昆虫与弹状病毒互作的研究进展

近年来宏基因组学研究的普及大大丰富了人们对RNA病毒多样性的认识,但对这些新发现病毒的生物学特性却所知甚少。本文围绕RNA病毒中一类重要的负单链RNA病毒--弹状病毒与其昆虫寄主互作的研究进行综述,总结已发现的弹状病毒及其昆虫寄主类型,共有20个属144种弹状病毒可以感染14个属的昆虫;根据已有的系统进化研究对弹状病毒的寄主起源进行推测;并以感染黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster的sigma病毒(Drosophila melanogaster sigma virus,DMelSV)为主要对象,就弹状病毒引起的CO2麻痹致死症状以及昆虫寄主对其的免疫反应研究进行总结,而在对黑腹果蝇的研究中发现很多非经典免疫通路中的新抗病毒基因,暗示存在新的抗病毒免疫通路;通过飞虱、叶蝉与其传播的植物弹状病毒以及长须罗蛉Lutzomyia longipalpis与其传播的脊椎动物病毒的互作研究,发现Toll、IMD信号通路、细胞自噬及小RNA干扰(small interfering RNA,siRNA)通路等可能与昆虫对弹状病毒的免疫反应相关。昆虫是弹状病毒主要的寄主和媒介,也是病毒遗传多样性的储主,因此更好地研究和了解昆虫寄主与弹状病毒的相互关系,有助于病毒致病和传播机制以及昆虫抗病毒免疫机理的深入研究。

Research advances in the interactions between insect hosts and rhabdoviruses

Metagenomic studies have greatly enriched our understanding of the hidden diversity of RNA viruses; however, the biology of these newly discovered viruses is poorly understood. This review focused on studies of one type of negative single strand RNA virus, rhabodoviruses and their interactions with insect hosts. There are 144 species belonging to 20 genera of rhabodoviruses that can infect insects of 14 genera. The origin of rhabdoviruses that infect insects was evaluated as well as host shifting. Using Drosophila melanogaster sigma virus (DMelSV) that infects Drosophila melanogaster as an example, the CO₂ paralysis symptom caused by nervous system infection was discussed. In Drosophila, new antiviral resistance genes had been found that was related to cell autophagy and non-classical immune pathways. Studies using hopper-virus and sandfly-virus systems suggested that Toll pathway, IMD pathway, autophagy and siRNA pathways were likely to be involved. Insects are major hosts and vectors for rhabdoviruses, and reservoirs for virus genetic diversity. Thus better study and understanding of insect hosts and rhabodoviruses interactions would help understand the pathology and transmission of viruses and host antiviral immunity.