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Safaei S, Derakhshan-sefidi M, Karimi A. Wolbachia: A bacterial weapon against dengue fever- a narrative review of risk factors for dengue fever outbreaks. New Microbes New Infect 2025; 65:101578. [PMID: 40176883 PMCID: PMC11964561 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2025.101578] [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: 09/20/2024] [Revised: 01/10/2025] [Accepted: 03/06/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Arboviruses constitute the largest known group of viruses and are responsible for various infections that impose significant socioeconomic burdens worldwide, particularly due to their link with insect-borne diseases. The increasing incidence of dengue fever in non-endemic regions underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat this public health threat. Wolbachia, a bacterium, presents a promising biological control method against mosquito vectors, offering a novel approach to managing dengue fever. We systematically investigated biomedical databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Embase) using "AND" as a Boolean operator with keywords such as "dengue fever," "dengue virus," "risk factors," "Wolbachia," and "outbreak." We prioritized articles that offered significant insights into the risk factors contributing to the outbreak of dengue fever and provided an overview of Wolbachia's characteristics and functions in disease management, considering studies published until December 25, 2024. Field experiments have shown that introducing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes can effectively reduce mosquito populations and lower dengue transmission rates, signifying its potential as a practical approach for controlling this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahel Safaei
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Trzebny A, Taylor AD, Herren JK, Björkroth JK, Jedut S, Dabert M. Microsporidian infection of mosquito larvae changes the host-associated microbiome towards the synthesis of antimicrobial factors. Parasit Vectors 2025; 18:178. [PMID: 40382661 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06813-z] [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] [Received: 02/18/2025] [Accepted: 04/23/2025] [Indexed: 05/20/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microsporidians (Microsporidia) are a group of obligate intracellular parasites that commonly infect mosquitoes. Recently, it has been shown that infection by these parasites can alter the composition and functionality of the mosquito-associated microbiome. The host-associated microbiome of the mosquito can play a pivotal role in various physiological processes of this host, including its vector competence for pathogens. Thus, understanding how microsporidians shape the mosquito microbiome may be crucial for elucidating interactions between these parasites and their mosquito hosts, which are also vectors for other parasites and pathogens. METHODS The effects of microsporidian infection on the microbiome structure and functionality of Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium larvae under semi-natural conditions were examined. The host-associated microbiome of Cx. pipiens (n = 498) and Cx. torrentium (n = 465) larvae, including that of the 97 infected individuals of these samples, was analysed using 16S DNA profiling and functional prediction analysis. RESULTS Microbiome network analysis revealed that, in the microsporidian-positive larvae, host microbial communities consistently grouped within a common bacterial module that included Aerococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Microbacteriaceae, Myxococcaceae, and Polyangiaceae. Indicator species analysis revealed two strong positive correlations between microsporidian infection and the presence of Weissella cf. viridescens and Wolbachia pipientis. Functional predictions of microbiome content showed enrichment in biosynthetic pathways for ansamycin and vancomycin antibiotic groups in infected larvae. Furthermore, the MexJK-OprM multidrug-resistance module was exclusively present in the infected larvae, while carbapenem- and vancomycin-resistance modules were specific to the microsporidian-free larvae. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that microsporidian infection alters the microbial community composition in mosquito larvae. Moreover, they show that microsporidian infection can increase the antimicrobial capabilities of the host-associated microbiome. These results provide novel insights into host microbiome-parasite interactions and have potential implications for the vector competencies of mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Trzebny
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Abigail D Taylor
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jeremy K Herren
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Johanna K Björkroth
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sylwia Jedut
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Miroslawa Dabert
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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Al-Amin HM, Gyawali N, Graham M, Alam MS, Lenhart A, Xi Z, Rašić G, Beebe NW, Hugo LE, Devine GJ. Fitness compatibility and dengue virus Inhibition in a Bangladeshi strain of Aedes aegypti infected with the Wolbachia strain wAlbB. Sci Rep 2025; 15:13425. [PMID: 40251382 PMCID: PMC12008268 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-98093-x] [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: 11/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2025] [Indexed: 04/20/2025] Open
Abstract
Dengue cases in Bangladesh have surged in recent years. The existing insecticide-based control program is challenged by issues of insufficient household coverage and high levels of insecticide resistance in the primary dengue virus (DENV) vector, Aedes aegypti. A more sustainable, effective alternative could be the implementation of a Wolbachia-mediated disease management strategy. Hence, we created and characterised a Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti strain with a Dhaka wild-type genetic background, and compared its reproductive compatibility, maternal inheritance, fitness, and virus-blocking ability to the parental strains (Dhaka wild-type and wAlbB2-F4). The new Ae. aegypti strain wAlbB2-Dhaka demonstrated complete cytoplasmic incompatibility with the wild-type and complete maternal transmission, retaining levels of pyrethroid resistance of the Dhaka wild-type. No significant fitness costs were detected during laboratory comparison. Compared to the wild-type, wAlbB2-Dhaka mosquitoes demonstrated a significantly reduced genome copies of DENV in the bodies (44.4%, p = 0.0034); a two-fold reduction in dissemination to legs and wings (47.6%, p < 0.0001); and > 13-fold reduction of DENV in saliva expectorates (proxy of transmission potential) (92.7%, p < 0.0001) 14 days after ingesting dengue-infected blood. Our work indicates that the wAlbB2-Dhaka strain could be used for Ae. aegypti suppression or replacement strategies for dengue management in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Mohammad Al-Amin
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Narayan Gyawali
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Public Health Virology, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Melissa Graham
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mohammad Shafiul Alam
- Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Audrey Lenhart
- Entomology Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Gordana Rašić
- Mosquito Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nigel W Beebe
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Leon E Hugo
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Sewade W, Polat C, Kasap OE. Molecular evidence of Wolbachia and Orthoflavivirus infection in field-collected mosquitoes in three provinces of Türkiye. Trop Med Int Health 2025. [PMID: 40229230 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.14099] [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: 04/16/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes transmit various pathogens causing diseases like Zika, Dengue, West Nile and Chikungunya. They also harbour insect-specific viruses (ISVs) and Wolbachia, which can block arbovirus transmission. This study investigated the prevalence of Orthoflavivirus and Wolbachia in mosquito populations from three provinces in Türkiye. METHODS Mosquitoes were collected using CDC Miniature Light traps in 2022-2023. Morphologically identified specimens were pooled (1-10 individuals) and screened for Orthoflavivirus and Wolbachia via PCR and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Infection prevalence was estimated using the maximum likelihood method. Mosquito taxa richness across provinces was estimated using the abundance-based, non-parametric Chao1 index. RESULTS Among 8766 mosquitoes (11 taxa) collected, Culex perexiguus, Ochlerotatus caspius and Anopheles claviger were most abundant. Anopheles flavivirus (AnFV) detected in one Oc. caspius pool, while Wolbachia sequences belonging to supergroup B were detected in An. claviger, Cx. pipiens s.l., Cx. perexiguus and Oc. caspius, with an overall infection prevalence of 0.0119 (95% CI: 0.008-0.0161). The richest mosquito fauna was detected in Ankara, followed by Adana, and Çankırı. CONCLUSION This study provides new insights into mosquito richness and the prevalence of Orthoflavivirus and Wolbachia in Türkiye, contributing to vector surveillance and the potential use of Wolbachia in mosquito control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfrid Sewade
- Department of Biology, VERG Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Ceylan Polat
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Ozge Erisoz Kasap
- Department of Biology, VERG Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
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Leitner M, Murigneux V, Etebari K, Asgari S. Wolbachia elevates host methyltransferase expression and alters the m 6A methylation landscape in Aedes aegypti mosquito cells. BMC Microbiol 2025; 25:164. [PMID: 40128692 PMCID: PMC11934717 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-025-03898-5] [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] [Received: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis is an intracellular endosymbiotic bacterium that blocks the replication of several arboviruses in transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, yet its antiviral mechanism remains unknown. For the first time, we employed Nanopore direct RNA sequencing technology to investigate the impact of wAlbB strain of Wolbachia on the host's N6-methyladenosine (m6A) machinery and post-transcriptional modification landscape. Our study revealed that Wolbachia infection elevates the expression of genes involved in the mosquito's m6A methyltransferase complex. However, knocking down these m6A-related genes did not affect Wolbachia density. Nanopore sequencing identified 1,392 differentially modified m6A DRACH motifs on mosquito transcripts, with 776 showing increased and 616 showing decreased m6A levels due to Wolbachia. These m6A sites were predominantly enriched in coding sequences and 3'-untranslated regions. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that genes with reduced m6A levels were over-represented in functional GO terms associated with purine nucleotide binding functions critical in the post-transcriptional modification process of m6A. Differential gene expression analysis of the Nanopore data uncovered that a total of 643 protein-coding genes were significantly differentially expressed, 427 were downregulated, and 216 were upregulated. Several classical and non-classical immune-related genes were amongst the downregulated DEGs. Notably, it revealed a critical host factor, transmembrane protein 41B (TMEM41B), which is required for flavivirus infection, was upregulated and methylated in the presence of Wolbachia. Indeed, there is a strong correlation between gene expression being upregulated in genes with both increased and decreased levels of m6A modification, respectively. Our findings underscore Wolbachia's ability to modulate many intracellular aspects of its mosquito host by influencing post-transcriptional m6A modifications and gene expression, and it unveils a potential link behind its antiviral properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Leitner
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Valentine Murigneux
- QCIF Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kayvan Etebari
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sassan Asgari
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
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Moretti R, Lim JT, Ferreira AGA, Ponti L, Giovanetti M, Yi CJ, Tewari P, Cholvi M, Crawford J, Gutierrez AP, Dobson SL, Ross PA. Exploiting Wolbachia as a Tool for Mosquito-Borne Disease Control: Pursuing Efficacy, Safety, and Sustainability. Pathogens 2025; 14:285. [PMID: 40137770 PMCID: PMC11944716 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14030285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2025] [Revised: 02/28/2025] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Despite the application of control measures, mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a serious threat to human health. In this context, exploiting Wolbachia, a common symbiotic bacterium in insects, may offer effective solutions to suppress vectors or reduce their competence in transmitting several arboviruses. Many Wolbachia strains can induce conditional egg sterility, known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), when infected males mate with females that do not harbor the same Wolbachia infection. Infected males can be mass-reared and then released to compete with wild males, reducing the likelihood of wild females encountering a fertile mate. Furthermore, certain Wolbachia strains can reduce the competence of mosquitoes to transmit several RNA viruses. Through CI, Wolbachia-infected individuals can spread within the population, leading to an increased frequency of mosquitoes with a reduced ability to transmit pathogens. Using artificial methods, Wolbachia can be horizontally transferred between species, allowing the establishment of various laboratory lines of mosquito vector species that, without any additional treatment, can produce sterilizing males or females with reduced vector competence, which can be used subsequently to replace wild populations. This manuscript reviews the current knowledge in this field, describing the different approaches and evaluating their efficacy, safety, and sustainability. Successes, challenges, and future perspectives are discussed in the context of the current spread of several arboviral diseases, the rise of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations, and the impact of climate change. In this context, we explore the necessity of coordinating efforts among all stakeholders to maximize disease control. We discuss how the involvement of diverse expertise-ranging from new biotechnologies to mechanistic modeling of eco-epidemiological interactions between hosts, vectors, Wolbachia, and pathogens-becomes increasingly crucial. This coordination is especially important in light of the added complexity introduced by Wolbachia and the ongoing challenges posed by global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Moretti
- Casaccia Research Center, Department for Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (L.P.)
| | - Jue Tao Lim
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore; (J.T.L.); (C.J.Y.); (P.T.)
| | | | - Luigi Ponti
- Casaccia Research Center, Department for Sustainability, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (L.P.)
- Center for the Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Kensington, CA 94707, USA or (A.P.G.)
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (A.G.A.F.); (M.G.)
- Department of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Chow Jo Yi
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore; (J.T.L.); (C.J.Y.); (P.T.)
| | - Pranav Tewari
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore; (J.T.L.); (C.J.Y.); (P.T.)
| | - Maria Cholvi
- Area of Parasitology, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, 46100 Valencia, Spain; (M.C.)
| | - Jacob Crawford
- Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (J.C.)
| | - Andrew Paul Gutierrez
- Center for the Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Kensington, CA 94707, USA or (A.P.G.)
- Division of Ecosystem Science, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Stephen L. Dobson
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA or (S.L.D.)
- MosquitoMate, Inc., Lexington, KY 40502, USA
| | - Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 2052, Australia; (P.A.R.)
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Wang S, Wang X, Basit A, Wei Q, Zhao K, Zhao Y. Interactions Between Endosymbionts Wolbachia and Rickettsia in the Spider Mite Tetranychus turkestani: Cooperation or Antagonism? Microorganisms 2025; 13:642. [PMID: 40142534 PMCID: PMC11946427 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2025] [Revised: 03/06/2025] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Maternally inherited endosymbionts are widespread in arthropods, with multiple symbionts commonly co-existing within a single host, potentially competing for or sharing limited host resources and space. Wolbachia and Rickettsia, two maternally-inherited symbionts in arthropods, can co-infect hosts, yet research on their combined impacts on host reproduction and interaction remains scarce. Tetranychus turkestani (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an important agricultural pest mite, characterized by rapid reproduction, a short life cycle, and being difficult to control. Wolbachia and Rickettsia are two major endosymbiotic bacteria present in T. turkestani. This study used diverse parthenogenetic backcross and antibiotic screening to explore the reproductive effects of these two symbionts on T. turkestani. The results show that single Rickettsia infection induced male killing in the amphigenesis of T. turkestani, leading to arrhenotokous embryo death and fewer offspring. Single Wolbachia infection induced strong cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). During dual infection, CI intensity decreased because Rickettsia's male-killing effect antagonized the Wolbachia-induced CI. Dual-infected mites had increased oviposition, lower mortality, a higher female-to-male ratio, and more offspring, thus enhancing T. turkestani's fitness. These findings will be helpful for understanding the nature of host-endosymbiont interactions and the potential for evolutionary conflicts, offering insights into their co-evolutionary relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yiying Zhao
- College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (S.W.); (X.W.); (A.B.); (Q.W.); (K.Z.)
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Sindhania A, Baruah K, Katewa A, Sharma YP. Tracing the Trajectory of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Research: Eight Decades of Bibliometric Retrospect. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2025; 25:155-166. [PMID: 39585388 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2024.0081] [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: 11/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The global burden of mosquito-borne diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes has become a pressing public health concern. This study sought to quantify and evaluate about eight decades of publication data on the global epidemiological trend of the diseases transmitted by A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Methods: A comprehensive bibliographic review of literature was performed on A. aegypti and A. albopictus transmitted diseases, focusing on disease transmission, epidemiological trends, vector control strategies, surveillance and monitoring, and international collaborations and initiatives. Extensive data were collected from the Web of Science database and analyzed for citation network analysis (CNA) using VoSviewer software. Data were collected from the Web of Science database encompassing various aspects of Aedes-borne diseases. The bibliographic CNA was performed to quantify and analyze the 77 years of data on A. aegypti and A. albopictus transmitted diseases. Results: The analysis included 4149 publications contributed by 13,416 authors from 149 countries. These articles comprised research articles (91.01%), review articles (6.267%), proceeding papers (1.76%), and book chapters (0.92%). The results revealed a cumulative h-index of 134, indicating the impact of the scientific output in this field. Conclusion: This review contributes to the ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of Aedes-borne diseases and protect public health worldwide. By synthesizing current knowledge and evidence-based practices, the study provides all information related to publications, citations, co-citations, top journal trends, high-impact publications, and collaborations among authors in one place among the data published in the past eight decades on Aedes-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Sindhania
- Department of Entomology, Fralin Institute of Life Sciences, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Kalpana Baruah
- National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Delhi
| | - Amit Katewa
- National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Delhi
| | - Yash Paul Sharma
- Vector Biology and Control Division, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
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Han Y, Pu Q, Fan T, Wei T, Xu Y, Zhao L, Liu S. Long non-coding RNAs as promising targets for controlling disease vector mosquitoes. INSECT SCIENCE 2025; 32:24-41. [PMID: 38783627 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Hematophagous female mosquitoes are important vectors of numerous devastating human diseases, posing a major public health threat. Effective prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases rely considerably on progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of various life activities, and accordingly, the molecules that regulate the various life activities of mosquitoes are potential targets for implementing future vector control strategies. Many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in mosquitoes and significant progress has been made in determining their functions. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the research advances on mosquito lncRNAs, including their molecular identification, function, and interaction with other non-coding RNAs, as well as their synergistic regulatory roles in mosquito life activities. We also highlight the potential roles of competitive endogenous RNAs in mosquito growth and development, as well as in insecticide resistance and virus-host interactions. Insights into the biological functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in mosquito life activities, viral replication, pathogenesis, and transmission will contribute to the development of novel drugs and safe vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Qian Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Ting Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Tianqi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Yankun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Lu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Shiping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
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Ross PA, Yeatman E, Berran MS, Gu X, Hoffmann AA, van Heerwaarden B. Wolbachia strain wMelM disrupts egg retention by Aedes aegypti females prevented from ovipositing. Appl Environ Microbiol 2025; 91:e0149124. [PMID: 39629982 PMCID: PMC11784415 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01491-24] [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: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are well adapted to dry climates and can retain their eggs for extended periods in the absence of suitable habitat. Wolbachia strains transferred from other insects to mosquitoes can be released to combat dengue transmission by blocking virus replication and spreading through populations, but host fitness costs imposed by Wolbachia, particularly under some environments, can impede spread. We, therefore, assessed the impact of two Wolbachia strains being released for dengue control (wAlbB and wMelM) on fecundity and egg viability following extended egg retention (up to 24 days) under laboratory conditions. Egg viability following retention decreased to a greater extent in females carrying wMelM compared to uninfected or wAlbB females. Fertility fully recovered in uninfected females following a second blood meal after laying retained eggs, while wMelM females experienced only partial recovery. Effects of wMelM on egg retention were similar regardless of whether females were crossed to uninfected or wMelM males, suggesting that fitness costs were triggered by Wolbachia presence in females. The fecundity and hatch proportions of eggs of wMelM females declined with age, regardless of whether females used stored sperm or were recently inseminated. Costs of some Wolbachia strains during egg retention may affect the invasion and persistence of Wolbachia in release sites where larval habitats are scarce and/or intermittent.IMPORTANCEWolbachia mosquito releases are expanding around the world with substantial impacts on dengue transmission. Releases have succeeded in many locations, but the establishment of Wolbachia has been challenging in some environments, and the factors contributing to this outcome remain unresolved. Here, we explore the effects of Wolbachia on a novel trait, egg retention, which is likely to be important for the persistence of mosquito populations in locations with intermittent rainfall. We find substantial impacts of the Wolbachia strain wMelM on the quality of retained eggs but not the wAlbB strain. This cost is driven by the Wolbachia infection status of the female and can partially recover following a second blood meal. The results of our study may help to explain the difficulty in establishing Wolbachia strains at some field release sites and emphasize the need to characterize Wolbachia phenotypes across a variety of traits and strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ella Yeatman
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mel S. Berran
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Xinyue Gu
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Belinda van Heerwaarden
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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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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12
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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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Montenegro D, Cortés-Cortés G, Balbuena-Alonso MG, Warner C, Camps M. Wolbachia-based emerging strategies for control of vector-transmitted disease. Acta Trop 2024; 260:107410. [PMID: 39349234 PMCID: PMC11637914 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107410] [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: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 09/21/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024]
Abstract
Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted disease of great public health importance. Dengue lacks adequate vaccine protection and insecticide-based methods of mosquito control are proving increasingly ineffective. Here we review the emerging use of mosquitoes transinfected with the obligate intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis for vector control. Wolbachia often induces cytoplasmic incompatibility in its mosquito hosts, resulting in infertile progeny between an infected male and an uninfected female. Wolbachia infection also suppresses the replication of pathogens in the mosquito, a process known as "pathogen blocking". Two strategies have emerged. The first one releases Wolbachia carriers (both male and female) to replace the wild mosquito population, a process driven by cytoplasmic incompatibility and that becomes irreversible once a threshold is reached. This suppresses disease transmission mainly by pathogen blocking and frequently requires a single intervention. The second strategy floods the field population with an exclusively male population of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes to generate infertile hybrid progeny. In this case, transmission suppression depends largely on decreasing the population density of mosquitoes driven by infertility and requires continued mosquito release. The efficacy of both Wolbachia-based approaches has been conclusively demonstrated by randomized and non-randomized studies of deployments across the world. However, results conducted in one setting cannot be directly or easily extrapolated to other settings because dengue incidence is highly affected by the conditions into which the mosquitoes are released. Compared to traditional vector control methods, Wolbachia-based approaches are much more environmentally friendly and can be effective in the medium/long term. On the flip side, they are much more complex and cost-intensive operations, requiring a substantial investment, infrastructure, trained personnel, coordination between agencies, and community engagement. Finally, we discuss recent evidence suggesting that the release of Wolbachia-transinfected mosquitoes has a moderate potential risk of spreading potentially dangerous genes in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Montenegro
- Corporación Innovation Hub, Monteria 230001, Colombia; Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA; Grupo de Investigación: Salud y Tecnología 4.0. Fundación Chilloa, Santa Marta 470001, Colombia
| | - Gerardo Cortés-Cortés
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA; Posgrado en Microbiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, San Manuel, Puebla 72570, Mexico
| | - María Guadalupe Balbuena-Alonso
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA; Posgrado en Microbiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, San Manuel, Puebla 72570, Mexico
| | - Caison Warner
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Manel Camps
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
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Wang Y, Yu J. Dynamics of a non-autonomous delay mosquito population suppression model with Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS 2024; 18:2437034. [PMID: 39630881 DOI: 10.1080/17513758.2024.2437034] [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: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we develop a non-autonomous delay differential equation model for mosquito population suppression. After establishing the positiveness and boundedness of the solutions, we study the dynamical behaviours of the model with or without Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes. More specifically, for the model without infected male mosquitoes, we analyse the asymptotic stability of the equilibria and demonstrate that the model undergo Hopf bifurcations under certain conditions. For the model incorporating infected male mosquitoes, we derive sufficient conditions for the global asymptotic stability of the origin. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate and support our theoretical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Wang
- College of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Center for Applied Mathematics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianshe Yu
- Center for Applied Mathematics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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15
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Freppel W, Silva LA, Stapleford KA, Herrero LJ. Pathogenicity and virulence of chikungunya virus. Virulence 2024; 15:2396484. [PMID: 39193780 PMCID: PMC11370967 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2396484] [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] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted, RNA virus that causes an often-severe musculoskeletal illness characterized by fever, joint pain, and a range of debilitating symptoms. The virus has re-emerged as a global health threat in recent decades, spreading from its origin in Africa across Asia and the Americas, leading to widespread outbreaks impacting millions of people. Despite more than 50 years of research into the pathogenesis of CHIKV, there is still no curative treatment available. Current management of CHIKV infections primarily involves providing supportive care to alleviate symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. Given the ongoing threat of CHIKV, there is an urgent need to better understand its pathogenesis. This understanding is crucial for deciphering the mechanisms underlying the disease and for developing effective strategies for both prevention and management. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of CHIKV and its pathogenesis, shedding light on the complex interactions of viral genetics, host factors, immune responses, and vector-related factors. By exploring these intricate connections, the review seeks to contribute to the knowledge base surrounding CHIKV, offering insights that may ultimately lead to more effective prevention and management strategies for this re-emerging global health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Freppel
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
| | - Laurie A. Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth A. Stapleford
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lara J. Herrero
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
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16
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Visser B, Scheifler M. Insect Lipid Metabolism in the Presence of Symbiotic and Pathogenic Viruses and Bacteria. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39548000 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2024_833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2024]
Abstract
Insects, like most animals, have intimate interactions with microorganisms that can influence the insect host's lipid metabolism. In this chapter, we describe what is known so far about the role prokaryotic microorganisms play in insect lipid metabolism. We start exploring microbe-insect lipid interactions focusing on endosymbionts, and more specifically the gut microbiota that has been predominantly studied in Drosophila melanogaster. We then move on to an overview of the work done on the common and well-studied endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, also in interaction with other microbes. Taking a slightly different angle, we then look at the effect of human pathogens, including dengue and other viruses, on the lipids of mosquito vectors. We extend the work on human pathogens and include interactions with the endosymbiont Wolbachia that was identified as a natural tool to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Research on lipid metabolism of plant disease vectors is up and coming and we end this chapter by highlighting current knowledge in that field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertanne Visser
- Evolution and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège - Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Mathilde Scheifler
- Evolution and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège - Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, Belgium.
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France.
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17
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Almeida L, Bellver-Arnau J, Privat Y, Rebelo C. Vector-borne disease outbreak control via instant releases. J Math Biol 2024; 89:63. [PMID: 39532731 PMCID: PMC11557670 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-024-02159-9] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 10/26/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
This paper is devoted to the study of optimal release strategies to control vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and malaria. Two techniques are considered: the sterile insect one (SIT), which consists in releasing sterilized males among wild vectors in order to perturb their reproduction, and the Wolbachia one (presently used mainly for mosquitoes), which consists in releasing vectors, that are infected with a bacterium limiting their vectorial capacity, in order to replace the wild population by one with reduced vectorial capacity. In each case, the time dynamics of the vector population is modeled by a system of ordinary differential equations in which the releases are represented by linear combinations of Dirac measures with positive coefficients determining their intensity. We introduce optimal control problems that we solve numerically using ad-hoc algorithms, based on writing first-order optimality conditions characterizing the best combination of Dirac measures. We then discuss the results obtained, focusing in particular on the complexity and efficiency of optimal controls and comparing the strategies obtained. Mathematical modeling can help testing a great number of scenarios that are potentially interesting in future interventions (even those that are orthogonal to the present strategies) but that would be hard, costly or even impossible to test in the field in present conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Almeida
- Laboratoire J.-L. Lions, Sorbonne Université CNRS, Université de Paris, Inria, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jesús Bellver-Arnau
- Laboratoire J.-L. Lions, Sorbonne Université CNRS, Université de Paris, Inria, 75005, Paris, France.
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d'Accés a la cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain.
| | - Yannick Privat
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, Institut Elie Cartan de Lorraine, Inria, BP 70239, 54506, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Carlota Rebelo
- Departamento de Matemática and CEMAT-Ciências, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
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Dodson BL, Pujhari S, Brustolin M, Metz HC, Rasgon JL. Variable effects of transient Wolbachia infections on alphaviruses in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012633. [PMID: 39495807 PMCID: PMC11575829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012633] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 10/15/2024] [Indexed: 11/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis (= Wolbachia) has promise as a tool to suppress virus transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. However, Wolbachia can have variable effects on mosquito-borne viruses. This variation remains poorly characterized, yet the multimodal effects of Wolbachia on diverse pathogens could have important implications for public health. Here, we examine the effects of transient somatic infection with two strains of Wolbachia (wAlbB and wMel) on the alphaviruses Sindbis virus (SINV), O'nyong-nyong virus (ONNV), and Mayaro virus (MAYV) in Ae. aegypti. We found variable effects of Wolbachia including enhancement and suppression of viral infections, with some effects depending on Wolbachia strain. Both wAlbB- and wMel-infected mosquitoes showed enhancement of SINV infection rates one week post-infection, with wAlbB-infected mosquitoes also having higher viral titers than controls. Infection rates with ONNV were low across all treatments and no significant effects of Wolbachia were observed. The effects of Wolbachia on MAYV infections were strikingly strain-specific; wMel strongly blocked MAYV infections and suppressed viral titers, while wAlbB had more modest effects. The variable effects of Wolbachia on vector competence underscore the importance of further research into how this bacterium impacts the virome of wild mosquitoes including the emergent human pathogens they transmit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L Dodson
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sujit Pujhari
- Department of Pharmacology Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Marco Brustolin
- Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hillery C Metz
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Hu H, Lu Z, Ma Y, Song X, Wang D, Wu C, Ma X, Shan Y, Ren X, Ma Y. Impact of transinfection of Wolbachia from the planthopper Laodelphax striatellus on reproductive fitness and transcriptome of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 207:108230. [PMID: 39547593 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108230] [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: 08/15/2024] [Revised: 10/31/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/17/2024]
Abstract
The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is critical global pest threatening crops and leading to agricultural losses. Wolbachia is an intracellular symbiotic bacterium in insects, which can regulate the growth and development of the host through various ways. In a prior study, Wolbachia was found to be transferred to whitefly and induce fitness changes. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of host-Wolbachia interactions in B. tabaci. In this study, a Wolbachia strain wStri was isolated from the small brown planthopper, Laodelphex striatellus, and transferred to B. tabaci. The distribution of Wolbachia in whiteflies was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Reciprocal crossing experiments demonstrated that wStri did not induce cytoplasmic incompatibility phenotypes in B. tabaci, but prolonged the developmental duration of the offspring. We performed transcriptomic analysis of Wolbachia-infected female and male adults using Illumina-based RNA-Seq. A total of 843 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in infected females, among them 141 were significantly up-regulated and 702 were down-regulated by Wolbachia infection. In infected males, of 511 gene sets, 279 host genes were significantly up-regulated, and 232 were down-regulated by Wolbachia infection. KEGG analysis of DEGs demonstrated significant differences in gene pathway distribution between up-regulated and down-regulated genes. These genes are involved in various biological processes, including, but not limited to, detoxification, oxidation-reduction, metabolic processes, and immunity. The transcriptomic profiling of this study offers valuable information on the differential expression of genes in whiteflies following Wolbachia infection, and enhances our understanding of this host-symbiotic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Hu
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Zhenhua Lu
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Yajie Ma
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Xianpeng Song
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Changcai Wu
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yongpan Shan
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China.
| | - Xiangliang Ren
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China.
| | - Yan Ma
- Research Base of Zhengzhou University, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China.
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da Silva LMI, da Silva JI, da Silva AF, Dezordi FZ, Machado LC, Qin S, Fan H, Tong Y, Campos TDL, Paiva MHS, Wallau GL. Sequencing and Analysis of Wolbachia Strains from A and B Supergroups Detected in Sylvatic Mosquitoes from Brazil. Microorganisms 2024; 12:2206. [PMID: 39597595 PMCID: PMC11596719 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12112206] [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: 08/19/2024] [Revised: 10/18/2024] [Accepted: 10/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria that infect a wide range of arthropods and filarial nematodes, often manipulating host reproduction. The efficacy of Wolbachia-based interventions for dengue and chikungunya control has been validated through numerous field studies in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and prevalence of Wolbachia infections in sylvatic mosquitoes from two locations in Recife, Brazil. Multiple mosquito species were screened for Wolbachia using both target marker gene amplification coupled with Sanger sequencing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) approaches. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to classify Wolbachia strains into supergroups and assess their evolutionary relationships. Results revealed the presence of Wolbachia in eleven mosquito species examined, with different infection rates. Both supergroups A and B of Wolbachia strains were identified, with Aedes albopictus showing co-infection by both supergroups through the WGS approach. We also detected indirect evidence of Wolbachia horizontal transmission among mosquitoes and other distant host orders. This study provides valuable insights into the distribution and diversity of Wolbachia in sylvatic mosquitoes from Brazil and adds new important data about Wolbachia detection through target marker gene amplicon coupled with Sanger sequencing and WGS methods, highlighting its complementarity to ascertain the presence of Wolbachia in mosquito samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Maria Inácio da Silva
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
| | - José Irnaldo da Silva
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
- Núcleo de Bioinformática e Departamento de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil;
| | - Alexandre Freitas da Silva
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
- Núcleo de Bioinformática e Departamento de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil;
| | - Filipe Zimmer Dezordi
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
- Núcleo de Bioinformática e Departamento de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil;
| | - Lais Ceschini Machado
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
| | - Si Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; (S.Q.); (H.F.)
| | - Hang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; (S.Q.); (H.F.)
| | - Yigang Tong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China;
| | - Túlio de Lima Campos
- Núcleo de Bioinformática e Departamento de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil;
| | - Marcelo Henrique Santos Paiva
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
- Núcleo de Ciências da Vida, Centro Acadêmico do Agreste, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Caruaru 50670-901, PE, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Luz Wallau
- Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil; (L.M.I.d.S.); (J.I.d.S.); (A.F.d.S.); (F.Z.D.); (L.C.M.); (M.H.S.P.)
- Núcleo de Bioinformática e Departamento de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 21040-900, PE, Brazil;
- Department of Arbovirology and Entomology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, National Reference Center for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße, 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Universidade Federal Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
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21
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Aželytė J, Maitre A, Abuin-Denis L, Wu-Chuang A, Žiegytė R, Mateos-Hernandez L, Obregon D, Palinauskas V, Cabezas-Cruz A. Nested patterns of commensals and endosymbionts in microbial communities of mosquito vectors. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:434. [PMID: 39455905 PMCID: PMC11520040 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03593-x] [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: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes serve as vectors for numerous pathogens, posing significant health risks to humans and animals. Understanding the complex interactions within mosquito microbiota is crucial for deciphering vector-pathogen dynamics and developing effective disease management strategies. Here, we investigated the nested patterns of Wolbachia endosymbionts and Escherichia-Shigella within the microbiota of laboratory-reared Culex pipiens f. molestus and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. We hypothesized that Wolbachia would exhibit a structured pattern reflective of its co-evolved relationship with both mosquito species, while Escherichia-Shigella would display a more dynamic pattern influenced by environmental factors. RESULTS Our analysis revealed different microbial compositions between the two mosquito species, although some microorganisms were common to both. Network analysis revealed distinct community structures and interaction patterns for these bacteria in the microbiota of each mosquito species. Escherichia-Shigella appeared prominently within major network modules in both mosquito species, particularly in module P4 of Cx. pipiens f. molestus, interacting with 93 nodes, and in module Q3 of Cx. quinquefasciatus, interacting with 161 nodes, sharing 55 nodes across both species. On the other hand, Wolbachia appeared in disparate modules: module P3 in Cx. pipiens f. molestus and a distinct module with a single additional taxon in Cx. quinquefasciatus, showing species-specific interactions and no shared taxa. Through computer simulations, we evaluated how the removal of Wolbachia or Escherichia-Shigella affects network robustness. In Cx. pipiens f. molestus, removal of Wolbachia led to a decrease in network connectivity, while Escherichia-Shigella removal had a minimal impact. Conversely, in Cx. quinquefasciatus, removal of Escherichia-Shigella resulted in decreased network stability, whereas Wolbachia removal had minimal effect. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypothesis, the findings indicate that Wolbachia displays a more dynamic pattern of associations within the microbiota of Culex pipiens f. molestus and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, than Escherichia-Shigella. The differential effects on network robustness upon Wolbachia or Escherichia-Shigella removal suggest that these bacteria play distinct roles in maintaining community stability within the microbiota of the two mosquito species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justė Aželytė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT-08412, Lithuania
| | - Apolline Maitre
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
- Laboratoire de Recherches Sur Le Développement de L'Elevage (SELMET-LRDE), INRAE, UR 0045, Corte, 20250, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, EA 7310, Corte, France
| | - Lianet Abuin-Denis
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Avenue 31 between 158 and 190, P.O. Box 6162, Havana, 10600, Cuba
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Rita Žiegytė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT-08412, Lithuania
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Dasiel Obregon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France.
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22
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Azman IK, Chan YF, Chua CL, Abd Mutalib ZA, Dass SC, Gill BS, Ismail NH, Jelip J, Wan MK, Lee WC, Vythilingam I, Alphey L, Sam IC. A change in circulating chikungunya virus variant impacts Aedes aegypti vector competence and spatiotemporal distribution of disease in Malaysia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012632. [PMID: 39480893 PMCID: PMC11556719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012632] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 11/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2008-2010, Malaysia experienced a nationwide chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreak caused by the Indian Ocean lineage E1-226V (valine) variant, adapted to Aedes albopictus. In 2017-2022, transition to an E1-226A (alanine) variant occurred. Ae. albopictus prevails in rural areas, where most cases occurred during the E1-226V outbreak, while Ae. aegypti dominates urban areas. The shift in circulating CHIKV variants from E1-226V to E1-226A (2009-2022) was hypothesized to result in a transition from rural to urban CHIKV distribution, driven by differences in Ae. aegypti vector competence for the two variants. This study aimed to: (1) map the spatiotemporal spread of CHIKV cases in Malaysia between 2009-2022; and (2) compare replication of E1-226A and E1-226V variants in the midguts and head/thoraxes of Ae. aegypti. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Spatiotemporal analysis of national notified CHIKV case addresses was performed. Between 2009-2022, 12,446 CHIKV cases were reported, with peaks in 2009 and 2020, and a significant shift from predominantly rural cases in 2009-2011 (85.1% rural), to urban areas in 2017-2022 (86.1% urban; p<0.0001). Two Ae. aegypti strains, field-collected MC1 and laboratory Kuala Lumpur (KL) strains, were fed infectious blood containing constructed CHIKV clones, pCMV-p2020A (E1-226A) and pCMV-p2020V (E1-226V) to measure CHIKV replication by real-time PCR and/or virus titration. The pCMV-p2020A clone replicated better in Ae. aegypti cell line Aag2 and showed higher replication, infection and dissemination efficiency in both Ae. aegypti strains, compared to pCMV-p2020V. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study revealed that a change in circulating CHIKV variants can be associated with changes in vector competence and outbreak epidemiology. Continued genomic surveillance of arboviruses is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izzati Kausar Azman
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yoke Fun Chan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chong Long Chua
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Sarat Chandra Dass
- School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Balvinder Singh Gill
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Nor Hayati Ismail
- Molecular Unit, Public Health Laboratory Kota Bharu, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Jenarun Jelip
- Vector-Borne Disease Section, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Ming Keong Wan
- Vector-Borne Disease Section, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Wenn-Chyau Lee
- Department of Parasitology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR IDL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Indra Vythilingam
- Department of Parasitology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Luke Alphey
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - I-Ching Sam
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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23
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Liang Y, Liu J, Wu Y, Wu Y, Xi Z. Stable introduction of Wolbachia wPip into invasive Anopheles stephensi for potential malaria control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012523. [PMID: 39325838 PMCID: PMC11460690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012523] [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: 10/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The spread and invasion of the urban malaria vector Anopheles stephensi has emerged as a significant threat to ongoing malaria control and elimination efforts, particularly in Africa. The successful use of the maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia for arbovirus control has inspired the exploration of similar strategies for managing malaria vectors, necessitating the establishment of a stable Wolbachia-Anopheles symbiosis. In this study, we successfully transferred Wolbachia wPip into An. stephensi, resulting in the establishment of a stable transinfected HP1 line with 100% maternal transmission efficiency. We demonstrate that wPip in the HP1 line induces nearly complete unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and maintains high densities in both somatic and germline tissues. Despite a modest reduction in lifespan and female reproductive capacity, our results suggest the Wolbachia infection in the HP1 line has little impact on life history traits, body size, and male mating competitiveness, as well as the ability of its larvae to tolerate rearing temperatures up to 38°C, although wPip densities moderately decrease when larvae are exposed to a constant 33°C and diurnal cyclic temperatures of 27-36°C and 27-38°C. These findings highlight the potential of the HP1 line as a robust candidate for further development in malaria control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Liang
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Wolbaki Biotech Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Julian Liu
- Guangzhou Wolbaki Biotech Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - YiLian Wu
- Guangzhou Wolbaki Biotech Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Guangzhou Wolbaki Biotech Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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24
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Lefteri DA, Rainey SM, Murdochy SM, Sinkins SP. Bunyamwera Virus Infection of Wolbachia-Carrying Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Reduces Wolbachia Density. Viruses 2024; 16:1336. [PMID: 39205310 PMCID: PMC11360823 DOI: 10.3390/v16081336] [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] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia symbionts introduced into Aedes mosquitoes provide a highly effective dengue virus transmission control strategy, increasingly utilised in many countries in an attempt to reduce disease burden. Whilst highly effective against dengue and other positive-sense RNA viruses, it remains unclear how effective Wolbachia is against negative-sense RNA viruses. Therefore, the effect of Wolbachia on Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) infection in Aedes aegypti was investigated using wMel and wAlbB, two strains currently used in Wolbachia releases for dengue control, as well as wAu, a strain that typically persists at a high density and is an extremely efficient blocker of positive-sense viruses. Wolbachia was found to reduce BUNV infection in vitro but not in vivo. Instead, BUNV caused significant impacts on density of all three Wolbachia strains following infection of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. The ability of Wolbachia to successfully persist within the mosquito and block virus transmission is partially dependent on its intracellular density. However, reduction in Wolbachia density was not observed in offspring of infected mothers. This could be due in part to a lack of transovarial transmission of BUNV observed. The results highlight the importance of understanding the complex interactions between multiple arboviruses, mosquitoes and Wolbachia in natural environments, the impact this can have on maintaining protection against diseases, and the necessity for monitoring Wolbachia prevalence at release sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow-Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (D.A.L.) (S.M.M.)
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25
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Omme S, Wang J, Sifuna M, Rodriguez J, Owusu NR, Goli M, Jiang P, Waziha P, Nwaiwu J, Brelsfoard CL, Vigneron A, Ciota AT, Kramer LD, Mechref Y, Onyangos MG. Multi-omics analysis of antiviral interactions of Elizabethkingia anophelis and Zika virus. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18470. [PMID: 39122799 PMCID: PMC11315927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68898-3] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbial communities residing in the mosquito midgut play a key role in determining the outcome of mosquito pathogen infection. Elizabethkingia anophelis, originally isolated from the midgut of Anopheles gambiae possess a broad-spectrum antiviral phenotype, yet a gap in knowledge regarding the mechanistic basis of its interaction with viruses exists. The current study aims to identify pathways and genetic factors linked to E. anophelis antiviral activity. The understanding of E. anophelis antiviral mechanism could lead to novel transmission barrier tools to prevent arboviral outbreaks. We utilized a non-targeted multi-omics approach, analyzing extracellular lipids, proteins, metabolites of culture supernatants coinfected with ZIKV and E. anophelis. We observed a significant decrease in arginine and phenylalanine levels, metabolites that are essential for viral replication and progression of viral infection. This study provides insights into the molecular basis of E. anophelis antiviral phenotype. The findings lay a foundation for in-depth mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Omme
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - M Sifuna
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Rodriguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - N R Owusu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - M Goli
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - P Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - P Waziha
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - J Nwaiwu
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - C L Brelsfoard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - A Vigneron
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Microbienne, Claude Bernard University Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - A T Ciota
- Wadsworth Centre, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA
- School of Public Health, State University of New York Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - L D Kramer
- School of Public Health, State University of New York Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Y Mechref
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - M G Onyangos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
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Mushtaq I, Sarwar MS, Munzoor I. A comprehensive review of Wolbachia-mediated mechanisms to control dengue virus transmission in Aedes aegypti through innate immune pathways. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1434003. [PMID: 39176079 PMCID: PMC11338905 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1434003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The Dengue virus (DENV), primarily spread by Aedes aegypti and also by Aedes albopictus in some regions, poses significant global health risks. Alternative techniques are urgently needed because the current control mechanisms are insufficient to reduce the transmission of DENV. Introducing Wolbachia pipientis into Ae. aegypti inhibits DENV transmission, however, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Innate immune effector upregulation, the regulation of autophagy, and intracellular competition between Wolbachia and DENV for lipids are among the theories for the mechanism of inhibition. Furthermore, mainly three immune pathways Toll, IMD, and JAK/STAT are involved in the host for the suppression of the virus. These pathways are activated by Wolbachia and DENV in the host and are responsible for the upregulation and downregulation of many genes in mosquitoes, which ultimately reduces the titer of the DENV in the host. The functioning of these immune pathways depends upon the Wolbachia, host, and virus interaction. Here, we summarize the current understanding of DENV recognition by the Ae. aegypti's immune system, aiming to create a comprehensive picture of our knowledge. Additionally, we investigated how Wolbachia regulates the activation of multiple genes associated with immune priming for the reduction of DENV.
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27
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Vassallo BG, Scheidel N, Fischer SEJ, Kim DH. Bacteria are a major determinant of Orsay virus transmission and infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2024; 12:RP92534. [PMID: 38990923 PMCID: PMC11239179 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92534] [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: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbiota is a key determinant of the physiology and immunity of animal hosts. The factors governing the transmissibility of viruses between susceptible hosts are incompletely understood. Bacteria serve as food for Caenorhabditis elegans and represent an integral part of the natural environment of C. elegans. We determined the effects of bacteria isolated with C. elegans from its natural environment on the transmission of Orsay virus in C. elegans using quantitative virus transmission and host susceptibility assays. We observed that Ochrobactrum species promoted Orsay virus transmission, whereas Pseudomonas lurida MYb11 attenuated virus transmission relative to the standard laboratory bacterial food Escherichia coli OP50. We found that pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PA01 and PA14 further attenuated virus transmission. We determined that the amount of Orsay virus required to infect 50% of a C. elegans population on P. lurida MYb11 compared with Ochrobactrum vermis MYb71 was dramatically increased, over three orders of magnitude. Host susceptibility was attenuated even further in the presence of P. aeruginosa PA14. Genetic analysis of the determinants of P. aeruginosa required for attenuation of C. elegans susceptibility to Orsay virus infection revealed a role for regulators of quorum sensing. Our data suggest that distinct constituents of the C. elegans microbiota and potential pathogens can have widely divergent effects on Orsay virus transmission, such that associated bacteria can effectively determine host susceptibility versus resistance to viral infection. Our study provides quantitative evidence for a critical role for tripartite host-virus-bacteria interactions in determining the transmissibility of viruses among susceptible hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G Vassallo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| | - Noemie Scheidel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Sylvia E J Fischer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Dennis H Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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She L, Shi M, Cao T, Yuan H, Wang R, Wang W, She Y, Wang C, Zeng Q, Mao W, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Xi Z, Pan X. Wolbachia mediates crosstalk between miRNA and Toll pathways to enhance resistance to dengue virus in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012296. [PMID: 38885278 PMCID: PMC11213346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The obligate endosymbiont Wolbachia induces pathogen interference in the primary disease vector Aedes aegypti, facilitating the utilization of Wolbachia-based mosquito control for arbovirus prevention, particularly against dengue virus (DENV). However, the mechanisms underlying Wolbachia-mediated virus blockade have not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that Wolbachia activates the host cytoplasmic miRNA biogenesis pathway to suppress DENV infection. Through the suppression of the long noncoding RNA aae-lnc-2268 by Wolbachia wAlbB, aae-miR-34-3p, a miRNA upregulated by the Wolbachia strains wAlbB and wMelPop, promoted the expression of the antiviral effector defensin and cecropin genes through the Toll pathway regulator MyD88. Notably, anti-DENV resistance induced by Wolbachia can be further enhanced, with the potential to achieve complete virus blockade by increasing the expression of aae-miR-34-3p in Ae. aegypti. Furthermore, the downregulation of aae-miR-34-3p compromised Wolbachia-mediated virus blockade. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which Wolbachia establishes crosstalk between the cytoplasmic miRNA pathway and the Toll pathway via aae-miR-34-3p to strengthen antiviral immune responses against DENV. Our results will aid in the advancement of Wolbachia for arbovirus control by enhancing its virus-blocking efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhi She
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Mengyi Shi
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Ting Cao
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Hao Yuan
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Renke Wang
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Weifeng Wang
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Yueting She
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Chaojun Wang
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Qin Zeng
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- Changsha City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Wei Mao
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Yalan Zhang
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Xiaoling Pan
- The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
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Orozco-Gonzales JL, Dos Santos Benedito A, Cardona-Salgado D, Ferreira CP, de Oliveira Florentino H, Sepulveda-Salcedo LS, Vasilieva O. Comparing the long-term persistence of different Wolbachia strains after the release of bacteria-carrying mosquitoes. Math Biosci 2024; 372:109190. [PMID: 38631561 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2024.109190] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
This paper proposes a bidimensional modeling framework for Wolbachia invasion, assuming imperfect maternal transmission, incomplete cytoplasmic incompatibility, and direct infection loss due to thermal stress. Our model adapts to various Wolbachia strains and retains all properties of higher-dimensional models. The conditions for the durable coexistence of Wolbachia-carrying and wild mosquitoes are expressed using the model's parameters in a compact closed form. When the Wolbachia bacterium is locally established, the size of the remanent wild population can be assessed by a direct formula derived from the model. The model was tested for four Wolbachia strains undergoing laboratory and field trials to control mosquito-borne diseases: wMel, wMelPop, wAlbB, and wAu. As all these bacterial strains affect the individual fitness of mosquito hosts differently and exhibit different levels of resistance to temperature variations, the model helped to conclude that: (1) the wMel strain spreads faster in wild mosquito populations; (2) the wMelPop exhibits lower resilience but also guarantees the smallest size of the remanent wild population; (3) the wAlbB strain performs better at higher ambient temperatures than others; (4) the wAu strain is not sustainable and cannot persist in the wild mosquito population despite its resistance to high temperatures.
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Wan H, Wu Y, Fan G, Li D. Wolbachia invasion dynamics of a random mosquito population model with imperfect maternal transmission and incomplete CI. J Math Biol 2024; 88:72. [PMID: 38678110 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-024-02094-9] [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: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we formulate a random Wolbachia invasion model incorporating the effects of imperfect maternal transmission and incomplete cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Under constant environments, we obtain the following results: Firstly, the complete invasion equilibrium of Wolbachia does not exist, and thus the population replacement is not achievable in the case of imperfect maternal transmission; Secondly, imperfect maternal transmission or incomplete CI may obliterate bistability and backward bifurcation, which leads to the failure of Wolbachia invasion, no matter how many infected mosquitoes would be released; Thirdly, the threshold number of the infected mosquitoes to be released would increase with the decrease of the maternal transmission rate or the intensity of CI effect. In random environments, we investigate in detail the Wolbachia invasion dynamics of the random mosquito population model and establish the initial release threshold of infected mosquitoes for successful invasion of Wolbachia into the wild mosquito population. In particular, the existence and stability of invariant probability measures for the establishment and extinction of Wolbachia are determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of NSLSCS, School of Mathematical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yin Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of NSLSCS, School of Mathematical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Guihong Fan
- Department of Mathematics, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA, 31907, USA
| | - Dan Li
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China.
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Shamjana U, Vasu DA, Hembrom PS, Nayak K, Grace T. The role of insect gut microbiota in host fitness, detoxification and nutrient supplementation. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2024; 117:71. [PMID: 38668783 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-024-01970-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Insects are incredibly diverse, ubiquitous and have successfully flourished out of the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of evolutionary processes. The resident microbiome has accompanied the physical and biological adaptations that enable their continued survival and proliferation in a wide array of environments. The host insect and microbiome's bidirectional relationship exhibits their capability to influence each other's physiology, behavior and characteristics. Insects are reported to rely directly on the microbial community to break down complex food, adapt to nutrient-deficit environments, protect themselves from natural adversaries and control the expression of social behavior. High-throughput metagenomic approaches have enhanced the potential for determining the abundance, composition, diversity and functional activities of microbial fauna associated with insect hosts, enabling in-depth investigation into insect-microbe interactions. We undertook a review of some of the major advances in the field of metagenomics, focusing on insect-microbe interaction, diversity and composition of resident microbiota, the functional capability of endosymbionts and discussions on different symbiotic relationships. The review aims to be a valuable resource on insect gut symbiotic microbiota by providing a comprehensive understanding of how insect gut symbionts systematically perform a range of functions, viz., insecticide degradation, nutritional support and immune fitness. A thorough understanding of manipulating specific gut symbionts may aid in developing advanced insect-associated research to attain health and design strategies for pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Shamjana
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, 671316, India
| | - Deepa Azhchath Vasu
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, 671316, India
| | - Preety Sweta Hembrom
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, 671316, India
| | - Karunakar Nayak
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, 671316, India
| | - Tony Grace
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, 671316, India.
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Fox T, Sguassero Y, Chaplin M, Rose W, Doum D, Arevalo-Rodriguez I, Villanueva G. Wolbachia-carrying Aedes mosquitoes for preventing dengue infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024; 4:CD015636. [PMID: 38597256 PMCID: PMC11005084 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015636.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue is a global health problem of high significance, with 3.9 billion people at risk of infection. The geographic expansion of dengue virus (DENV) infection has resulted in increased frequency and severity of the disease, and the number of deaths has increased in recent years. Wolbachia,an intracellular bacterial endosymbiont, has been under investigation for several years as a novel dengue-control strategy. Some dengue vectors (Aedes mosquitoes) can be transinfected with specific strains of Wolbachia, which decreases their fitness (ability to survive and mate) and their ability to reproduce, inhibiting the replication of dengue. Both laboratory and field studies have demonstrated the potential effect of Wolbachia deployments on reducing dengue transmission, and modelling studies have suggested that this may be a self-sustaining strategy for dengue prevention, although long-term effects are yet to be elucidated. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of Wolbachia-carrying Aedes speciesdeployments (specifically wMel-, wMelPop-, and wAlbB- strains of Wolbachia) for preventing dengue virus infection. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, four other databases, and two trial registries up to 24 January 2024. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including cluster-randomized controlled trials (cRCTs), conducted in dengue endemic or epidemic-prone settings were eligible. We sought studies that investigated the impact of Wolbachia-carrying Aedes deployments on epidemiological or entomological dengue-related outcomes, utilizing either the population replacement or population suppression strategy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently selected eligible studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. We used odds ratios (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) as the effect measure for dichotomous outcomes. For count/rate outcomes, we planned to use the rate ratio with 95% CI as the effect measure. We used adjusted measures of effect for cRCTs. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS One completed cRCT met our inclusion criteria, and we identified two further ongoing cRCTs. The included trial was conducted in an urban setting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It utilized a nested test-negative study design, whereby all participants aged three to 45 years who presented at healthcare centres with a fever were enrolled in the study provided they had resided in the study area for the previous 10 nights. The trial showed that wMel-Wolbachia infected Ae aegypti deployments probably reduce the odds of contracting virologically confirmed dengue by 77% (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.35; 1 trial, 6306 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The cluster-level prevalence of wMel Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes remained high over two years in the intervention arm of the trial, reported as 95.8% (interquartile range 91.5 to 97.8) across 27 months in clusters receiving wMel-Wolbachia Ae aegypti deployments, but there were no reliable comparative data for this outcome. Other primary outcomes were the incidence of virologically confirmed dengue, the prevalence of dengue ribonucleic acid in the mosquito population, and mosquito density, but there were no data for these outcomes. Additionally, there were no data on adverse events. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The included trial demonstrates the potential significant impact of wMel-Wolbachia-carrying Ae aegypti mosquitoes on preventing dengue infection in an endemic setting, and supports evidence reported in non-randomized and uncontrolled studies. Further trials across a greater diversity of settings are required to confirm whether these findings apply to other locations and country settings, and greater reporting of acceptability and cost are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilly Fox
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Marty Chaplin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Winsley Rose
- Department of Child Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Dyna Doum
- Health Forefront Organization, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Ingrid Arevalo-Rodriguez
- Cochrane Response, Cochrane, London, UK
- Evidence Production & Methods Directorate, Cochrane, London, UK
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Li C, Han G, Huang L, Lu Y, Xia Y, Zhang N, Liu Q, Xu J. Metagenomic Analyses Reveal Gut Microbial Profiles of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Driven by the Infection of Baculovirus CnmeGV. Microorganisms 2024; 12:757. [PMID: 38674701 PMCID: PMC11052019 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The composition of microbiota in the digestive tract gut is essential for insect physiology, homeostasis, and pathogen infection. Little is known about the interactions between microbiota load and oral infection with baculoviruses. CnmeGV is an obligative baculovirus to Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. We investigated the impact of CnmeGV infection on the structure of intestinal microbes of C. medinalis during the initial infection stage. The results revealed that the gut microbiota profiles were dynamically driven by pathogen infection of CnmeGV. The numbers of all the OTU counts were relatively higher at the early and later stages, while the microbial diversity significantly increased early but dropped sharply following the infection. The compositional abundance of domain bacteria Firmicutes developed substantially higher. The significantly enriched and depleted species can be divided into four groups at the species level. Fifteen of these species were ultimately predicted as the biomarkers of CnmeGV infection. CnmeGV infection induces significant enrichment of alterations in functional genes related to metabolism and the immune system, encompassing processes such as carbohydrate, amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism. Finally, the study may provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between host microbiota, baculovirus infection, and pest control of C. medinalis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jian Xu
- National Experimental Station of Yangzhou for Agricultural Microbiology, Jiangsu Lixiahe Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou 225008, China; (C.L.); (G.H.); (L.H.); (Y.L.); (Y.X.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
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Peng J, Zhang M, Wang G, Zhang D, Zheng X, Li Y. Biased virus transmission following sequential coinfection of Aedes aegypti with dengue and Zika viruses. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012053. [PMID: 38557981 PMCID: PMC10984552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito-borne arboviruses are expanding their territory and elevating their infection prevalence due to the rapid climate change, urbanization, and increased international travel and global trade. Various significant arboviruses, including the dengue virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, and yellow fever virus, are all reliant on the same primary vector, Aedes aegypti. Consequently, the occurrence of arbovirus coinfection in mosquitoes is anticipated. Arbovirus coinfection in mosquitoes has two patterns: simultaneous and sequential. Numerous studies have demonstrated that simultaneous coinfection of arboviruses in mosquitoes is unlikely to exert mutual developmental influence on these viruses. However, the viruses' interplay within a mosquito after the sequential coinfection seems intricated and not well understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted experiments aimed at examining the phenomenon of arbovirus sequential coinfection in both mosquito cell line (C6/36) and A. aegypti, specifically focusing on dengue virus (DENV, serotype 2) and Zika virus (ZIKV). We firstly observed that DENV and ZIKV can sequentially infect mosquito C6/36 cell line, but the replication level of the subsequently infected ZIKV was significantly suppressed. Similarly, A. aegypti mosquitoes can be sequentially coinfected by these two arboviruses, regardless of the order of virus exposure. However, the replication, dissemination, and the transmission potential of the secondary virus were significantly inhibited. We preliminarily explored the underlying mechanisms, revealing that arbovirus-infected mosquitoes exhibited activated innate immunity, disrupted lipid metabolism, and enhanced RNAi pathway, leading to reduced susceptibility to the secondary arbovirus infections. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that, in contrast to simultaneous arbovirus coinfection in mosquitoes that can promote the transmission and co-circulation of these viruses, sequential coinfection appears to have limited influence on arbovirus transmission dynamics. However, it is important to note that more experimental investigations are needed to refine and expand upon this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiameng Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meichun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongjing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongjun Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Gomard Y, Hafsia S, Lebon C, Rabarison P, Idaroussi AB, Yssouf A, Boussès P, Mavingui P, Atyame C. Genetic diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia infecting two mosquito species of the genus Eretmapodites occurring in sympatry in the Comoros archipelago. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1343917. [PMID: 38601925 PMCID: PMC11004463 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1343917] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The influence of Wolbachia on mosquito reproduction and vector competence has led to renewed interest in studying the genetic diversity of these bacteria and the phenotypes they induced in mosquito vectors. In this study, we focused on two species of Eretmapodites, namely Eretmapodites quinquevittatus and Eretmapodites subsimplicipes, from three islands in the Comoros archipelago (in the Southwestern Indian Ocean). Methods Using the COI gene, we examined the mitochondrial genetic diversity of 879 Eretmapodites individuals from 54 sites. Additionally, we investigated the presence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia using the wsp marker and the diversity of five housekeeping genes commonly used for genotyping through Multiple Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). Results and discussion Overall, Er. quinquevittatus was the most abundant species in the three surveyed islands and both mosquito species occurred in sympatry in most of the investigated sites. We detected a higher mitochondrial genetic diversity in Er. quinquevittatus with 35 reported haplotypes (N = 615 specimens, Hd = 0.481 and π = 0.002) while 13 haplotypes were found in Er. subsimplicipes (N = 205 specimens, Hd = 0.338 and π = 0.001), this difference is likely due to the bias in sampling size between the two species. We report for the first time the presence of Wolbachia in these two Eretmapodites species. The prevalence of Wolbachia infection varied significantly between species, with a low prevalence recorded in Er. quinquevittatus (0.8%, N = 5/627) while infection was close to fixation in Er. subsimplicipes (87.7%, N = 221/252). Both male and female individuals of the two mosquito species appeared to be infected. The analysis of MLST genes revealed the presence of two Wolbachia strains corresponding to two new strain types (STs) within the supergroups A and B, which have been named wEretA and wEretB. These strains were found as mono-infections and are closely related, phylogenetically, to Wolbachia strains previously reported in Drosophila species. Finally, we demonstrate that maternal transmission of Wolbachia is imperfect in Er. subsimplicipes, which could explain the presence of a minority of uninfected individuals in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Gomard
- Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Saint-Denis, île de La Réunion, France
| | - Sarah Hafsia
- Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Saint-Denis, île de La Réunion, France
| | - Cyrille Lebon
- Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Saint-Denis, île de La Réunion, France
| | | | | | - Amina Yssouf
- National Malaria Control Program, Moroni, Comoros
| | - Philippe Boussès
- UMR MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle), IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Mavingui
- Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Saint-Denis, île de La Réunion, France
| | - Célestine Atyame
- Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Saint-Denis, île de La Réunion, France
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Reyes JIL, Suzuki T, Suzuki Y, Watanabe K. Detection and quantification of natural Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines using locally designed primers. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1360438. [PMID: 38562961 PMCID: PMC10982481 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1360438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The Philippines bears health and economic burden caused by high dengue cases annually. Presently, the Philippines still lack an effective and sustainable vector management. The use of Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted bacterium, that mitigate arbovirus transmission has been recommended. Cytoplasmic incompatibility and viral blocking, two characteristics that make Wolbachia suitable for vector control, depend on infection prevalence and density. There are no current Wolbachia release programs in the Philippines, and studies regarding the safety of this intervention. Here, we screened for Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti collected from Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. We designed location-specific primers for qPCR to test whether this improved Wolbachia detection in Ae. aegypti. We explored if host sex and Wolbachia strain could be potential factors affecting Wolbachia density. Methods Ae. aegypti mosquitoes (n=429) were screened for natural Wolbachia by taqman qPCR using location-specific Wolbachia surface protein primers (wspAAML) and known 16S rRNA primers. Samples positive for wspAAML (n=267) were processed for Sanger sequencing. We constructed a phylogenetic tree using IQ-TREE 2 to further characterize Wolbachia present in the Philippine Ae. aegypti. We then compared Wolbachia densities between Wolbachia groups and host sex. Statistical analyses were done using GraphPad Prism 9.0. Results Wolbachia prevalence for 16S rRNA (40%) and wspAAML (62%) markers were high. Wolbachia relative densities for 16S rRNA ranged from -3.84 to 2.71 and wspAAML from -4.02 to 1.81. Densities were higher in male than female mosquitoes. Wolbachia strains detected in Ae. aegypti clustered into supergroup B. Some 54% (123/226) of these sequences clustered under a group referred to here as "wAegML," that belongs to the supergroup B, which had a significantly lower density than wAegB/wAlbB, and wAlbA strains. Conclusion Location-specific primers improved detection of natural Wolbachia in Ae. aegypti and allowed for relative quantification. Wolbachia density is relatively low, and differed between host sexes and Wolbachia strains. An economical way of confirming sporadic or transient Wolbachia in Ae. aegypti is necessary while considering host sex and bacterial strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerica Isabel L. Reyes
- Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory, Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Takahiro Suzuki
- Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory, Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Yasutsugu Suzuki
- Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory, Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Kozo Watanabe
- Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory, Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
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Vassallo BG, Scheidel N, Fischer SEJ, Kim DH. Bacteria Are a Major Determinant of Orsay Virus Transmission and Infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.05.556377. [PMID: 37732241 PMCID: PMC10508782 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.05.556377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The microbiota is a key determinant of the physiology and immunity of animal hosts. The factors governing the transmissibility of viruses between susceptible hosts are incompletely understood. Bacteria serve as food for Caenorhabditis elegans and represent an integral part of the natural environment of C. elegans. We determined the effects of bacteria isolated with C. elegans from its natural environment on the transmission of Orsay virus in C. elegans using quantitative virus transmission and host susceptibility assays. We observed that Ochrobactrum species promoted Orsay virus transmission, whereas Pseudomonas lurida MYb11 attenuated virus transmission relative to the standard laboratory bacterial food Escherichia coli OP50. We found that pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PA01 and PA14 further attenuated virus transmission. We determined that the amount of Orsay virus required to infect 50% of a C. elegans population on P. lurida MYb11 compared with Ochrobactrum vermis MYb71 was dramatically increased, over three orders of magnitude. Host susceptibility was attenuated even further in presence of P. aeruginosa PA14. Genetic analysis of the determinants of P. aeruginosa required for attenuation of C. elegans susceptibility to Orsay virus infection revealed a role for regulators of quorum sensing. Our data suggest that distinct constituents of the C. elegans microbiota and potential pathogens can have widely divergent effects on Orsay virus transmission, such that associated bacteria can effectively determine host susceptibility versus resistance to viral infection. Our study provides quantitative evidence for a critical role for tripartite host-virus-bacteria interactions in determining the transmissibility of viruses among susceptible hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G. Vassallo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, 02115, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Noémie Scheidel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, 02115, USA
| | - Sylvia E. J. Fischer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, 02115, USA
| | - Dennis H. Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, 02115, USA
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Lanz-Mendoza H, Gálvez D, Contreras-Garduño J. The plasticity of immune memory in invertebrates. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246158. [PMID: 38449328 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246158] [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: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Whether specific immune protection after initial pathogen exposure (immune memory) occurs in invertebrates has long been uncertain. The absence of antibodies, B-cells and T-cells, and the short lifespans of invertebrates led to the hypothesis that immune memory does not occur in these organisms. However, research in the past two decades has supported the existence of immune memory in several invertebrate groups, including Ctenophora, Cnidaria, Nematoda, Mollusca and Arthropoda. Interestingly, some studies have demonstrated immune memory that is specific to the parasite strain. Nonetheless, other work does not provide support for immune memory in invertebrates or offers only partial support. Moreover, the expected biphasic immune response, a characteristic of adaptive immune memory in vertebrates, varies within and between invertebrate species. This variation may be attributed to the influence of biotic or abiotic factors, particularly parasites, on the outcome of immune memory. Despite its critical importance for survival, the role of phenotypic plasticity in immune memory has not been systematically examined in the past two decades. Additionally, the features of immune responses occurring in diverse environments have yet to be fully characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, INSP, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Dumas Gálvez
- Coiba Scientific Station, City of Knowledge, Calle Gustavo Lara, Boulevard 145B, Clayton 0843-01853, Panama
- Programa Centroamericano de Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá, Estafeta universitaria, Avenida Simón Bolívar, 0824, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Edificio 205, Ciudad del Saber, 0816-02852, Panama
| | - Jorge Contreras-Garduño
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, UNAM, 58190 Morelia, Mexico
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Dye D, Cain JW. Efficacy of Wolbachia-based mosquito control: Predictions of a spatially discrete mathematical model. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297964. [PMID: 38437189 PMCID: PMC10911593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297964] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is an endosymbiont bacterium present in many insect species. When Wolbachia-carrying male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes mate with non-carrier females, their embryos are not viable due to cytoplasmic incompatibility. This phenomenon has been exploited successfully for the purpose of controlling mosquito populations and the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses: Wolbachia carriers are bred and released into the environment. Because Wolbachia is not harmful to humans, this method of mosquito control is regarded as a safer alternative to pesticide spraying. In this article, we introduce a mathematical framework for exploring (i) whether a one-time release of Wolbachia carriers can elicit a sustained presence of carriers near the release site, and (ii) the extent to which spatial propagation of carriers may allow them to establish fixation in other territories. While some prior studies have formulated mosquito dispersal models using advection-reaction-diffusion PDEs, the predictive power of such models requires careful ecological mapping: advection and diffusion coefficients exhibit significant spatial dependence due to heterogeneity of resources and topography. Here, we adopt a courser-grained view, regarding the environment as a network of discrete, diffusively-coupled "habitats"-distinct zones of high mosquito density such as stagnant ponds. We extend two previously published single-habitat mosquito models to multiple habitats, and calculate rates of migration between pairs of habitats using dispersal kernels. Our primary results are quantitative estimates regarding how the success of carrier fixation in one or more habitats is determined by: the number of carriers released, sizes of habitats, distances between habitats, and the rate of migration between habitats. Besides yielding sensible and potentially useful predictions regarding the success of Wolbachia-based control, our framework applies to other approaches (e.g., gene drives) and contexts beyond the realm of insect pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dye
- Department of Mathematics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - John W. Cain
- Department of Mathematics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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Kaur R, Meier CJ, McGraw EA, Hillyer JF, Bordenstein SR. The mechanism of cytoplasmic incompatibility is conserved in Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes deployed for arbovirus control. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002573. [PMID: 38547237 PMCID: PMC11014437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The rising interest and success in deploying inherited microorganisms and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) for vector control strategies necessitate an explanation of the CI mechanism. Wolbachia-induced CI manifests in the form of embryonic lethality when sperm from Wolbachia-bearing testes fertilize eggs from uninfected females. Embryos from infected females however survive to sustain the maternally inherited symbiont. Previously in Drosophila melanogaster flies, we demonstrated that CI modifies chromatin integrity in developing sperm to bestow the embryonic lethality. Here, we validate these findings using wMel-transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes released to control vector-borne diseases. Once again, the prophage WO CI proteins, CifA and CifB, target male gametic nuclei to modify chromatin integrity via an aberrant histone-to-protamine transition. Cifs are not detected in the embryo, and thus elicit CI via the nucleoprotein modifications established pre-fertilization. The rescue protein CifA in oogenesis localizes to stem cell, nurse cell, and oocyte nuclei, as well as embryonic DNA during embryogenesis. Discovery of the nuclear targeting Cifs and altered histone-to-protamine transition in both Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and D. melanogaster flies affirm the Host Modification Model of CI is conserved across these host species. The study also newly uncovers the cell biology of Cif proteins in the ovaries, CifA localization in the embryos, and an impaired histone-to-protamine transition during spermiogenesis of any mosquito species. Overall, these sperm modification findings may enable future optimization of CI efficacy in vectors or pests that are refractory to Wolbachia transinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupinder Kaur
- Pennsylvania State University, Departments of Biology and Entomology, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Pennsylvania State University, One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Cole J. Meier
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. McGraw
- Pennsylvania State University, Departments of Biology and Entomology, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Pennsylvania State University, One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Pennsylvania State University, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Julian F. Hillyer
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Seth R. Bordenstein
- Pennsylvania State University, Departments of Biology and Entomology, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Pennsylvania State University, One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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Li M, Zhou Y, Cheng J, Wang Y, Lan C, Shen Y. Response of the mosquito immune system and symbiotic bacteria to pathogen infection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:69. [PMID: 38368353 PMCID: PMC10874582 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06161-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the word, transmitting a variety of insect-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika, causing more deaths than any other vector-borne pathogen. Moreover, in the absence of effective drugs and vaccines to prevent and treat insect-borne diseases, mosquito control is particularly important as the primary measure. In recent decades, due to the gradual increase in mosquito resistance, increasing attention has fallen on the mechanisms and effects associated with pathogen infection. This review provides an overview of mosquito innate immune mechanisms in terms of physical and physiological barriers, pattern recognition receptors, signalling pathways, and cellular and humoral immunity, as well as the antipathogenic effects of mosquito symbiotic bacteria. This review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the interaction process between mosquitoes and pathogens and provides a theoretical basis for biological defence strategies against mosquito-borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjin Li
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jin Cheng
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yiqing Wang
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Cejie Lan
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China.
| | - Yuan Shen
- The Affiliated Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, 214023, China.
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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Loterio RK, Monson EA, Templin R, de Bruyne JT, Flores HA, Mackenzie JM, Ramm G, Helbig KJ, Simmons CP, Fraser JE. Antiviral Wolbachia strains associate with Aedes aegypti endoplasmic reticulum membranes and induce lipid droplet formation to restrict dengue virus replication. mBio 2024; 15:e0249523. [PMID: 38132636 PMCID: PMC10865983 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02495-23] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are a genus of insect endosymbiotic bacteria which includes strains wMel and wAlbB that are being utilized as a biocontrol tool to reduce the incidence of Aedes aegypti-transmitted viral diseases like dengue. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning the antiviral activity of these Wolbachia strains are not well defined. Here, we generated a panel of Ae. aegypti-derived cell lines infected with antiviral strains wMel and wAlbB or the non-antiviral Wolbachia strain wPip to understand host cell morphological changes specifically induced by antiviral strains. Antiviral strains were frequently found to be entirely wrapped by the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, while wPip bacteria clustered separately in the host cell cytoplasm. ER-derived lipid droplets (LDs) increased in volume in wMel- and wAlbB-infected cell lines and mosquito tissues compared to cells infected with wPip or Wolbachia-free controls. Inhibition of fatty acid synthase (required for triacylglycerol biosynthesis) reduced LD formation and significantly restored ER-associated dengue virus replication in cells occupied by wMel. Together, this suggests that antiviral Wolbachia strains may specifically alter the lipid composition of the ER to preclude the establishment of dengue virus (DENV) replication complexes. Defining Wolbachia's antiviral mechanisms will support the application and longevity of this effective biocontrol tool that is already being used at scale.IMPORTANCEAedes aegypti transmits a range of important human pathogenic viruses like dengue. However, infection of Ae. aegypti with the insect endosymbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, reduces the risk of mosquito to human viral transmission. Wolbachia is being utilized at field sites across more than 13 countries to reduce the incidence of viruses like dengue, but it is not well understood how Wolbachia induces its antiviral effects. To examine this at the subcellular level, we compared how different strains of Wolbachia with varying antiviral strengths associate with and modify host cell structures. Strongly antiviral strains were found to specifically associate with the host endoplasmic reticulum and induce striking impacts on host cell lipid droplets. Inhibiting Wolbachia-induced lipid redistribution partially restored dengue virus replication demonstrating this is a contributing role for Wolbachia's antiviral activity. These findings provide new insights into how antiviral Wolbachia strains associate with and modify Ae. aegypti host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robson K. Loterio
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Ebony A. Monson
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology; School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rachel Templin
- Ramaciotti Centre For Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Heather A. Flores
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Jason M. Mackenzie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Georg Ramm
- Ramaciotti Centre For Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Karla J. Helbig
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology; School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cameron P. Simmons
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Johanna E. Fraser
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Yan J, Green K, Noel K, Kim CH, Stone CM. Effects of seasonality and developed land cover on Culex mosquito abundance and microbiome diversity. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1332970. [PMID: 38404602 PMCID: PMC10885804 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1332970] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The vectorial capacity of mosquitoes, which influences the dynamics of vector-borne disease transmission, is intricately linked to mosquito abundance and the composition and diversity of their associated microbiomes. However, the influence of environmental factors on mosquito populations and microbiome diversity remains underexplored. Here we examined the effects of seasonality and developed land cover on Culex mosquito abundance and bacterial diversity. Biweekly field sampling of female Culex mosquitoes was conducted using gravid and CDC light traps, spanning summer to autumn across varying developed land cover levels in two urban areas in Central Illinois. Mosquito abundance was assessed by the number of mosquitoes captured per trap night and compared across seasons and developed levels. The mean mosquito abundance for gravid and light traps was 12.96 ± 2.15 and 7.67 ± 1.44, respectively. Notably, higher levels of developed land cover exhibited higher Culex abundance than the low level for light traps, but no significant difference was found between summer and early autumn. In gravid traps, no significant differences were detected across seasons or developed levels. Microbial analysis of the mosquito microbiome revealed that Proteobacteria and Wolbachia, with a mean relative abundance of 80.77 and 52.66% respectively, were identified as the most dominant bacterial phylum and genus. Their relative abundance remained consistent across seasons and developed land cover levels, with negligible variations. Alpha diversity, as measured by observed species, Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson, showed slightly higher values in early-autumn compared to late-summer. A notable pattern of bacterial diversity, as indicated by all four diversity indexes, is evident across varying levels of land development. Significantly, high or intermediate developed levels consistently showed reduced alpha diversity when compared to the lower level. This underscores the pronounced impact of anthropogenic ecological disturbances in shaping mosquito microbiomes. Beta diversity analysis revealed no significant dissimilarities in bacterial community composition across seasons and developed levels, although some separation was noted among different levels of developed land cover. These findings highlight the significant role of environmental factors in shaping mosquito abundance and their associated microbiomes, with potential implications for the vectorial capacity in the transmission of vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Yan
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | | | | | | | - Chris M. Stone
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
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Corrêa-Antônio J, David MR, Couto-Lima D, Garcia GA, Keirsebelik MSG, Maciel-de-Freitas R, Pavan MG. DENV-1 Titer Impacts Viral Blocking in wMel Aedes aegypti with Brazilian Genetic Background. Viruses 2024; 16:214. [PMID: 38399990 PMCID: PMC10891765 DOI: 10.3390/v16020214] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Several countries have been using Wolbachia deployments to replace highly competent native Aedes aegypti populations with Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes with lower susceptibility to arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. In Rio de Janeiro, Wolbachia deployments started in 2015 and still present a moderate introgression with a modest reduction in dengue cases in humans (38%). Here, we evaluated the vector competence of wild-type and wMel-infected Ae. aegypti with a Brazilian genetic background to investigate whether virus leakage could contribute to the observed outcomes in Brazil. We collected the specimens in three areas of Rio de Janeiro with distinct frequencies of mosquitoes with wMel strain and two areas with wild Ae. aegypti. The mosquitoes were orally exposed to two titers of DENV-1 and the saliva of DENV-1-infected Ae. aegypti was microinjected into wMel-free mosquitoes to check their infectivity. When infected with the high DENV-1 titer, the presence of wMel did not avoid viral infection in mosquitoes' bodies and saliva but DENV-1-infected wMel mosquitoes produced lower viral loads than wMel-free mosquitoes. On the other hand, wMel mosquitoes infected with the low DENV-1 titer were less susceptible to virus infection than wMel-free mosquitoes, although once infected, wMel and wMel-free mosquitoes exhibited similar viral loads in the body and the saliva. Our results showed viral leakage in 60% of the saliva of wMel mosquitoes with Brazilian background; thus, sustained surveillance is imperative to monitor the presence of other circulating DENV-1 strains capable of overcoming the Wolbachia blocking phenotype, enabling timely implementation of action plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Corrêa-Antônio
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
| | - Mariana R. David
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
| | - Dinair Couto-Lima
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
| | - Gabriela Azambuja Garcia
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
| | - Milan S. G. Keirsebelik
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
| | - Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
- Department of Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Márcio Galvão Pavan
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (J.C.-A.); (M.R.D.); (D.C.-L.); (G.A.G.); (M.S.G.K.); (R.M.-d.-F.)
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Walker T. Detection of Natural Wolbachia Strains in Anopheles Mosquitoes. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2739:205-218. [PMID: 38006554 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3553-7_13] [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
Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that naturally infects many insect species, including mosquitoes that transmit human diseases. Wolbachia strains have been shown to inhibit the transmission of both arboviruses and malaria Plasmodium parasites. The existence of natural strains in wild Anopheles (An.) mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria parasites, in an endosymbiotic relationship is still to be fully determined. Although Wolbachia has been reported to be present in wild populations of the An. gambiae complex, the primary vectors of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolbachia DNA sequence density and infection frequencies are low. As most studies have used highly sensitive nested PCR as the only detection method, more robust evidence is required to determine whether Wolbachia strains are established as endosymbionts in Anopheles species. Techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization, microbiome sequencing, and Wolbachia whole genome sequencing have provided concrete evidence for genuine Wolbachia strains in two mosquito species: An. moucheti and An. demeilloni. In this chapter, the current methodology used to determine if resident strains exist in Anopheles mosquitoes will be reviewed, including both PCR- and non-PCR-based protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Walker
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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Lewis J, Gallichotte EN, Randall J, Glass A, Foy BD, Ebel GD, Kading RC. Intrinsic factors driving mosquito vector competence and viral evolution: a review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1330600. [PMID: 38188633 PMCID: PMC10771300 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1330600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of numerous viruses of global health significance. The term "vector competence" describes the intrinsic ability of an arthropod vector to transmit an infectious agent. Prior to transmission, the mosquito itself presents a complex and hostile environment through which a virus must transit to ensure propagation and transmission to the next host. Viruses imbibed in an infectious blood meal must pass in and out of the mosquito midgut, traffic through the body cavity or hemocoel, invade the salivary glands, and be expelled with the saliva when the vector takes a subsequent blood meal. Viruses encounter physical, cellular, microbial, and immunological barriers, which are influenced by the genetic background of the mosquito vector as well as environmental conditions. Collectively, these factors place significant selective pressure on the virus that impact its evolution and transmission. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of the field in understanding the mosquito-specific factors that underpin vector competence and how each of these mechanisms may influence virus evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Lewis
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Emily N. Gallichotte
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Jenna Randall
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Arielle Glass
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Brian D. Foy
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Gregory D. Ebel
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Rebekah C. Kading
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Zhu Z, Hui Y, Hu L. The impact of predators of mosquito larvae on Wolbachia spreading dynamics. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS 2023; 17:2249024. [PMID: 37603352 DOI: 10.1080/17513758.2023.2249024] [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: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Dengue fever creates more than 390 million cases worldwide yearly. The most effective way to deal with this mosquito-borne disease is to control the vectors. In this work we consider two weapons, the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia and predators of mosquito larvae, for combating the disease. As Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes are less able to transmit dengue virus, releasing infected mosquitoes to invade wild mosquito populations helps to reduce dengue transmission. Besides this measure, the introduction of predators of mosquito larvae can control mosquito population. To evaluate the impact of the predators on Wolbachia spreading dynamics, we develop a stage-structured five-dimensional model, which links the predator-prey dynamics with the Wolbachia spreading. By comparatively analysing the dynamics of the models without and with predators, we observe that the introduction of the predators augments the number of coexistence equilibria and impedes Wolbachia spreading. Some numerical simulations are presented to support and expand our theoretical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongcai Zhu
- Guangzhou Center for Applied Mathematics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- College of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanxian Hui
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Huanghuai University, Zhumadian, People's Republic of China
| | - Linchao Hu
- Guangzhou Center for Applied Mathematics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- College of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Zhang H, Trueman E, Hou X, Chew DX, Deng L, Liew J, Chia T, Xi Z, Tan CH, Cai Y. Different mechanisms of X-ray irradiation-induced male and female sterility in Aedes aegypti. BMC Biol 2023; 21:274. [PMID: 38012718 PMCID: PMC10683188 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01757-1] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is the major vector that transmits many diseases including dengue, Zika, and filariasis in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the growing resistance to chemical-based insecticides, biological control methods have become an emerging direction to control mosquito populations. The sterile insect technique (SIT) deploys high doses of ionizing radiation to sterilize male mosquitoes before the release. The Wolbachia-based population suppression method of the incompatible insect technique (IIT) involves the release of Wolbachia-infected males to sterilize uninfected field females. Due to the lack of perfect sex separation tools, a low percentage of female contamination is detected in the male population. To prevent the unintentional release of these Wolbachia-infected females which might result in population replacement, a low dose of X-ray irradiation is deployed to sterilize any female escapees. However, it remains unclear whether these irradiation-induced male and female sterilizations share common mechanisms. RESULTS In this work, we set out to define the minimum dose of X-ray radiation required for complete female sterilization in Ae. aegypti (NEA-EHI strain). Further results showed that this minimum dose of X-ray irradiation for female sterilization significantly reduced male fertility. Similar results have been reported previously in several operational trials. By addressing the underlying causes of the sterility, our results showed that male sterility is likely due to chromosomal damage in the germ cells induced by irradiation. In contrast, female sterility appears to differ and is likely initiated by the elimination of the somatic supporting cells, which results in the blockage of the ovariole maturation. Building upon these findings, we identified the minimum dose of X-ray irradiation on the Wolbachia-infected NEA-EHI (wAlbB-SG) strain, which is currently being used in the IIT-SIT field trial. Compared to the uninfected parental strain, a lower irradiation dose could fully sterilize wAlbB-SG females. This suggests that Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes are more sensitive to irradiation, consistent with a previous report showing that a lower irradiation dose fully sterilized Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti females (Brazil and Mexican strains) compared to those uninfected controls. CONCLUSIONS Our findings thus reveal the distinct mechanisms of ionizing X-ray irradiation-induced male or female sterility in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, which may help the design of X-ray irradiation-based vector control methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhang
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
- Present address: Institute of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Emma Trueman
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
| | - Xinjun Hou
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - De Xian Chew
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
| | - Lu Deng
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, 138667, Singapore
| | - Jonathan Liew
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, 138667, Singapore
| | - Tania Chia
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, 138667, Singapore
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Cheong Huat Tan
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, 138667, Singapore.
| | - Yu Cai
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore.
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
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Mee L, Barribeau SM. Influence of social lifestyles on host-microbe symbioses in the bees. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10679. [PMID: 37928198 PMCID: PMC10620586 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10679] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiomes are increasingly recognised as critical for the health of an organism. In eusocial insect societies, frequent social interactions allow for high-fidelity transmission of microbes across generations, leading to closer host-microbe coevolution. The microbial communities of bees with other social lifestyles are less studied, and few comparisons have been made between taxa that vary in social structure. To address this gap, we leveraged a cloud-computing resource and publicly available transcriptomic data to conduct a survey of microbial diversity in bee samples from a variety of social lifestyles and taxa. We consistently recover the core microbes of well-studied corbiculate bees, supporting this method's ability to accurately characterise microbial communities. We find that the bacterial communities of bees are influenced by host location, phylogeny and social lifestyle, although no clear effect was found for fungal or viral microbial communities. Bee genera with more complex societies tend to harbour more diverse microbes, with Wolbachia detected more commonly in solitary tribes. We present a description of the microbiota of Euglossine bees and find that they do not share the "corbiculate core" microbiome. Notably, we find that bacteria with known anti-pathogenic properties are present across social bee genera, suggesting that symbioses that enhance host immunity are important with higher sociality. Our approach provides an inexpensive means of exploring microbiomes of a given taxa and identifying avenues for further research. These findings contribute to our understanding of the relationships between bees and their associated microbial communities, highlighting the importance of considering microbiome dynamics in investigations of bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Mee
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology and BehaviourUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Seth M. Barribeau
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology and BehaviourUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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Bannister-Tyrrell M, Hillman A, Indriani C, Ahmad RA, Utarini A, Simmons CP, Anders KL, Sergeant E. Utility of surveillance data for planning for dengue elimination in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: a scenario-tree modelling approach. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e013313. [PMID: 37989350 PMCID: PMC10660636 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013313] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Field trials and modelling studies suggest that elimination of dengue transmission may be possible through widespread release of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the insect bacterium Wolbachia pipientis (wMel strain), in conjunction with routine dengue control activities. This study aimed to develop a modelling framework to guide planning for the potential elimination of locally acquired dengue in Yogyakarta, a city of almost 400 000 people in Java, Indonesia. METHODS A scenario-tree modelling approach was used to estimate the sensitivity of the dengue surveillance system (including routine hospital-based reporting and primary-care-based enhanced surveillance), and time required to demonstrate elimination of locally acquired dengue in Yogyakarta city, assuming the detected incidence of dengue decreases to zero in the future. Age and gender were included as risk factors for dengue, and detection nodes included the probability of seeking care, probability of sample collection and testing, diagnostic test sensitivity and probability of case notification. Parameter distributions were derived from health system data or estimated by expert opinion. Alternative simulations were defined based on changes to key parameter values, separately and in combination. RESULTS For the default simulation, median surveillance system sensitivity was 0.131 (95% PI 0.111 to 0.152) per month. Median confidence in dengue elimination reached 80% after a minimum of 13 months of zero detected dengue cases and 90% confidence after 25 months, across different scenarios. The alternative simulations investigated produced relatively small changes in median system sensitivity and time to elimination. CONCLUSION This study suggests that with a combination of hospital-based surveillance and enhanced clinic-based surveillance for dengue, an acceptable level of confidence (80% probability) in the elimination of locally acquired dengue can be reached within 2 years. Increasing the surveillance system sensitivity could shorten the time to first ascertainment of elimination of dengue and increase the level of confidence in elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Bannister-Tyrrell
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
- Ausvet, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Citra Indriani
- World Mosquito Program Yogyakarta, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Kedokteran Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Population Health, Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Kedokteran Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Riris Andono Ahmad
- World Mosquito Program Yogyakarta, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Kedokteran Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Population Health, Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Kedokteran Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Adi Utarini
- World Mosquito Program Yogyakarta, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Kedokteran Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Universitas Gadjah Mada Fakultas Kedokteran Kesehatan Masyarakat dan Keperawatan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Cameron P Simmons
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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