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Background <p>Arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes pose a global health threat, causing diseases ranging from mild fevers to severe encephalitis and hemorrhagic fevers. Despite their growing impact, arbovirus research is hindered by biosafety constraints and the need of specialized BSL-3 insectariums. To circumvent these challenges, mosquito-derived cell lines have become indispensable tools for investigating virus-vector interactions. However, most available cell lines originate from <i>Aedes</i> and <i>Anopheles</i> spp., creating a critical research gap for other key vectors such as <i>Culex</i> spp. Although a few cell lines were previously established, they did not represent primary transmitters of West Nile virus (WNV) and other emerging arboviruses in Europe, such as <i>Culex pipiens</i>.</p> Methods <p>To address this gap, the current study aimed to characterize two recently established <i>Culex pipiens</i> cell lines: CPE/LULS50 (<i>Culex pipiens pipiens</i> &amp; <i>molestus</i>) and CPL/LULS56 (<i>Culex pipiens molestus</i>) in more detail including testing their virus susceptibility, antiviral RNAi response, and possible presence of insect-specific viruses.</p> Results <p>The replication of arboviruses from three clinically relevant families (<i>Flaviviridae, Peribunyaviridae</i>, and <i>Togaviridae</i>), as well as insect-specific viruses, was observed in both CPE/LULS50 and CPL/LULS56 cell lines. Furthermore, small RNA profiling revealed production of virus-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in both cell lines for all tested viruses. Interestingly, virus-specific PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) was only detected for the <i>Peribunyaviridae.</i></p> Conclusions <p>The current study demonstrates that the CPE/LULS50 and CPL/LULS56 cell lines are suitable candidates to facilitate research into <i>Culex</i>-specific virus-vector interactions, ultimately contributing to mitigation of the impact of <i>Culex</i>-borne arboviruses on public health.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Characterization of Culex pipiens cell lines: virus infection and RNAi response

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月28日

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  • Sarah Gothe,
  • Swati Jagtap,
  • Philipp Böhmer,
  • Melinda Reuter,
  • Svea Frank,
  • Vattipally B. Sreenu,
  • Lesley Bell-Sakyi,
  • Andres Merits,
  • Mine Altinli,
  • Esther Schnettler

摘要

Background

Arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes pose a global health threat, causing diseases ranging from mild fevers to severe encephalitis and hemorrhagic fevers. Despite their growing impact, arbovirus research is hindered by biosafety constraints and the need of specialized BSL-3 insectariums. To circumvent these challenges, mosquito-derived cell lines have become indispensable tools for investigating virus-vector interactions. However, most available cell lines originate from Aedes and Anopheles spp., creating a critical research gap for other key vectors such as Culex spp. Although a few cell lines were previously established, they did not represent primary transmitters of West Nile virus (WNV) and other emerging arboviruses in Europe, such as Culex pipiens.

Methods

To address this gap, the current study aimed to characterize two recently established Culex pipiens cell lines: CPE/LULS50 (Culex pipiens pipiens & molestus) and CPL/LULS56 (Culex pipiens molestus) in more detail including testing their virus susceptibility, antiviral RNAi response, and possible presence of insect-specific viruses.

Results

The replication of arboviruses from three clinically relevant families (Flaviviridae, Peribunyaviridae, and Togaviridae), as well as insect-specific viruses, was observed in both CPE/LULS50 and CPL/LULS56 cell lines. Furthermore, small RNA profiling revealed production of virus-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in both cell lines for all tested viruses. Interestingly, virus-specific PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) was only detected for the Peribunyaviridae.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrates that the CPE/LULS50 and CPL/LULS56 cell lines are suitable candidates to facilitate research into Culex-specific virus-vector interactions, ultimately contributing to mitigation of the impact of Culex-borne arboviruses on public health.

Graphical abstract