Alphavirus is a genus of arthropod-borne viruses (arbovirus) that can cause encephalitis or debilitating arthritis in humans. Examples of these viruses include Chikungunya and Ross River virus. In addition to viral genetics, environmental factors play important roles in the geographic expansion of arboviral diseases. Exposure to rising environmental temperatures is known to increase viral dissemination and viral load in mosquitoes (1,2). A cellular stress response to heat involves the upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs). These proteins were found to be antiviral in mammalian cells, but proviral in mosquitoes infected with arboviruses, although their roles in alphavirus infection of mosquitoes have yet to be elucidated.
Here, we attempt to investigate the roles of heat shock proteins in Aedes albopictus mosquito cells infected with an alphavirus, Semliki Forest Virus. We will investigate which heat shock proteins are expressed in these mosquito cells, and whether they are pro-or antiviral. These findings will advance knowledge on virus-host interactions of alphaviruses, and guide more targeted approaches in controlling viral vectors.
With an increasing threat of pathogenic human arbovirus emergence and a lack of effective vaccines or medicines, controlling the vectors of arboviruses is often our best hope for combating these diseases. Therefore, understanding the interaction between viruses and their insect hosts is of vital importance.