Requirement of Glycosylation of West Nile Virus Envelope Protein for Infection of, but Not Spread within, Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquito Vectors

Robin M. Moudy Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, New York; The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York

Search for other papers by Robin M. Moudy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Anne F. Payne Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, New York; The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York

Search for other papers by Anne F. Payne in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Brittany L. Dodson Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, New York; The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York

Search for other papers by Brittany L. Dodson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Laura D. Kramer Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, New York; The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York

Search for other papers by Laura D. Kramer in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Most of sequenced West Nile virus (WNV) genomes encode a single N-linked glycosylation site on their envelope (E) proteins. We previously found that WNV lacking the E protein glycan was severely inhibited in its ability to replicate and spread within two important mosquito vector species, Culex pipiens and Cx. tarsalis. However, recent work with a closely related species, Cx. pipiens pallens, found no association between E protein glycosylation and either replication or dissemination. To examine this finding further, we expanded upon our previous studies to include an additional Culex species, Cx. quinquefasciatus. The non-glycosylated WNV-N154I virus replicated less efficiently in mosquito tissues after intrathoracic inoculation, but there was little difference in replication efficiency in the midgut after peroral infection. Interestingly, although infectivity was inhibited when WNV lacked the E protein glycan, there was little difference in viral spread throughout the mosquito. These data indicate that E protein glycosylation affects WNV–vector interactions in a species-specific manner.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Laura D. Kramer, Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159. E-mail: kramer@wadsworth.org

Financial support: This study was supported by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease contract NO1-AI25490. Robin M. Moudy was supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health (1F32-AI074238).

Authors' addresses: Robin M. Moudy, Anne F. Payne, Brittany L. Dodson, and Laura D. Kramer, Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, E-mails: rmoudy@wadsworth.org, apayne@wadsworth.org, bdodson@wadsworth.org, and kramer@wadsworth.org.

  • 1.

    Gubler D, Kuno G, Markoff L, 2007. Flaviviruses. Knipe DM, Howley PM, eds. Fields Virology. Fifth edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott William and Wilkins, 11531252.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 2.

    Lindenbach BD, Thiel HJ, Rice CM, 2007. Flaviviridae: The Virus and Their Replication. Fields Virology. Fifth edition. Lippincott William and Wilkins, 11011152.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3.

    Gomez A, Kramer LD, Dupuis AP, Kilpatrick AM, Davis LJ, Jones MJ, Daszak P, Aguirre AA, 2008. Experimental infection of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) with West Nile virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 79: 447451.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 4.

    Platt KB, Tucker BJ, Halbur PG, Tiawsirisup S, Blitvich BJ, Fabiosa FG, Bartholomay LC, Rowley WA, 2007. West Nile virus viremia in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) sufficient for infectiong different mosquitoes. Emerg Infect Dis 13: 831837.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 5.

    Root JJ, Oesterle PT, Nemeth NM, Klenk K, Gould DH, McLean RG, Clark L, Hall JS, 2006. Experimental infection of fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) with West Nile virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 75: 697701.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 6.

    Weaver SC, Barrett ADT, 2004. Transmission cycles, host range, evolution and emergence of arboviral disease. Nat Rev Microbiol 2: 789801.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7.

    Root JJ, Bentler KT, Nemeth NM, Gidlewski T, Spraker TR, Franklin AB, 2010. Experimental infection of raccoons (Procyon lotor) with West Nile virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 83: 803807.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 8.

    Adams SC, Broom AK, Sammels LM, Hartnett AC, Howard MJ, Coelen RJ, MacKenzie JS, Hall RA, 1995. Glycosylation and antigenic variation among Kunjin virus isolates. Virology 206: 4956.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9.

    Berthet FX, Zeller HG, Drouet MT, Rauzier J, Digoutte JP, Deubel V, 1997. Extensive nucleotide changes and deletions within the envelope glycoprotein gene of Euro-African West Nile viruses. J Gen Virol 78: 22932297.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10.

    Davis CT, Ebel GD, Lanciotti RS, Brault AC, Guzman H, Siirin M, Lambert A, Parsons RE, Beasley DW, Novak RJ, Elizondo-Quiroga D, Green EN, Young DS, Stark LM, Drebot MA, Artsob H, Tesh RB, Kramer LD, Barrett AD, 2005. Phylogenetic analysis of North American West Nile virus isolates, 2001–2004: evidence for the emergence of a dominant genotype. Virology 342: 252265.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11.

    Ebel GD, Carricaburu J, Young D, Bernard KA, Kramer LD, 2004. Genetic and phenotypic variation of West Nile virus in New York, 2000–2003. Am J Trop Med Hyg 71: 493500.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 12.

    Lanciotti RS, Ebel GD, Deubel V, Kerst AJ, Murri S, Meyer R, Bowen M, McKinney N, Morrill WE, Crabtree MB, Kramer LD, Roehrig JT, 2002. Complete genome sequences and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus strains isolated from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Virology 298: 96105.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13.

    Beasley DW, Davis CT, Estrada-Franco J, Navarro-Lopez R, Campomanes-Cortes A, Tesh RB, Weaver SC, Barrett AD, 2004. Genome sequence and attenuating mutations in West Nile virus isolate from Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis 10: 22212224.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 14.

    Vorndam V, Mathews JH, Barrett ADT, Roehrig JT, Trent DW, 1993. Molecular and biological characterization of a non-glycosylated isolate of St. Louis encephalitis virus. J Gen Virol 74: 26532660.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 15.

    Post PR, Santos CN, Carvalho R, Cruz AC, Rice CM, Galler R, 1992. Heterogeneity in envelope protein sequence and N-linked glycosylation among yellow fever virus vaccine strains. Virology 188: 160167.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 16.

    Hanna SL, Pierson TC, Sanchez MD, Ahmed AA, Murtadha MM, Doms RW, 2005. N-linked glycosylation of west nile virus envelope proteins influences particle assembly and infectivity. J Virol 79: 1326213274.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 17.

    Lee E, Leang SK, Davidson A, Lobigs M, 2010. Both E protein glycans adversely affect dengue virus infectivity but are beneficial for virion release. J Virol 84: 51715180.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 18.

    Beasley DW, Whiteman MC, Zhang S, Huang CY, Schneider BS, Smith DR, Gromowski GD, Higgs S, Kinney RM, Barrett AD, 2005. Envelope protein glycosylation status influences mouse neuroinvasion phenotype of genetic lineage 1 West Nile virus strains. J Virol 79: 83398347.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 19.

    Murata R, Eshita Y, Maeda A, Maeda J, Akita S, Tanaka T, Yoshii K, Kariwa H, Umemura T, Takashima I, 2010. Glycosylation of the West Nile virus envelope protein increases in vivo and in vitro viral multiplication in birds. Am J Trop Med Hyg 82: 696704.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 20.

    Shirato K, Miyoshi H, Goto A, Ako Y, Ueki T, Kariwa H, Takashima I, 2004. Viral envelope protein glycosylation is a molecular determinant of the neuroinvasiveness of the New York strain of West Nile virus. J Gen Virol 85: 36373645.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 21.

    Moudy RM, Zhang B, Shi PY, Kramer LD, 2009. West Nile virus envelope protein glycosylation is required for efficient viral transmission by Culex vectors. Virology 387: 222228.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 22.

    Peng Z, Li H, Simons FE, 1998. Immunoblot analysis of salivary allergens in 10 mosquito species with worldwide distribution and the human IgE responses to these allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 101: 498505.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 23.

    Shi PY, Tilgner M, Lo MK, Kent KA, Bernard KA, 2002. Infectious cDNA clone of the epidemic West Nile virus from New York City. J Virol 76: 58475856.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 24.

    Aitken TH, 1977. An in vitro feeding technique for artificially demonstrating virus transmission by mosquitoes. Mosq News 37: 130133.

  • 25.

    Goto A, Yoshii K, Obara M, Ueki T, Mizutani T, Kariwa H, Takashima I, 2005. Role of the N-linked glycans of the prM and E envelope proteins in tick-borne encephalitis virus particle secretion. Vaccine 23: 30433052.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 26.

    Konishi E, Mason PW, 1993. Proper maturation of the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope glycoprotein requires cosynthesis with the premembrane protein. J Virol 67: 16721675.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 27.

    Lorenz IC, Allison SL, Heinz FX, Helenius A, 2002. Folding and dimerization of tick-borne encephalitis virus envelope proteins prM and E in the endoplasmic reticulum. J Virol 76: 54805491.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 28.

    Ocazionez Jimenez R, Lopes da Fonseca BA, 2000. Recombinant plasmid expressing a truncated dengue-2 virus E protein without co-expression of prM protein induces partial protection in mice. Vaccine 19: 648654.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 29.

    Beasley DW, Whiteman MC, Zhang S, Huang CY, Schneider BS, Smith DR, Gromowski GD, Higgs S, Kinney RM, Barrett AD, 2005. Envelope protein glycosylation status influences mouse neuroinvasion phenotype of genetic lineage 1 West Nile virus strains. J Virol 79: 83398347.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 20 20 4
Full Text Views 262 66 1
PDF Downloads 55 11 0
 
Membership Banner
 
 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save