METABOLIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN A-ALBOPICTUS CELLS INFECTED WITH MAYARO VIRUS UNDER HEAT-SHOCK CONDITIONS

We addressed the question how temperature elevation inhibits Mayaro vi rus replication in Aedes albopictus infected cells. The morphology and macromolecular changes induced by temperature, infection and high ser um concentration were investigated in these cells. Cells incubated wit h 2 and 10% serum at 28-degrees-C disclosed an intense vacuolization a nd inhibition of [S-35]methionine incorporation in a time-dependent ma nner. 34 and 50 kDa viral structural proteins were detected 24 h after infection. In contrast, an inhibition of viral proteins synthesis occ urred when infected cells were kept at 37-degrees-C (heat-shock condit ions). Total cellular RNA was isolated from mock and infected cells in cubated at 28 or 37-degrees-C. Northern blot analysis with a Mayaro ge nomic probe coding for viral structural proteins showed a decrease in the amount of viral 26S RNA in stressed cells when compared to those k ept at 28-degrees-C. Taken together, these results suggest that the in hibition of viral proteins synthesis in response to temperature elevat ion is associated with a decrease in the amount of subgenomic 26S RNA.