Functional analysis of the endogenous RNA virus elements in mosquito genomes by gene targeting

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660271
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: ISAWA Haruhiko 国立感染症研究所, 昆虫医科学部, 室長 (90370965)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAWABE Kyoko 国立感染症研究所, 昆虫医科学部, 部長 (10215923) ; YUDA Masao 三重大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10215923)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IWANAGA Shiro 三重大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20314510)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ウイルス / 感染症 / ゲノム / 昆虫 / 進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the structure and function of the endogenous rhabdoviral nucleoprotein element (ERNE) in the mosquito genomes.
Several laboratory strains of Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex pipiens pallens and Culex pipiens form molestus had ERNEs in their genomes. However, the gene structure and sequence of the ERNE varied depending on the strain or individual of the Culex mosquitoes. Transcription analysis showed that, in a mosquito strain, the antisense RNAs of the ERNE were transcribed more abundantly than the sense strand RNAs.

Free Research Field

衛生昆虫学