Some biological properties of сhloriridovirus from Culiseta mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Two strains of mosquito iridescent viruses (Chloriridovirus) were isolated in Ukraine from seek larvae of bloodsucking mosquitoes Culiseta annulata (Schrank, 1776) and Culiseta morsitans (Theobald, 1901). Electron microscopic study of tissues from these larvae revealed icosahedral virus particles ranging from 180 nm to 5 nm in diameter, containing dense, pleomorphic nucleotides. Viruses were assembled in the cytoplasm within spherical virosomes. Both viruses contained DNA and 11 polypeptides with molecular weights varying from 16 kD to 98 kD. A DNA restriction analysis of both strains of mosquito chloriridovirus of the genus Culiseta and cloning of fragments of their genomes by genetic engineering methods was performed. Isolated strains were sensitive to ultraviolet insolation and heating and were stable to organic solvents such as ether and chloroform. Both isolated strains grew well in mosquito (Aedes aegypti, Aedes pseudoscutellaris, Aedes albopictus) and in Lepidoptera (Euxoa scandens, Antheraea pernyi) cell lines. A close antigenic relationship has been found between isolated strains and Chloriridovirus from Aedes cantans. Some antigenic relationship was also demonstrated between isolated strains and still unclassified iridovirus from carp (Cyprinus carpio). These findings imply that both strains share some similarity in structural and biochemical characteristics and belong to the Chloriridovirus genus of the Iridoviridae family