Viral Interference and Persistence in Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses

Abstract

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are important pathogens for humans, and the detection of two or more flaviviruses cocirculating in the same geographic area has often been reported. However, the epidemiological impact remains to be determined. Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are primarily transmitted through Aedes and Culex mosquitoes; these viruses establish a life-long or persistent infection without apparent pathological effects. This establishment requires a balance between virus replication and the antiviral host response. Viral interference is a phenomenon whereby one virus inhibits the replication of other viruses, and this condition is frequently associated with persistent infections. Viral interference and persistent infection are determined by several factors, such as defective interfering particles, competition for cellular factors required for translation/replication, and the host antiviral response. The interaction between two flaviviruses typically results in viral interference, indicating that these viruses share common features during the replicative cycle in the vector. The potential mechanisms involved in these processes are reviewed here.

Virological and Immunological Outcomes of Coinfections

“…is termed mixed infection. In virology, coinfection is used to describe simultaneous infection of a cell or organism by separate viruses (1). The term superinfection is used if one virus infects the host some time before infection by the second virus.…”

“…However, in the literature, the definitions of coinfection and mixed infection have been used interchangeably (2)(3)(4)(5). The meaning of these terms depends on the context, whether applied to a single cell, a cell line, part of a host, or a whole host (1,4). In an infected cell, viruses can interact with a large number of cellular proteins (virus-host interactome) that may either support or inhibit virus replication.…”

“…The result can be clearance (exclusion) of one virus but persistence of the other (14). Viral interference may be mediated by factors such as interferons (IFNs), defective interfering (DI) particles, production of trans-acting proteases, cellular factors, and nonspecific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) (1). Besides virus-virus interactions, the nature of the host also plays an important role in shaping coinfection patterns.…”

Viral and Atypical Bacterial Respiratory Infections in a University Teaching Hospital

“…In viral accommodation, more than one virus infects a cell at the same time. If viruses infect the cell at the same time it is called co-infection and when viruses infect the cell one after the other it is defined as superinfection (35,36). In our study, more than 2 viruses were detected in 93 samples.…”

“…Viral interference is a phenomenon that indicates that a virus-infected cell is inhibited from being infected by another virus (35). In viral accommodation, more than one virus infects a cell at the same time.…”