Eilat virus

The Eilat virus (EILV) is a unique Alphavirus which is known mainly for its host range restriction generally to insects (primarily to mosquitoes) by means of RNA replication. This exclusive virion (a thorough virus which is made of an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat), is found in the Negev desert. It is incapable of infecting vertebrate cells, differentiating it from the series of mosquitoes-borne alphaviruses. The Eilat virus is from the family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus. Alphaviruses are miniature spherical shaped (around 70 nm in diameter) enveloped viruses which consist of a positive sense (5' to 3') RNA genome, which encompasses two ORF's (Open Reading Frame which is an incessant stretch of codons that do not contain a stop codon). Four nonstructural proteins are encoded on two thirds of the genome (5' end), which include nsP1, nsP2, nsP3, nsP4. While five structural proteins ( sPs; Capsid, E1, E2, E3, and 6K) are encoded on the one third part of the genome ( 3' portion). By receptor-mediated endocytosis alphaviruses gain entry into a host cell . After acquiring access, the low endocytic pH allows for a conformational change that discloses an E1 fusion peptide. Thus, inducing the release of the nucleocapsid into the cytoplasm of the host cell. The nucleocapsids in turn aid in initiating virion budding from the host cell membrane. The Eilat virus was isolated during an arbovirus survey in the Negev desert between the year 1982-1984. However, it was initially obtained by Joseph Peleg from a pool of Anopheles coustani mosquitoes (from the isolates back in 1982). This specific isolation was performed in a study for over ninety-one identified viruses, and the EILV virus was found and isolated from the gut of the collected mosquitoes. The Eilat virus is located primarily in Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is found in regions where its natural vector (the Anopheles coustani) is situated. The place of its study however, plays an important role in the evolutionary significance of the EILV. The Negrev desert (being almost 13,000 km2) is considered the natural area of the virus . The areas average climate ranges from the lowest being -5oC to the highest of around 46oC (yearly). The EILV was named after the city of Eilat which is located in the south area of the Negev desert (close to the region where the pool of Anopheles coustani's are located). The Eilat virus shows an evolutionary change which may have occurred to alphaviruses. Normally, an alphavirus similar to that of the EILV would use mosquitoes as the vector of transmission to other (usually vertebrates) creatures. However, the Eilat virus can replicate consummately in an insect host and fails completely to even enter the cells of vertebrates. Based on experimental evidence when a relativity similar virus (SINV) was injected into vertebrate cell lines, the cells showed to have a great cytopathic effect. While when the same test was done on the EILV, the virus showed no cytopathic effect on the vertebrate cell lines. Therefore, evolutionary these results aid in suggesting that EILV lost its capability in infecting vertebrate cells. Thus, EILV appears to be mosquito-specific and represents a previously undescribed complex within the genus Alphavirus. Reverse genetic studies of EILV may help in the discovery of determinants of alphavirus host range which balances disease emergence. When tested on four different mosquito species the Eilat virus had similar effects on certain organs of the mosquitos and did not infect other organs. This bar graph shows the percentage of the specified mosquito species infected by the EILV in several different organs of the host.