PUTATIVE DENGUE VIRUS RECEPTORS FROM MOSQUITO CELLS

Dengue viruses are arthropod-borne, single-stranded RNA viruses. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the principal vectors. In order to u nderstand the molecular basis of dengue virus infections ne explored t he biochemical identity of dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus receptors in the Aed es albopictus-derived cell line C6/36. We show here that DEN-2 interac ts with two major polypeptides of 80 and 67 kDa. Polyclonal anti-C6/36 membrane antibodies block DEN-2 binding to intact C6/36 monolayers as well as to membrane extracts. Our results strongly suggest thar the i dentified polypeptides are part of the DEN-2 receptors. (C) 1998 Feder ation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.