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Montenegro-López D, Cortés-Cortés G, Balbuena-Alonso MG, Warner C, Camps M. Wolbachia-Based Emerging Strategies for Control of Vector-Transmitted Disease. Acta Trop 2024:107410. [PMID: 39349234 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107410] [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: 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 caused 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 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 transinfected Wolbachia in released mosquitoes has a moderate potential risk of spreading genes in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Montenegro-López
- 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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Duran-Ahumada S, Karrer L, Cheng C, Roeske I, Pilchik J, Jimenez-Vallejo D, Smith E, Roy K, Kirstein OD, Martin-Park A, Contreras-Perera Y, Che-Mendoza A, Gonzalez-Olvera G, Puerta-Guardo HN, Uribe-Soto SI, Manrique-Saide P, Vazquez-Prokopec G. Wolbachia pipientis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) mediated effects on the fitness and performance of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) under variable temperatures and initial larval densities. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:1155-1167. [PMID: 39077840 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae088] [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: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis (Hertig, 1936), also referred as Wolbachia, is a bacterium present across insect taxa, certain strains of which have been demonstrated to impact the fitness and capacity to transmit viruses in mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762). Most studies examine these impacts in limited sets of environmental regimes. Here we seek to understand the impacts of environmentally relevant conditions such as larval density, temperature, and their interaction on wAlbB-infected A. aegypti. Using a factorial design, we measured wAlbB stability (relative density, post-emergence in females, and in progeny), the ability for wAlbB to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility, and bacterial effects on mosquito fitness (fecundity, fertility, and body mass) and performance (adult survival and time to pupation) across 2 temperature regimes (fluctuating and constant) and 2 initial larval densities (low and high). Fluctuating daily regimes of temperature (27 to 40 °C) led to decreased post-emergence wAlbB density and increased wAlbB density in eggs compared to constant temperature (27 °C). An increased fecundity was found in wAlbB-carrying females reared at fluctuating temperatures compared to uninfected wild-type females. wAlbB-carrying adult females showed significantly increased survival than wild-type females. Contrarily, wAlbB-carrying adult males exhibited a significantly lower survival than wild-type males. We found differential effects of assessed treatments (Wolbachia infection status, temperature, and larval density) across mosquito sexes and life stages. Taken together, our results indicate that realistic conditions may not impact dramatically the stability of wAlbB infection in A. aegypti. Nonetheless, understanding the ecological consequence of A. aegypti-wAlbB interaction is complex due to life history tradeoffs under conditions faced by natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Duran-Ahumada
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Graduate Program Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luiza Karrer
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chun Cheng
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Isabella Roeske
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Josie Pilchik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Jimenez-Vallejo
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Graduate Program Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily Smith
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Graduate Program Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristina Roy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Oscar D Kirstein
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abdiel Martin-Park
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Yamili Contreras-Perera
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Azael Che-Mendoza
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Gonzalez-Olvera
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Henry N Puerta-Guardo
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Sandra I Uribe-Soto
- Sciences Faculty, National University of Colombia, Medellin Campus, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Pablo Manrique-Saide
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
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Hollingsworth BD, Cho C, Vella M, Roh H, Sass J, Lloyd AL, Brown ZS. Economic optimization of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti release to prevent dengue. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3829-3838. [PMID: 38507220 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8086] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue virus, primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a major public health concern affecting ≈3.83 billion people worldwide. Recent releases of Wolbachia-transinfected Ae. aegypti in several cities worldwide have shown that it can reduce dengue transmission. However, these releases are costly, and, to date, no framework has been proposed for determining economically optimal release strategies that account for both costs associated with disease risk and releases. RESULTS We present a flexible stochastic dynamic programming framework for determining optimal release schedules for Wolbachia-transinfected mosquitoes that balances the cost of dengue infection with the costs of rearing and releasing transinfected mosquitoes. Using an ordinary differential equation model of Wolbachia and dengue in a hypothetical city loosely describing areas at risk of new dengue epidemics, we determined that an all-or-nothing release strategy that quickly brings Wolbachia to fixation is often the optimal solution. Based on this, we examined the optimal facility size, finding that it was inelastic with respect to the mosquito population size, with a 100% increase in population size resulting in a 50-67% increase in optimal facility size. Furthermore, we found that these results are robust to mosquito life-history parameters and are mostly determined by the mosquito population size and the fitness costs associated with Wolbachia. CONCLUSIONS These results reinforce that Wolbachia-transinfected mosquitoes can reduce the cost of dengue epidemics. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of determining the size of the target population and fitness costs associated with Wolbachia before releases occur. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon D Hollingsworth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Biomathematics Graduate Program and Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Chanheung Cho
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Michael Vella
- Biomathematics Graduate Program and Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hyeongyul Roh
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Julian Sass
- Biomathematics Graduate Program and Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Alun L Lloyd
- Biomathematics Graduate Program and Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Zachary S Brown
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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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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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] [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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Suzuki Y, Suzuki T, Miura F, Reyes JIL, Asin ICA, Mitsunari W, Uddin MM, Sekii Y, Watanabe K. No detectable fitness cost of infection by cell-fusing agent virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231373. [PMID: 38204783 PMCID: PMC10776230 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Aedes mosquitoes are well-known vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Mosquitoes are more frequently infected with insect-specific viruses (ISVs) that cannot infect vertebrates. Some ISVs interfere with arbovirus replication in mosquito vectors, which has gained attention for potential use against arbovirus transmission. Cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV), a widespread ISV, can reduce arbovirus dissemination in Ae. aegypti. However, vectorial capacity is largely governed by other parameters than pathogen load, including mosquito survival and biting behaviour. Understanding how ISVs impact these mosquito fitness-related traits is critical to assess the potential risk of using ISVs as biological agents. Here, we examined the effects of CFAV infection on Ae. aegypti mosquito fitness. We found no significant reduction in mosquito survival, blood-feeding behaviour and reproduction, suggesting that Ae. aegypti is tolerant to CFAV. The only detectable effect was a slight increase in human attraction of CFAV-infected females in one out of eight trials. Viral tolerance is beneficial for introducing CFAV into natural mosquito populations, whereas the potential increase in biting activity must be further investigated. Our results provide the first insight into the link between ISVs and Aedes mosquito fitness and highlight the importance of considering all aspects of vectorial capacity for arbovirus control using ISVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutsugu Suzuki
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Takahiro Suzuki
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Fuminari Miura
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jerica Isabel L. Reyes
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Irish Coleen A. Asin
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Wataru Mitsunari
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Faculty of Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Mohammad Mosleh Uddin
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB), Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU), Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh
| | - Yu Sekii
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Kozo Watanabe
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
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Vásquez VN, Kueppers LM, Rašić G, Marshall JM. wMel replacement of dengue-competent mosquitoes is robust to near-term change. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE 2023; 13:848-855. [PMID: 37546688 PMCID: PMC10403361 DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01746-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Rising temperatures are impacting the range and prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases. A promising biocontrol technology replaces wild mosquitoes with those carrying the virus-blocking Wolbachia bacterium. Because the most widely used strain, wMel, is adversely affected by heat stress, we examined how global warming may influence wMel-based replacement. We simulated interventions in two locations with successful field trials using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 climate projections and historical temperature records, integrating empirical data on wMel's thermal sensitivity into a model of Aedes aegypti population dynamics to evaluate introgression and persistence over one year. We show that in Cairns, Australia, climatic futures necessitate operational adaptations for heatwaves exceeding two weeks. In Nha Trang, Vietnam, projected heatwaves of three weeks and longer eliminate wMel under the most stringent assumptions of that symbiont's thermal limits. We conclude that this technology is generally robust to near-term (2030s) climate change. Accelerated warming may challenge this in the 2050s and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Váleri N. Vásquez
- Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Lara M. Kueppers
- Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
- Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Gordana Rašić
- Mosquito Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland Australia
| | - John M. Marshall
- Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
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Li Y, Sun Y, Zou J, Zhong D, Liu R, Zhu C, Li W, Zhou Y, Cui L, Zhou G, Lu G, Li T. Characterizing the Wolbachia infection in field-collected Culicidae mosquitoes from Hainan Province, China. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:128. [PMID: 37060070 PMCID: PMC10103416 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05719-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes are vectors of many pathogens, such as malaria, dengue virus, yellow fever virus, filaria and Japanese encephalitis virus. Wolbachia are capable of inducing a wide range of reproductive abnormalities in their hosts, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia has been proposed as a tool to modify mosquitoes that are resistant to pathogen infection as an alternative vector control strategy. This study aimed to determine natural Wolbachia infections in different mosquito species across Hainan Province, China. METHODS Adult mosquitoes were collected using light traps, human landing catches and aspirators in five areas in Hainan Province from May 2020 to November 2021. Species were identified based on morphological characteristics, species-specific PCR and DNA barcoding of cox1 assays. Molecular classification of species and phylogenetic analyses of Wolbachia infections were conducted based on the sequences from PCR products of cox1, wsp, 16S rRNA and FtsZ gene segments. RESULTS A total of 413 female adult mosquitoes representing 15 species were identified molecularly and analyzed. Four mosquito species (Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Armigeres subalbatus and Culex gelidus) were positive for Wolbachia infection. The overall Wolbachia infection rate for all mosquitoes tested in this study was 36.1% but varied among species. Wolbachia types A, B and mixed infections of A × B were detected in Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. A total of five wsp haplotypes, six FtsZ haplotypes and six 16S rRNA haplotypes were detected from Wolbachia infections. Phylogenetic tree analysis of wsp sequences classified them into three groups (type A, B and C) of Wolbachia strains compared to two groups each for FtsZ and 16S rRNA sequences. A novel type C Wolbachia strain was detected in Cx. gelidus by both single locus wsp gene and the combination of three genes. CONCLUSION Our study revealed the prevalence and distribution of Wolbachia in mosquitoes from Hainan Province, China. Knowledge of the prevalence and diversity of Wolbachia strains in local mosquito populations will provide part of the baseline information required for current and future Wolbachia-based vector control approaches to be conducted in Hainan Province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiji Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Yingbo Sun
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Jiaquan Zou
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanlong Zhu
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenting Li
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhe Zhou
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Guofa Zhou
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA.
| | - Gang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, People's Republic of China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, China.
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, People's Republic of China.
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
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Bosly HAEK, Salah N, Salama SA, Pashameah RA, Saeed A. Oil fly ash as a promise larvicide against the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Acta Trop 2023; 237:106735. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Ross PA, Hoffmann AA. Fitness costs of Wolbachia shift in locally-adapted Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:5749-5759. [PMID: 36200325 PMCID: PMC10947380 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16235] [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: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquito eggs can remain quiescent for many months before hatching, allowing populations to persist through unfavourable conditions. A. aegypti infected with the Wolbachia strain wMel have been released in tropical and subtropical regions for dengue control. wMel reduces the viability of quiescent eggs, but this physiological cost might be expected to evolve in natural mosquito populations that frequently experience stressful conditions. We found that the cost of wMel infection differed consistently between mosquitoes collected from different locations and became weaker across laboratory generations, suggesting environment-specific adaptation of mosquitoes to the wMel infection. Reciprocal crossing experiments show that differences in the cost of wMel to quiescent egg viability were mainly due to mosquito genetic background and not Wolbachia origin. wMel-infected mosquitoes hatching from long-term quiescent eggs showed partial loss of cytoplasmic incompatibility and female infertility, highlighting additional costs of long-term quiescence. Our study provides the first evidence for a shift in Wolbachia phenotypic effects following deliberate field release and establishment and it highlights interactions between Wolbachia infections and mosquito genetic backgrounds. The unexpected changes in fitness costs observed here suggest potential tradeoffs with undescribed fitness benefits of the wMel infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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Ritchie IT, Needles KT, Leigh BA, Kaur R, Bordenstein SR. Transgenic cytoplasmic incompatibility persists across age and temperature variation in Drosophila melanogaster. iScience 2022; 25:105327. [PMID: 36304111 PMCID: PMC9593245 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental stressors can impact the basic biology and applications of host-microbe symbioses. For example, Wolbachia symbiont densities and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) levels can decline in response to extreme temperatures and host aging. To investigate whether transgenic expression of CI-causing cif genes overcomes the environmental sensitivity of CI, we exposed transgenic male flies to low and high temperatures as well as aging treatments. Our results indicate that transgenic cif expression induces nearly complete CI regardless of temperature and aging, despite severe weakening of Wolbachia-based wild-type CI. Strong CI levels correlate with higher levels of cif transgene expression in young males. Altogether, our results highlight that transgenic CI persists against common environmental pressures and may be relevant for future control applications involving the cifA and cifB transgenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella T. Ritchie
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Kelly T. Needles
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Brittany A. Leigh
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Rupinder Kaur
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- The Pennsylvania State University, Departments of Biology and Entomology, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- The Pennsylvania State University, Microbiome Center, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Seth R. Bordenstein
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- The Pennsylvania State University, Departments of Biology and Entomology, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- The Pennsylvania State University, Microbiome Center, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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12
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Schuler H, Dittmer J, Borruso L, Galli J, Fischnaller S, Anfora G, Rota‐Stabelli O, Weil T, Janik K. Investigating the microbial community of Cacopsylla spp. as potential factor in vector competence of phytoplasma. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4771-4786. [PMID: 35876309 PMCID: PMC9804460 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Phytoplasmas are obligatory intracellular bacteria that colonize the phloem of many plant species and cause hundreds of plant diseases worldwide. In nature, phytoplasmas are primarily transmitted by hemipteran vectors. While all phloem-feeding insects could in principle transmit phytoplasmas, only a limited number of species have been confirmed as vectors. Knowledge about factors that might determine the vector capacity is currently scarce. Here, we characterized the microbiomes of vector and non-vector species of apple proliferation (AP) phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma mali' to investigate their potential role in the vector capacity of the host. We performed high-throughput 16S rRNA metabarcoding of the two principal AP-vectors Cacopsylla picta and Cacopsylla melanoneura and eight Cacopsylla species, which are not AP-vectors but co-occur in apple orchards. The microbiomes of all species are dominated by Carsonella, the primary endosymbiont of psyllids and a second uncharacterized Enterobacteriaceae endosymbiont. Each Cacopsylla species harboured a species-specific phylotype of both symbionts. Moreover, we investigated differences between the microbiomes of AP-vector versus non-vector species and identified the predominant endosymbionts but also Wolbachia and several minor taxa as potential indicator species. Our study highlights the importance of considering the microbiome in future investigations of potential factors influencing host vector competence. We investigated the potential role of symbiotic bacteria in the acquisition and transmission of phytoplasma. By comparing the two main psyillid vector species of Apple proliferation (AP) phytoplasma and eight co-occurring species, which are not able to vector AP-phytoplasma, we found differences in the microbial communities of AP-vector and non-vector species, which appear to be driven by the predominant symbionts in both vector species and Wolbachia and several minor taxa in the non-vector species. In contrast, infection with AP-phytoplasma did not affect microbiome composition in both vector species. Our study provides new insights into the endosymbiont diversity of Cacopsylla spp. and highlights the importance of considering the microbiome when investigating potential factors influencing host vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Schuler
- Faculty of Science and TechnologyFree University of Bozen‐BolzanoBozen‐BolzanoItaly,Competence Centre for Plant HealthFree University of Bozen‐BolzanoBozen‐BolzanoItaly
| | - Jessica Dittmer
- Faculty of Science and TechnologyFree University of Bozen‐BolzanoBozen‐BolzanoItaly,Université d'Angers, Institut Agro, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QuasavAngersFrance
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Science and TechnologyFree University of Bozen‐BolzanoBozen‐BolzanoItaly
| | - Jonas Galli
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, BOKUUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Gianfranco Anfora
- Research and Innovation CenterFondazione Edmund MachSan Michele all'AdigeItaly,Center Agriculture Food EnvironmentUniversity of TrentoSan Michele all'AdigeItaly
| | - Omar Rota‐Stabelli
- Research and Innovation CenterFondazione Edmund MachSan Michele all'AdigeItaly,Center Agriculture Food EnvironmentUniversity of TrentoSan Michele all'AdigeItaly
| | - Tobias Weil
- Research and Innovation CenterFondazione Edmund MachSan Michele all'AdigeItaly
| | - Katrin Janik
- Center Agriculture Food EnvironmentUniversity of TrentoSan Michele all'AdigeItaly
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Impacts of fungal entomopathogens on survival and immune responses of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the context of native Wolbachia infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009984. [PMID: 34843477 PMCID: PMC8670716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial control of mosquitoes via the use of symbiotic or pathogenic microbes, such as Wolbachia and entomopathogenic fungi, are promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides to tackle the rapid increase in insecticide resistance and vector-borne disease outbreaks. This study evaluated the susceptibility and host responses of two important mosquito vectors, Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens, that naturally carry Wolbachia, to infections by entomopathogenic fungi. Our study indicated that while Wolbachia presence did not provide a protective advantage against entomopathogenic fungal infection, it nevertheless influenced the bacterial / fungal load and the expression of select anti-microbial effectors and phenoloxidase cascade genes in mosquitoes. Furthermore, although host responses from Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens were mostly similar, we observed contrasting phenotypes with regards to susceptibility and immune responses to fungal entomopathogenic infection in these two mosquitoes. This study provides new insights into the intricate multipartite interaction between the mosquito host, its native symbiont and pathogenic microbes that might be employed to control mosquito populations. Control of mosquitoes via the use of microbes is a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides and a potential solution to tackle the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Recently, a parasitic microbe named Wolbachia has been found to render the mosquito resistant to virus infections and it is currently showing great promise in reducing dengue cases on tests conducted in the field. On the other side of the symbiotic spectrum, we have entomopathogenic fungi, who have evolved to naturally infect and kill insects, and offer a unique potential to control mosquito populations. In this study, we examined the effect that native Wolbachia can have on the mosquito susceptibility to fungal entomopathogens. Our findings show that while Wolbachia does not affect the action of entomopathogenic fungi on mosquitoes, it does influence the expression of important mosquito immune genes, suggesting that Wolbachia has a closer interaction with the mosquito response to microbial infections than previously reported. Furthermore, our study provides new records on the susceptibility of two important mosquito vectors in the USA (Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens), with Cx. pipiens showing significant resistance to the action of one fungal entomopathogen tested. This article informs on the mosquito susceptibility and interaction with other microbes that will aid in the selection of fungal entomopathogens to control mosquitoes, especially those that carry native microbes such as Wolbachia.
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