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Rasgon JL. Precision-guided tools for malaria control. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2411587121. [PMID: 39074295 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2411587121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jason L Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
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2
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Ross PA, Hoffmann AA. Revisiting Wolbachia detections: Old and new issues in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and other insects. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11670. [PMID: 38957696 PMCID: PMC11219197 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11670] [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: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia continue to be reported in species previously thought to lack them, particularly Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The presence of Wolbachia in this arbovirus vector is considered important because releases of mosquitoes with transinfected Wolbachia are being used around the world to suppress pathogen transmission and these efforts depend on a lack of Wolbachia in natural populations of this species. We previously assessed papers reporting Wolbachia in natural populations of Ae. aegypti and found little evidence that seemed convincing. However, since our review, more and more papers are emerging on Wolbachia detections in this species. Our purpose here is to evaluate these papers within the context of criteria we previously established but also new criteria that include the absence of releases of transinfections within the local areas being sampled which has contaminated natural populations in at least one case where novel detections have been reported. We also address the broader issue of Wolbachia detection in other insects where similar issues may arise which can affect overall estimates of this endosymbiont more generally. We note continuing shortcomings in papers purporting to find natural Wolbachia in Ae. aegypti which are applicable to other insects as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology InstituteThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology InstituteThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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3
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Mushtaq I, Sarwar MS, Chaudhry A, Shah SAH, Ahmad MM. Updates on traditional methods for combating malaria and emerging Wolbachia-based interventions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1330475. [PMID: 38716193 PMCID: PMC11074371 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1330475] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The escalating challenge of malaria control necessitates innovative approaches that extend beyond traditional control strategies. This review explores the incorporation of traditional vector control techniques with emerging Wolbachia-based interventions. Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria, offers a novel approach for combatting vector-borne diseases, including malaria, by reducing the mosquitoes' ability to transmit these diseases. The study explores the rationale for this integration, presenting various case studies and pilot projects that have exhibited significant success. Employing a multi-dimensional approach that includes community mobilization, environmental modifications, and new biological methods, the paper posits that integrated efforts could mark a turning point in the struggle against malaria. Our findings indicate that incorporating Wolbachia-based strategies into existing vector management programs not only is feasible but also heightens the efficacy of malaria control initiatives in different countries especially in Pakistan. The paper concludes that continued research and international collaboration are imperative for translating these promising methods from the laboratory to the field, thereby offering a more sustainable and effective malaria control strategy.
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Vandana V, Dong S, Sheth T, Sun Q, Wen H, Maldonado A, Xi Z, Dimopoulos G. Wolbachia infection-responsive immune genes suppress Plasmodium falciparum infection in Anopheles stephensi. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012145. [PMID: 38598552 PMCID: PMC11034644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012145] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted symbiotic bacterium of insects, can suppress a variety of human pathogens in mosquitoes, including malaria-causing Plasmodium in the Anopheles vector. However, the mechanistic basis of Wolbachia-mediated Plasmodium suppression in mosquitoes is not well understood. In this study, we compared the midgut and carcass transcriptomes of stably infected Anopheles stephensi with Wolbachia wAlbB to uninfected mosquitoes in order to discover Wolbachia infection-responsive immune genes that may play a role in Wolbachia-mediated anti-Plasmodium activity. We show that wAlbB infection upregulates 10 putative immune genes and downregulates 14 in midguts, while it upregulates 31 putative immune genes and downregulates 15 in carcasses at 24 h after blood-fed feeding, the time at which the Plasmodium ookinetes are traversing the midgut tissue. Only a few of these regulated immune genes were also significantly differentially expressed between Wolbachia-infected and non-infected midguts and carcasses of sugar-fed mosquitoes. Silencing of the Wolbachia infection-responsive immune genes TEP 4, TEP 15, lysozyme C2, CLIPB2, CLIPB4, PGRP-LD and two novel genes (a peritrophin-44-like gene and a macro domain-encoding gene) resulted in a significantly greater permissiveness to P. falciparum infection. These results indicate that Wolbachia infection modulates mosquito immunity and other processes that are likely to decrease Anopheles permissiveness to Plasmodium infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vandana Vandana
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shengzhang Dong
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tanaya Sheth
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Qiang Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Han Wen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Amanda Maldonado
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - George Dimopoulos
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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5
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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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6
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Ahouandjinou MJ, Sovi A, Sidick A, Sewadé W, Koukpo CZ, Chitou S, Towakinou L, Adjottin B, Hougbe S, Tokponnon F, Padonou GG, Akogbéto M, Messenger LA, Ossè RA. First report of natural infection of Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles coluzzii by Wolbachia and Microsporidia in Benin: a cross-sectional study. Malar J 2024; 23:72. [PMID: 38468292 PMCID: PMC10926679 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04906-1] [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: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, bacterial endosymbiont, including Wolbachia and Microsporidia were found to limit the infection of Anopheles mosquitoes with Plasmodium falciparum. This study aimed to investigate the natural presence of key transmission-blocking endosymbionts in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii in Southern Benin. METHODS The present study was conducted in seven communes (Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Aguégués, Ifangni, Pobè Athiémé, and Grand-Popo) of Southern Benin. Anopheles were collected using indoor/outdoor Human Landing Catches (HLCs) and Pyrethrum Spray Catches (PSCs). Following morphological identification, PCR was used to identify An. gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) to species level and to screen for the presence of both Wolbachia and Microsporidia. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection was also assessed using ELISA. RESULTS Overall, species composition in An. gambiae s.l. was 53.7% An. coluzzii, while the remainder was An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.). Combined data of the two sampling techniques revealed a mean infection prevalence with Wolbachia of 5.1% (95% CI 0.90-18.6) and 1.3% (95% CI 0.07-7.8) in An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii, respectively. The mean infection prevalence with Microsporidia was 41.0% (95% CI 25.9-57.8) for An. gambiae s.s. and 57.0% (95% CI 45.4-67.9) for An. coluzzii. Wolbachia was only observed in Ifangni, Pobè, and Cotonou, while Microsporidia was detected in all study communes. Aggregated data for HLCs and PSCs showed a sporozoite rate (SR) of 0.80% (95% CI 0.09-2.87) and 0.69% (95% CI 0.09-2.87) for An. gambiae and An. coluzzii, respectively, with a mean of 0.74% (95% CI 0.20-1.90). Of the four individual mosquitoes which harboured P. falciparum, none were also infected with Wolbachia and one contained Microsporidia. CONCLUSIONS The present study is the first report of natural infections of field-collected An. gambiae s.l. populations from Benin with Wolbachia and Microsporidia. Sustained efforts should be made to widen the spectrum of bacteria identified in mosquitoes, with the potential to develop endosymbiont-based control tools; such interventions could be the game-changer in the control of malaria and arboviral disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arthur Sovi
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
- Faculté d'Agronomie, Université de Parakou, Parakou, Benin
- Disease Control Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Wilfried Sewadé
- Biology Department, VERG Laboratories, Hacettepe University, Beytepe-Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Saïd Chitou
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Linda Towakinou
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Bruno Adjottin
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Steve Hougbe
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Filémon Tokponnon
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
- Ecole Polytechnique d'Abomey-Calavi, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Germain Gil Padonou
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
- Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Martin Akogbéto
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Louisa A Messenger
- Disease Control Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
- Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory (UNLV PARAVEC Lab), School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Razaki A Ossè
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
- Ecole de Gestion et d'Exploitation des Systèmes d'Elevage, Université Nationale d'Agriculture, Kétou, Benin
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7
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Hegde S, Marriott AE, Pionnier N, Steven A, Bulman C, Gunderson E, Vogel I, Koschel M, Ehrens A, Lustigman S, Voronin D, Tricoche N, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP, Sakanari J, Aljayyoussi G, Gusovsky F, Dagley J, Hong DW, O'Neill P, Ward SA, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. Combinations of the azaquinazoline anti- Wolbachia agent, AWZ1066S, with benzimidazole anthelmintics synergise to mediate sub-seven-day sterilising and curative efficacies in experimental models of filariasis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1346068. [PMID: 38362501 PMCID: PMC10867176 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1346068] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are two major neglected tropical diseases that are responsible for causing severe disability in 50 million people worldwide, whilst veterinary filariasis (heartworm) is a potentially lethal parasitic infection of companion animals. There is an urgent need for safe, short-course curative (macrofilaricidal) drugs to eliminate these debilitating parasite infections. We investigated combination treatments of the novel anti-Wolbachia azaquinazoline small molecule, AWZ1066S, with benzimidazole drugs (albendazole or oxfendazole) in up to four different rodent filariasis infection models: Brugia malayi-CB.17 SCID mice, B. malayi-Mongolian gerbils, B. pahangi-Mongolian gerbils, and Litomosoides sigmodontis-Mongolian gerbils. Combination treatments synergised to elicit threshold (>90%) Wolbachia depletion from female worms in 5 days of treatment, using 2-fold lower dose-exposures of AWZ1066S than monotherapy. Short-course lowered dose AWZ1066S-albendazole combination treatments also delivered partial adulticidal activities and/or long-lasting inhibition of embryogenesis, resulting in complete transmission blockade in B. pahangi and L. sigmodontis gerbil models. We determined that short-course AWZ1066S-albendazole co-treatment significantly augmented the depletion of Wolbachia populations within both germline and hypodermal tissues of B. malayi female worms and in hypodermal tissues in male worms, indicating that anti-Wolbachia synergy is not limited to targeting female embryonic tissues. Our data provides pre-clinical proof-of-concept that sub-seven-day combinations of rapid-acting novel anti-Wolbachia agents with benzimidazole anthelmintics are a promising curative and transmission-blocking drug treatment strategy for filarial diseases of medical and veterinary importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrilakshmi Hegde
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Amy E. Marriott
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steven
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Christina Bulman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Emma Gunderson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Ian Vogel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Marianne Koschel
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ehrens
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, Unites States
| | - Denis Voronin
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, Unites States
| | - Nancy Tricoche
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, Unites States
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Judy Sakanari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Ghaith Aljayyoussi
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jessica Dagley
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David W. Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paul O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Steven A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Jeffries CL, Tantely LM, Kadriaj P, Blagrove MSC, Lytra I, Orsborne J, Al-Amin HM, Mohammed AR, Alam MS, Girod R, Afrane YA, Bino S, Robert V, Boyer S, Baylis M, Velo E, Hughes GL, Walker T. Mitochondrial and microbial diversity of the invasive mosquito vector species Culex tritaeniorhynchus across its extensive inter-continental geographic range. Wellcome Open Res 2024; 9:18. [PMID: 38800519 PMCID: PMC11128058 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20761.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Culex (Cx.) tritaeniorhynchus is an invasive mosquito species with an extensive and expanding inter-continental distribution, currently reported across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and now Australia. It is an important vector of medical and veterinary pathogens which cause significant morbidity and mortality in human and animal populations. Across regions endemic for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus is considered the major vector and has also been shown to contribute to the transmission of several other zoonotic arboviruses including Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Methods In this study, we used laboratory vector competence experiments to determine if Cx. tritaeniorhynchus from a Southern European population were competent JEV vectors. We also obtained samples from multiple geographically dispersed Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations from countries within Europe, Africa, Eurasia and Asia to perform phylogenetic analysis to measure the level of mitochondrial divergence using the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 ( CO1) gene. We also undertook bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to determine microbial diversity and used multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) to determine any evidence for the presence of strains of the naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. Results Cx. tritaeniorhynchus from a Greek population were shown be be competent vectors of JEV with high levels of virus present in saliva. We found a signficant level of mitochondrial genetic diversity using the mosquito CO1 gene between geographically dispersed populations. Furthermore, we report diverse microbiomes identified by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing within and between geographical populations. Evidence for the detection of the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia was confirmed using Wolbachia-specific PCR and MLST. Conclusions This study enhances our understanding of the diversity of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and the associated microbiome across its inter-continental range and highlights the need for greater surveillance of this invasive vector species in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L. Jeffries
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Luciano M Tantely
- Unite d'entomologie medicale, Institute Pasteur de Madagascar, Antanarivo, Madagascar
| | - Perparim Kadriaj
- Vector Control Unit, Control of Infectious Diseases Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Marcus S C Blagrove
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit on Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
| | - Ioanna Lytra
- Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - James Orsborne
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Hasan Mohammad Al-Amin
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Abdul Rahim Mohammed
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
| | - Mohammad Shafiul Alam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Romain Girod
- Unite d'entomologie medicale, Institute Pasteur de Madagascar, Antanarivo, Madagascar
| | - Yaw A Afrane
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
| | - Silvia Bino
- Vector Control Unit, Control of Infectious Diseases Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Vincent Robert
- MIVEGEC, CNRS, Institute of Research for Development (IRD), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sebastien Boyer
- Unite d'entomologie medicale, Institute Pasteur de Madagascar, Antanarivo, Madagascar
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Health Protection Research Unit on Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
| | - Enkelejda Velo
- Vector Control Unit, Control of Infectious Diseases Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Grant L Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
| | - Thomas Walker
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, England, UK
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9
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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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10
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Mouillaud T, Berger A, Buysse M, Rahola N, Daron J, Agbor J, Sango SN, Neafsey DE, Duron O, Ayala D. Limited association between Wolbachia and Plasmodium falciparum infections in natural populations of the major malaria mosquito Anopheles moucheti. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1999-2006. [PMID: 38143905 PMCID: PMC10739076 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13619] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of natural malaria vector populations infected by the endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia, a renewed interest has arisen for using this bacterium as an alternative for malaria control. Among naturally infected mosquitoes, Anopheles moucheti, a major malaria mosquito in Central Africa, exhibits one of the highest prevalences of Wolbachia infection. To better understand whether this maternally inherited bacterium could be used for malaria control, we investigated Wolbachia influence in An. moucheti populations naturally infected by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. To this end, we collected mosquitoes in a village from Cameroon, Central Africa, where this mosquito is the main malaria vector. We found that the prevalence of Wolbachia bacterium was almost fixed in the studied mosquito population, and was higher than previously recorded. We also quantified Wolbachia in whole mosquitoes and dissected abdomens, confirming that the bacterium is also elsewhere than in the abdomen, but at lower density. Finally, we analyzed the association of Wolbachia presence and density on P. falciparum infection. Wolbachia density was slightly higher in mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite than in uninfected mosquitoes. However, we observed no correlation between the P. falciparum and Wolbachia densities. In conclusion, our study indicates that naturally occurring Wolbachia infection is not associated to P. falciparum development within An. moucheti mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audric Berger
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Marie Buysse
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Montpellier Ecology and Evolution of Disease Network (MEEDiN)MontpellierFrance
| | - Nil Rahola
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Josquin Daron
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Jean‐Pierre Agbor
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Université de DoualaDoualaCameroon
| | - Sandrine N. Sango
- Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Université de DoualaDoualaCameroon
| | - Daniel E. Neafsey
- Department of Immunology and Infectious DiseasesHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome ProgramBroad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Montpellier Ecology and Evolution of Disease Network (MEEDiN)MontpellierFrance
| | - Diego Ayala
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Medical Entomology UnitInstitut Pasteur de MadagascarAntananarivoMadagascar
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11
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Davison HR, Crozier J, Pirro S, Kampen H, Werner D, Hurst GDD. 'Candidatus Tisiphia' is a widespread Rickettsiaceae symbiont in the mosquito Anopheles plumbeus (Diptera: Culicidae). Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3064-3074. [PMID: 37658745 PMCID: PMC10947512 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16486] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria can alter host biology by providing protection from natural enemies, or alter reproduction or vectoral competence. Symbiont-linked control of vector-borne disease in Anopheles has been hampered by a lack of symbioses that can establish stable vertical transmission in the host. Previous screening found the symbiont 'Candidatus Tisiphia' in Anopheles plumbeus, an aggressive biter and potential secondary vector of malaria parasites and West Nile virus. We screened samples collected over 10-years across Germany and used climate databases to assess environmental influence on incidence. We observed a 95% infection rate, and that the frequency of infection did not fluctuate with broad environmental factors. Maternal inheritance is indicated by presence in the ovaries through FISH microscopy. Finally, we assembled a high-quality 1.6 Mbp draft genome of 'Ca. Tisiphia' to explore its phylogeny and potential metabolic competence. The infection is closely related to strains found in Culicoides biting midges and shows similar patterns of metabolism, providing no evidence of the capacity to synthesize B-vitamins. This infection offers avenues for onward research in anopheline mosquito symbioses. Additionally, it provides future opportunity to study the impact of 'Ca. Tisiphia' on natural and transinfected hosts, especially in relation to reproductive fitness and vectorial competence and capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen R. Davison
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Jessica Crozier
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | - Helge Kampen
- Institute of Infectology (IMED)Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthGreifswaldIsle of RiemsGermany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Land Use and GovernanceLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | - Gregory D. D. Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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12
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Chebbah D, Hamarsheh O, Sereno D, Elissa N, Brun S, Jan J, Izri A, Akhoundi M. Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in bed bugs (Hemiptera; Cimicidae) collected in Paris. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292229. [PMID: 37768955 PMCID: PMC10538740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Wolbachia in field-caught bed bug species in Paris areas. METHODS The bed bug specimens were captured from various infested localities in Paris and surrounding cities. They belonged to diverse life stages, including egg, nymph, and adult. They were then identified using morphological and molecular approaches. Furthermore, Wolbachia was detected, and its genetic diversity was investigated by conventional PCR of 16S-rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) genes. RESULTS A total of 256 bed bug specimens belonging to various life stages [adult (183 specimens), nymph (48), and egg (25)] were captured from seven private apartments, five social apartments, three houses, two immigrant residences, and one retirement home situated in 10 districts of Paris and 8 surrounding cities. They were identified as Cimex lectularius (237 specimens) and C. hemipterus (19) using morphological and molecular approaches. The presence and diversity of Wolbachia were ascertained by targeting 16S-rRNA and wsp genes. Based on molecular analysis, 182 and 148 out of 256 processed specimens were positive by amplifying 16S-rRNA and wsp fragments, respectively. The inferred phylogenetic analysis with 16S-rRNA and wsp sequences displayed monophyletic Wolbachia strains clustering each one in three populations. The median-joining network, including the Wolbachia 16S-rRNA and wsp sequences of C. lectularius and C. hemipterous specimens, indicated a significant genetic differentiation among these populations in Paris areas which was consent with Neighbor-Joining analyses. A phylogenetic analysis of our heterogenic Wolbachia sequences with those reported from other arthropod species confirmed their belonging to supergroup F. Moreover, no difference between Wolbachia sequences from eggs, nymphs, and adults belonging to the same clade and between Wolbachia sequences of C. lectularius and C. hemipterus were observed after sequence alignment. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between multiple geographical locations (or accomodation type) where bed bugs were collected and the genetic diversity of Wolbachia. CONCLUSIONS We highlight a significant heterogeneity within Wolbachia symbionts detected in C. lectularius and C. hemipterus. No correlation between Wolbachia species and bed bug species (C. lectularius versus C. hemipterus), physiological stages (egg, nymph, and adult), and sampling location was recorded in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahlia Chebbah
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, France
- Service Parisien de Santé Environnementale (SPSE), Sous-Direction de la Santé Environnementale et de la Prévention (SDSEP), Direction de la Santé Publique (DSP)-Mairie de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Omar Hamarsheh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Denis Sereno
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, MIVEGEC, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, InterTryp, Montpellier, France
| | - Nohal Elissa
- Service Parisien de Santé Environnementale (SPSE), Sous-Direction de la Santé Environnementale et de la Prévention (SDSEP), Direction de la Santé Publique (DSP)-Mairie de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Brun
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, France
| | - Julie Jan
- Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Île-de-France, Paris, France
| | - Arezki Izri
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, France
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Mohammad Akhoundi
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, France
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
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13
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Mercant Osuna A, Gidley A, Mayi MPA, Bamou R, Dhokiya V, Antonio-Nkondjio C, Jeffries CL, Walker T. Diverse novel Wolbachia bacteria strains and genera-specific co-infections with Asaia bacteria in Culicine mosquitoes from ecologically diverse regions of Cameroon. Wellcome Open Res 2023; 8:267. [PMID: 37799509 PMCID: PMC10548110 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18580.2] [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] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia infects numerous species of insects and Wolbachia transinfection of Aedes mosquito species is now being used for biocontrol programs as Wolbachia strains can both inhibit arboviruses and invade wild mosquito populations. The discovery of novel, resident Wolbachia strains in mosquito species warrants further investigation as potential candidate strains for biocontrol strategies. Methods: We obtained mosquito specimens from diverse Culicine mosquitoes from Cameroon including ecologically diverse locations in the Central and West Regions. Wolbachia prevalence rates were assessed in addition to the environmentally acquired bacterial species Asaia in major Culicine genera. PCR-based methods were also used with phylogenetic analysis to confirm identities of host mosquito species and Wolbachia strains were classified using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Results: We report high Wolbachia prevalence rates for Culicine species, including in a large cohort of Aedes africanus collected from west Cameroon in which 100% of mono-specific pools were infected. Furthermore, co-infections with Asaia bacteria were observed across multiple genera, demonstrating that these two bacteria can co-exist in wild mosquito populations. Wolbachia strain MLST and phylogenetic analysis provided evidence for diverse Wolbachia strains in 13 different mosquito species across seven different genera. Full or partial MLST profiles were generated from resident Wolbachia strains in six Culex species ( quinquefasciatus, watti, cinerus, nigripalpus, perexiguus and rima), two Aedes species (africanus and denderensis) and in Mansonia uniformis, Catageiomyia argenteopunctata, Lutzia tigripes, Eretmapodites chrysogaster and Uranotaenia bilineata. Conclusions: Our study provides further evidence that Wolbachia is widespread within wild mosquito populations of diverse Culicine species and provides further candidate strains that could be investigated as future options for Wolbachia-based biocontrol to inhibit arbovirus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina Mercant Osuna
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alexandra Gidley
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Marie Paul Audrey Mayi
- Department of Microbiology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- School of Biosciences & Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Roland Bamou
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Vector Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology (VBID-RUBAE), Department of Animal Biology, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
- Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Vishaal Dhokiya
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Christophe Antonio-Nkondjio
- Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Thomas Walker
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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14
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Zheng R, Wang Q, Wu R, Paradkar PN, Hoffmann AA, Wang GH. Holobiont perspectives on tripartite interactions among microbiota, mosquitoes, and pathogens. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1143-1152. [PMID: 37231184 PMCID: PMC10356850 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01436-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria cause a significant global health burden. Unfortunately, current insecticides and environmental control strategies aimed at the vectors of these diseases are only moderately effective in decreasing disease burden. Understanding and manipulating the interaction between the mosquito holobiont (i.e., mosquitoes and their resident microbiota) and the pathogens transmitted by these mosquitoes to humans and animals could help in developing new disease control strategies. Different microorganisms found in the mosquito's microbiota affect traits related to mosquito survival, development, and reproduction. Here, we review the physiological effects of essential microbes on their mosquito hosts; the interactions between the mosquito holobiont and mosquito-borne pathogen (MBP) infections, including microbiota-induced host immune activation and Wolbachia-mediated pathogen blocking (PB); and the effects of environmental factors and host regulation on the composition of the microbiota. Finally, we briefly overview future directions in holobiont studies, and how these may lead to new effective control strategies against mosquitoes and their transmitted diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronger Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Runbiao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Prasad N Paradkar
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Guan-Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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15
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Accoti A, Damiani C, Nunzi E, Cappelli A, Iacomelli G, Monacchia G, Turco A, D’Alò F, Peirce MJ, Favia G, Spaccapelo R. Anopheline mosquito saliva contains bacteria that are transferred to a mammalian host through blood feeding. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1157613. [PMID: 37533823 PMCID: PMC10392944 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1157613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria transmission occurs when Plasmodium sporozoites are transferred from the salivary glands of anopheline mosquitoes to a human host through the injection of saliva. The need for better understanding, as well as novel modes of inhibiting, this key event in transmission has driven intense study of the protein and miRNA content of saliva. Until now the possibility that mosquito saliva may also contain bacteria has remained an open question despite the well documented presence of a rich microbiome in salivary glands. Methods Using both 16S rRNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF approaches, we characterized the composition of the saliva microbiome of An. gambiae and An. stephensi mosquitoes which respectively represent two of the most important vectors for the major malaria-causing parasites P. falciparum and P. vivax. Results To eliminate the possible detection of non-mosquito-derived bacteria, we used a transgenic, fluorescent strain of one of the identified bacteria, Serratiamarcescens, to infect mosquitoes and detect its presence in mosquito salivary glands as well as its transfer to, and colonization of, mammalian host tissues following a mosquito bite. We also showed that Plasmodium infection modified the mosquito microbiota, increasing the presence of Serratia while diminishing the presence of Elizabethkingia and that both P. berghei and Serratia were transferred to, and colonized mammalian tissues. Discussion These data thus document the presence of bacteria in mosquito saliva, their transfer to, and growth in a mammalian host as well as possible interactions with Plasmodium transmission. Together they raise the possible role of mosquitoes as vectors of bacterial infection and the utility of commensal mosquito bacteria for the development of transmission-blocking strategies within a mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Accoti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Damiani
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, CIRM Italian Malaria Network, Via Gentile III da Varano, Camerino, Italy
| | - Emilia Nunzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alessia Cappelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, CIRM Italian Malaria Network, Via Gentile III da Varano, Camerino, Italy
| | - Gloria Iacomelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulia Monacchia
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Antonella Turco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco D’Alò
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Matthew J. Peirce
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Guido Favia
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, CIRM Italian Malaria Network, Via Gentile III da Varano, Camerino, Italy
| | - Roberta Spaccapelo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, CIRM Italian Malaria Network Perugia, Functional Genomic Center (C.U.R.Ge.F), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Consortium for Biotechnology (C.I.B.), Trieste, Italy
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16
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Marriott AE, Dagley JL, Hegde S, Steven A, Fricks C, DiCosty U, Mansour A, Campbell EJ, Wilson CM, Gusovsky F, Ward SA, Hong WD, O'Neill P, Moorhead A, McCall S, McCall JW, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. Dirofilariasis mouse models for heartworm preclinical research. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1208301. [PMID: 37426014 PMCID: PMC10324412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1208301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dirofilariasis, including heartworm disease, is a major emergent veterinary parasitic infection and a human zoonosis. Currently, experimental infections of cats and dogs are used in veterinary heartworm preclinical drug research. Methods As a refined alternative in vivo heartworm preventative drug screen, we assessed lymphopenic mouse strains with ablation of the interleukin-2/7 common gamma chain (γc) as susceptible to the larval development phase of Dirofilaria immitis. Results Non-obese diabetic (NOD) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)γc-/- (NSG and NXG) and recombination-activating gene (RAG)2-/-γc-/- mouse strains yielded viable D. immitis larvae at 2-4 weeks post-infection, including the use of different batches of D. immitis infectious larvae, different D. immitis isolates, and at different laboratories. Mice did not display any clinical signs associated with infection for up to 4 weeks. Developing larvae were found in subcutaneous and muscle fascia tissues, which is the natural site of this stage of heartworm in dogs. Compared with in vitro-propagated larvae at day 14, in vivo-derived larvae had completed the L4 molt, were significantly larger, and contained expanded Wolbachia endobacteria titres. We established an ex vivo L4 paralytic screening system whereby assays with moxidectin or levamisole highlighted discrepancies in relative drug sensitivities in comparison with in vitro-reared L4 D. immitis. We demonstrated effective depletion of Wolbachia by 70%-90% in D. immitis L4 following 2- to 7-day oral in vivo exposures of NSG- or NXG-infected mice with doxycycline or the rapid-acting investigational drug, AWZ1066S. We validated NSG and NXG D. immitis mouse models as a filaricide screen by in vivo treatments with single injections of moxidectin, which mediated a 60%-88% reduction in L4 larvae at 14-28 days. Discussion Future adoption of these mouse models will benefit end-user laboratories conducting research and development of novel heartworm preventatives via increased access, rapid turnaround, and reduced costs and may simultaneously decrease the need for experimental cat or dog use.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. E. Marriott
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. L. Dagley
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - S. Hegde
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Steven
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - C. Fricks
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - U. DiCosty
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - A. Mansour
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - E. J. Campbell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - C. M. Wilson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - F. Gusovsky
- Eisai Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - S. A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - W. D. Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - P. O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Moorhead
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - S. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - J. W. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - M. J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. D. Turner
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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17
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Pujhari S, Hughes GL, Pakpour N, Suzuki Y, Rasgon JL. Wolbachia-induced inhibition of O'nyong nyong virus in Anopheles mosquitoes is mediated by Toll signaling and modulated by cholesterol. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.31.543096. [PMID: 37397989 PMCID: PMC10312510 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.31.543096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Enhanced host immunity and competition for metabolic resources are two main competing hypotheses for the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated pathogen inhibition in arthropods. Using an Anopheles mosquito - somatic Wolbachia infection - O'nyong nyong virus (ONNV) model, we demonstrate that the mechanism underpinning Wolbachia-mediated virus inhibition is up-regulation of the Toll innate immune pathway. However, the viral inhibitory properties of Wolbachia were abolished by cholesterol supplementation. This result was due to Wolbachia-dependent cholesterol-mediated suppression of Toll signaling rather than competition for cholesterol between Wolbachia and virus. The inhibitory effect of cholesterol was specific to Wolbachia-infected Anopheles mosquitoes and cells. These data indicate that both Wolbachia and cholesterol influence Toll immune signaling in Anopheles mosquitoes in a complex manner and provide a functional link between the host immunity and metabolic competition hypotheses for explaining Wolbachia-mediated pathogen interference in mosquitoes. In addition, these results provide a mechanistic understanding of the mode of action of Wolbachia-induced pathogen blocking in Anophelines, which is critical to evaluate the long-term efficacy of control strategies for malaria and Anopheles-transmitted arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujit Pujhari
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Grant L Hughes
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yasutsugu Suzuki
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Jason L Rasgon
- The Department of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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18
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Liu B, Ren YS, Su CY, Abe Y, Zhu DH. Pangenomic analysis of Wolbachia provides insight into the evolution of host adaptation and cytoplasmic incompatibility factor genes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1084839. [PMID: 36819029 PMCID: PMC9937081 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1084839] [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: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The genus Wolbachia provides a typical example of intracellular bacteria that infect the germline of arthropods and filarial nematodes worldwide. Their importance as biological regulators of invertebrates, so it is particularly important to study the evolution, divergence and host adaptation of these bacteria at the genome-wide level. Methods Here, we used publicly available Wolbachia genomes to reconstruct their evolutionary history and explore their adaptation under host selection. Results Our findings indicate that segmental and single-gene duplications, such as DNA methylase, bZIP transcription factor, heat shock protein 90, in single monophyletic Wolbachia lineages (including supergroups A and B) may be responsible for improving the ability to adapt to a broad host range in arthropod-infecting strains. In contrast to A strains, high genetic diversity and rapidly evolving gene families occur in B strains, which may promote the ability of supergroup B strains to adapt to new hosts and their large-scale spreading. In addition, we hypothesize that there might have been two independent horizontal transfer events of cif genes in two sublineages of supergroup A strains. Interestingly, during the independent evolution of supergroup A and B strains, the rapid evolution of cif genes in supergroup B strains resulted in the loss of their functional domain, reflected in a possible decrease in the proportion of induced cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) strains. Discussion This present study highlights for reconstructing of evolutionary history, addressing host adaptation-related evolution and exploring the origin and divergence of CI genes in each Wolbachia supergroup. Our results thus not only provide a basis for further exploring the evolutionary history of Wolbachia adaptation under host selection but also reveal a new research direction for studying the molecular regulation of Wolbachia- induced cytoplasmic incompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China,Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ye-Song Ren
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Cheng-Yuan Su
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Yoshihisa Abe
- Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Dao-Hong Zhu
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China,*Correspondence: Dao-Hong Zhu, ✉
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Dong Y, Zhang ZR, Mishra S, Wong ACN, Huang JF, Wang B, Peng YQ, Gao J. Diversity and metabolic potentials of microbial communities associated with pollinator and cheater fig wasps in fig-fig wasp mutualism system. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1009919. [DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1009919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial symbionts can influence a myriad of insect behavioral and physiological traits. However, how microbial communities may shape or be shaped by insect interactions with plants and neighboring species remains underexplored. The fig-fig wasp mutualism system offers a unique model to study the roles of microbiome in the interactions between the plants and co-habiting insects because a confined fig environment is shared by two fig wasp species, the pollinator wasp (Eupristina altissima and Eupristina verticillata) and the cheater wasp (Eupristina sp1 and Eupristina sp2). Here, we performed whole genome resequencing (WGS) on 48 individual fig wasps (Eupristina spp.) from Yunnan, China, to reveal the phylogenetic relationship and genetic divergence between pollinator and congeneric cheater wasps associated with the Ficus trees. We then extracted metagenomic sequences to explore the compositions, network structures, and functional capabilities of microbial communities associated with these wasps. We found that the cheaters and pollinators from the same fig species are sister species, which are highly genetically divergent. Fig wasps harbor diverse but stable microbial communities. Fig species dominate over the fig wasp genotype in shaping the bacterial and fungal communities. Variation in microbial communities may be partially explained by the filtering effect from fig and phylogeny of fig wasps. It is worth noting that cheaters have similar microbial communities to their sister pollinators, which may allow cheaters to coexist and gain resources from the same fig species. In terms of metabolic capabilities, some bacteria such as Desulfovibrio and Lachnospiraceae are candidates involved in the nutritional uptake of fig wasps. Our results provide novel insights into how microbiome community and metabolic functions may couple with the fig-wasp mutualistic systems.
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A comprehensive overview of the existing microbial symbionts in mosquito vectors: An important tool for impairing pathogen -transmission. Exp Parasitol 2022; 243:108407. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Shastry V, Bell KL, Buerkle CA, Fordyce JA, Forister ML, Gompert Z, Lebeis SL, Lucas LK, Marion ZH, Nice CC. A continental-scale survey of Wolbachia infections in blue butterflies reveals evidence of interspecific transfer and invasion dynamics. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6670626. [PMID: 35976120 PMCID: PMC9526071 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Infections by maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts, especially Wolbachia, are common in insects and other invertebrates but infection dynamics across species ranges are largely under studied. Specifically, we lack a broad understanding of the origin of Wolbachia infections in novel hosts, and the historical and geographical dynamics of infections that are critical for identifying the factors governing their spread. We used Genotype-by-Sequencing data from previous population genomics studies for range-wide surveys of Wolbachia presence and genetic diversity in North American butterflies of the genus Lycaeides. As few as one sequence read identified by assembly to a Wolbachia reference genome provided high accuracy in detecting infections in host butterflies as determined by confirmatory PCR tests, and maximum accuracy was achieved with a threshold of only 5 sequence reads per host individual. Using this threshold, we detected Wolbachia in all but 2 of the 107 sampling localities spanning the continent, with infection frequencies within populations ranging from 0% to 100% of individuals, but with most localities having high infection frequencies (mean = 91% infection rate). Three major lineages of Wolbachia were identified as separate strains that appear to represent 3 separate invasions of Lycaeides butterflies by Wolbachia. Overall, we found extensive evidence for acquisition of Wolbachia through interspecific transfer between host lineages. Strain wLycC was confined to a single butterfly taxon, hybrid lineages derived from it, and closely adjacent populations in other taxa. While the other 2 strains were detected throughout the rest of the continent, strain wLycB almost always co-occurred with wLycA. Our demographic modeling suggests wLycB is a recent invasion. Within strain wLycA, the 2 most frequent haplotypes are confined almost exclusively to separate butterfly taxa with haplotype A1 observed largely in Lycaeides melissa and haplotype A2 observed most often in Lycaeides idas localities, consistent with either cladogenic mode of infection acquisition from a common ancestor or by hybridization and accompanying mutation. More than 1 major Wolbachia strain was observed in 15 localities. These results demonstrate the utility of using resequencing data from hosts to quantify Wolbachia genetic variation and infection frequency and provide evidence of multiple colonizations of novel hosts through hybridization between butterfly lineages and complex dynamics between Wolbachia strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivaswat Shastry
- Committee on Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology, University of Chicago , Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Katherine L Bell
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada , Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - C Alex Buerkle
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming , Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - James A Fordyce
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | | | | | - Sarah L Lebeis
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lauren K Lucas
- Department of Biology, Utah State University , Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Zach H Marion
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury , Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Chris C Nice
- Department of Biology, Population and Conservation Biology, Texas State University , San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
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Ngnindji-Youdje Y, Diarra AZ, Lontsi-Demano M, Tchuinkam T, Parola P. Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks from Cattle in Western Highlands of Cameroon. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101957. [PMID: 36296233 PMCID: PMC9609823 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to detect and identify microorganisms in ticks collected in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Quantitative real-time and standard PCR assays, coupled with sequencing, were used. A total of 944 ticks collected from cattle in five distinct sites in Cameroon were selected for the analyses. They belonged to five genera (Amblyomma, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes) and twelve species. Real-time PCR revealed that 23% (n = 218) of the ticks were positive for Rickettsia spp., 15% (n = 141) for bacteria of the Anaplasmataceae family, 3% (n = 29) for Piroplasmida, 0.5% (n = 5) for Coxiella burnetii, 0.4% (n = 4) for Borrelia spp., and 0.2% (n = 2) for Bartonella spp. The co-infection rate (3.4%, n = 32) involved mainly Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae. Of the Rickettsia spp. positive ticks, the targeted PCR and sequencing yielded Rickettsia africae (78.9%), Rickettsia aeschlimannii (6.4%), Rickettsia massiliae (7.8%), Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae (0.9%), and Rickettsia sp. (0.9%). Anaplasmataceae included Anaplasma marginale (4.3%), Anaplasma platys (1.4%), Anaplasma centrale (0.7%), Ehrlichia ruminantium (0.7%), Wolbachia sp., Candidatus Ehrlichia rustica (13.5%), Candidatus Ehrlichia urmitei (7%), and an uncultured Ehrlichia sp. (4.2%). Borrelia theileri was identified in one Rhipicephalus microplus tick. Unfortunately, Piroplasmida could not be identified to the species level. This study demonstrates that in Cameroon, ticks harbour a wide variety of microorganisms and present a risk of zoonotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Ngnindji-Youdje
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Applied Biology and Ecology Research Unit (VBID-URBEA), Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science of the University of Dschang, Dschang P.O. Box 067, Cameroon
| | - Adama Zan Diarra
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Michel Lontsi-Demano
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Applied Biology and Ecology Research Unit (VBID-URBEA), Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science of the University of Dschang, Dschang P.O. Box 067, Cameroon
| | - Timoléon Tchuinkam
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Applied Biology and Ecology Research Unit (VBID-URBEA), Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science of the University of Dschang, Dschang P.O. Box 067, Cameroon
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)-4-13-73-24-01; Fax: +33-(0)-4-13-73-24-02
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Chaves EB, Nascimento-Pereira AC, Pinto JLM, Rodrigues BL, de Andrade MS, Rêbelo JMM. Detection of Wolbachia in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1831-1836. [PMID: 35849008 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the endobacteria Wolbachia has emerged as a biological tool for the control of arboviruses. Thus, we investigated the rate of natural infection by Wolbachia in Culicidae species from Maranhão, Brazil. For this, we amplified the Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp) from mosquitoes collected in six localities of Maranhão, and positive samples were subjected to new analysis using group-specific primers. In total, 448 specimens comprising 6 genera and 18 species of mosquitoes were analyzed. Wolbachia DNA was PCR-detected in 7 species, three of which are new records: Aedes scapularis (Rondani, 1848), Coquillettidia juxtamansonia (Chagas, 1907) and Cq. venezuelensis (Theobald, 1912), in addition to Ae. albopictus (Skuse, 1894) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823, which are commonly described as permissive to maintain this bacterium in natural environments, and two species of the subgenera Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) Blanchard, 1902 and Culex (Melanoconion) Theobald, 1903 which could not be identified at species level. The infection rate of all species ranged from 0 to 80%, and the average value was 16.5%. This study increases the knowledge about the prevalence of Wolbachia in the culicid fauna and may help in selecting strains for biological control purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Barros Chaves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Agostinho Cardoso Nascimento-Pereira
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brasil, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
| | - Jorge Luiz Moraes Pinto
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Bruno Leite Rodrigues
- Pós-Graduação de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública da USP, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715 Cerqueira César, 01246-904, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Souza de Andrade
- Laboratório de Estudos Genômicos e Histocompatibilidade, Hospital Presidente Dutra, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Rua Silva Jardim, s/n - Centro, 65021-000 São Luís, MA, Brasil
| | - José Manuel Macário Rêbelo
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
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Sawadogo SP, Kabore DA, Tibiri EB, Hughes A, Gnankine O, Quek S, Diabaté A, Ranson H, Hughes GL, Dabiré RK. Lack of robust evidence for a Wolbachia infection in Anopheles gambiae from Burkina Faso. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 36:301-308. [PMID: 35876244 PMCID: PMC10053554 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The endosymbiont Wolbachia can have major effects on the reproductive fitness, and vectorial capacity of host insects and may provide new avenues to control mosquito-borne pathogens. Anopheles gambiae s.l is the major vector of malaria in Africa but the use of Wolbachia in this species has been limited by challenges in establishing stable transinfected lines and uncertainty around native infections. High frequencies of infection of Wolbachia have been previously reported in An. gambiae collected from the Valle du Kou region of Burkina Faso in 2011 and 2014. Here, we re-evaluated the occurrence of Wolbachia in natural samples, collected from Valle du Kou over a 12-year time span, and in addition, expanded sampling to other sites in Burkina Faso. Our results showed that, in contrast to earlier reports, Wolbachia is present at an extremely low prevalence in natural population of An. gambiae. From 5341 samples analysed, only 29 were positive for Wolbachia by nested PCR representing 0.54% of prevalence. No positive samples were found with regular PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons clustered across supergroup B, with some having similarity to sequences previously found in Anopheles from Burkina Faso. However, we cannot discount the possibility that the amplicon positive samples we detected were due to environmental contamination or were false positives. Regardless, the lack of a prominent native infection in An. gambiae s.l. is encouraging for applications utilizing Wolbachia transinfected mosquitoes for malaria control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P. Sawadogo
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
| | - Didier A. Kabore
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
| | - Ezechiel B. Tibiri
- Département de Virologie et de Biotechnologies Végétales, Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA)OuagadougouBurkina Faso
| | - Angela Hughes
- Department of Vector BiologyLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Olivier Gnankine
- Département de Biologie et de Physiologie Animales, Université Joseph K‐ZerboOuagadougouBurkina Faso
| | - Shannon Quek
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Center for Neglected Tropical DiseaseLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Abdoulaye Diabaté
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
| | - Hilary Ranson
- Department of Vector BiologyLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Grant L. Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Center for Neglected Tropical DiseaseLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Roch K. Dabiré
- Département de Biologie Médicale et Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantéBobo‐DioulassoBurkina Faso
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Bukhari T, Pevsner R, Herren JK. Microsporidia: a promising vector control tool for residual malaria transmission. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.957109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) have resulted in a major decrease in malaria transmission. However, it has become apparent that malaria can be effectively transmitted despite high coverage of LLINs/IRS. Residual transmission can occur due to Plasmodium-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes that are insecticide resistant and have feeding and resting behavior that reduces their chance of encountering the currently deployed indoor malaria control tools. Residual malaria transmission is likely to be the most significant hurdle to achieving the goal of malaria eradication and research and development towards new tools and strategies that can control residual malaria transmission is therefore critical. One of the most promising strategies involves biological agents that are part of the mosquito microbiome and influence the ability of Anopheles to transmit Plasmodium. These differ from biological agents previously used for vector control in that their primary effect is on vectoral capacity rather than the longevity and fitness of Anopheles (which may or may not be affected). An example of this type of biological agent is Microsporidia MB, which was identified in field collected Anopheles arabiensis and caused complete inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum transmission without effecting the longevity and fitness of the host. Microsporidia MB belongs to a unique group of rapidly adapting and evolving intracellular parasites and symbionts called microsporidia. In this review we discuss the general biology of microsporidians and the inherent characteristics that make some of them particularly suitable for malaria control. We then discuss the research priorities for developing a transmission blocking strategy for the currently leading microsporidian candidate Microsporidia MB for malaria control.
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Zhou JC, Shang D, Qian Q, Zhang C, Zhang LS, Dong H. Penetrance during Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis of Trichogramma wasps is reduced by continuous oviposition, associated with exhaustion of Wolbachia titers in ovary and offspring eggs. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:3080-3089. [PMID: 35437949 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thelytokous Wolbachia-infected Trichogramma wasps are superior to bisexual uninfected wasps regarding biological control programs. However, continuous oviposition weakens the parthenogenesis-inducing (PI) strength of Wolbachia. Whether this reduced PI strength relates to decreases in the titer of Wolbachia in the ovary and offspring eggs of Trichogramma remains unclear. Here, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods, we investigated how the penetrance of Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis, Wolbachia density, and distributions of two Wolbachia-infected Trichogramma species, T. pretiosum (TP) and T. dendrolimi (TD), were influenced by different host access treatments [newly-emerged virgin females (NE), 7-day-old females without access to host eggs (NAH), and 7-day-old virgin females with access to host eggs (AH)]. RESULTS Continuous oviposition decreased Wolbachia PI strength and titers in TP and TD. Continuous oviposition in AH decreased Wolbachia titers in abdomen and offspring eggs of TP and TD females, compared with NAH and NE; NAH had a lower thorax Wolbachia titer than NE. The numbers of parasitized host eggs and offspring wasps, and emergence rates of offspring deposited by AH were lower than those of NE and NAH, for either species. CONCLUSION Weakened PI strength, driven by continuous oviposition in Trichogramma wasps, is associated with Wolbachia titer exhaustion in ovary and offspring eggs. Wolbachia density is dependent on PI strength in Trichogramma wasps, highlighting the side effects of continuous oviposition regarding thelytokous Wolbachia-infected Trichogramma in biological control programs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Cheng Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dan Shang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Qian Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Chen Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Li-Sheng Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Hui Dong
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P. R. China
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Waymire E, Duddu S, Yared S, Getachew D, Dengela D, Bordenstein SR, Balkew M, Zohdy S, Irish SR, Carter TE. Wolbachia 16S rRNA haplotypes detected in wild Anopheles stephensi in eastern Ethiopia. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:178. [PMID: 35610655 PMCID: PMC9128127 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05293-9] [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: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND About two out of three Ethiopians are at risk of malaria, a disease caused by the parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Anopheles stephensi, an invasive vector typically found in South Asia and the Middle East, was recently found to be distributed across eastern and central Ethiopia and is capable of transmitting both P. falciparum and P. vivax. The detection of this vector in the Horn of Africa (HOA) coupled with widespread insecticide resistance requires that new methods of vector control be investigated in order to control the spread of malaria. Wolbachia, a naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacterium of mosquitoes, has been identified as a potential vector control tool that can be explored for the control of malaria transmission. Wolbachia could be used to control the mosquito population through suppression or potentially decrease malaria transmission through population replacement. However, the presence of Wolbachia in wild An. stephensi in eastern Ethiopia is unknown. This study aimed to identify the presence and diversity of Wolbachia in An. stephensi across eastern Ethiopia. METHODS DNA was extracted from An. stephensi collected from eastern Ethiopia in 2018 and screened for Wolbachia using a 16S targeted PCR assay, as well as multilocus strain typing (MLST) PCR assays. Haplotype and phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced 16S amplicons were conducted to compare with Wolbachia from countries across Africa and Asia. RESULTS Twenty out of the 184 mosquitoes screened were positive for Wolbachia, with multiple haplotypes detected. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed two superclades, representing Wolbachia supergroups A and B (bootstrap values of 81 and 72, respectively) with no significant grouping of geographic location or species. A subclade with a bootstrap value of 89 separates the Ethiopian haplotype 2 from other sequences in that superclade. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide the first evidence of natural Wolbachia populations in wild An. stephensi in the HOA. They also identify the need for further research to confirm the endosymbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and An. stephensi and to investigate its utility for malaria control in the HOA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sowmya Duddu
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX USA
| | | | | | - Dereje Dengela
- PMI VectorLink Ethiopia Project, Abt Associates, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Meshesha Balkew
- PMI VectorLink Ethiopia Project, Abt Associates, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sarah Zohdy
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and Entomology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Seth R. Irish
- U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and Entomology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
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Quek S, Cerdeira L, Jeffries CL, Tomlinson S, Walker T, Hughes GL, Heinz E. Wolbachia endosymbionts in two Anopheles species indicates independent acquisitions and lack of prophage elements. Microb Genom 2022; 8. [PMID: 35446252 PMCID: PMC9453072 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is a genus of obligate bacterial endosymbionts that infect a diverse range of arthropod species as well as filarial nematodes, with its single described species, Wolbachia pipientis, divided into several ‘supergroups’ based on multilocus sequence typing. Wolbachia strains in mosquitoes have been shown to inhibit the transmission of human pathogens, including Plasmodium malaria parasites and arboviruses. Despite their large host range, Wolbachia strains within the major malaria vectors of the Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus complexes appear at low density, established solely on PCR-based methods. Questions have been raised as to whether this represents a true endosymbiotic relationship. However, recent definitive evidence for two distinct, high-density strains of supergroup B Wolbachia within Anopheles demeilloni and Anopheles moucheti has opened exciting possibilities to explore naturally occurring Wolbachia endosymbionts in Anopheles for biocontrol strategies to block Plasmodium transmission. Here, we utilize genomic analyses to demonstrate that both Wolbachia strains have retained all key metabolic and transport pathways despite their smaller genome size, with this reduction potentially attributable to degenerated prophage regions. Even with this reduction, we confirmed the presence of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) factor genes within both strains, with wAnD maintaining intact copies of these genes while the cifB gene was interrupted in wAnM, so functional analysis is required to determine whether wAnM can induce CI. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis indicates that these Wolbachia strains may have been introduced into these two Anopheles species via horizontal transmission events, rather than by ancestral acquisition and subsequent loss events in the Anopheles gambiae species complex. These are the first Wolbachia genomes, to our knowledge, that enable us to study the relationship between natural strain Plasmodium malaria parasites and their anopheline hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Quek
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Louise Cerdeira
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Claire L Jeffries
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas Walker
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Grant L Hughes
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Eva Heinz
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Mejia AJ, Dutra HLC, Jones MJ, Perera R, McGraw EA. Cross-tissue and generation predictability of relative Wolbachia densities in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:128. [PMID: 35413938 PMCID: PMC9004076 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05231-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insect endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia is being deployed in field populations of the mosquito Aedes aegypti for biological control. This microbe prevents the replication of human disease-causing viruses inside the vector, including dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Relative Wolbachia densities may in part predict the strength of this 'viral blocking' effect. Additionally, Wolbachia densities may affect the strength of the reproductive manipulations it induces, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), maternal inheritance rates or induced fitness effects in the insect host. High rates of CI and maternal inheritance and low rates of fitness effects are also key to the successful spreading of Wolbachia through vector populations and its successful use in biocontrol. The factors that control Wolbachia densities are not completely understood. METHODS We used quantitative PCR-based methods to estimate relative density of the Wolbachia wAlbB strain in both the somatic and reproductive tissues of adult male and female mosquitoes, as well as in eggs. Using correlation analyses, we assessed whether densities in one tissue predict those in others within the same individual, but also across generations. RESULTS We found little relationship among the relative Wolbachia densities of different tissues in the same host. The results also show that there was very little relationship between Wolbachia densities in parents and those in offspring, both in the same and different tissues. The one exception was with ovary-egg relationships, where there was a strong positive association. Relative Wolbachia densities in reproductive tissues were always greater than those in the somatic tissues. Additionally, the densities were consistent in females over their lifetime regardless of tissue, whereas they were generally higher and more variable in males, particularly in the testes. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that either stochastic processes or local tissue-based physiologies are more likely factors dictating Wolbachia densities in Ae. aegypti individuals, rather than shared embryonic environments or heritable genetic effects of the mosquito genome. These findings have implications for understanding how relative Wolbachia densities may evolve and/or be maintained over the long term in Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin J. Mejia
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA ,grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - H. L. C. Dutra
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA ,grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - M. J. Jones
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA ,grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - R. Perera
- grid.47894.360000 0004 1936 8083Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA
| | - E. A. McGraw
- grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA ,grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA ,grid.29857.310000 0001 2097 4281Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
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Coon KL, Hegde S, Hughes GL. Interspecies microbiome transplantation recapitulates microbial acquisition in mosquitoes. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:58. [PMID: 35410630 PMCID: PMC8996512 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01256-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes harbor microbial communities that play important roles in their growth, survival, reproduction, and ability to transmit human pathogens. Microbiome transplantation approaches are often used to study host-microbe interactions and identify microbial taxa and assemblages associated with health or disease. However, no such approaches have been developed to manipulate the microbiota of mosquitoes. RESULTS Here, we developed an approach to transfer entire microbial communities between mosquito cohorts. We undertook transfers between (Culex quinquefasciatus to Aedes aegypti) and within (Ae. aegypti to Ae. aegypti) species to validate the approach and determine the number of mosquitoes required to prepare donor microbiota. After the transfer, we monitored mosquito development and microbiota dynamics throughout the life cycle. Typical holometabolous lifestyle-related microbiota structures were observed, with higher dynamics of microbial structures in larval stages, including the larval water, and less diversity in adults. Microbiota diversity in recipient adults was also more similar to the microbiota diversity in donor adults. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first evidence for successful microbiome transplantation in mosquitoes. Our results highlight the value of such methods for studying mosquito-microbe interactions and lay the foundation for future studies to elucidate the factors underlying microbiota acquisition, assembly, and function in mosquitoes under controlled conditions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerri L. Coon
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Shivanand Hegde
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Topical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA UK
| | - Grant L. Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Topical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA UK
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Wang GH, Du J, Chu CY, Madhav M, Hughes GL, Champer J. Symbionts and gene drive: two strategies to combat vector-borne disease. Trends Genet 2022; 38:708-723. [PMID: 35314082 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes bring global health problems by transmitting parasites and viruses such as malaria and dengue. Unfortunately, current insecticide-based control strategies are only moderately effective because of high cost and resistance. Thus, scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective strategies are needed for mosquito-borne disease control. Symbiont-based and genome engineering-based approaches provide new tools that show promise for meeting these criteria, enabling modification or suppression approaches. Symbiotic bacteria like Wolbachia are maternally inherited and manipulate mosquito host reproduction to enhance their vertical transmission. Genome engineering-based gene drive methods, in which mosquitoes are genetically altered to spread drive alleles throughout wild populations, are also proving to be a potentially powerful approach in the laboratory. Here, we review the latest developments in both symbionts and gene drive-based methods. We describe some notable similarities, as well as distinctions and obstacles, relating to these promising technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Jie Du
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chen Yi Chu
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Mukund Madhav
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Grant L Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jackson Champer
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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Andreychuk S, Yakob L. Mathematical modelling to assess the feasibility of Wolbachia in malaria vector biocontrol. J Theor Biol 2022; 542:111110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Yu S, Wang J, Luo X, Zheng H, Wang L, Yang X, Wang Y. Transmission-Blocking Strategies Against Malaria Parasites During Their Mosquito Stages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:820650. [PMID: 35252033 PMCID: PMC8889032 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.820650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is still the most widespread parasitic disease and causes the most infections globally. Owing to improvements in sanitary conditions and various intervention measures, including the use of antimalarial drugs, the malaria epidemic in many regions of the world has improved significantly in the past 10 years. However, people living in certain underdeveloped areas are still under threat. Even in some well-controlled areas, the decline in malaria infection rates has stagnated or the rates have rebounded because of the emergence and spread of drug-resistant malaria parasites. Thus, new malaria control methods must be developed. As the spread of the Plasmodium parasite is dependent on the part of its life cycle that occurs in mosquitoes, to eliminate the possibility of malaria infections, transmission-blocking strategies against the mosquito stage should be the first choice. In fact, after the gametocyte enters the mosquito body, it undergoes a series of transformation processes over a short period, thus providing numerous potential blocking targets. Many research groups have carried out studies based on targeting the blocking of transmission during the mosquito phase and have achieved excellent results. Meanwhile, the direct killing of mosquitoes could also significantly reduce the probability of malaria infections. Microorganisms that display complex interactions with Plasmodium, such as Wolbachia and gut flora, have shown observable transmission-blocking potential. These could be used as a biological control strategy and play an important part in blocking the transmission of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Yu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Tropical Medicine, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xue Luo
- Department of Tropical Medicine, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Luhan Wang
- Department of Tropical Medicine, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuesen Yang
- Department of Tropical Medicine, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Tropical Medicine, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Wang,
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Konecka E. Fifty shades of bacterial endosymbionts and some of them still remain a mystery: Wolbachia and Cardinium in oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida). J Invertebr Pathol 2022; 189:107733. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wolbachia Detection in Field-Collected Mosquitoes from Cameroon. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12121133. [PMID: 34940221 PMCID: PMC8704151 DOI: 10.3390/insects12121133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Wolbachia bacteria from different strains, carried by many insects and nematodes, can interact in many ways with their hosts by changing their biology in different ways, including by suppressing vector population and reducing parasite transmission. Consequently, Wolbachia play an important role in vector control strategies. This study assessed the prevalence of natural Wolbachia infections in mosquitoes collected in Cameroon. Despite the low prevalence that was revealed, Wolbachia spp. were found in eight species of field-collected mosquitoes and are closely related to clades A and B. Aedes aegypti and A. gambiae sl., the main vectors of dengue and malaria, respectively, were not infected in this study, while C. moucheti recorded a high prevalence (46.67%). Future characterisation of the Wolbachia bacteria obtained is needed. Abstract Wolbachia spp., known to be maternally inherited intracellular bacteria, are widespread among arthropods, including mosquitoes. Our study assessed the presence and prevalence of Wolbachia infection in wild mosquitoes collected in Cameroon, using the combination of 23s rRNA Anaplasmatacea and 16s rRNA Wolbachia genes. Mosquitoes that were positive for Wolbachia were sequenced for subsequent phylogenetic analysis. Out of a total of 1740 individual mosquitoes belonging to 22 species and five genera screened, 33 mosquitoes (1.87%) belonging to eight species (namely, Aedes albopictus, A. contigus, Culex quinquefasciatus, C. perfuscus, C. wigglesworthi, C. duttoni, Anopheles paludis and Coquillettidia sp.) were found to be positive for Wolbachia infections. Wolbachia spp. were absent in A. gambiae and A. aegypti, the main vectors of malaria and dengue, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S RNA sequences showed they belong mainly to two distinct subgroups (A and B). This study reports the presence of Wolbachia in about eight species of mosquitoes in Cameroon and suggests that future characterisation of the strains is needed.
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Yang Y, He Y, Zhu G, Zhang J, Gong Z, Huang S, Lu G, Peng Y, Meng Y, Hao X, Wang C, Sun J, Shang S. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Wolbachia in field-collected Aedes albopictus, Anopheles sinensis, Armigeres subalbatus, Culex pipiens and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009911. [PMID: 34710095 PMCID: PMC8577788 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are maternally transmitted intracellular bacteria that can naturally and artificially infect arthropods and nematodes. Recently, they were applied to control the spread of mosquito-borne pathogens by causing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) between germ cells of females and males. The ability of Wolbachia to induce CI is based on the prevalence and polymorphism of Wolbachia in natural populations of mosquitoes. In this study, we screened the natural infection level and diversity of Wolbachia in field-collected mosquitoes from 25 provinces of China based on partial sequence of Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Among the samples, 2489 mosquitoes were captured from 24 provinces between July and September, 2014 and the remaining 1025 mosquitoes were collected month-by-month in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province between September 2013 and August 2014. Our results showed that the presence of Wolbachia was observed in mosquitoes of Aedes albopictus (97.1%, 331/341), Armigeres subalbatus (95.8%, 481/502), Culex pipiens (87.0%, 1525/1752), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (17.1%, 14/82), but not Anopheles sinensis (n = 88). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that high polymorphism of wsp and MLST loci was observed in Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, while no or low polymorphisms were in Ar. subalbatus and Cx. pipiens mosquitoes. A total of 12 unique mutations of deduced amino acid were identified in the wsp sequences obtained in this study, including four mutations in Wolbachia supergroup A and eight mutations in supergroup B. This study revealed the prevalence and polymorphism of Wolbachia in mosquitoes in large-scale regions of China and will provide some useful information when performing Wolbachia-based mosquito biocontrol strategies in China. The mosquitoes Aedes albopictus, Anopheles sinensis, Armigeres subalbatus, Culex pipiens and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus are native to China and the major vectors in the transmission of arboviruses, protozoans and nematodes. Recently, an innovative biocontrol strategy has been developed and evaluated based on the ability of Wolbachia to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), as well as interfere with the infection and replication of pathogens. Since the ability to induce CI largely depends on the density and diversity of Wolbachia, we investigated and characterized the natural infection of Wolbachia in above-mentioned five species of field-collected mosquitoes in 25 provinces of China. The results showed that the positive rates of Wolbachia infection were high in mosquitoes of Ae. albopictus, Ar. subalbatus and Cx. pipiens in large-scale regions of China and low in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in Guizhou province. Phylogenetic analysis based on Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene and five multilocus sequence typing (MLST) loci indicated the high polymorphism of Wolbachia in Ae. albopictus, and low polymorphisms in Ar. subalbatus and Cx. pipiens. This finding contributes to the understanding of the nationwide distribution of Wolbachia and the potential application of this biocontrol strategy in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Corporation Laboratory of Agriculture and Agricultural Products Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (YY); (JS); (SS)
| | - Yifan He
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guoding Zhu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, China
| | - Jilei Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Zaicheng Gong
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Siyang Huang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Corporation Laboratory of Agriculture and Agricultural Products Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guangwu Lu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yalan Peng
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yining Meng
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Hao
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Chengming Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Jie Sun
- Shenzhen Academy of Inspection and Quarantine Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (YY); (JS); (SS)
| | - Shaobin Shang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses; College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Corporation Laboratory of Agriculture and Agricultural Products Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (YY); (JS); (SS)
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Maffo CGT, Sandeu MM, Fadel AN, Tchouakui M, Nguete DN, Menze B, Kusimo MO, Njiokou F, Hughes GL, Wondji CS. Molecular detection and maternal transmission of a bacterial symbiont Asaia species in field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes from Cameroon. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:539. [PMID: 34657608 PMCID: PMC8522098 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria control relies mainlyon insecticide-based tools. However, the effectiveness of these tools is threatened by widespread insecticide resistance in malaria vectors, highlighting the need for alternative control approaches. The endosymbiont Asaia has emerged as a promising candidate for paratransgenic control of malaria, but its biology and genetics still need to be further analyzed across Africa. Here, we investigated the prevalence of Asaia and its maternal transmission in the natural population of Anopheles mosquitoes in Cameroon. METHODS Indoor-resting adult mosquitoes belonging to four species (An. coluzzii, An. arabiensis, An. funestus and An. gambiae) were collected from eight localities across Cameroon from July 2016 to February 2020. PCR was performed on the Asaia-specific 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and samples positive by PCR for Asaia were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The vertical transmission of Asaia was investigated by screening F1 mosquitoes belonging to F0 Asaia-positive females. RESULTS A total of 895 mosquitoes were screened. We found 43% (384) Asaia infection prevalence in four mosquito species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Asaia from Cameroon clustered together with the strains of Asaia isolated from other parts of the world. In addition, seven nucleotide sequence variants were found with low genetic diversity (π = 0.00241) and nucleotide sequence variant diversity (Hd = 0.481). Asaia was vertically transmitted with high frequency (range from 42.5 to 100%). CONCLUSIONS This study provides field-based evidence of the presence of Asaia in Anopheles mosquitoes in Cameroon for exploitation as a symbiont in the control of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudine Grâce Tatsinkou Maffo
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Maurice Marcel Sandeu
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon. .,Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, Po Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
| | - Amen Nakebang Fadel
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Magellan Tchouakui
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Daniel Nguiffo Nguete
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Benjamin Menze
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Michael O Kusimo
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Grant L Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Charles S Wondji
- Department of Medical Entomology, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), P.O. BOX 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
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Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria are being widely released for suppression of dengue transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Walker, Quek, Jeffries and colleagues present robust evidence for natural Wolbachia infections in malaria-vectoring Anopheles mosquitoes, paving the way for new Wolbachia-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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Adams KL, Abernathy DG, Willett BC, Selland EK, Itoe MA, Catteruccia F. Wolbachia cifB induces cytoplasmic incompatibility in the malaria mosquito vector. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:1575-1582. [PMID: 34819638 PMCID: PMC8612931 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-00998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Wolbachia, a maternally inherited intracellular bacterial species, can manipulate host insect reproduction by cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which results in embryo lethality in crosses between infected males and uninfected females. CI is encoded by two prophage genes, cifA and cifB. Wolbachia, coupled with the sterile insect technique, has been used in field trials to control populations of the dengue vector Aedes albopictus, but CI-inducing strains are not known to infect the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Here we show that cifA and cifB can induce conditional sterility in the malaria vector An. gambiae. We used transgenic expression of these Wolbachia-derived genes in the An. gambiae germline to show that cifB is sufficient to cause embryonic lethality and that cifB-induced sterility is rescued by cifA expression in females. When we co-expressed cifA and cifB in male mosquitoes, the CI phenotype was attenuated. In female mosquitoes, cifB impaired fertility, which was overcome by co-expression of cifA. Our findings pave the way towards using CI to control malaria mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L. Adams
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Daniel G. Abernathy
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Bailey C. Willett
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Emily K. Selland
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Maurice A. Itoe
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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