ALPHAVIRUS EXPRESSION SYSTEMS - APPLICATIONS TO MOSQUITO VECTOR STUDIES

In this review, Steve Higgs, Ann Powers and Ken Olson describe how alp havirus expression systems, based on infectious cDNA clones of Sindbis virus, constitute a novel RNA virus delivery system suitable for the efficient expression of heterologous gene products or RNA sequences in mosquito cells or adult mosquitoes. The technique permits ready asses sment of molecular genetic-based methods of intracellular interference to infection and provides a powerful new tool for molecular biologica l studies in arthropods.