Researchers determine how mosquitoes survive dengue virus infection
Friday, February 13, 2009 - 04:21
in Health & Medicine
Colorado State University researchers have discovered that mosquitoes that transmit deadly viruses such as dengue avoid becoming ill by mounting an immediate, potent immune response. Because their immune system does not eliminate the virus, however, they are able to pass it on to a new victim. In a study published 13 February in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens, the researchers show that RNA interference - the mosquito immune response - is initiated immediately after they ingest blood containing dengue virus, but the virus multiplies in the mosquitoes nevertheless...