Sequence Homology and Tissue Tropism Determine Superinfection Exclusion of Zika virus in Aedes aegypti Mediated by an insect-specific Binjari-Zika Virus Chimera

Abstract

Arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses cause widespread disease and continue to expand their geographical range due to climate change and vector spread. Insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) are promising biocontrol candidates of arboviruses, due to recent studies showing that prior infection with an ISF can reduce arbovirus replication in mosquitoes through superinfection exclusion (SIE). However, the route of infection, tissue tropism, pathogenesis and the mechanisms underlying SIE of ISFs in mosquitoes remain unclear. RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent antiviral response in insects, therefore it is expected that sequence homology between the ISF and the arbovirus will strengthen SIE. Here, we used ISF Binjari virus and a chimera containing the Zika virus structural proteins prME (BinJ-ZIKV) as a model system. Intrathoracic injection of BinJ-ZIKV in Aedes aegypti led to rapid systemic infection that excluded the midgut, subsequently blocking ZIKV dissemination from the midgut. SIE was strongest in tissues where primary-virus replication was highest. This spatial component of SIE was stronger when there was sequence homology between the ISF and arbovirus and displayed a strong 21nt siRNA response, suggesting RNAi contributed to the observed SIE. Upon oral inoculation, BinJ-ZIKV replicated efficiently in mosquitoes, was detected across multiple tissues, and saliva. BinJ-ZIKV also had higher infection establishment than BinJV at lower oral titres. SIE was observed for BinJ-ZIKV infection after oral exposure interfered with subsequent ZIKV midgut infection. Together, these findings support engineered ISF-chimeras as valuable experimental tools to dissect viral determinants of SIE and to optimize mosquito-based arbovirus interference strategies. Importance Annually, over 400 million people are infected with mosquito-transmitted viruses. Insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) can interfere with the transmission of clinically important viruses through a phenomenon termed superinfection exclusion (SIE). However, the mechanisms of SIE remain poorly understood. Using a Binjari virus chimera expressing Zika virus (ZIKV) structural proteins, we show that SIE is highly tissue-specific, with exclusion of ZIKV only occurring at sites where the chimera actively replicates and induces the mosquito antiviral RNA interference pathway. We further demonstrate that incorporation of Zika virus prM and E proteins into the ISF backbone enhances infection of the mosquito midgut following oral exposure, which enables direct inhibition of ZIKV infection after a subsequent infectious blood meal. Together, these findings define a replication-dependent, tissue-specific mechanism of ISF-mediated protection and provide a framework for reducing mosquito-borne virus transmission through SIE.