Invasion of midgut epithelial cells by a persistently transmitted virus is mediated by sugar transporter 6 in its insect vector
Fig 9
Model of virus entry into the midgut epithelial cell.
The viruses (RSV, RBSDV, SRBSDV and RGSV) enter the lumen of the midgut with sap of virus-infected rice plants ingested by L. striatellus, then the virions bind to the cell membrane of midgut epithelial cells by specific interaction with LsST6. Only a compatible interaction results in the virions crossing the cell membrane to enter the epithelial cells, where they replicate and are disseminated to other body parts of the insect.