SINV induces oxidative stress in baby hamster kidney host cells

Abstract

Alphaviruses belong to the Togaviridae family who has a species of virus known as the Sindbis virus. Sindbis virus shares characteristics with other alphaviruses that are currently causing worldwide infection and disease (i.e., Chikungunya virus, Ross River Virus and Western and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus). Viruses are cellular parasites that invade and manipulate cellular energy pathways to support viral production. Oxidizing conditions are assumed to play a role in alphavirus replication. A modified Sindbis virus with a duplicated subgenomic promoter driving the expression of a fluorescent reporter was used in this analysis. An oxidative fluorescent probe was also used to measure relative levels of oxidation within cells. Cells were infected with Sindbis virus then incubated in media that contained pro-oxidative conditions or anti-oxidizing conditions.  Fluorescence intensity was recorded with a flow cytometer to determine the intensity of replication in an infected cell. We have found that an oxidizing environment increased viral replication, where an antioxidant environment reduced virus replication. Treatments with oxidants or antioxidants significantly altered viral replication, indicating that an intricate redox balance must be maintained for successful viral replication.