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Wijegunawardana NDAD, Gunawardene YINS, Abeyewickreme W, Chandrasena TGAN, Thayanukul P, Kittayapong P. Diversity of Wolbachia infections in Sri Lankan mosquitoes with a new record of Wolbachia Supergroup B infecting Aedes aegypti vector populations. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11966. [PMID: 38796552 PMCID: PMC11127934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62476-3] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria are common endosymbionts of insects and have recently been applied for controlling arboviral vectors, especially Aedes aegypti mosquito populations. However, several medically important mosquito species in Sri Lanka were present with limited information for the Wolbachia infection status. Therefore, the screening of Wolbachia in indigenous mosquitoes is required prior to a successful application of Wolbachia-based vector control strategy. In this study, screening of 78 mosquito species collected from various parts of the country revealed that 13 species were positive for Wolbachia infection, giving ~ 17% infection frequency of Wolbachia among the Sri Lankan mosquitoes. Twelve Wolbachia-positive mosquito species were selected for downstream Wolbachia strain genotyping using Multi Locus Sequencing Type (MLST), wsp gene, and 16S rRNA gene-based approaches. Results showed that these Wolbachia strains clustered together with the present Wolbachia phylogeny of world mosquito populations with some variations. Almost 90% of the mosquito populations were infected with supergroup B while the remaining were infected with supergroup A. A new record of Wolbachia supergroup B infection in Ae. aegypti, the main vectors of dengue, was highlighted. This finding was further confirmed by real-time qPCR, revealing Wolbachia density variations between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus (p = 0.001), and between males and females (p < 0.05). The evidence of natural Wolbachia infections in Ae. aegypti populations in Sri Lanka is an extremely rare incident that has the potential to be used for arboviral vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- N D A D Wijegunawardana
- Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Phayathai, Thailand
- Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
| | | | - W Abeyewickreme
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, General Sir Johan Kotelawala Defence University, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka
| | - T G A N Chandrasena
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - P Thayanukul
- Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand.
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Phayathai, Thailand.
| | - P Kittayapong
- Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
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Matute DR, Cooper BS. Aedes albopictus is present in the lowlands of southern Zambia. Acta Trop 2024; 251:107115. [PMID: 38184292 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107115] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Identifying the current geographic range of disease vectors is a critical first step towards determining effective mechanisms for controlling and potentially eradicating them. This is particularly true given that historical vector ranges may expand due to changing climates and human activity. The Aedes subgenus Stegomyia contains over 100 species, and among them, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes represent the largest concern for public health, spreading dengue, chikungunya, and zika viruses. While Ae. aegypti has been observed in the country of Zambia for decades, Ae. albopictus has not. In 2015 we sampled four urban and three rural areas in Zambia for Aedes species. Using DNA barcoding, we confirmed the presence of immature and adult Ae. albopictus at two sites: Siavonga and Livingstone. These genotypes seem most closely related to specimens previously collected in Mozambique based on mtDNA barcoding. We resampled Siavonga and Livingstone sites in 2019, again observing immature and adult Ae. albopictus at both sites. Relative Ae. albopictus frequencies were similar between sites, with the exception of immature life stages, which were higher in Siavonga than in Livingstone in 2019. While Ae. albopictus frequencies did not vary through time in Livingstone, both immature and adult frequencies increased through time in Siavonga. This report serves to document the presence of Ae. albopictus in Zambia, which will contribute to understanding the potential public health implications of this disease vector in southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Matute
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, 250 Bell Tower Drive, Genome Sciences Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27510, United States.
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, United States
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Weng SC, Masri RA, Akbari OS. Advances and challenges in synthetic biology for mosquito control. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:75-88. [PMID: 38000957 PMCID: PMC11064511 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne illnesses represent a significant global health peril, resulting in approximately one million fatalities annually. West Nile, dengue, Zika, and malaria are continuously expanding their global reach, driven by factors that escalate mosquito populations and pathogen transmission. Innovative control measures are imperative to combat these catastrophic ailments. Conventional approaches, such as eliminating breeding sites and using insecticides, have been helpful, but they face challenges such as insecticide resistance and environmental harm. Given the mounting severity of mosquito-borne diseases, there is promise in exploring innovative approaches using synthetic biology to bolster mosquitoes' resistance to pathogens, or even eliminate the mosquito vectors, as a means of control. This review outlines current strategies, future goals, and the importance of gene editing for global health defenses against mosquito-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Che Weng
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Reem A Masri
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Omar S Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Patterson CW, Drury JP. Interspecific behavioural interference and range dynamics: current insights and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:2012-2027. [PMID: 37364865 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Novel biotic interactions in shifting communities play a key role in determining the ability of species' ranges to track suitable habitat. To date, the impact of biotic interactions on range dynamics have predominantly been studied in the context of interactions between different trophic levels or, to a lesser extent, exploitative competition between species of the same trophic level. Yet, both theory and a growing number of empirical studies show that interspecific behavioural interference, such as interspecific territorial and mating interactions, can slow down range expansions, preclude coexistence, or drive local extinction, even in the absence of resource competition. We conducted a systematic review of the current empirical research into the consequences of interspecific behavioural interference on range dynamics. Our findings demonstrate there is abundant evidence that behavioural interference by one species can impact the spatial distribution of another. Furthermore, we identify several gaps where more empirical work is needed to test predictions from theory robustly. Finally, we outline several avenues for future research, providing suggestions for how interspecific behavioural interference could be incorporated into existing scientific frameworks for understanding how biotic interactions influence range expansions, such as species distribution models, to build a stronger understanding of the potential consequences of behavioural interference on the outcome of future range dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan P Drury
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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Keith SA, Drury JP, McGill BJ, Grether GF. Macrobehaviour: behavioural variation across space, time, and taxa. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:1177-1188. [PMID: 37661519 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.08.007] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
We explore how integrating behavioural ecology and macroecology can provide fundamental new insight into both fields, with particular relevance for understanding ecological responses to rapid environmental change. We outline the field of macrobehaviour, which aims to unite these disciplines explicitly, and highlight examples of research in this space. Macrobehaviour can be envisaged as a spectrum, where behavioural ecologists and macroecologists use new data and borrow tools and approaches from one another. At the heart of this spectrum, interdisciplinary research considers how selection in the context of large-scale factors can lead to systematic patterns in behavioural variation across space, time, and taxa, and in turn, influence macroecological patterns and processes. Macrobehaviour has the potential to enhance forecasts of future biodiversity change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A Keith
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
| | - Jonathan P Drury
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Brian J McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Gregory F Grether
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Matute DR, Cooper BS. Aedes albopictus is present in the lowlands of southern Zambia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560125. [PMID: 37808696 PMCID: PMC10557682 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the current geographic range of disease vectors is a critical first step towards determining effective mechanisms for controlling and potentially eradicating them. This is particularly true given that historical vector ranges may expand due to changing climates and human activity. The Aedes subgenus Stegomyia contains over 100 species, and among them, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes represent the largest concern for public health, spreading dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. While Ae. aegypti has been observed in the country of Zambia for decades, Ae. albopictus has not. In 2015 we sampled four urban and two rural areas in Zambia for Aedes species. Using DNA barcoding, we confirmed the presence of immature and adult Ae. albopictus at two rural sites: Siavonga and Livingstone. These genotypes seem most closely related to specimens previously collected in Mozambique based on CO1 sequence from mtDNA. We resampled Siavonga and Livingstone sites in 2019, again observing immature and adult Ae. albopictus at both sites. Relative Ae. albopictus frequencies were similar between sites, with the exception of immature life stages, which were higher in Siavonga than in Livingstone in 2019. While Ae. albopictus frequencies did not vary through time in Livingstone, both immature and adult frequencies increased through time in Siavonga. This report serves to document the presence of Ae. albopictus in Zambia, which will contribute to the process of determining the potential public health implications of this disease vector in Central Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Matute
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, 250 Bell Tower Drive, Genome Sciences Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27510
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812
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Zhao M, Ran X, Bai Y, Ma Z, Gao J, Xing D, Li C, Guo X, Jian X, Liu W, Liao Y, Chen K, Zhang H, Zhao T. Genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from cohabiting fields in Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula, China. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:319. [PMID: 37684698 PMCID: PMC10486073 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05936-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are important human arbovirus vectors that can spread arboviral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These two mosquito species coexist on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula in China. Over the past 40 years, the distribution of Ae. albopictus in these areas has gradually expanded, while Ae. aegypti has declined sharply. Monitoring their genetic diversity and diffusion could help to explain the genetic influence behind this phenomenon and became key to controlling the epidemic of arboviruses. METHODS To better understand the genetic diversity and differentiation of these two mosquitoes, the possible cohabiting areas on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula were searched between July and October 2021, and five populations were collected. Respectively nine and 11 microsatellite loci were used for population genetic analysis of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In addition, the mitochondrial coxI gene was also selected for analysis of both mosquito species. RESULTS The results showed that the mean diversity index (PIC and SI values) of Ae. albopictus (mean PIC = 0.754 and SI = 1.698) was higher than that of Ae. aegypti (mean PIC = 0.624 and SI = 1.264). The same results were also observed for the coxI gene: the genetic diversity of all populations of Ae. albopictus was higher than that of Ae. aegypti (total H = 45 and Hd = 0.89958 vs. total H = 23 and Hd = 0.76495, respectively). UPGMA dendrogram, DAPC and STRUCTURE analyses showed that Ae. aegypti populations were divided into three clusters and Ae. albopictus populations into two. The Mantel test indicated a significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance for the Ae. aegypti populations (R2 = 0.0611, P = 0.001), but the correlation was not significant for Ae. albopictus populations (R2 = 0.0011, P = 0.250). CONCLUSIONS The population genetic diversity of Ae. albopictus in Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula was higher than that of Ae. aegypti. In terms of future vector control, the most important and effective measure was to control the spread of Ae. albopictus and monitor the population genetic dynamics of Ae. aegypti on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula, which could theoretically support the further elimination of Ae. aegypti in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Jiangxi International Travel Healthcare Center, Nanchang, China
| | - Xin Ran
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Yu Bai
- Jiangxi International Travel Healthcare Center, Nanchang, China
| | - Zu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyi Jian
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Jiangxi International Travel Healthcare Center, Nanchang, China
| | - Yun Liao
- Jiangxi International Travel Healthcare Center, Nanchang, China
| | - Kan Chen
- Jiangxi International Travel Healthcare Center, Nanchang, China
| | - Hengduan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
| | - Tongyan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
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