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Mostoufi SL, Singh ND. Pathogen infection alters the gene expression landscape of transposable elements in Drosophila melanogaster. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae171. [PMID: 39129654 PMCID: PMC11373657 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements make up substantial proportions of eukaryotic genomes and many are thought to be remnants of ancient viral infections. Current research has begun to highlight the role transposable elements can play in the immune system response to infections. However, most of our knowledge about transposable element expression during infection is limited by the specific host and pathogen factors from each study, making it difficult to compare studies and develop broader patterns regarding the role of transposable elements during infection. Here, we use the tools and resources available in the model, Drosophila melanogaster, to analyze multiple gene expression datasets of flies subject to bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. We analyzed differences in pathogen species, host genotype, host tissue, and sex to understand how these factors impact transposable element expression during infection. Our results highlight both shared and unique transposable element expression patterns between pathogens and suggest a larger effect of pathogen factors over host factors for influencing transposable element expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina L Mostoufi
- Department of Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Nadia D Singh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
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2
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Mushtaq I, Sarwar MS, Munzoor I. A comprehensive review of Wolbachia-mediated mechanisms to control dengue virus transmission in Aedes aegypti through innate immune pathways. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1434003. [PMID: 39176079 PMCID: PMC11338905 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1434003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The Dengue virus (DENV), primarily spread by Aedes aegypti and also by Aedes albopictus in some regions, poses significant global health risks. Alternative techniques are urgently needed because the current control mechanisms are insufficient to reduce the transmission of DENV. Introducing Wolbachia pipientis into Ae. aegypti inhibits DENV transmission, however, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Innate immune effector upregulation, the regulation of autophagy, and intracellular competition between Wolbachia and DENV for lipids are among the theories for the mechanism of inhibition. Furthermore, mainly three immune pathways Toll, IMD, and JAK/STAT are involved in the host for the suppression of the virus. These pathways are activated by Wolbachia and DENV in the host and are responsible for the upregulation and downregulation of many genes in mosquitoes, which ultimately reduces the titer of the DENV in the host. The functioning of these immune pathways depends upon the Wolbachia, host, and virus interaction. Here, we summarize the current understanding of DENV recognition by the Ae. aegypti's immune system, aiming to create a comprehensive picture of our knowledge. Additionally, we investigated how Wolbachia regulates the activation of multiple genes associated with immune priming for the reduction of DENV.
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Henry LP, Fernandez M, Wolf S, Abhyankar V, Ayroles JF. Wolbachia impacts microbiome diversity and fitness-associated traits for Drosophila melanogaster in a seasonally fluctuating environment. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70004. [PMID: 39041013 PMCID: PMC11262851 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbiome contributes to many different host traits, but its role in host adaptation remains enigmatic. The fitness benefits of the microbiome often depend on ecological conditions, but theory suggests that fluctuations in both the microbiome and environment modulate these fitness benefits. Moreover, vertically transmitted bacteria might constrain the ability of both the microbiome and host to respond to changing environments. Drosophila melanogaster provides an excellent system to investigate the impacts of interactions between the microbiome and the environment. To address this question, we created field mesocosms of D. melanogaster undergoing seasonal environmental change with and without the vertically transmitted bacteria, Wolbachia pipientis. Sampling temporal patterns in the microbiome revealed that Wolbachia constrained microbial diversity. Furthermore, Wolbachia and a dominant member of the microbiome, Commensalibacter, were associated with differences in two higher-order fitness traits, starvation resistance and lifespan. Our work here suggests that the interplay between the abiotic context and microbe-microbe interactions may shape key host phenotypes that underlie adaptation to changing environments. We conclude by exploring the consequences of complex interactions between Wolbachia and the microbiome for our understanding of eco-evolutionary processes that shape host-microbiome interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas P. Henry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Michael Fernandez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Scott Wolf
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Varada Abhyankar
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Julien F. Ayroles
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
- Lewis‐Sigler Institute for Integrative GenomicsPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
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Lindsey AR, Tennessen JM, Gelaw MA, Jones MW, Parish AJ, Newton IL, Nemkov T, D'Alessandro A, Rai M, Stark N. The intracellular symbiont Wolbachia alters Drosophila development and metabolism to buffer against nutritional stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.01.20.524972. [PMID: 36711506 PMCID: PMC9882369 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The intracellular bacterium Wolbachia is a common symbiont of many arthropods and nematodes, well studied for its impacts on host reproductive biology. However, its broad success as a vertically transmitted infection cannot be attributed to manipulations of host reproduction alone. Using the Drosophila melanogaster model and their natively associated Wolbachia strain " w Mel", we show that Wolbachia infection supports fly development and buffers against nutritional stress. Wolbachia infection across several fly genotypes and a range of nutrient conditions resulted in reduced pupal mortality, increased adult emergence, and larger size. We determined that the exogenous supplementation of pyrimidines partially rescued developmental phenotypes in the Wolbachia -free flies, and that Wolbachia titers were responsive to reduced gene expression of the fly's de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway. In parallel, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that Wolbachia impacts larval biology far beyond pyrimidine metabolism. Wolbachia -infected larvae had strong signatures of shifts in glutathione and mitochondrial metabolism, plus significant changes in the expression of key developmental regulators including Notch , the insulin receptor ( lnR ), and the juvenile hormone receptor Methoprene-tolerant ( Met ). We propose that Wolbachia acts as a beneficial symbiont to support fly development and enhance host fitness, especially during periods of nutrient stress. SIGNIFICANCE Wolbachia is a bacterial symbiont of arthropods and nematodes, well described for its manipulations of arthropod reproduction. However, many have theorized there must be more to this symbiosis, even in well-studied Wolbachia- host relationships such as with Drosophila . Reproductive impacts alone cannot explain the success and ubiquity of this bacterium. Here, we use Drosophila melanogaster and their native Wolbachia infections to show that Wolbachia supports fly development and significantly buffers flies against nutritional stress. These developmental advantages might help explain the ubiquity of Wolbachia infections.
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Andreenkova OV, Adonyeva NV, Efimov VM, Gruntenko NE. Fertility differences between two wild-type Drosophila melanogaster lines correlate with differences in the expression of the Jheh1 gene, which codes for an enzyme degrading juvenile hormone. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2024; 28:185-189. [PMID: 38680182 PMCID: PMC11043515 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-24-22] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Juvenile hormone plays a "status quo" role in Drosophila melanogaster larvae, preventing the untimely metamorphosis, and performs a gonadotropic function in imagoes, ensuring the ovaries' preparedness for vitellogenesis. The decreased level of juvenile hormone results in reproductive disorders in D. melanogaster females including a delay in the oviposition onset and a fertility decrease. Another factor that can affect the insect reproduction is an infection with the maternally inherited symbiotic α-proteobacterium Wolbachia. The present study is devoted to the analysis of the expression of two juvenile hormone metabolism genes encoding enzymes of its synthesis and degradation, juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase ( jhamt) and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrase (Jheh1), respectively, in four wild-type D. melanogaster lines, two of them being infected with Wolbachia. Lines w153 and Bi90 were both derived from an individual wild-caught females infected with Wolbachia, while lines w153T and Bi90T were derived from them by tetracycline treatment and are free of infection. Line Bi90 is known to be infected with the Wolbachia strain wMel, and line w153, with the Wolbachia strain wMelPlus belonging to the wMelCS genotype. It was found that infection with either Wolbachia strain does not affect the expression of the studied genes. At the same time, it was shown that the w153 and w153T lines differ from the Bi90 and Bi90T lines by an increased level of the Jheh1 gene expression and do not differ in the jhamt gene expression level. Analysis of the fertility of these four lines showed that it does not depend on Wolbachia infection either, but differs between lines with different nuclear genotypes: in w153 and w153T, it is significantly lower than in lines Bi90 and Bi90T. The data obtained allow us to reasonably propose that the inter-line D. melanogaster polymorphism in the metabolism of the juvenile hormone is determined by its degradation (not by its synthesis) and correlates with the fertility level.
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Affiliation(s)
- O V Andreenkova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - N V Adonyeva
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - V M Efimov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - N E Gruntenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Loterio RK, Monson EA, Templin R, de Bruyne JT, Flores HA, Mackenzie JM, Ramm G, Helbig KJ, Simmons CP, Fraser JE. Antiviral Wolbachia strains associate with Aedes aegypti endoplasmic reticulum membranes and induce lipid droplet formation to restrict dengue virus replication. mBio 2024; 15:e0249523. [PMID: 38132636 PMCID: PMC10865983 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02495-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are a genus of insect endosymbiotic bacteria which includes strains wMel and wAlbB that are being utilized as a biocontrol tool to reduce the incidence of Aedes aegypti-transmitted viral diseases like dengue. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning the antiviral activity of these Wolbachia strains are not well defined. Here, we generated a panel of Ae. aegypti-derived cell lines infected with antiviral strains wMel and wAlbB or the non-antiviral Wolbachia strain wPip to understand host cell morphological changes specifically induced by antiviral strains. Antiviral strains were frequently found to be entirely wrapped by the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, while wPip bacteria clustered separately in the host cell cytoplasm. ER-derived lipid droplets (LDs) increased in volume in wMel- and wAlbB-infected cell lines and mosquito tissues compared to cells infected with wPip or Wolbachia-free controls. Inhibition of fatty acid synthase (required for triacylglycerol biosynthesis) reduced LD formation and significantly restored ER-associated dengue virus replication in cells occupied by wMel. Together, this suggests that antiviral Wolbachia strains may specifically alter the lipid composition of the ER to preclude the establishment of dengue virus (DENV) replication complexes. Defining Wolbachia's antiviral mechanisms will support the application and longevity of this effective biocontrol tool that is already being used at scale.IMPORTANCEAedes aegypti transmits a range of important human pathogenic viruses like dengue. However, infection of Ae. aegypti with the insect endosymbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, reduces the risk of mosquito to human viral transmission. Wolbachia is being utilized at field sites across more than 13 countries to reduce the incidence of viruses like dengue, but it is not well understood how Wolbachia induces its antiviral effects. To examine this at the subcellular level, we compared how different strains of Wolbachia with varying antiviral strengths associate with and modify host cell structures. Strongly antiviral strains were found to specifically associate with the host endoplasmic reticulum and induce striking impacts on host cell lipid droplets. Inhibiting Wolbachia-induced lipid redistribution partially restored dengue virus replication demonstrating this is a contributing role for Wolbachia's antiviral activity. These findings provide new insights into how antiviral Wolbachia strains associate with and modify Ae. aegypti host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robson K. Loterio
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Ebony A. Monson
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology; School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rachel Templin
- Ramaciotti Centre For Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Heather A. Flores
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Jason M. Mackenzie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Georg Ramm
- Ramaciotti Centre For Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Karla J. Helbig
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology; School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cameron P. Simmons
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Johanna E. Fraser
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Sun H, Wang T, Liu S, Tang X, Sun J, Liu X, Zhao Y, Shen P, Zhang Y. Novel insights into the rhizosphere and seawater microbiome of Zostera marina in diverse mariculture zones. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:27. [PMID: 38350953 PMCID: PMC10865565 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01759-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seagrasses offer various ecosystem services and possess high levels of primary productivity. However, the development of mariculture has affected the homeostasis of seagrass meadow ecosystems. Plant-microbiome associations are essential for seagrasses health, but little is known about the role of environmental microbiomes and how they affect seagrass in a mariculture environment. In this study, we investigated the influence of mariculture on the rhizosphere and seawater microbiome surrounding Zostera marina and focused on the bacterial, eukaryotic, and fungal components in the composition, diversity, metabolism, and responses to mariculture-related environmental factors. RESULTS Significant differences in the composition, richness, diversity, and internal relations of the bacterial community between the seawater and rhizosphere sediment surrounding Z. marina were observed, while differences in the eukaryotic and fungal communities were less significant. More complex bacterial and fungal co-occurrence networks were found in the seawater and rhizosphere sediment of the Saccharina japonica (SJ) and sea cucumber (SC) culture zones. The seawater in the SJ zone had higher levels of dissimilatory and assimilatory nitrate reduction, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation processes than the other three zones. The assimilatory sulfate reduction enzymes were higher in the rhizosphere sediments of the SJ zone than in the other three zones. Tetracycline, sulfonamide, and diaminopyrimidine resistance genes were enriched in the mariculture SJ and SC zones. CONCLUSIONS Our findings might contribute to a better understanding of the effects of mariculture on the seagrass and the meadow ecosystems and thus revealing their potential operating mechanisms. These insights may serve to raise awareness of the effects of human activities on natural ecosystems, regulation of antibiotic usage, and environmental restoration. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Sun
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Xuerui Liu
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Pingping Shen
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Yanying Zhang
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China.
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Watson KJ, Bromley RE, Sparklin BC, Gasser MT, Bhattacharya T, Lebov JF, Tyson T, Dai N, Teigen LE, Graf KT, Foster JM, Michalski M, Bruno VM, Lindsey AR, Corrêa IR, Hardy RW, Newton IL, Dunning Hotopp JC. Common analysis of direct RNA sequencinG CUrrently leads to misidentification of m 5C at GCU motifs. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302201. [PMID: 38030223 PMCID: PMC10687253 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302201] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA modifications, such as methylation, can be detected with Oxford Nanopore Technologies direct RNA sequencing. One commonly used tool for detecting 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modifications is Tombo, which uses an "Alternative Model" to detect putative modifications from a single sample. We examined direct RNA sequencing data from diverse taxa including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and animals. The algorithm consistently identified a m5C at the central position of a GCU motif. However, it also identified a m5C in the same motif in fully unmodified in vitro transcribed RNA, suggesting that this is a frequent false prediction. In the absence of further validation, several published predictions of m5C in a GCU context should be reconsidered, including those from human coronavirus and human cerebral organoid samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylee J Watson
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robin E Bromley
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin C Sparklin
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark T Gasser
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tamanash Bhattacharya
- https://ror.org/01kg8sb98 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Jarrett F Lebov
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tyonna Tyson
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nan Dai
- https://ror.org/04ywg3445 New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Laura E Teigen
- https://ror.org/05w22af52 Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI, USA
| | - Karen T Graf
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeremy M Foster
- https://ror.org/04ywg3445 New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Michelle Michalski
- https://ror.org/05w22af52 Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI, USA
| | - Vincent M Bruno
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amelia Ri Lindsey
- https://ror.org/01kg8sb98 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ivan R Corrêa
- https://ror.org/04ywg3445 New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Richard W Hardy
- https://ror.org/01kg8sb98 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Irene Lg Newton
- https://ror.org/01kg8sb98 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Julie C Dunning Hotopp
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- https://ror.org/04rq5mt64 Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Rainey SM, Lefteri DA, Darby C, Kohl A, Merits A, Sinkins SP. Evidence of Differences in Cellular Regulation of Wolbachia-Mediated Viral Inhibition between Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses. Viruses 2024; 16:115. [PMID: 38257815 PMCID: PMC10818798 DOI: 10.3390/v16010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The intracellular bacterium Wolbachia is increasingly being utilised in control programs to limit the spread of arboviruses by Aedes mosquitoes. Achieving a better understanding of how Wolbachia strains can reduce viral replication/spread could be important for the long-term success of such programs. Previous studies have indicated that for some strains of Wolbachia, perturbations in lipid metabolism and cholesterol storage are vital in Wolbachia-mediated antiviral activity against the flaviviruses dengue and Zika; however, it has not yet been examined whether arboviruses in the alphavirus group are affected in the same way. Here, using the reporters for the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) in Aedes albopictus cells, we found that Wolbachia strains wMel, wAu and wAlbB blocked viral replication/translation early in infection and that storage of cholesterol in lipid droplets is not key to this inhibition. Another alphavirus, o'nyong nyong virus (ONNV), was tested in both Aedes albopictus cells and in vivo in stable, transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquito lines. The strains wMel, wAu and wAlbB show strong antiviral activity against ONNV both in vitro and in vivo. Again, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2HPCD) was not able to rescue ONNV replication in cell lines, suggesting that the release of stored cholesterol caused by wMel is not able to rescue blockage of ONNV. Taken together, this study shows that alphaviruses appear to be inhibited early in replication/translation and that there may be differences in how alphaviruses are inhibited by Wolbachia in comparison to flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Rainey
- MRC-University of Glasgow-Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, University of Glasogw, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (D.A.L.); (A.K.)
| | - Daniella A. Lefteri
- MRC-University of Glasgow-Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, University of Glasogw, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (D.A.L.); (A.K.)
| | - Christie Darby
- MRC-University of Glasgow-Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, University of Glasogw, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (D.A.L.); (A.K.)
| | - Alain Kohl
- MRC-University of Glasgow-Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, University of Glasogw, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (D.A.L.); (A.K.)
- Departments of Tropical Disease Biology and Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andres Merits
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow-Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, University of Glasogw, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (D.A.L.); (A.K.)
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10
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Gruntenko NE, Deryuzhenko MA, Andreenkova OV, Shishkina OD, Bobrovskikh MA, Shatskaya NV, Vasiliev GV. Drosophila melanogaster Transcriptome Response to Different Wolbachia Strains. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17411. [PMID: 38139239 PMCID: PMC10743526 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is a maternally inherited, intercellular bacterial symbiont of insects and some other invertebrates. Here, we investigated the effect of two different Wolbachia strains, differing in a large chromosomal inversion, on the differential expression of genes in D. melanogaster females. We revealed significant changes in the transcriptome of the infected flies compared to the uninfected ones, as well as in the transcriptome of flies infected with the Wolbachia strain, wMelPlus, compared to flies infected with the wMelCS112 strain. We linked differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from two pairwise comparisons, "uninfected-wMelPlus-infected" and "uninfected-wMelCS112-infected", into two gene networks, in which the following functional groups were designated: "Proteolysis", "Carbohydrate transport and metabolism", "Oxidation-reduction process", "Embryogenesis", "Transmembrane transport", "Response to stress" and "Alkaline phosphatases". Our data emphasized similarities and differences between infections by different strains under study: a wMelPlus infection results in more than double the number of upregulated DEGs and half the number of downregulated DEGs compared to a wMelCS112 infection. Thus, we demonstrated that Wolbachia made a significant contribution to differential expression of host genes and that the bacterial genotype plays a vital role in establishing the character of this contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly E. Gruntenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (M.A.D.); (O.V.A.); (O.D.S.); (M.A.B.); (N.V.S.); (G.V.V.)
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11
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Adonyeva NV, Efimov VM, Gruntenko NE. The Effect of Genotype Combinations of Wolbachia and Its Drosophila melanogaster Host on Fertility, Developmental Rate and Heat Stress Resistance of Flies. INSECTS 2023; 14:928. [PMID: 38132601 PMCID: PMC10743879 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The best-known effect of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia is its mostly negative influence on the reproduction of the host. However, there is evidence of a positive influence of Wolbachia on the host's resistance to stress, pathogens, and viruses. Here, we analyzed the effects of two Wolbachia strains belonging to wMel and wMelCS genotypes on D. melanogaster traits, such as fertility, survival under acute heat stress, and developmental rate. We found that D. melanogaster lines under study differ significantly in the above-mentioned characteristics, both when the natural infection was preserved, and when it was eliminated. One of Wolbachia strains, wMel, did not affect any of the studied traits. Another strain, wMelPlus, had a significant effect on the development time. Moreover, this effect is observed not only in the line in which it was discovered but also in the one it was transferred to. When transferred to a new line, wMelPlus also caused changes in survival under heat stress. Thus, it could be concluded that Wolbachia-Drosophila interaction depends on the genotypes of both the host and the symbiont, but some Wolbachia effects could depend not on the genotypes, but on the fact of recent transfer of the symbiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya V. Adonyeva
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (N.V.A.); (V.M.E.)
| | - Vadim M. Efimov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (N.V.A.); (V.M.E.)
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nataly E. Gruntenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (N.V.A.); (V.M.E.)
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12
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Abstract
Wolbachia are successful Gram-negative bacterial endosymbionts, globally infecting a large fraction of arthropod species and filarial nematodes. Efficient vertical transmission, the capacity for horizontal transmission, manipulation of host reproduction and enhancement of host fitness can promote the spread both within and between species. Wolbachia are abundant and can occupy extraordinary diverse and evolutionary distant host species, suggesting that they have evolved to engage and manipulate highly conserved core cellular processes. Here, we review recent studies identifying Wolbachia-host interactions at the molecular and cellular levels. We explore how Wolbachia interact with a wide array of host cytoplasmic and nuclear components in order to thrive in a diversity of cell types and cellular environments. This endosymbiont has also evolved the ability to precisely target and manipulate specific phases of the host cell cycle. The remarkable diversity of cellular interactions distinguishes Wolbachia from other endosymbionts and is largely responsible for facilitating its global propagation through host populations. Finally, we describe how insights into Wolbachia-host cellular interactions have led to promising applications in controlling insect-borne and filarial nematode-based diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Porter
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - William Sullivan
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
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13
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Frantz SI, Small CM, Cresko WA, Singh ND. Ovarian transcriptional response to Wolbachia infection in D. melanogaster in the context of between-genotype variation in gene expression. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad047. [PMID: 36857313 PMCID: PMC10151400 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that infects a wide variety of arthropod and nematode hosts. The effects of Wolbachia on host biology are far-reaching and include changes in host gene expression. However, previous work on the host transcriptional response has generally been investigated in the context of a single host genotype. Thus, the relative effect of Wolbachia infection versus vs. host genotype on gene expression is unknown. Here, we explicitly test the relative roles of Wolbachia infection and host genotype on host gene expression by comparing the ovarian transcriptomes of 4 strains of Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) infected and uninfected with Wolbachia. Our data suggest that infection explains a small amount of transcriptional variation, particularly in comparison to variation in gene expression among strains. However, infection specifically affects genes related to cell cycle, translation, and metabolism. We also find enrichment of cell division and recombination processes among genes with infection-associated differential expression. Broadly, the transcriptomic changes identified in this study provide novel understanding of the relative magnitude of the effect of Wolbachia infection on gene expression in the context of host genetic variation and also point to genes that are consistently differentially expressed in response to infection among multiple genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia I Frantz
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
| | - Clayton M Small
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
| | - William A Cresko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
| | - Nadia D Singh
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403USA
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14
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Wu X, Bhatia N, Grozinger CM, Yi SV. Comparative studies of genomic and epigenetic factors influencing transcriptional variation in two insect species. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6693626. [PMID: 36137211 PMCID: PMC9635643 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Different genes show different levels of expression variability. For example, highly expressed genes tend to exhibit less expression variability. Genes whose promoters have TATA box and initiator motifs tend to have increased expression variability. On the other hand, DNA methylation of transcriptional units, or gene body DNA methylation, is associated with reduced gene expression variability in many species. Interestingly, some insect lineages, most notably Diptera including the canonical model insect Drosophila melanogaster, have lost DNA methylation. Therefore, it is of interest to determine whether genomic features similarly influence gene expression variability in lineages with and without DNA methylation. We analyzed recently generated large-scale data sets in D. melanogaster and honey bee (Apis mellifera) to investigate these questions. Our analysis shows that increased gene expression levels are consistently associated with reduced expression variability in both species, while the presence of TATA box is consistently associated with increased gene expression variability. In contrast, initiator motifs and gene lengths have weak effects limited to some data sets. Importantly, we show that a sequence characteristics indicative of gene body DNA methylation is strongly and negatively associate with gene expression variability in honey bees, while it shows no such association in D. melanogaster. These results suggest the evolutionary loss of DNA methylation in some insect lineages has reshaped the molecular mechanisms concerning the regulation of gene expression variability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neharika Bhatia
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University , University Park, PA 16801, USA
| | - Soojin V Yi
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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15
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Differential viral RNA methylation contributes to pathogen blocking in Wolbachia-colonized arthropods. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010393. [PMID: 35294495 PMCID: PMC8959158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis is part of a global biocontrol strategy to reduce the replication of mosquito-borne RNA viruses such as alphaviruses. We previously demonstrated the importance of a host cytosine methyltransferase, DNMT2, in Drosophila and viral RNA as a cellular target during pathogen-blocking. Here we report a role for DNMT2 in Wolbachia-induced alphavirus inhibition in Aedes species. Expression of DNMT2 in mosquito tissues, including the salivary glands, is elevated upon virus infection. Notably, this is suppressed in Wolbachia-colonized animals, coincident with reduced virus replication and decreased infectivity of progeny virus. Ectopic expression of DNMT2 in cultured Aedes cells is proviral, increasing progeny virus infectivity, and this effect of DNMT2 on virus replication and infectivity is dependent on its methyltransferase activity. Finally, examining the effects of Wolbachia on modifications of viral RNA by LC-MS show a decrease in the amount of 5-methylcytosine modification consistent with the down-regulation of DNMT2 in Wolbachia colonized mosquito cells and animals. Collectively, our findings support the conclusion that disruption of 5-methylcytosine modification of viral RNA is a vital mechanism operative in pathogen blocking. These data also emphasize the essential role of epitranscriptomic modifications in regulating fundamental alphavirus replication and transmission processes.
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16
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Moretti R, Lampazzi E, Damiani C, Fabbri G, Lombardi G, Pioli C, Desiderio A, Serrao A, Calvitti M. Increased biting rate and decreased Wolbachia density in irradiated Aedes mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:67. [PMID: 35209944 PMCID: PMC8867665 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05188-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Releasing considerable numbers of radiation-sterilized males is a promising strategy to suppress mosquito vectors. However, releases may also include small percentages of biting females, which translate to non-negligible numbers when releases are large. Currently, the effects of irradiation on host-seeking and host-biting behaviors have not been exhaustively investigated. Information is also lacking regarding the effects of sterilizing treatment on the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, which is known to affect the vector competence of infected mosquitos. Methods To ascertain the effects of irradiation on females, the pupae of two Aedes albopictus strains, differing in their natural or artificial Wolbachia infection type, and Aedes aegypti—which is not infected by Wolbachia—were treated with various doses of X-rays and monitored for key fitness parameters and biting behavior over a period of 2 weeks. The effect of radiation on Wolbachia was investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Results Partial Aedes albopictus female sterility was achieved at 28 Gy, but the number of weekly bites more than doubled compared to that of the controls. Radiation doses of 35 and 45 Gy completely inhibited progeny production but did not significantly affect the survival or flight ability of Ae. albopictus females and caused a tripling of the number of bites per female per week (compared to untreated controls). These results were also confirmed in Ae. aegypti after treatment at 50 Gy. Wolbachia density decreased significantly in 45-Gy-irradiated females, with the greatest decreases in the early irradiation group (26 ± 2-h-old pupae). Wolbachia density also decreased as adults aged. This trend was confirmed in ovaries but not in extra-ovarian tissues. FISH analysis showed a strongly reduced Wolbachia-specific fluorescence in the ovaries of 13 ± 1-day-old females. Conclusions These results suggest that, under sterile insect technique (SIT) programs, the vector capacity of a target population could increase with the frequency of the irradiated females co-released with the sterile males due to an increased biting rate. In the context of successful suppression, the related safety issues are expected to be generally negligible, but they should be conservatively evaluated when large-scale programs relying on imperfect sexing and high overflooding release ratios are run for long periods in areas endemic for arboviral diseases. Also, the effects of irradiation on the vector competence deserve further investigation. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05188-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Moretti
- Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy.
| | - Elena Lampazzi
- Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Damiani
- School of Biosciences and Medical Veterinary, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy.,Biovecblok S.r.L, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Giulia Fabbri
- Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy.,School of Biosciences and Medical Veterinary, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Giulia Lombardi
- Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy.,School of Biosciences and Medical Veterinary, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Claudio Pioli
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Angiola Desiderio
- Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelio Serrao
- School of Biosciences and Medical Veterinary, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy.,Biovecblok S.r.L, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Maurizio Calvitti
- Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
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17
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Male Age and Wolbachia Dynamics: Investigating How Fast and Why Bacterial Densities and Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Strengths Vary. mBio 2021; 12:e0299821. [PMID: 34903056 PMCID: PMC8686834 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02998-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Endosymbionts can influence host reproduction and fitness to favor their maternal transmission. For example, endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria often cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that kills uninfected embryos fertilized by Wolbachia-modified sperm. Infected females can rescue CI, providing them a relative fitness advantage. Wolbachia-induced CI strength varies widely and tends to decrease as host males age. Since strong CI drives Wolbachia to high equilibrium frequencies, understanding how fast and why CI strength declines with male age is crucial to explaining age-dependent CI’s influence on Wolbachia prevalence. Here, we investigate if Wolbachia densities and/or CI gene (cif) expression covary with CI-strength variation and explore covariates of age-dependent Wolbachia-density variation in two classic CI systems. wRi CI strength decreases slowly with Drosophila simulans male age (6%/day), but wMel CI strength decreases very rapidly (19%/day), yielding statistically insignificant CI after only 3 days of Drosophila melanogaster adult emergence. Wolbachia densities and cif expression in testes decrease as wRi-infected males age, but both surprisingly increase as wMel-infected males age, and CI strength declines. We then tested if phage lysis, Octomom copy number (which impacts wMel density), or host immune expression covary with age-dependent wMel densities. Only host immune expression correlated with density. Together, our results identify how fast CI strength declines with male age in two model systems and reveal unique relationships between male age, Wolbachia densities, cif expression, and host immunity. We discuss new hypotheses about the basis of age-dependent CI strength and its contributions to Wolbachia prevalence.
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18
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Bhattacharya T, Rice DW, Crawford JM, Hardy RW, Newton ILG. Evidence of Adaptive Evolution in Wolbachia-Regulated Gene DNMT2 and Its Role in the Dipteran Immune Response and Pathogen Blocking. Viruses 2021; 13:1464. [PMID: 34452330 PMCID: PMC8402854 DOI: 10.3390/v13081464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic nucleic acid methyltransferase (MTase) proteins are essential mediators of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation. DNMT2 belongs to a large, conserved family of DNA MTases found in many organisms, including holometabolous insects such as fruit flies and mosquitoes, where it is the lone MTase. Interestingly, despite its nomenclature, DNMT2 is not a DNA MTase, but instead targets and methylates RNA species. A growing body of literature suggests that DNMT2 mediates the host immune response against a wide range of pathogens, including RNA viruses. Curiously, although DNMT2 is antiviral in Drosophila, its expression promotes virus replication in mosquito species. We, therefore, sought to understand the divergent regulation, function, and evolution of these orthologs. We describe the role of the Drosophila-specific host protein IPOD in regulating the expression and function of fruit fly DNMT2. Heterologous expression of these orthologs suggests that DNMT2's role as an antiviral is host-dependent, indicating a requirement for additional host-specific factors. Finally, we identify and describe potential evidence of positive selection at different times throughout DNMT2 evolution within dipteran insects. We identify specific codons within each ortholog that are under positive selection and find that they are restricted to four distinct protein domains, which likely influence substrate binding, target recognition, and adaptation of unique intermolecular interactions. Collectively, our findings highlight the evolution of DNMT2 in Dipteran insects and point to structural, regulatory, and functional differences between mosquito and fruit fly homologs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamanash Bhattacharya
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (T.B.); (D.W.R.); (J.M.C.)
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Danny W. Rice
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (T.B.); (D.W.R.); (J.M.C.)
| | - John M. Crawford
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (T.B.); (D.W.R.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Richard W. Hardy
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (T.B.); (D.W.R.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Irene L. G. Newton
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (T.B.); (D.W.R.); (J.M.C.)
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19
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Leitner M, Bishop C, Asgari S. Transcriptional Response of Wolbachia to Dengue Virus Infection in Cells of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti. mSphere 2021; 6:e0043321. [PMID: 34190587 PMCID: PMC8265661 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00433-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti transmits one of the most significant mosquito-borne viruses, dengue virus (DENV). The absence of effective vaccines and clinical treatments and the emergence of insecticide resistance in A. aegypti necessitate novel vector control strategies. A new approach uses the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis to reduce the spread of arboviruses. However, the Wolbachia-mediated antiviral mechanism is not well understood. To shed light on this mechanism, we investigated an unexplored aspect of Wolbachia-virus-mosquito interaction. We used RNA sequencing to examine the transcriptional response of Wolbachia to DENV infection in A. aegypti Aag2 cells transinfected with the wAlbB strain of Wolbachia. Our results suggest that genes encoding an endoribonuclease (RNase HI), a regulator of sigma 70-dependent gene transcription (6S RNA), essential cellular, transmembrane, and stress response functions and primary type I and IV secretion systems were upregulated, while a number of transport and binding proteins of Wolbachia, ribosome structure, and elongation factor-associated genes were downregulated due to DENV infection. Furthermore, bacterial retrotransposon, transposable, and phage-related elements were found among the up- and downregulated genes. We show that Wolbachia elicits a transcriptional response to virus infection and identify differentially expressed Wolbachia genes mostly at the early stages of virus infection. These findings highlight Wolbachia's ability to alter its gene expression in response to DENV infection of the host cell. IMPORTANCE Aedes aegypti is a vector of several pathogenic viruses, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses, which are of importance to human health. Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium currently used in transinfected mosquitoes to suppress replication and transmission of dengue viruses. However, the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated virus inhibition is not fully understood. While several studies have shown mosquitoes' transcriptional responses to dengue virus infection, none have investigated these responses in Wolbachia, which may provide clues to the inhibition mechanism. Our results suggest changes in the expression of a number of functionally important Wolbachia genes upon dengue virus infection, including those involved in stress responses, providing insights into the endosymbiont's reaction to virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Leitner
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cameron Bishop
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sassan Asgari
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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20
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Reyes JIL, Suzuki Y, Carvajal T, Muñoz MNM, Watanabe K. Intracellular Interactions Between Arboviruses and Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:690087. [PMID: 34249780 PMCID: PMC8261290 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.690087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is inherently susceptible to arboviruses. The geographical expansion of this vector host species has led to the persistence of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya human infections. These viruses take advantage of the mosquito’s cell to create an environment conducive for their growth. Arboviral infection triggers transcriptomic and protein dysregulation in Ae. aegypti and in effect, host antiviral mechanisms are compromised. Currently, there are no existing vaccines able to protect human hosts from these infections and thus, vector control strategies such as Wolbachia mass release program is regarded as a viable option. Considerable evidence demonstrates how the presence of Wolbachia interferes with arboviruses by decreasing host cytoskeletal proteins and lipids essential for arboviral infection. Also, Wolbachia strengthens host immunity, cellular regeneration and causes the expression of microRNAs which could potentially be involved in virus inhibition. However, variation in the magnitude of Wolbachia’s pathogen blocking effect that is not due to the endosymbiont’s density has been recently reported. Furthermore, the cellular mechanisms involved in this phenotype differs depending on Wolbachia strain and host species. This prompts the need to explore the cellular interactions between Ae. aegypti-arboviruses-Wolbachia and how different Wolbachia strains overall affect the mosquito’s cell. Understanding what happens at the cellular and molecular level will provide evidence on the sustainability of Wolbachia vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerica Isabel L Reyes
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.,Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Yasutsugu Suzuki
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Thaddeus Carvajal
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.,Biological Control Research Unit, Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research (CENSER), De La Salle University, Metro Manila, Philippines
| | - Maria Nilda M Muñoz
- Biological Control Research Unit, Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research (CENSER), De La Salle University, Metro Manila, Philippines.,Research and Development Extension, Cagayan State University, Tuguegarao City, Philippines
| | - Kozo Watanabe
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.,Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.,Biological Control Research Unit, Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research (CENSER), De La Salle University, Metro Manila, Philippines
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21
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Kaur R, Shropshire JD, Cross KL, Leigh B, Mansueto AJ, Stewart V, Bordenstein SR, Bordenstein SR. Living in the endosymbiotic world of Wolbachia: A centennial review. Cell Host Microbe 2021. [PMID: 33945798 DOI: 10.20944/preprints202103.0338.v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The most widespread intracellular bacteria in the animal kingdom are maternally inherited endosymbionts of the genus Wolbachia. Their prevalence in arthropods and nematodes worldwide and stunning arsenal of parasitic and mutualistic adaptations make these bacteria a biological archetype for basic studies of symbiosis and applied outcomes for curbing human and agricultural diseases. Here, we conduct a summative, centennial analysis of living in the Wolbachia world. We synthesize literature on Wolbachia's host range, phylogenetic diversity, genomics, cell biology, and applications to filarial, arboviral, and agricultural diseases. We also review the mobilome of Wolbachia including phage WO and its essentiality to hallmark reproductive phenotypes in arthropods. Finally, the Wolbachia system is an exemplar for discovery-based science education using biodiversity, biotechnology, and bioinformatics lessons. As we approach a century of Wolbachia research, the interdisciplinary science of this symbiosis stands as a model for consolidating and teaching the integrative rules of endosymbiotic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - J Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Karissa L Cross
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Brittany Leigh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Alexander J Mansueto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Victoria Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Sarah R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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22
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Kaur R, Shropshire JD, Cross KL, Leigh B, Mansueto AJ, Stewart V, Bordenstein SR, Bordenstein SR. Living in the endosymbiotic world of Wolbachia: A centennial review. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:879-893. [PMID: 33945798 PMCID: PMC8192442 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The most widespread intracellular bacteria in the animal kingdom are maternally inherited endosymbionts of the genus Wolbachia. Their prevalence in arthropods and nematodes worldwide and stunning arsenal of parasitic and mutualistic adaptations make these bacteria a biological archetype for basic studies of symbiosis and applied outcomes for curbing human and agricultural diseases. Here, we conduct a summative, centennial analysis of living in the Wolbachia world. We synthesize literature on Wolbachia's host range, phylogenetic diversity, genomics, cell biology, and applications to filarial, arboviral, and agricultural diseases. We also review the mobilome of Wolbachia including phage WO and its essentiality to hallmark reproductive phenotypes in arthropods. Finally, the Wolbachia system is an exemplar for discovery-based science education using biodiversity, biotechnology, and bioinformatics lessons. As we approach a century of Wolbachia research, the interdisciplinary science of this symbiosis stands as a model for consolidating and teaching the integrative rules of endosymbiotic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - J Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Karissa L Cross
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Brittany Leigh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Alexander J Mansueto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Victoria Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Sarah R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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Pimentel AC, Cesar CS, Martins M, Cogni R. The Antiviral Effects of the Symbiont Bacteria Wolbachia in Insects. Front Immunol 2021; 11:626329. [PMID: 33584729 PMCID: PMC7878553 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.626329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted bacterium that lives inside arthropod cells. Historically, it was viewed primarily as a parasite that manipulates host reproduction, but more recently it was discovered that Wolbachia can also protect Drosophila species against infection by RNA viruses. Combined with Wolbachia's ability to invade insect populations due to reproductive manipulations, this provides a way to modify mosquito populations to prevent them transmitting viruses like dengue. In this review, we discuss the main advances in the field since Wolbachia's antiviral effect was discovered 12 years ago, identifying current research gaps and potential future developments. We discuss that the antiviral effect works against a broad range of RNA viruses and depends on the Wolbachia lineage. We describe what is known about the mechanisms behind viral protection, and that recent studies suggest two possible mechanisms: activation of host immunity or competition with virus for cellular resources. We also discuss how association with Wolbachia may influence the evolution of virus defense on the insect host genome. Finally, we investigate whether the antiviral effect occurs in wild insect populations and its ecological relevance as a major antiviral component in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Cogni
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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