clues for the design of future therapeutics.

The tortoise or the hare? Impacts of within-host dynamics on transmission success of arthropod-borne viruses

“…Most of this saliva is actually released into the skin during probing, and components of the saliva substantially modify the immunological milieu at the probing site, often to the benefit of the virus [10]. Vertebrate host susceptibility depends upon numerous factors, including (i) the G Â G interaction between host and virus genotype [11,12], (ii) physiological condition, (iii) immune status, e.g.…”

The immunology and inflammatory responses of human melanocytes in infectious diseases

“…The essence of our immune system is to rapidly control infection by pathogens at the major portals of entry (skin, nasopharynx) before dissemination can occur to other organs (33, 34). To initiate an effective anti-microbial innate immune response all cells should be capable of sensing and responding appropriately to pathogens while avoiding damage to surrounding cells.…”

Zika Virus (ZIKV)

“…Arbovirus-infected mosquitoes initiate the infection by their bite, injecting virus-containing saliva into the epidermis. The saliva can modulate the response of the cells in the epidermis, which enables the propagation of the virus in skin cells [33].…”