In vivo imaging of Chikungunya virus in mice and Aedes mosquitoes using a Renilla luciferase clone

Sarah A. Ziegler, John Nuckols, Charles E. McGee, Yan Jang Scott Huang, Dana L. Vanlandingham, Robert B. Tesh, Stephen Higgs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that in humans causes an acute febrile illness characterized by fever, arthralgia, and rash. It is currently associated with large outbreaks in Asia, Africa, and islands of the Indian Ocean and has been introduced from these tropical regions into Europe, where local transmission has been recorded on two occasions. The underlying basis of the pathogenesis of CHIKV and related alphaviruses that produce similar symptoms remains unclear. By applying new techniques, for example, in vivo imaging in live animals and arthropods, we may improve our understanding of viral pathogenesis in vertebrates and viral replication in mosquitoes. This technical report describes the evaluation of a CHIKV-luciferase clone to visualize infection and dissemination in both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and mice. In mosquitoes, luciferase activity was seen at 3 and 7 days post-infection in both head and abdomens. In vivo imaging of CHIKV-luciferase was detected in mice for up to 5 days post-infection at the site of inoculation with limited dissemination to the skeletal muscle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1471-1477
Number of pages7
JournalVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Volume11
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alphavirus
  • Chikungunya
  • Luciferase
  • Mosquito

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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