1
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Hofacker A, Knop M, Krauss‐Etschmann S, Roeder T. Time-Restricted Feeding Promotes Longevity and Gut Health Without Fitness Trade-Offs. FASEB J 2025; 39:e70627. [PMID: 40364722 PMCID: PMC12076110 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202500875r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2025] [Revised: 04/22/2025] [Accepted: 04/30/2025] [Indexed: 05/15/2025]
Abstract
Time-restricted feeding (TRF), a dietary intervention involving daily fasting periods, has been associated with metabolic benefits; however, its long-term physiological impact remains unclear. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, we investigated the effects of a 16:8 TRF regimen on lifespan, reproductive output, gut health, and microbiota composition. TRF significantly extended lifespan, even when applied only during early adulthood. Notably, this longevity benefit occurred without compromising reproductive fitness, as measured by female fecundity in life's most crucial reproductive phase. TRF promoted gut homeostasis in aged flies by reducing intestinal stem cell proliferation and enhancing epithelial barrier integrity. Furthermore, TRF induced a shift in microbiota composition, increasing the prevalence of gram-negative bacterial taxa. These results show that even short-term TRF interventions at a young age can have long-term physiological benefits. Metabolic reprogramming or increased autophagy are the most likely mechanisms mediating the health-promoting effects of this type of nutritional intervention. TRF is an effective, non-invasive strategy for promoting healthy longevity without significant adverse effects on other aspects of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann‐Cathrin Hofacker
- Zoology, Department of Molecular PhysiologyChristian Albrechts University KielKielGermany
| | - Mirjam Knop
- Zoology, Department of Molecular PhysiologyChristian Albrechts University KielKielGermany
| | - Susanne Krauss‐Etschmann
- Research Center Borstel, Priority Research Area Chronic Lung Diseases, Early Life Origins of CLDBorstelGermany
- Department of MedicineChristian Albrechts UniversityKielGermany
- German Center for Lung ResearchAirway Research Center NorthKiel/BorstelGermany
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Zoology, Department of Molecular PhysiologyChristian Albrechts University KielKielGermany
- German Center for Lung ResearchAirway Research Center NorthKiel/BorstelGermany
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2
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Yu Y, Iatsenko I. Drosophila symbionts in infection: when a friend becomes an enemy. Infect Immun 2025; 93:e0051124. [PMID: 40172541 PMCID: PMC12070757 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00511-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2025] Open
Abstract
The insect microbiome is comprised of extracellular microbial communities that colonize the host surfaces and endosymbionts that reside inside host cells and tissues. Both of these communities participate in essential aspects of host biology, including the immune response and interactions with pathogens. In recent years, our knowledge about the role of the insect microbiome in infection has increased tremendously. While many studies have highlighted the microbiome's protective effect against various natural enemies of insects, unexpected discoveries have shown that some members of the microbiota can facilitate pathogenic infections. Here, we summarize studies in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, that have substantially progressed our understanding of host-pathogen-microbiome interactions during infection. We summarize studies on the protective mechanisms of Drosophila gut microbiota, highlight examples of microbiome exploitation by pathogens, and detail the mechanisms of endosymbiont-mediated host protection. In addition, we delve into a previously neglected topic in Drosophila microbiome research-the crosstalk between endosymbionts and gut microbiota. Finally, we address how endosymbionts and gut microbiota remain resilient to host immune responses and stably colonize the host during infection. By examining how the microbiome is influenced by and reciprocally affects infection outcomes, this review provides timely and cohesive coverage of the roles of Drosophila endosymbionts and gut microbiota during infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yu
- Research Group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Igor Iatsenko
- Research Group Genetics of Host-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Njogu AK, Logozzo F, Conner WR, Shropshire JD. Counting rare Wolbachia endosymbionts using digital droplet PCR. Microbiol Spectr 2025:e0326624. [PMID: 40237471 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03266-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is the most widespread animal-associated intracellular microbe, living within the cells of over half of insect species. Since they can suppress pathogen replication and spread rapidly through insect populations, Wolbachia is at the vanguard of public health initiatives to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia's abilities to block pathogens and spread quickly are closely linked to their abundance in host tissues. The most common method for counting Wolbachia is quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), yet qPCR can be insufficient to count rare Wolbachia, necessitating tissue pooling and consequently compromising individual-level resolution of Wolbachia dynamics. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) offers superior sensitivity, enabling the detection of rare targets and eliminating the need for sample pooling. Here, we report three ddPCR assays to measure total Wolbachia abundance, Wolbachia abundance adjusted for DNA extraction efficiency, and Wolbachia density relative to host genome copies. Using Drosophila melanogaster with wMel Wolbachia as a model, we show these ddPCR assays can reliably detect as few as 7 to 12 Wolbachia gene copies in a 20 µL reaction. The designed oligos are homologous to sequences from at least 106 Wolbachia strains across supergroup A and 53 host species from the Drosophila, Scaptomyza, and Zaprionus genera, suggesting broad utility. These highly sensitive ddPCR assays are expected to significantly advance Wolbachia-host interactions research by enabling the collection of molecular data from individual insect tissues. Their ability to detect rare Wolbachia will be especially valuable in applied and natural field settings where pooling samples could obscure important variation.IMPORTANCEWolbachia bacteria live inside the cells of many animals, especially insects. In many insect species, almost every individual carries Wolbachia. How common Wolbachia becomes within a population often depends on how much of it is present in the insect's body. Therefore, accurately measuring Wolbachia levels is crucial for understanding how these bacteria interact with their hosts and spread. However, traditional molecular assays can lack the sensitivity needed for accurate, individual-level quantification of rare Wolbachia. Here, we present three highly sensitive digital droplet PCR assays for Wolbachia detection, offering superior sensitivity compared to existing methods. These assays will be useful for studies that measure Wolbachia abundance and related phenotypes in individual insects, providing enhanced resolution and improving efforts to characterize the mechanisms that govern phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alphaxand K Njogu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Francesca Logozzo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William R Conner
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - J Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
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4
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Pimentel AC, Cesar CS, Martins AHB, Martins M, Cogni R. Wolbachia Offers Protection Against Two Common Natural Viruses of Drosophila. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2025; 88:24. [PMID: 40202691 PMCID: PMC11982076 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-025-02518-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2025] [Indexed: 04/10/2025]
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis is a maternally transmitted endosymbiont infecting more than half of terrestrial arthropod species. Wolbachia can express parasitic phenotypes such as manipulation of host reproduction and mutualist phenotypes such as protection against RNA virus infections. Because Wolbachia can invade populations by reproductive manipulation and block virus infection, it is used to modify natural insect populations. However, the ecological importance of virus protection is not yet clear, especially due to scarce information on Wolbachia protection against viruses that are common in nature. We used systemic infection to investigate whether Wolbachia protects its host by suppressing the titer of DMELDAV and DMelNora virus, two viruses that commonly infect Drosophila melanogaster flies in natural populations. Antiviral protection was tested in three systems to assess the impact of Wolbachia strains across species: (1) a panel of Wolbachia strains transfected into Drosophila simulans, (2) two Wolbachia strains introgressed into the natural host D. melanogaster, and (3) two native Wolbachia strains in their natural hosts Drosophila baimaii and Drosophila tropicalis. We showed that certain Wolbachia strains provide protection against DMelNora virus and DMELDAV, and this protection is correlated with Wolbachia density, which is consistent with what has been observed in protection against other RNA viruses. Additionally, we found that Wolbachia does not protect its original host, D. melanogaster, from DMELDAV infection. While native Wolbachia can reduce DMELDAV titers in D. baimaii, this effect was not detected in D. tropicalis. Although the Wolbachia protection-induced phenotype seems to depend on the virus, the specific Wolbachia strain, and the host species, our findings suggest that antiviral protection may be one of the mutualistic effects that helps explain why Wolbachia is so widespread in arthropod populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C Pimentel
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cássia S Cesar
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Martins
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Cogni
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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5
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Kagemann CH, Bubnell JE, Colocho GM, Arana DC, Aquadro CF. Wolbachia pipientis modulates germline stem cells and gene expression associated with ubiquitination and histone lysine trimethylation to rescue fertility defects in Drosophila. Genetics 2025; 229:iyae220. [PMID: 39739581 PMCID: PMC11912866 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2024] [Revised: 12/18/2024] [Accepted: 12/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/02/2025] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis are maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria commonly found in arthropods and nematodes. These bacteria manipulate reproduction of the host to increase their transmission using mechanisms, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, that favor infected female offspring. The underlying mechanisms of reproductive manipulation by W. pipientis remain unresolved. Interestingly, W. pipientis infection partially rescues female fertility in flies containing hypomorphic mutations of bag of marbles (bam) in Drosophila melanogaster, which plays a key role in germline stem cell daughter differentiation. Using RNA-seq, we find that W. pipientis infection in bam hypomorphic females results in differential expression of many of bam's genetic and physical interactors and enrichment of ubiquitination and histone lysine methylation genes. We find that W. pipientis also rescues the fertility and germline stem cell functions of a subset of these genes when knocked down with RNAi in a wild-type bam genotype. Our results show that W. pipientis interacts with ubiquitination and histone lysine methylation genes which could be integral to the mechanism by which W. pipientis modulates germline stem cell gene function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine H Kagemann
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Jaclyn E Bubnell
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Gabriela M Colocho
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Daniela C Arana
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Charles F Aquadro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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6
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Perlmutter JI, Atadurdyyeva A, Schedl ME, Unckless RL. Wolbachia enhances the survival of Drosophila infected with fungal pathogens. BMC Biol 2025; 23:42. [PMID: 39934832 PMCID: PMC11817339 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-025-02130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2025] [Indexed: 02/13/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wolbachia bacteria of arthropods are at the forefront of basic and translational research on multipartite host-symbiont-pathogen interactions. These vertically transmitted microbes are the most widespread endosymbionts on the planet due to factors including host reproductive manipulation and fitness benefits. Importantly, some strains of Wolbachia can inhibit viral pathogenesis within and between arthropod hosts. Mosquitoes carrying the wMel Wolbachia strain of Drosophila melanogaster have a greatly reduced capacity to spread viruses like dengue and Zika to humans. While significant research efforts have focused on viruses, relatively little attention has been given to Wolbachia-fungal interactions despite the ubiquity of fungal entomopathogens in nature. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate that Wolbachia increase the longevity of their Drosophila melanogaster hosts when challenged with a spectrum of yeast and filamentous fungal pathogens. We find that this pattern can vary based on host genotype, sex, and fungal species. Further, Wolbachia correlates with higher fertility and reduced pathogen titers during initial fungal infection, indicating a significant fitness benefit. Finally, RNA sequencing results show altered expression of many immune and stress response genes in the context of Wolbachia and fungal infection, suggesting host immunity may be involved in the mechanism. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates Wolbachia's protective role in diverse fungal pathogen interactions and determines that the phenotype is broad, but with several variables that influence both the presence and strength of the phenotype. It also is a critical step forward to understanding how symbionts can protect their hosts from a variety of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aylar Atadurdyyeva
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Margaret E Schedl
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Robert L Unckless
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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7
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Shishkina OD, Gruntenko NE. Symbiosis of intracellular bacteria Wolbachia with insects: a hundred years of study summarized. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2025; 29:79-91. [PMID: 40151487 PMCID: PMC11947727 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-25-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2024] [Revised: 12/25/2024] [Accepted: 12/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis is an α-proteobacterium, which is a widespread intracellular symbiont in a number of Arthropoda and some Nematoda species. With insects, W. pipientis forms a symbiont-host system characterized by very close interactions between its components. The mutual effects of Wolbachia on the host and the host on Wolbachia are important biotic factors for both components of this symbiotic system. Wolbachia is able to affect both host reproduction and somatic organ function. Due to its prevalence among insects and a wide variety of both negative (cytoplasmic incompatibility and androcide are among the most well-known examples) and positive (increasing resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, providing vitamins and metabolites) effects on the host organism, Wolbachia is of great interest for both entomologists and microbiologists. The diversity of host phenotypes induced by Wolbachia provides a broad choice of evolutionary strategies (such as reproductive parasitism or mutually beneficial symbiont-host relationships) that it utilizes. The influence of Wolbachia is to be considered in the design of any experiment conducted on insects. The application of sequencing technologies has led to new approaches being created to study the existing relationships within the Wolbachia-insect system, but interpretation of the data obtained is challenging. Nevertheless, the prospects for the use of the whole-genome analysis data to study Wolbachia-host coevolution are beyond doubt. Ongoing projects to introduce Wolbachia strains, which provide antiviral host defense, into insect populations to control the spread of RNA-viruses are actively pursued, which could result in saving many human lives. The aim of this brief review is to summarize the data collected by scientists over the past hundred years of Wolbachia studies and the current understanding of its genetic diversity and mechanisms of interaction with the host, including those based on transcriptome analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- O D Shishkina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - N E Gruntenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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8
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Asselin A, Johnson K. The infectivity of virus particles from Wolbachia-infected Drosophila. BMC Microbiol 2025; 25:25. [PMID: 39819374 PMCID: PMC11737224 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03722-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 12/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2025] Open
Abstract
Viruses transmitted by arthropods pose a huge risk to human health. Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that infects various arthropods and can block the viral replication cycle of several medically important viruses. As such, it has been successfully implemented in vector control strategies against mosquito-borne diseases, including Dengue virus. Whilst the mechanisms behind Wolbachia-mediated viral blocking are not fully characterised, it was recently shown that viruses grown in the presence of Wolbachia in some Dipteran cell cultures are less infectious than those grown in the absence of Wolbachia. Here, we investigate the breadth of this mechanism by determining if Wolbachia reduces infectivity in a different system at a different scale. To do this, we looked at Wolbachia's impact on insect viruses from two diverse virus families within the whole organism Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila C virus (DCV; Family Dicistroviridae) and Flock House virus (FHV; Famliy Nodaviridae) were grown in adult D. melanogaster flies with and without Wolbachia strain wMelPop. Measures of the physical characteristics, infectivity, pathogenicity, and replicative properties of progeny virus particles did not identify any impact of Wolbachia on either DCV or FHV. Therefore, there was no evidence that changes in infectivity contribute to Wolbachia-mediated viral blocking in this system. Overall, this is consistent with growing evidence that the mechanisms behind Wolbachia viral blocking are dependent on the unique tripartite interactions occurring between the host, the Wolbachia strain, and the infecting virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelique Asselin
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Karyn Johnson
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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9
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Angelella GM, Foutz JJ, Galindo-Schuller J. Wolbachia infection modifies phloem feeding behavior but not plant virus transmission by a hemipteran host. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2025; 160:104746. [PMID: 39733938 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2024] [Revised: 12/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/26/2024] [Indexed: 12/31/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia-infected and uninfected subpopulations of beet leafhoppers, Circulifer tenellus (Baker) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), co-occur in the Columbia Basin region of Washington and Oregon. While facultative endosymbionts such as Hamiltonella defensa have demonstrably altered feeding/probing behavior in hemipteran hosts, the behavioral phenotypes conferred by Wolbachia to its insect hosts, including feeding/probing, are largely understudied. We studied the feeding/probing behavior of beet leafhoppers with and without Wolbachia using electropenetrography, along with corresponding inoculation rates of beet curly top virus, a phloem-limited plant pathogen vectored by beet leafhoppers. Insects carrying the virus with and without Wolbachia were individually recorded for four hours while interacting with a potato plant, and wavelengths annotated following established conventions. Virus inoculation rates and the duration of phloem salivation events did not vary. Wolbachia-infected insects more than tripled the duration of phloem ingestion, but despite this, Wolbachia infection was linked with marginally lower, not enhanced, acquisition. Regardless, results suggest potential for Wolbachia to increase the acquisition rate of other phloem-limited plant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M Angelella
- USDA-ARS Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, WA, 98951, USA.
| | - Jillian J Foutz
- USDA-ARS Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, WA, 98951, USA
| | - Joanna Galindo-Schuller
- USDA-ARS Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, WA, 98951, USA
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10
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Njogu AK, Logozzo F, Conner WR, Shropshire JD. Counting rare Wolbachia endosymbionts using digital droplet PCR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.12.10.627731. [PMID: 39713442 PMCID: PMC11661144 DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.10.627731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia is the most widespread animal-associated intracellular microbe, living within the cells of over half of insect species. Since they can suppress pathogen replication and spread rapidly through insect populations, Wolbachia is at the vanguard of public health initiatives to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia's abilities to block pathogens and spread quickly are closely linked to their abundance in host tissues. The most common method for counting Wolbachia is quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), yet qPCR can be insufficient to count rare Wolbachia, necessitating tissue pooling and consequently compromising individual-level resolution of Wolbachia dynamics. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) offers superior sensitivity, enabling the detection of rare targets and eliminating the need for sample pooling. Here, we report three ddPCR assays to measure total Wolbachia abundance, Wolbachia abundance adjusted for DNA extraction efficiency, and Wolbachia density relative to host genome copies. Using Drosophila melanogaster with wMel Wolbachia as a model, we show these ddPCR assays can reliably detect as few as 7 to 12 Wolbachia gene copies in a 20 μL reaction. The designed oligos are homologous to sequences from at least 106 Wolbachia strains across Supergroup A and 53 host species from the Drosophila, Scaptomyza, and Zaprionus genera, suggesting broad utility. These highly sensitive ddPCR assays are expected to significantly advance Wolbachia-host interactions research by enabling the collection of molecular data from individual insect tissues. Their ability to detect rare Wolbachia will be especially valuable in applied and natural field settings where pooling samples could obscure important variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alphaxand K. Njogu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Francesca Logozzo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William R. Conner
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - J. Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
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11
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Ward CM, Onetto CA, Borneman AR. Adaptation During the Shift from Entomopathogen to Endosymbiont Is Accompanied by Gene Loss and Intensified Selection. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae251. [PMID: 39561190 PMCID: PMC11632363 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 11/10/2024] [Accepted: 11/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungi have been found to be associated with many insect species, with some species transitioning to reside within insects as symbionts. However, the evolutionary pressures and genomic consequences associated with this transition are not well understood. Pathogenic fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps have undergone multiple, independent transitions from pathogen to endosymbiont lifestyles, where they reside within the fatty tissues of infected soft-scale insects transgenerationally without killing their hosts. To gain an understanding of the genomic adaptations underlying this life history shift, long-read sequencing was utilized to assemble the genomes of both the soft-scale insect Parthenolecanium corni and its Ophiocordyceps endosymbiont from a single insect. Assembly and metagenomic-based binning produced a highly contiguous genome for Pa. corni and a chromosome-level assembly for the Ophiocordyceps endosymbiont. The endosymbiont genome was characterized by 524 gene loss events compared to free-living pathogenic Ophiocordyceps relatives, with predicted roles in hyphal growth, cell wall integrity, metabolism, gene regulation, and toxin production. Contrasting patterns of selection were observed between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes specific to the endosymbiont lineage. Intensified selection was most frequently observed across orthologs in the nuclear genome, whereas selection on most mitochondrial genes was found to be relaxed. Scans for positive selection were enriched within the fatty acid metabolism pathway with endosymbiont specific selection within three adjacent enzymes catalyzing the conversion of acetoacetate to acetyl-coenzyme A, suggesting that the endosymbiont lineage is under selective pressure to effectively exploit the lipid rich environment of the insect fat bodies in which it is found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris M Ward
- Australian Wine Research Institute, Glen Osmond, Australia
| | - Cristobal A Onetto
- Australian Wine Research Institute, Glen Osmond, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Anthony R Borneman
- Australian Wine Research Institute, Glen Osmond, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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12
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Higashi CHV, Patel V, Kamalaker B, Inaganti R, Bressan A, Russell JA, Oliver KM. Another tool in the toolbox: Aphid-specific Wolbachia protect against fungal pathogens. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e70005. [PMID: 39562330 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.70005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024]
Abstract
Aphids harbor nine common facultative symbionts, most mediating one or more ecological interactions. Wolbachia pipientis, well-studied in other arthropods, remains poorly characterized in aphids. In Pentalonia nigronervosa and P. caladii, global pests of banana, Wolbachia was initially hypothesized to function as a co-obligate nutritional symbiont alongside the traditional obligate Buchnera. However, genomic analyses failed to support this role. Our sampling across numerous populations revealed that more than 80% of Pentalonia aphids carried an M-supergroup strain of Wolbachia (wPni). The lack of fixation further supports a facultative status for Wolbachia, while high infection frequencies in these entirely asexual aphids strongly suggest Wolbachia confers net fitness benefits. Finding no correlation between Wolbachia presence and food plant use, we challenged Wolbachia-infected aphids with common natural enemies. Bioassays revealed that Wolbachia conferred significant protection against a specialized fungal pathogen (Pandora neoaphidis) but not against generalist pathogens or parasitoids. Wolbachia also improved aphid fitness in the absence of enemy challenge. Thus, we identified the first clear benefits for aphid-associated Wolbachia and M-supergroup strains specifically. Aphid-Wolbachia systems provide unique opportunities to merge key models of symbiosis to better understand infection dynamics and mechanisms underpinning symbiont-mediated phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clesson H V Higashi
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vilas Patel
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Bryan Kamalaker
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Rahul Inaganti
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alberto Bressan
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Jacob A Russell
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kerry M Oliver
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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13
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Kagemann CH, Colocho GM, Aquadro CF. Non-ovarian Wolbachia pipientis titer correlates with fertility rescue of a Drosophila melanogaster bag of marbles hypomorph. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001233. [PMID: 39157806 PMCID: PMC11327868 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Bag of marbles ( bam ) is an essential gene that regulates germline stem cell maintenance and germline stem cell daughter cell differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster . When bam is partially functional (hypomorphic), the introduction of Wolbachia pipientis rescues the mutant fertility phenotype that would otherwise result in partial sterility. Infection by different W. pipientis variants results in differential rescue of the bam hypomorph fertility phenotype. We were intrigued by the varying degrees of rescue exhibited in the bam hypomorph when exposed to different W. pipientis variants, prompting us to investigate whether this phenomenon is attributable to variations in the titers of W. pipientis variants. We found no significant difference in ovarian titer between two W. pipientis variant groups, w Mel-like (low bam hypomorph fertility rescue) and w MelCS-like variants (higher bam hypomorph fertility rescue), at bam hypomorph peak fertility. However, carcass (whole flies without the ovaries) titer between w Mel-like and w MelCS-like infected bam hypomorph differed during peak fertility rescue. A positive correlation emerged between the combined titers of ovarian and carcass infections and fertility, implying a more extensive influence that extends beyond ovarian infection alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriela M. Colocho
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
| | - Charles F. Aquadro
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
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14
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Henry LP, Fernandez M, Wolf S, Abhyankar V, Ayroles JF. Wolbachia impacts microbiome diversity and fitness-associated traits for Drosophila melanogaster in a seasonally fluctuating environment. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70004. [PMID: 39041013 PMCID: PMC11262851 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbiome contributes to many different host traits, but its role in host adaptation remains enigmatic. The fitness benefits of the microbiome often depend on ecological conditions, but theory suggests that fluctuations in both the microbiome and environment modulate these fitness benefits. Moreover, vertically transmitted bacteria might constrain the ability of both the microbiome and host to respond to changing environments. Drosophila melanogaster provides an excellent system to investigate the impacts of interactions between the microbiome and the environment. To address this question, we created field mesocosms of D. melanogaster undergoing seasonal environmental change with and without the vertically transmitted bacteria, Wolbachia pipientis. Sampling temporal patterns in the microbiome revealed that Wolbachia constrained microbial diversity. Furthermore, Wolbachia and a dominant member of the microbiome, Commensalibacter, were associated with differences in two higher-order fitness traits, starvation resistance and lifespan. Our work here suggests that the interplay between the abiotic context and microbe-microbe interactions may shape key host phenotypes that underlie adaptation to changing environments. We conclude by exploring the consequences of complex interactions between Wolbachia and the microbiome for our understanding of eco-evolutionary processes that shape host-microbiome interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas P. Henry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Michael Fernandez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Scott Wolf
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Varada Abhyankar
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Julien F. Ayroles
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
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15
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Hague MTJ, Wheeler TB, Cooper BS. Comparative analysis of Wolbachia maternal transmission and localization in host ovaries. Commun Biol 2024; 7:727. [PMID: 38877196 PMCID: PMC11178894 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06431-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Many insects and other animals carry microbial endosymbionts that influence their reproduction and fitness. These relationships only persist if endosymbionts are reliably transmitted from one host generation to the next. Wolbachia are maternally transmitted endosymbionts found in most insect species, but transmission rates can vary across environments. Maternal transmission of wMel Wolbachia depends on temperature in natural Drosophila melanogaster hosts and in transinfected Aedes aegypti, where wMel is used to block pathogens that cause human disease. In D. melanogaster, wMel transmission declines in the cold as Wolbachia become less abundant in host ovaries and at the posterior pole plasm (the site of germline formation) in mature oocytes. Here, we assess how temperature affects maternal transmission and underlying patterns of Wolbachia localization across 10 Wolbachia strains diverged up to 50 million years-including strains closely related to wMel-and their natural Drosophila hosts. Many Wolbachia maintain high transmission rates across temperatures, despite highly variable (and sometimes low) levels of Wolbachia in the ovaries and at the developing germline in late-stage oocytes. Identifying strains like closely related wMel-like Wolbachia with stable transmission across variable environmental conditions may improve the efficacy of Wolbachia-based biocontrol efforts as they expand into globally diverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy B Wheeler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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16
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Prakash A, Fenner F, Shit B, Salminen TS, Monteith KM, Khan I, Vale PF. IMD-mediated innate immune priming increases Drosophila survival and reduces pathogen transmission. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012308. [PMID: 38857285 PMCID: PMC11192365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Invertebrates lack the immune machinery underlying vertebrate-like acquired immunity. However, in many insects past infection by the same pathogen can 'prime' the immune response, resulting in improved survival upon reinfection. Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis and epidemiological consequences of innate immune priming in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster when infected with the gram-negative bacterial pathogen Providencia rettgeri. We find that priming in response to P. rettgeri infection is a long-lasting and sexually dimorphic response. We further explore the epidemiological consequences of immune priming and find it has the potential to curtail pathogen transmission by reducing pathogen shedding and spread. The enhanced survival of individuals previously exposed to a non-lethal bacterial inoculum coincided with a transient decrease in bacterial loads, and we provide strong evidence that the effect of priming requires the IMD-responsive antimicrobial-peptide Diptericin-B in the fat body. Further, we show that while Diptericin B is the main effector of bacterial clearance, it is not sufficient for immune priming, which requires regulation of IMD by peptidoglycan recognition proteins. This work underscores the plasticity and complexity of invertebrate responses to infection, providing novel experimental evidence for the effects of innate immune priming on population-level epidemiological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Prakash
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Florence Fenner
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tiina S. Salminen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Katy M. Monteith
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pedro F. Vale
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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17
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Hague MT, Wheeler TB, Cooper BS. Comparative analysis of Wolbachia maternal transmission and localization in host ovaries. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.03.583170. [PMID: 38496649 PMCID: PMC10942406 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.03.583170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Many insects and other animals carry microbial endosymbionts that influence their reproduction and fitness. These relationships only persist if endosymbionts are reliably transmitted from one host generation to the next. Wolbachia are maternally transmitted endosymbionts found in most insect species, but transmission rates can vary across environments. Maternal transmission of wMel Wolbachia depends on temperature in natural Drosophila melanogaster hosts and in transinfected Aedes aegypti, where wMel is used to block pathogens that cause human disease. In D. melanogaster, wMel transmission declines in the cold as Wolbachia become less abundant in host ovaries and at the posterior pole plasm (the site of germline formation) in mature oocytes. Here, we assess how temperature affects maternal transmission and underlying patterns of Wolbachia localization across 10 Wolbachia strains diverged up to 50 million years-including strains closely related to wMel-and their natural Drosophila hosts. Many Wolbachia maintain high transmission rates across temperatures, despite highly variable (and sometimes low) levels of Wolbachia in the ovaries and at the developing germline in late-stage oocytes. Identifying strains like closely related wMel-like Wolbachia with stable transmission across variable environmental conditions may improve the efficacy of Wolbachia-based biocontrol efforts as they expand into globally diverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy B. Wheeler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Brandon S. Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
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18
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Strunov A, Schönherr C, Kapun M. Wolbachia effects on thermal preference of natural Drosophila melanogaster are influenced by host genetic background, Wolbachia type, and bacterial titer. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16579. [PMID: 38192184 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Temperature plays a fundamental role in the fitness of all organisms. In particular, it strongly affects metabolism and reproduction in ectotherms that have limited physiological capabilities to regulate their body temperature. The influence of temperature variation on the physiology and behaviour of ectotherms is well studied but we still know little about the influence of symbiotic interactions on thermal preference (Tp ) of the host. A growing number of studies focusing on the Wolbachia-Drosophila host-symbiont system found that Wolbachia can influence Tp in Drosophila laboratory strains. Here, we investigated the effect of Wolbachia on Tp in wild-type D. melanogaster flies recently collected from nature. Consistent with previous data, we found reduced Tp compared to an uninfected control in one of two fly strains infected with the wMelCS Wolbachia type. Additionally, we, for the first time, found that Wolbachia titer variation influences the thermal preference of the host fly. These data indicate that the interaction of Wolbachia and Drosophila resulting in behavioural variation is strongly influenced by the genetic background of the host and symbiont. More studies are needed to better understand the evolutionary significance of Tp variation influenced by Wolbachia in natural Drosophila populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Strunov
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Charlotte Schönherr
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Kapun
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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19
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Namias A, Ngaku A, Makoundou P, Unal S, Sicard M, Weill M. Intra-lineage microevolution of Wolbachia leads to the emergence of new cytoplasmic incompatibility patterns. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002493. [PMID: 38315724 PMCID: PMC10868858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex are worldwide vectors of arbovirus, filarial nematodes, and avian malaria agents. In these hosts, the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), i.e., reduced embryo viability in so-called incompatible crosses. Wolbachia infecting Culex pipiens (wPip) cause CI patterns of unparalleled complexity, associated with the amplification and diversification of cidA and cidB genes, with up to 6 different gene copies described in a single wPip genome. In wPip, CI is thought to function as a toxin-antidote (TA) system where compatibility relies on having the right antidotes (CidA) in the female to bind and neutralize the male's toxins (CidB). By repeating crosses between Culex isofemale lines over a 17 years period, we documented the emergence of a new compatibility type in real time and linked it to a change in cid genes genotype. We showed that loss of specific cidA gene copies in some wPip genomes results in a loss of compatibility. More precisely, we found that this lost antidote had an original sequence at its binding interface, corresponding to the original sequence at the toxin's binding interface. We showed that these original cid variants are recombinant, supporting a role for recombination rather than point mutations in rapid CI evolution. These results strongly support the TA model in natura, adding to all previous data acquired with transgenes expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Namias
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Annais Ngaku
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Makoundou
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Sandra Unal
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Mathieu Sicard
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Mylène Weill
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
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20
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Makhulu EE, Onchuru TO, Gichuhi J, Otieno FG, Wairimu AW, Muthoni JN, Koekemoer L, Herren JK. Localization and tissue tropism of the symbiont Microsporidia MB in the germ line and somatic tissues of Anopheles arabiensis. mBio 2024; 15:e0219223. [PMID: 38063396 PMCID: PMC10790688 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02192-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Microsporidia MB is a symbiont with a strong malaria transmission-blocking phenotype in Anopheles arabiensis. It spreads in mosquito populations through mother-to-offspring and sexual transmission. The ability of Microsporidia MB to block Plasmodium transmission, together with its ability to spread within Anopheles populations and its avirulence to the host, makes it a very attractive candidate for developing a key strategy to stop malaria transmissions. Here, we report tissue tropism and localization patterns of Microsporidia MB, which are relevant to its transmission. We find that Microsporidia MB accumulates in Anopheles arabiensis tissues, linked to its sexual and vertical transmission. Its prevalence and intensity in the tissues over the mosquito life cycle suggest adaptation to maximize transmission and avirulence in Anopheles arabiensis. These findings provide the foundation for understanding the factors that may affect Microsporidia MB transmission efficiency. This will contribute to the development of strategies to maximize Microsporidia MB transmission to establish and sustain a high prevalence of the symbiont in Anopheles mosquito populations for malaria transmission blocking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward E. Makhulu
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Thomas O. Onchuru
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Physical and Biological Sciences, Bomet University College, Bomet, Kenya
| | - Joseph Gichuhi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fidel G. Otieno
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anne W. Wairimu
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joseph N. Muthoni
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lizette Koekemoer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Jeremy K. Herren
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
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21
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Trouche B, Schrieke H, Duron O, Eren AM, Reveillaud J. Wolbachia populations across organs of individual Culex pipiens: highly conserved intra-individual core pangenome with inter-individual polymorphisms. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae078. [PMID: 38915450 PMCID: PMC11195471 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia is a maternally inherited intracellular bacterium that infects a wide range of arthropods including mosquitoes. The endosymbiont is widely used in biocontrol strategies due to its capacity to modulate arthropod reproduction and limit pathogen transmission. Wolbachia infections in Culex spp. are generally assumed to be monoclonal but the potential presence of genetically distinct Wolbachia subpopulations within and between individual organs has not been investigated using whole genome sequencing. Here we reconstructed Wolbachia genomes from ovary and midgut metagenomes of single naturally infected Culex pipiens mosquitoes from Southern France to investigate patterns of intra- and inter-individual differences across mosquito organs. Our analyses revealed a remarkable degree of intra-individual conservancy among Wolbachia genomes from distinct organs of the same mosquito both at the level of gene presence-absence signal and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Yet, we identified several synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions between individuals, demonstrating the presence of some level of genomic heterogeneity among Wolbachia that infect the same C. pipiens field population. Overall, the absence of genetic heterogeneity within Wolbachia populations in a single individual confirms the presence of a dominant Wolbachia that is maintained under strong purifying forces of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blandine Trouche
- IRD, MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, INRAE, CNRS, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Hans Schrieke
- IRD, MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, INRAE, CNRS, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Olivier Duron
- IRD, MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, INRAE, CNRS, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - A Murat Eren
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, United States
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Julie Reveillaud
- IRD, MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, INRAE, CNRS, 34394 Montpellier, France
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22
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Chrostek E. Procedures for the Detection of Wolbachia-Conferred Antiviral Protection in Drosophila melanogaster. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2739:219-237. [PMID: 38006555 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3553-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Spread of Wolbachia infections in host populations may be enhanced by Wolbachia-conferred protection from viral pathogens. Wolbachia-infected Drosophila melanogaster survive the pathogenic effects of positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus infections at a higher rate than the flies without Wolbachia. The protection can occur with or without detectable reduction in virus titer. For the comparisons to be meaningful, Wolbachia-harboring and Wolbachia-free insects need to be genetically matched, and original populations of gut microbiota need to be restored after the removal of Wolbachia using antibiotics. Here, I describe the procedures needed to detect Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection against Drosophila C virus measured as the difference in survival and viral titer between flies with and without Wolbachia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Chrostek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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23
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Adonyeva NV, Efimov VM, Gruntenko NE. The Effect of Genotype Combinations of Wolbachia and Its Drosophila melanogaster Host on Fertility, Developmental Rate and Heat Stress Resistance of Flies. INSECTS 2023; 14:928. [PMID: 38132601 PMCID: PMC10743879 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The best-known effect of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia is its mostly negative influence on the reproduction of the host. However, there is evidence of a positive influence of Wolbachia on the host's resistance to stress, pathogens, and viruses. Here, we analyzed the effects of two Wolbachia strains belonging to wMel and wMelCS genotypes on D. melanogaster traits, such as fertility, survival under acute heat stress, and developmental rate. We found that D. melanogaster lines under study differ significantly in the above-mentioned characteristics, both when the natural infection was preserved, and when it was eliminated. One of Wolbachia strains, wMel, did not affect any of the studied traits. Another strain, wMelPlus, had a significant effect on the development time. Moreover, this effect is observed not only in the line in which it was discovered but also in the one it was transferred to. When transferred to a new line, wMelPlus also caused changes in survival under heat stress. Thus, it could be concluded that Wolbachia-Drosophila interaction depends on the genotypes of both the host and the symbiont, but some Wolbachia effects could depend not on the genotypes, but on the fact of recent transfer of the symbiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya V. Adonyeva
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (N.V.A.); (V.M.E.)
| | - Vadim M. Efimov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (N.V.A.); (V.M.E.)
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nataly E. Gruntenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (N.V.A.); (V.M.E.)
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24
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Whittle M, Bonsall MB, Barreaux AMG, Ponton F, English S. A theoretical model for host-controlled regulation of symbiont density. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1731-1744. [PMID: 37955420 PMCID: PMC7617405 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
There is growing empirical evidence that animal hosts actively control the density of their mutualistic symbionts according to their requirements. Such active regulation can be facilitated by compartmentalization of symbionts within host tissues, which confers a high degree of control of the symbiosis to the host. Here, we build a general theoretical framework to predict the underlying ecological drivers and evolutionary consequences of host-controlled endosymbiont density regulation for a mutually obligate association between a host and a compartmentalized, vertically transmitted symbiont. Building on the assumption that the costs and benefits of hosting a symbiont population increase with symbiont density, we use state-dependent dynamic programming to determine an optimal strategy for the host, i.e., that which maximizes host fitness, when regulating the density of symbionts. Simulations of active host-controlled regulation governed by the optimal strategy predict that the density of the symbiont should converge to a constant level during host development, and following perturbation. However, a similar trend also emerges from alternative strategies of symbiont regulation. The strategy which maximizes host fitness also promotes symbiont fitness compared to alternative strategies, suggesting that active host-controlled regulation of symbiont density could be adaptive for the symbiont as well as the host. Adaptation of the framework allowed the dynamics of symbiont density to be predicted for other host-symbiont ecologies, such as for non-essential symbionts, demonstrating the versatility of this modelling approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilda Whittle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael B. Bonsall
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- St Peter’s College, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Fleur Ponton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sinead English
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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25
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Strunov A, Kirchner S, Schindelar J, Kruckenhauser L, Haring E, Kapun M. Historic Museum Samples Provide Evidence for a Recent Replacement of Wolbachia Types in European Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad258. [PMID: 37995370 PMCID: PMC10701101 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is one of the most common bacterial endosymbionts, which is frequently found in numerous arthropods and nematode taxa. Wolbachia infections can have a strong influence on the evolutionary dynamics of their hosts since these bacteria are reproductive manipulators that affect the fitness and life history of their host species for their own benefit. Host-symbiont interactions with Wolbachia are perhaps best studied in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, which is naturally infected with at least 5 different variants among which wMel and wMelCS are the most frequent ones. Comparisons of infection types between natural flies and long-term lab stocks have previously indicated that wMelCS represents the ancestral type, which was only very recently replaced by the nowadays dominant wMel in most natural populations. In this study, we took advantage of recently sequenced museum specimens of D. melanogaster that have been collected 90 to 200 yr ago in Northern Europe to test this hypothesis. Our comparison to contemporary Wolbachia samples provides compelling support for the replacement hypothesis. Our analyses show that sequencing data from historic museum specimens and their bycatch are an emerging and unprecedented resource to address fundamental questions about evolutionary dynamics in host-symbiont interactions. However, we also identified contamination with DNA from crickets that resulted in co-contamination with cricket-specific Wolbachia in several samples. These results underpin the need for rigorous quality assessments of museomic data sets to account for contamination as a source of error that may strongly influence biological interpretations if it remains undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Strunov
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sandra Kirchner
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Schindelar
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luise Kruckenhauser
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Haring
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Kapun
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
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26
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Wenzel M, Aquadro CF. Wolbachia infection at least partially rescues the fertility and ovary defects of several new Drosophila melanogaster bag of marbles protein-coding mutants. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011009. [PMID: 37871129 PMCID: PMC10621935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The D. melanogaster protein coding gene bag of marbles (bam) plays a key role in early male and female reproduction by forming complexes with partner proteins to promote differentiation in gametogenesis. Like another germline gene, Sex lethal, bam genetically interacts with the endosymbiont Wolbachia, as Wolbachia rescues the reduced fertility of a bam hypomorphic mutant. Here, we explored the specificity of the bam-Wolbachia interaction by generating 22 new bam mutants, with ten mutants displaying fertility defects. Nine of these mutants trend towards rescue by the wMel Wolbachia variant, with eight statistically significant at the fertility and/or cytological level. In some cases, fertility was increased a striking 20-fold. There is no specificity between the rescue and the known binding regions of bam, suggesting wMel does not interact with one singular bam partner to rescue the reproductive phenotype. We further tested if wMel interacts with bam in a non-specific way, by increasing bam transcript levels or acting upstream in germline stem cells. A fertility assessment of a bam RNAi knockdown mutant reveals that wMel rescue is specific to functionally mutant bam alleles and we find no obvious evidence of wMel interaction with germline stem cells in bam mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miwa Wenzel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Charles F. Aquadro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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27
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Guo Y, Shao J, Wu Y, Li Y. Using Wolbachia to control rice planthopper populations: progress and challenges. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1244239. [PMID: 37779725 PMCID: PMC10537216 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1244239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia have been developed as a tool for protecting humans from mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. The success of using Wolbachia relies on the facts that Wolbachia are maternally transmitted and that Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility provides a selective advantage to infected over uninfected females, ensuring that Wolbachia rapidly spread through the target pest population. Most transinfected Wolbachia exhibit a strong antiviral response in novel hosts, thus making it an extremely efficient technique. Although Wolbachia has only been used to control mosquitoes so far, great progress has been made in developing Wolbachia-based approaches to protect plants from rice pests and their associated diseases. Here, we synthesize the current knowledge about the important phenotypic effects of Wolbachia used to control mosquito populations and the literature on the interactions between Wolbachia and rice pest planthoppers. Our aim is to link findings from Wolbachia-mediated mosquito control programs to possible applications in planthoppers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yifeng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, China
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28
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Strunov A, Schoenherr C, Kapun M. Wolbachia has subtle effects on thermal preference in highly inbred Drosophila melanogaster which vary with life stage and environmental conditions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13792. [PMID: 37612420 PMCID: PMC10447536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40781-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature fluctuations are challenging for ectotherms which are not able to regulate body temperature by physiological means and thus have to adjust their thermal environment via behavior. However, little is yet known about whether microbial symbionts influence thermal preference (Tp) in ectotherms by modulating their physiology. Several recent studies have demonstrated substantial effects of Wolbachia infections on host Tp in different Drosophila species. These data indicate that the direction and strength of thermal preference variation is strongly dependent on host and symbiont genotypes and highly variable among studies. By employing highly controlled experiments, we investigated the impact of several environmental factors including humidity, food quality, light exposure, and experimental setup that may influence Tp measurements in adult Drosophila melanogaster flies. Additionally, we assessed the effects of Wolbachia infection on Tp of Drosophila at different developmental stages, which has not been done before. We find only subtle effects of Wolbachia on host Tp which are strongly affected by experimental variation in adult, but not during juvenile life stages. Our in-depth analyses show that environmental variation has a substantial influence on Tp which demonstrates the necessity of careful experimental design and cautious interpretations of Tp measurements together with a thorough description of the methods and equipment used to conduct behavioral studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Strunov
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Charlotte Schoenherr
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Kapun
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Wenzel M, Aquadro CF. Wolbachia infection at least partially rescues the fertility and ovary defects of several new Drosophila melanogaster bag of marbles protein-coding mutants. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.532813. [PMID: 37645949 PMCID: PMC10461928 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.532813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The D. melanogaster protein coding gene bag of marbles ( bam ) plays a key role in early male and female reproduction by forming complexes with partner proteins to promote differentiation in gametogenesis. Like another germline gene, Sex lethal , bam genetically interacts with the endosymbiont Wolbachia , as Wolbachia rescues the reduced fertility of a bam hypomorphic mutant. Here, we explored the specificity of the bam-Wolbachia interaction by generating 22 new bam mutants, with ten mutants displaying fertility defects. Nine of these mutants trend towards rescue by the w Mel Wolbachia variant, with eight statistically significant at the fertility and/or cytological level. In some cases, fertility was increased a striking 20-fold. There is no specificity between the rescue and the known binding regions of bam , suggesting w Mel does not interact with one singular bam partner to rescue the reproductive phenotype. We further tested if w Mel interacts with bam in a non-specific way, by increasing bam transcript levels or acting upstream in germline stem cells. A fertility assessment of a bam RNAi knockdown mutant reveals that w Mel rescue is specific to functionally mutant bam alleles and we find no obvious evidence of w Mel interaction with germline stem cells in bam mutants. Author Summary Reproduction in the Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly is dependent on the bag of marbles ( bam ) gene, which acts early in the process of generating eggs and sperm. Mutations to this gene negatively impact the fertility of the fly, causing it to be sterile or have fewer progeny. Interestingly, we find that the bacteria Wolbachia , which resides within reproductive cells across a wide range of insects, partially restores the fertility and ovary phenotype of several bam mutants of which the resultant Bam protein is altered from wildtype. The protein function of Bam is further suggested to be important by the lack of rescue for a fly that has a fertility defect due to low expression of a non-mutated bam gene. Previous work makes similar conclusions about Wolbachia with another reproductive gene, Sex lethal ( Sxl ), highlighting the potential for rescue of fertility mutants to occur in a similar way across different genes. An understanding of the ways in which Wolbachia can affect host reproduction provides us with context with which to frame Wolbachia 's impact on host genes, such as bam and Sxl, and consider the evolutionary implications of Wolbachia 's infection in D. melanogaster fruit flies.
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Pujhari S, Hughes GL, Pakpour N, Suzuki Y, Rasgon JL. Wolbachia-induced inhibition of O'nyong nyong virus in Anopheles mosquitoes is mediated by Toll signaling and modulated by cholesterol. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.31.543096. [PMID: 37397989 PMCID: PMC10312510 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.31.543096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Enhanced host immunity and competition for metabolic resources are two main competing hypotheses for the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated pathogen inhibition in arthropods. Using an Anopheles mosquito - somatic Wolbachia infection - O'nyong nyong virus (ONNV) model, we demonstrate that the mechanism underpinning Wolbachia-mediated virus inhibition is up-regulation of the Toll innate immune pathway. However, the viral inhibitory properties of Wolbachia were abolished by cholesterol supplementation. This result was due to Wolbachia-dependent cholesterol-mediated suppression of Toll signaling rather than competition for cholesterol between Wolbachia and virus. The inhibitory effect of cholesterol was specific to Wolbachia-infected Anopheles mosquitoes and cells. These data indicate that both Wolbachia and cholesterol influence Toll immune signaling in Anopheles mosquitoes in a complex manner and provide a functional link between the host immunity and metabolic competition hypotheses for explaining Wolbachia-mediated pathogen interference in mosquitoes. In addition, these results provide a mechanistic understanding of the mode of action of Wolbachia-induced pathogen blocking in Anophelines, which is critical to evaluate the long-term efficacy of control strategies for malaria and Anopheles-transmitted arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujit Pujhari
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Grant L Hughes
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yasutsugu Suzuki
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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31
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Bruner-Montero G, Jiggins FM. Wolbachia protects Drosophila melanogaster against two naturally occurring and virulent viral pathogens. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8518. [PMID: 37231093 PMCID: PMC10212958 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35726-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is a common endosymbiont that can protect insects against viral pathogens. However, whether the antiviral effects of Wolbachia have a significant effect on fitness remains unclear. We have investigated the interaction between Drosophila melanogaster, Wolbachia and two viruses that we recently isolated from wild flies, La Jolla virus (LJV; Iflaviridae) and Newfield virus (NFV; Permutotetraviridae). Flies infected with these viruses have increased mortality rates, and NFV partially sterilizes females. These effects on fitness were reduced in Wolbachia-infected flies, and this was associated with reduced viral titres. However, Wolbachia alone also reduces survival, and under our experimental conditions these costs of the symbiont can outweigh the benefits of antiviral protection. In contrast, protection against the sterilizing effect of NFV leads to a net benefit of Wolbachia infection after exposure to the virus. These results support the hypothesis that Wolbachia is an important defense against the natural pathogens of D. melanogaster. Furthermore, by reducing the cost of Wolbachia infection, the antiviral effects of Wolbachia may aid its invasion into populations and help explain why it is so common in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaspar Bruner-Montero
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK.
- Coiba Scientific Station, City of Knowledge, 0843-03081, Clayton, Panama.
| | - Francis M Jiggins
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK.
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32
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Brown JJ, Jandová A, Jeffs CT, Higgie M, Nováková E, Lewis OT, Hrček J. Microbiome Structure of a Wild Drosophila Community along Tropical Elevational Gradients and Comparison to Laboratory Lines. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0009923. [PMID: 37154737 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00099-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation along environmental gradients in host-associated microbial communities is not well understood compared to free-living microbial communities. Because elevational gradients may serve as natural proxies for climate change, understanding patterns along these gradients can inform our understanding of the threats hosts and their symbiotic microbes face in a warming world. In this study, we analyzed bacterial microbiomes from pupae and adults of four Drosophila species native to Australian tropical rainforests. We sampled wild individuals at high and low elevations along two mountain gradients to determine natural diversity patterns. Further, we sampled laboratory-reared individuals from isofemale lines established from the same localities to see if any natural patterns are retained in the lab. In both environments, we controlled for diet to help elucidate other deterministic patterns of microbiome composition. We found small but significant differences in Drosophila bacterial community composition across elevation, with some notable taxonomic differences between different Drosophila species and sites. Further, we found that field-collected fly pupae had significantly richer microbiomes than laboratory-reared pupae. We also found similar microbiome composition in both types of provided diet, suggesting that the significant differences found among Drosophila microbiomes are the products of surrounding environments with different bacterial species pools, possibly bound to elevational differences in temperature. Our results suggest that comparative studies between lab and field specimens help reveal the true variability in microbiome communities that can exist within a single species. IMPORTANCE Bacteria form microbial communities inside most higher-level organisms, but we know little about how the microbiome varies along environmental gradients and between natural host populations and laboratory colonies. To explore such effects on insect-associated microbiomes, we studied the gut microbiome in four Drosophila species over two mountain gradients in tropical Australia. We also compared these data to individuals kept in the laboratory to understand how different settings changed microbiome communities. We found that field-sampled individuals had significantly higher microbiome diversity than those from the lab. In wild Drosophila populations, elevation explains a small but significant amount of the variation in their microbial communities. Our study highlights the importance of environmental bacterial sources for Drosophila microbiome composition across elevational gradients and shows how comparative studies help reveal the true flexibility in microbiome communities that can exist within a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel J Brown
- University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Jandová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Megan Higgie
- College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Eva Nováková
- University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Owen T Lewis
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Hrček
- University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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33
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Frantz SI, Small CM, Cresko WA, Singh ND. Ovarian transcriptional response to Wolbachia infection in D. melanogaster in the context of between-genotype variation in gene expression. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad047. [PMID: 36857313 PMCID: PMC10151400 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that infects a wide variety of arthropod and nematode hosts. The effects of Wolbachia on host biology are far-reaching and include changes in host gene expression. However, previous work on the host transcriptional response has generally been investigated in the context of a single host genotype. Thus, the relative effect of Wolbachia infection versus vs. host genotype on gene expression is unknown. Here, we explicitly test the relative roles of Wolbachia infection and host genotype on host gene expression by comparing the ovarian transcriptomes of 4 strains of Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) infected and uninfected with Wolbachia. Our data suggest that infection explains a small amount of transcriptional variation, particularly in comparison to variation in gene expression among strains. However, infection specifically affects genes related to cell cycle, translation, and metabolism. We also find enrichment of cell division and recombination processes among genes with infection-associated differential expression. Broadly, the transcriptomic changes identified in this study provide novel understanding of the relative magnitude of the effect of Wolbachia infection on gene expression in the context of host genetic variation and also point to genes that are consistently differentially expressed in response to infection among multiple genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia I Frantz
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
| | - Clayton M Small
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
| | - William A Cresko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
| | - Nadia D Singh
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
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Ant TH, Mancini MV, McNamara CJ, Rainey SM, Sinkins SP. Wolbachia-Virus interactions and arbovirus control through population replacement in mosquitoes. Pathog Glob Health 2023; 117:245-258. [PMID: 36205550 PMCID: PMC10081064 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2117939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Following transfer into the primary arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti, several strains of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia have been shown to inhibit the transmission of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses, important human pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition to pathogen inhibition, many Wolbachia strains manipulate host reproduction, resulting in an invasive capacity of the bacterium in insect populations. This has led to the deployment of Wolbachia as a dengue control tool, and trials have reported significant reductions in transmission in release areas. Here, we discuss the possible mechanisms of Wolbachia-virus inhibition and the implications for long-term success of dengue control. We also consider the evidence presented in several reports that Wolbachia may cause an enhancement of replication of certain viruses under particular conditions, and conclude that these should not cause any concerns with respect to the application of Wolbachia to arbovirus control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H Ant
- Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Maria Vittoria Mancini
- Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Polo d’Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia, Terni, Italy
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35
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Karpova EK, Bobrovskikh MA, Deryuzhenko MA, Shishkina OD, Gruntenko NE. Wolbachia Effect on Drosophila melanogaster Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism. INSECTS 2023; 14:357. [PMID: 37103172 PMCID: PMC10143037 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The effect of maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia on triglyceride and carbohydrate metabolism, starvation resistance and feeding behavior of Drosophila melanogaster females was studied. Eight D. melanogaster lines of the same nuclear background were investigated; one had no infection and served as the control, and seven others were infected with different Wolbachia strains pertaining to wMel and wMelCS groups of genotypes. Most of the infected lines had a higher overall lipid content and triglyceride level than the control line and their expression of the bmm gene regulating triglyceride catabolism was reduced. The glucose content was higher in the infected lines compared to that in the control, while their trehalose levels were similar. It was also found that the Wolbachia infection reduced the level of tps1 gene expression (coding for enzyme for trehalose synthesis from glucose) and had no effect on treh gene expression (coding for trehalose degradation enzyme). The infected lines exhibited lower appetite but higher survival under starvation compared to the control. The data obtained may indicate that Wolbachia foster their hosts' energy exchange through increasing its lipid storage and glucose content to ensure the host's competitive advantage over uninfected individuals. The scheme of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism regulation under Wolbachia's influence was suggested.
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36
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Novelo M, Dutra HLC, Metz HC, Jones MJ, Sigle LT, Frentiu FD, Allen SL, Chenoweth SF, McGraw EA. Dengue and chikungunya virus loads in the mosquito Aedes aegypti are determined by distinct genetic architectures. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011307. [PMID: 37043515 PMCID: PMC10124881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of the arboviruses dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV). These viruses exhibit key differences in their vector interactions, the latter moving more quicky through the mosquito and triggering fewer standard antiviral pathways. As the global footprint of CHIKV continues to expand, we seek to better understand the mosquito's natural response to CHIKV-both to compare it to DENV:vector coevolutionary history and to identify potential targets in the mosquito for genetic modification. We used a modified full-sibling design to estimate the contribution of mosquito genetic variation to viral loads of both DENV and CHIKV. Heritabilities were significant, but higher for DENV (40%) than CHIKV (18%). Interestingly, there was no genetic correlation between DENV and CHIKV loads between siblings. These data suggest Ae. aegypti mosquitoes respond to the two viruses using distinct genetic mechanisms. We also examined genome-wide patterns of gene expression between High and Low CHIKV families representing the phenotypic extremes of viral load. Using RNAseq, we identified only two loci that consistently differentiated High and Low families: a long non-coding RNA that has been identified in mosquito screens post-infection and a distant member of a family of Salivary Gland Specific (SGS) genes. Interestingly, the latter gene is also associated with horizontal gene transfer between mosquitoes and the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. This work is the first to link the SGS gene to a mosquito phenotype. Understanding the molecular details of how this gene contributes to viral control in mosquitoes may, therefore, also shed light on its role in Wolbachia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Novelo
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Heverton LC Dutra
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hillery C. Metz
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Jones
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Leah T. Sigle
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Francesca D. Frentiu
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott L. Allen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stephen F. Chenoweth
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A. McGraw
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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37
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Eugénio AT, Marialva MSP, Beldade P. Effects of Wolbachia on Transposable Element Expression Vary Between Drosophila melanogaster Host Genotypes. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad036. [PMID: 36929176 PMCID: PMC10025071 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences capable of changing position in host genomes, thereby causing mutations. TE insertions typically have deleterious effects but they can also be beneficial. Increasing evidence of the contribution of TEs to adaptive evolution further raises interest in understanding what factors impact TE activity. Based on previous studies associating the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia with changes in the abundance of piRNAs, a mechanism for TE repression, and to transposition of specific TEs, we hypothesized that Wolbachia infection would interfere with TE activity. We tested this hypothesis by studying the expression of 14 TEs in a panel of 25 Drosophila melanogaster host genotypes, naturally infected with Wolbachia and annotated for TE insertions. The host genotypes differed significantly in Wolbachia titers inside individual flies, with broad-sense heritability around 20%, and in the number of TE insertions, which depended greatly on TE identity. By removing Wolbachia from the target host genotypes, we generated a panel of 25 pairs of Wolbachia-positive and Wolbachia-negative lines in which we quantified transcription levels for our target TEs. We found variation in TE expression that was dependent on Wolbachia status, TE identity, and host genotype. Comparing between pairs of Wolbachia-positive and Wolbachia-negative flies, we found that Wolbachia removal affected TE expression in 21.1% of the TE-genotype combinations tested, with up to 2.3 times differences in the median level of transcript. Our data show that Wolbachia can impact TE activity in host genomes, underscoring the importance this endosymbiont can have in the generation of genetic novelty in hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Patrícia Beldade
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- cE3c (Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and CHANGE (Global Change and Sustainability Institute), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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38
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Prigot-Maurice C, Lheraud B, Guéritault S, Beltran-Bech S, Cordaux R, Peccoud J, Braquart-Varnier C. Investigating Wolbachia symbiont-mediated host protection against a bacterial pathogen using a natural Wolbachia nuclear insert. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 197:107893. [PMID: 36754115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts provide protection against pathogens in various arthropod species but the underlying mechanisms remain misunderstood. By using a natural Wolbachia nuclear insert (f-element) in the isopod Armadillidium vulgare, we explored whether Wolbachia presence is mandatory to observe protection in this species or the presence of its genes is sufficient. We assessed survival of closely related females carrying or lacking the f-element (and lacking Wolbachia) challenged with the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica. Despite marginal significant effects, the f-element alone did not appear to confer survival benefits to its host, suggesting that Wolbachia presence in cells is crucial for protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cybèle Prigot-Maurice
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France.
| | - Baptiste Lheraud
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France
| | - Samuel Guéritault
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France
| | - Sophie Beltran-Bech
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France
| | - Richard Cordaux
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France
| | - Jean Peccoud
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France
| | - Christine Braquart-Varnier
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe Écologie, Évolution, Symbiose. Université de Poitiers UMR CNRS 7267, 3, rue Jacques Fort, TSA 51106, F-86073, POITIERS Cedex 9, France
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Kutzer MAM, Gupta V, Neophytou K, Doublet V, Monteith KM, Vale PF. Intraspecific genetic variation in host vigour, viral load and disease tolerance during Drosophila C virus infection. Open Biol 2023; 13:230025. [PMID: 36854375 PMCID: PMC9974301 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation for resistance and disease tolerance has been described in a range of species. In Drosophila melanogaster, genetic variation in mortality following systemic Drosophila C virus (DCV) infection is driven by large-effect polymorphisms in the restriction factor pastrel (pst). However, it is unclear if pst contributes to disease tolerance. We investigated systemic DCV challenges spanning nine orders of magnitude, in males and females of 10 Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel lines carrying either a susceptible (S) or resistant (R) pst allele. We find among-line variation in fly survival, viral load and disease tolerance measured both as the ability to maintain survival (mortality tolerance) and reproduction (fecundity tolerance). We further uncover novel effects of pst on host vigour, as flies carrying the R allele exhibited higher survival and fecundity even in the absence of infection. Finally, we found significant genetic variation in the expression of the JAK-STAT ligand upd3 and the epigenetic regulator of JAK-STAT G9a. However, while G9a has been previously shown to mediate tolerance of DCV infection, we found no correlation between the expression of either upd3 or G9a on fly tolerance or resistance. Our work highlights the importance of both resistance and tolerance in viral defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A. M. Kutzer
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Vanika Gupta
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kyriaki Neophytou
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Vincent Doublet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Katy M. Monteith
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Pedro F. Vale
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
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40
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Ou D, Qiu JH, Su ZQ, Wang L, Qiu BL. The phylogeny and distribution of Wolbachia in two pathogen vector insects, Asian citrus psyllid and Longan psyllid. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1121186. [PMID: 36949814 PMCID: PMC10025399 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1121186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Wolbachia is the most abundant bacterial endosymbiont among insects. It can play a prominent role in the development, reproduction and immunity of its given insect host. To date, Wolbachia presence is well studied within aphids, whiteflies and planthoppers, but relatively few studies have investigated its presence in psyllids. Methods Here, the infection status of Wolbachia in five species of psyllid, including Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri and longan psyllid Cornegenapsylla sinica was investigated. The phylogenetic relationships of different Wolbachia lines and their infection density and patterns in D. citri and C. sinica from different countries was also examined. Results The infection rates of Wolbachia in D. citri and C. sinica were both 100%, and their sequencing types are ST173 and ST532 respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Wolbachia lines in D. citri and C. sinica both belong to the Con subgroup of Wolbachia supergroup B. In addition, Wolbachia displayed a scattered localization pattern in the 5th instar nymphs and in the reproductive organs of both D. citri and C. sinica but differed in other tissues; it was highest in the midgut, lowest in the salivary glands and medium in both the testes and ovaries. Conclusion Our findings assist in further understanding the coevolution of Wolbachia and its psyllid hosts. Given that Wolbachia could play an important role in insect pest control and pathogen transmission inhibition, our findings may also provide new insights for development of control strategies for D. citri and C. sinica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Ou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun-Hong Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng-Qin Su
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bao-Li Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Bao-Li Qiu,
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41
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Korenskaia AE, Shishkina OD, Klimenko AI, Andreenkova OV, Bobrovskikh MA, Shatskaya NV, Vasiliev GV, Gruntenko NE. New Wolbachia pipientis Genotype Increasing Heat Stress Resistance of Drosophila melanogaster Host Is Characterized by a Large Chromosomal Inversion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:16212. [PMID: 36555851 PMCID: PMC9786649 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The maternally transmitted endocellular bacteria Wolbachia is a well-known symbiont of insects, demonstrating both negative and positive effects on host fitness. The previously found Wolbachia strain wMelPlus is characterized by a positive effect on the stress-resistance of its host Drosophila melanogaster, under heat stress conditions. This investigation is dedicated to studying the genomic underpinnings of such an effect. We sequenced two closely related Wolbachia strains, wMelPlus and wMelCS112, assembled their complete genomes, and performed comparative genomic analysis engaging available Wolbachia genomes from the wMel and wMelCS groups. Despite the two strains under study sharing very close gene-composition, we discovered a large (>1/6 of total genome) chromosomal inversion in wMelPlus, spanning through the region that includes the area of the inversion earlier found in the wMel group of Wolbachia genotypes. A number of genes in unique inversion blocks of wMelPlus were identified that might be involved in the induction of a stress-resistant phenotype in the host. We hypothesize that such an inversion could rearrange established genetic regulatory-networks, causing the observed effects of such a complex fly phenotype as a modulation of heat stress resistance. Based on our findings, we propose that wMelPlus be distinguished as a separate genotype of the wMelCS group, named wMelCS3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra E. Korenskaia
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova St. 1, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga D. Shishkina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova St. 1, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexandra I. Klimenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
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Štarhová Serbina L, Gajski D, Pafčo B, Zurek L, Malenovský I, Nováková E, Schuler H, Dittmer J. Microbiome of pear psyllids: A tale about closely related species sharing their endosymbionts. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:5788-5808. [PMID: 36054322 PMCID: PMC10086859 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Psyllids are phloem-feeding insects that can transmit plant pathogens such as phytoplasmas, intracellular bacteria causing numerous plant diseases worldwide. Their microbiomes are essential for insect physiology and may also influence the capacity of vectors to transmit pathogens. Using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, we compared the microbiomes of three sympatric psyllid species associated with pear trees in Central Europe. All three species are able to transmit 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri', albeit with different efficiencies. Our results revealed potential relationships between insect biology and microbiome composition that varied during psyllid ontogeny and between generations in Cacopsylla pyri and C. pyricola, as well as between localities in C. pyri. In contrast, no variations related to psyllid life cycle and geography were detected in C. pyrisuga. In addition to the primary endosymbiont Carsonella ruddii, we detected another highly abundant endosymbiont (unclassified Enterobacteriaceae). C. pyri and C. pyricola shared the same taxon of Enterobacteriaceae which is related to endosymbionts harboured by other psyllid species from various families. In contrast, C. pyrisuga carried a different Enterobacteriaceae taxon related to the genus Sodalis. Our study provides new insights into host-symbiont interactions in psyllids and highlights the importance of host biology and geography in shaping microbiome structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliya Štarhová Serbina
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Domagoj Gajski
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Pafčo
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Zurek
- Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics/CINeZ, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Malenovský
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Nováková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hannes Schuler
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.,Competence Centre for Plant Health, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Jessica Dittmer
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.,Université d'Angers, Institut Agro, INRAE, IRHS, SFR Quasav, Angers, France
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43
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Martinez J, Ross PA, Gu X, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Tong L, da Silva Filipe A, Hoffmann AA, Sinkins SP. Genomic and Phenotypic Comparisons Reveal Distinct Variants of Wolbachia Strain wAlbB. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0141222. [PMID: 36318064 PMCID: PMC9680635 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01412-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular bacterium Wolbachia inhibits virus replication and is being harnessed around the world to fight mosquito-borne diseases through releases of mosquitoes carrying the symbiont. Wolbachia strains vary in their ability to invade mosquito populations and suppress viruses in part due to differences in their density within the insect and associated fitness costs. Using whole-genome sequencing, we demonstrate the existence of two variants in wAlbB, a Wolbachia strain being released in natural populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The two variants display striking differences in genome architecture and gene content. Differences in the presence/absence of 52 genes between variants include genes located in prophage regions and others potentially involved in controlling the symbiont's density. Importantly, we show that these genetic differences correlate with variation in wAlbB density and its tolerance to heat stress, suggesting that different wAlbB variants may be better suited for field deployment depending on local environmental conditions. Finally, we found that the wAlbB genome remained stable following its introduction in a Malaysian mosquito population. Our results highlight the need for further genomic and phenotypic characterization of Wolbachia strains in order to inform ongoing Wolbachia-based programs and improve the selection of optimal strains in future field interventions. IMPORTANCE Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that threatens around half of the world population. Recent advances in dengue control involve the introduction of Wolbachia bacterial symbionts with antiviral properties into mosquito populations, which can lead to dramatic decreases in the incidence of the disease. In light of these promising results, there is a crucial need to better understand the factors affecting the success of such strategies, in particular the choice of Wolbachia strain for field releases and the potential for evolutionary changes. Here, we characterized two variants of a Wolbachia strain used for dengue control that differ at the genomic level and in their ability to replicate within the mosquito. We also found no evidence for the evolution of the symbiont within the 2 years following its deployment in Malaysia. Our results have implications for current and future Wolbachia-based health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Martinez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Xinyue Gu
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Tong
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Guo Y, Guo J, Li Y. Wolbachia wPip Blocks Zika Virus Transovarial Transmission in Aedes albopictus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0263321. [PMID: 35894613 PMCID: PMC9603370 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02633-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is being developed as a biological tool to suppress mosquito populations and/or interfere with their transmitted viruses. Adult males with an artificial Wolbachia infection have been released, successfully yielding population suppression in multiple field trials. The main characteristic of the artificial Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes used in the suppression program is the lower vector competence than that in native infected/uninfected mosquitoes in horizontal and vertical transmission. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the Aedes albopictus HC line infected with a trio of Wolbachia strains exhibited almost complete blockade of dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) in horizontal and vertical transmission. However, the extent to which Wolbachia inhibits virus transovarial transmission is unknown since no studies have been performed to determine whether Wolbachia protects ovarian cells against viral infection. Here, we employed ovarian cells of the Ae. albopictus GUA (a wild-type mosquito line superinfected with two native Wolbachia strains, wAlbA and wAlbB), HC, and GT lines (tetracycline-cured, Wolbachia-uninfected mosquitoes), which exhibit key traits, and compared them to better understand how Wolbachia inhibits ZIKV transovarial transmission. Our results showed that the infection rate of adult GT progeny was significantly higher than that of GUA progeny during the first and second gonotrophic cycles. In contrast, the infection rates of adult GT and GUA progeny were not significantly different during the third gonotrophic cycle. All examined adult HC progeny from three gonotrophic cycles were negative for ZIKV infection. A strong negative linear correlation existed between Wolbachia density and ZIKV load in the ovaries of mosquitoes. Although there is no obvious coexistence area in the ovaries for Wolbachia and ZIKV, host immune responses may play a role in Wolbachia blocking ZIKV expansion and maintenance in the ovaries of Ae. albopictus. These results will aid in understanding Wolbachia-ZIKV interactions in mosquitoes. IMPORTANCE Area-wide application of Wolbachia to suppress mosquito populations and their transmitted viruses has achieved success in multiple countries. However, the mass release of Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes involves a potential risk of accidentally releasing fertile females. In this study, we employed ovarian cells of the Ae. albopictus GUA, HC, and GT lines, which exhibit key traits, and compared them to better understand how Wolbachia inhibits ZIKV transovarial transmission. Our results showed an almost complete blockade of ZIKV transmission in HC female mosquitoes. Wolbachia in natively infected GUA mosquitoes negative affected ZIKV, and this interference was shown by slightly lower loads than those in HC mosquitoes. Overall, our work helps show how Wolbachia blocks ZIKV expansion and maintenance in the ovaries of Ae. albopictus and aids in understanding Wolbachia-ZIKV interactions in mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiatian Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yifeng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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45
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Wolbachia infection dynamics in a natural population of the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) across its seasonal generations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16502. [PMID: 36192576 PMCID: PMC9529970 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is one of the most abundant intracellular symbionts of arthropods and has profound effects on host biology. Wolbachia transmission and host phenotypes often depend on its density within the host, which can be affected by multiple biotic and abiotic factors. However, very few studies measured Wolbachia density in natural host populations. Here, we describe Wolbachia in the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri from three populations in the Czech Republic. Using phylogenetic analyses based on wsp and multilocus sequence typing genes, we demonstrate that C. pyri harbours three new Wolbachia strains from supergroup B. A fourth Wolbachia strain from supergroup A was also detected in parasitised immatures of C. pyri, but likely came from a hymenopteran parasitoid. To obtain insights into natural Wolbachia infection dynamics, we quantified Wolbachia in psyllid individuals from the locality with the highest prevalence across an entire year, spanning several seasonal generations of the host. All tested females were infected and Wolbachia density remained stable across the entire period, suggesting a highly efficient vertical transmission and little influence from the environment and different host generations. In contrast, we observed a tendency towards reduced Wolbachia density in males which may suggest sex-related differences in Wolbachia-psyllid interactions.
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46
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Ryabinin AS, Shishkina OD, Ilinsky YY, Bykov RA. Rare Wolbachia genotypes in laboratory Drosophila melanogaster strains. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2022; 26:553-559. [PMID: 36313820 PMCID: PMC9556306 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-22-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are widespread in Drosophila melanogaster populations. Based on the polymorphism of the Wolbachia genome, the symbionts’ diversity in D. melanogaster is presented by two groups: MEL (wMel, wMel2, wMel3 and wMel4) and CS (wMelCS and wMelCS2). The wMel genotype is predominant in natural D. melanogaster populations and is distributed all over the world. The CS genotypes, on the other hand, are of particular interest because it is unclear how they are maintained in the fruit f ly populations since they should have been eliminated from them due to their low frequency and genetic drift or been replaced by the wMel genotype. However, this is not what is really observed, which means these genotypes are supported by selection. It is known that the wMelPlus strain of the wMelCS genotype can increase the lifespan of infected f lies at high temperatures. The same genotype also increases the intensity of dopamine metabolism in Drosophila compared to the MEL-group genotypes. In the present study, we searched for the rare Wolbachia wMelCS and wMelCS2 genotypes, as well as for new genotypes in wild-type D. melanogaster strains and in several mutant laboratory strains. The symbiont was found in all populations, in 200 out of 385 wild-type strains and in 83 out of 170 mutant strains. Wolbachia diversity in D. melanogaster wild-type strains was represented by the wMel, wMelCS and wMelCS2 genotypes. More than 90 % of the infected strains carried wMel; 9 %, wMelCS2; and only two strains were found to carry wMelCS. No new Wolbachia genotypes were found. The northernmost point reported for the wMelCS2 genotype was Izhevsk city (Udmurtia, Russia). For the f irst time the wMelCS2 genotype was detected in D. melanogaster from the Sakhalin Island, and wMelCS, in the f lies from Nalchik (the North Caucasus). A comparison of Wolbachia genetic diversity between the wild-type laboratory strains and previously obtained data on mutant laboratory strains demonstrated differences in the frequencies of rare CS genotypes, which were more prevalent in mutant strains, apparently due to the breeding history of these Drosophila strains
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Ryabinin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - O D Shishkina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yu Yu Ilinsky
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - R A Bykov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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47
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Mejia AJ, Jimenez L, Dutra HLC, Perera R, McGraw EA. Attempts to use breeding approaches in Aedes aegypti to create lines with distinct and stable relative Wolbachia densities. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 129:215-224. [PMID: 35869302 PMCID: PMC9519544 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is an insect endosymbiont being used for biological control in the mosquito Aedes aegypti because it causes cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and limits viral replication of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. While the genetic mechanism of pathogen blocking (PB) is not fully understood, the strength of both CI and PB are positively correlated with Wolbachia densities in the host. Wolbachia densities are determined by a combination of Wolbachia strain and insect genotype, as well as interactions with the environment. We employed both artificial selection and inbreeding with the goal of creating lines of Ae. aegypti with heritable and distinct Wolbachia densities so that we might better dissect the mechanism underlying PB. We were unable to shift the mean relative Wolbachia density in Ae. aegypti lines by either strategy, with relative densities instead tending to cycle over a narrow range. In lieu of this, we used Wolbachia densities in mosquito legs as predictors of relative densities in the remaining individual's carcass. Because we worked with outbred mosquitoes, our findings indicate either a lack of genetic variation in the mosquito for controlling relative density, natural selection against extreme densities, or a predominance of environmental factors affecting densities. Our study reveals that there are moderating forces acting on relative Wolbachia densities that may help to stabilize density phenotypes post field release. We also show a means to accurately bin vector carcasses into high and low categories for non-DNA omics-based studies of Wolbachia-mediated traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. J. Mejia
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics & Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - L. Jimenez
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857School of Life Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800 Australia
| | - H. L. C. Dutra
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics & Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - R. Perera
- grid.47894.360000 0004 1936 8083Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases and Center for Metabolism of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - E. A. McGraw
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics & Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
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48
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Martinez J, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Tong L, da Silva Filipe A, Sinkins SP. Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Wolbachia strain wAlbA reveals Wolbachia-associated plasmids are common. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010406. [PMID: 36121852 PMCID: PMC9560607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are widespread maternally-transmitted bacteria of arthropods that often spread by manipulating their host's reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Their invasive potential is currently being harnessed in field trials aiming to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia genomes commonly harbour prophage regions encoding the cif genes which confer their ability to induce CI. Recently, a plasmid-like element was discovered in wPip, a Wolbachia strain infecting Culex mosquitoes; however, it is unclear how common such extra-chromosomal elements are in Wolbachia. Here we sequenced the complete genome of wAlbA, a strain of the symbiont found in Aedes albopictus, after eliminating the co-infecting and higher density wAlbB strain that previously made sequencing of wAlbA challenging. We show that wAlbA is associated with two new plasmids and identified additional Wolbachia plasmids and related chromosomal islands in over 20% of publicly available Wolbachia genome datasets. These plasmids encode a variety of accessory genes, including several phage-like DNA packaging genes as well as genes potentially contributing to host-symbiont interactions. In particular, we recovered divergent homologues of the cif genes in both Wolbachia- and Rickettsia-associated plasmids. Our results indicate that plasmids are common in Wolbachia and raise fundamental questions around their role in symbiosis. In addition, our comparative analysis provides useful information for the future development of genetic tools to manipulate and study Wolbachia symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Martinez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Tong
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Sawadogo SP, Kabore DA, Tibiri EB, Hughes A, Gnankine O, Quek S, Diabaté A, Ranson H, Hughes GL, Dabiré RK. Lack of robust evidence for a Wolbachia infection in Anopheles gambiae from Burkina Faso. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 36:301-308. [PMID: 35876244 PMCID: PMC10053554 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The endosymbiont Wolbachia can have major effects on the reproductive fitness, and vectorial capacity of host insects and may provide new avenues to control mosquito-borne pathogens. Anopheles gambiae s.l is the major vector of malaria in Africa but the use of Wolbachia in this species has been limited by challenges in establishing stable transinfected lines and uncertainty around native infections. High frequencies of infection of Wolbachia have been previously reported in An. gambiae collected from the Valle du Kou region of Burkina Faso in 2011 and 2014. Here, we re-evaluated the occurrence of Wolbachia in natural samples, collected from Valle du Kou over a 12-year time span, and in addition, expanded sampling to other sites in Burkina Faso. Our results showed that, in contrast to earlier reports, Wolbachia is present at an extremely low prevalence in natural population of An. gambiae. From 5341 samples analysed, only 29 were positive for Wolbachia by nested PCR representing 0.54% of prevalence. No positive samples were found with regular PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons clustered across supergroup B, with some having similarity to sequences previously found in Anopheles from Burkina Faso. However, we cannot discount the possibility that the amplicon positive samples we detected were due to environmental contamination or were false positives. Regardless, the lack of a prominent native infection in An. gambiae s.l. is encouraging for applications utilizing Wolbachia transinfected mosquitoes for malaria control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P. Sawadogo
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
| | - Didier A. Kabore
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
| | - Ezechiel B. Tibiri
- Département de Virologie et de Biotechnologies Végétales, Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA)OuagadougouBurkina Faso
| | - Angela Hughes
- Department of Vector BiologyLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Olivier Gnankine
- Département de Biologie et de Physiologie Animales, Université Joseph K‐ZerboOuagadougouBurkina Faso
| | - Shannon Quek
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Center for Neglected Tropical DiseaseLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Abdoulaye Diabaté
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
| | - Hilary Ranson
- Department of Vector BiologyLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Grant L. Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Center for Neglected Tropical DiseaseLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Roch K. Dabiré
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
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50
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Formisano G, Iodice L, Cascone P, Sacco A, Quarto R, Cavalieri V, Bosco D, Guerrieri E, Giorgini M. Wolbachia infection and genetic diversity of Italian populations of Philaenus spumarius, the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272028. [PMID: 36037217 PMCID: PMC9423658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Philaenus spumarius is a cosmopolitan species that has become a major threat to European agriculture being recognized as the main vector of the introduced plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, the agent of the “olive quick decline syndrome”, a disease which is devastating olive orchards in southern Italy. Wolbachia are bacterial symbionts of many insects, frequently as reproductive parasites, sometime by establishing mutualistic relationships, able to spread within host populations. Philaenus spumarius harbors Wolbachia, but the role played by this symbiont is unknown and data on the infection prevalence within host populations are limited. Here, the Wolbachia infection rate was analyzed in relation to the geographic distribution and the genetic diversity of the Italian populations of P. spumarius. Analysis of the COI gene sequences revealed a geographically structured distribution of the three main mitochondrial lineages of P. spumarius. Wolbachia was detected in half of the populations sampled in northern Italy where most individuals belonged to the western-Mediterranean lineage. All populations sampled in southern and central Italy, where the individuals of the eastern-Mediterranean lineage were largely prevalent, were uninfected. Individuals of the north-eastern lineage were found only in populations from the Alps in the northernmost part of Italy, at high altitudes. In this area, Wolbachia infection reached the highest prevalence, with no difference between north-eastern and western-Mediterranean lineage. Analysis of molecular diversity of COI sequences suggested no significant effect of Wolbachia on population genetics of P. spumarius. Using the MLST approach, six new Wolbachia sequence types were identified. Using FISH, Wolbachia were observed within the host’s reproductive tissues and salivary glands. Results obtained led us to discuss the role of Wolbachia in P. spumarius, the factors influencing the geographic distribution of the infection, and the exploitation of Wolbachia for the control of the vector insect to reduce the spread of X. fastidiosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Formisano
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
| | - Luigi Iodice
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
| | - Pasquale Cascone
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
| | - Adriana Sacco
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
| | - Roberta Quarto
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cavalieri
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Bosco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Emilio Guerrieri
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
| | - Massimo Giorgini
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Italy
- * E-mail:
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