Studying the interactions of Chikungunya virus non-structural protein 3 with Aedes factors

Abstract

Viruses are small microscopic obligate parasites. The viruses replicate inside the cells of organisms such as bacteria, plants, and animals [1]. These contain minimum genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, either single-stranded or double-stranded. The genetic material is encapsulated by proteins which serve the dual purpose of protection of genetic material as well as entry into the host cell [2]. Among the viruses, RNA viruses are known to cause common virus-mediated disease such as dengue fever, chikungunya fever, zika, and coronavirus disease [3,4]. A vector such as mosquitoes transmit many of these viruses like dengue, chikungunya, and zika. The last century’s extensive research in basic virology and medicine led to saving countless lives. There have an been attempt to develop drugs like that of bacterial infections, but due to a high mutation rate due to lack of proofreading ability of viral polymerases which causes sequence variation in proteins. These variations/ mutations make it difficult for the drugs to target the virus. The lack of specific drugs to treat these viral infections and the high rate of mutation in viruses results in outbreaks which is a concern due to its ability to impact a large population [5]. These viruses replicate inside host cells and are dependent on host machinery for their replication. Viral proteins interact with host proteins on every step of their cycle ranging from entry, replication, translation, processing, assembly, and egress. Viral growth is harmful to the host as it uses the host’s resources and sometimes even kills them. In order to protect themselves from viruses, the host’s immune system tries to get rid of viruses. Some immune pathways include the TLR pathway, JAK-STAT, IMD pathway, and RNAi pathway [6]. The viruses are known to interact with the host and affect them, but how they interact with mosquitoes and affect them is not well studied. Recently there were few studies showed the impact of pathogens on mosquitoes.