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Simmons CP, Donald W, Tagavi L, Tarivonda L, Quai T, Tavoa R, Noran T, Manikaoti E, Kareaua L, Abwai TT, Chand D, Rama V, Deo V, Deo KK, Tavuii A, Valentine W, Prasad R, Seru E, Naituku L, Ratu A, Hesketh M, Kenny N, Beebe SC, Goundar AA, McCaw A, Buntine M, Green B, Frossard T, Gilles JRL, Joubert DA, Wilson G, Duong LQ, Bouvier JB, Stanford D, Forder C, Duyvestyn JM, Pacidônio EC, Flores HA, Wittmeier N, Retzki K, Ryan PA, Denton JA, Smithyman R, Tanamas SK, Kyrylos P, Dong Y, Khalid A, Hodgson L, Anders KL, O’Neill SL. Successful introgression of wMel Wolbachia into Aedes aegypti populations in Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012022. [PMID: 38484041 PMCID: PMC10980184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Pacific Island countries have experienced periodic dengue, chikungunya and Zika outbreaks for decades. The prevention and control of these mosquito-borne diseases rely heavily on control of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which in most settings are the primary vector. Introgression of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis (wMel strain) into Ae. aegypti populations reduces their vector competence and consequently lowers dengue incidence in the human population. Here we describe successful area-wide deployments of wMel-infected Ae. aegypti in Suva, Lautoka, Nadi (Fiji), Port Vila (Vanuatu) and South Tarawa (Kiribati). With community support, weekly releases of wMel-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes for between 2 to 5 months resulted in wMel introgression in nearly all locations. Long term monitoring confirmed a high, self-sustaining prevalence of wMel infecting mosquitoes in almost all deployment areas. Measurement of public health outcomes were disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic but are expected to emerge in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wesley Donald
- Ministry of Health, Government of Vanuatu, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Lekon Tagavi
- Ministry of Health, Government of Vanuatu, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Len Tarivonda
- Ministry of Health, Government of Vanuatu, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | | | | | - Tebikau Noran
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Kiribati Government, Kiribati
| | - Erirau Manikaoti
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Kiribati Government, Kiribati
| | - Lavinia Kareaua
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Kiribati Government, Kiribati
| | | | - Dip Chand
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Government of Fiji, Suva, Fiji
| | - Vineshwaran Rama
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Government of Fiji, Suva, Fiji
| | - Vimal Deo
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Government of Fiji, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Aminiasi Tavuii
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Anaseini Ratu
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Mark Hesketh
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Nichola Kenny
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Sarah C. Beebe
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Andrew McCaw
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Molly Buntine
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Ben Green
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Tibor Frossard
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | | | - Geoff Wilson
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Le Quyen Duong
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Jean B Bouvier
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Darren Stanford
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Carolyn Forder
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Kate Retzki
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Peter A. Ryan
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Jai A. Denton
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Ruth Smithyman
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Peter Kyrylos
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Yi Dong
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Anam Khalid
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Lauren Hodgson
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Velez ID, Uribe A, Barajas J, Uribe S, Ángel S, Suaza-Vasco JD, Mejia Torres MC, Arbeláez MP, Santacruz-Sanmartin E, Duque L, Martínez L, Posada T, Patiño AC, Gonzalez SM, Velez AL, Ramírez J, Salazar M, Gómez S, Osorio JE, Iturbe-Ormaetxe I, Dong Y, Muzzi FC, Rances E, Johnson PH, Smithyman R, Col B, Green BR, Frossard T, Brown-Kenyon J, Joubert DA, Grisales N, Ritchie SA, Denton JA, Gilles JRL, Anders KL, Kutcher SC, Ryan PA, O’Neill SL. Large-scale releases and establishment of wMel Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes throughout the Cities of Bello, Medellín and Itagüí, Colombia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011642. [PMID: 38032856 PMCID: PMC10688688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The wMel strain of Wolbachia has been successfully introduced into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and has been shown to reduce the transmission of dengue and other Aedes-borne viruses. Here we report the entomological results from phased, large-scale releases of Wolbachia infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes throughout three contiguous cities located in the Aburrá Valley, Colombia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Local wMel Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were generated and then released in an initial release pilot area in 2015-2016, which resulted in the establishment of Wolbachia in the local mosquito populations. Subsequent large-scale releases, mainly involving vehicle-based releases of adult mosquitoes along publicly accessible roads and streets, were undertaken across 29 comunas throughout Bello, Medellín and Itagüí Colombia between 2017-2022. In 9 comunas these were supplemented by egg releases that were undertaken by staff or community members. By the most recent monitoring, Wolbachia was found to be stable and established at consistent levels in local mosquito populations (>60% prevalence) in the majority (67%) of areas. CONCLUSION These results, from the largest contiguous releases of wMel Wolbachia mosquitoes to date, highlight the operational feasibility of implementing the method in large urban settings. Based on results from previous studies, we expect that Wolbachia establishment will be sustained long term. Ongoing monitoring will confirm Wolbachia persistence in local mosquito populations and track its establishment in the remaining areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Darío Velez
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Alexander Uribe
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jovany Barajas
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sandra Uribe
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sandra Ángel
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | | | | | - Lorena Duque
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Luis Martínez
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Tania Posada
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | - Ana Lucía Velez
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jennifer Ramírez
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Marlene Salazar
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sandra Gómez
- World Mosquito Program, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jorge E. Osorio
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Yi Dong
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Edwige Rances
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Ruth Smithyman
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Bruno Col
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Tibor Frossard
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | | | - Nelson Grisales
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | - Jai A. Denton
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Peter A. Ryan
- World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Osorio J, Villa-Arias S, Camargo C, Ramírez-Sánchez LF, Barrientos LM, Bedoya C, Rúa-Uribe G, Dorus S, Alfonso-Parra C, Avila FW. wMel Wolbachia alters female post-mating behaviors and physiology in the dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti. Commun Biol 2023; 6:865. [PMID: 37604924 PMCID: PMC10442437 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05180-8] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally invasive Aedes aegypti disseminate numerous arboviruses that impact human health. One promising method to control Ae. aegypti populations is transinfection with Wolbachia pipientis, which naturally infects ~40-52% of insects but not Ae. aegypti. Transinfection of Ae. aegypti with the wMel Wolbachia strain induces cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), allows infected individuals to invade native populations, and inhibits transmission of medically relevant arboviruses by females. Female insects undergo post-mating physiological and behavioral changes-referred to as the female post-mating response (PMR)-required for optimal fertility. PMRs are typically elicited by male seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) transferred with sperm during mating but can be modified by other factors, including microbiome composition. Wolbachia has modest effects on Ae. aegypti fertility, but its influence on other PMRs is unknown. Here, we show that Wolbachia influences female fecundity, fertility, and re-mating incidence and significantly extends the longevity of virgin females. Using proteomic methods to examine the seminal proteome of infected males, we found that Wolbachia moderately affects SFP composition. However, we identified 125 paternally transferred Wolbachia proteins, but the CI factor proteins (Cifs) were not among them. Our findings indicate that Wolbachia infection of Ae. aegypti alters female PMRs, potentially influencing control programs that utilize Wolbachia-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Osorio
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sara Villa-Arias
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia
| | - Carolina Camargo
- Centro de Investigación de la caña de azúcar CENICAÑA, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | | | - Luisa María Barrientos
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carolina Bedoya
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syracuse University, Syracuse, USA
| | - Catalina Alfonso-Parra
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia.
| | - Frank W Avila
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
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Al Noman A, Das D, Nesa Z, Tariquzzaman M, Sharzana F, Rakibul Hasan M, Khoorshid Riaz B, Sharower G, Meshbahur Rahman M. Importance of Wolbachia-mediated biocontrol to reduce dengue in Bangladesh and other dengue-endemic developing countries. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
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Developing Wolbachia-based disease interventions for an extreme environment. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011117. [PMID: 36719928 PMCID: PMC9917306 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying self-spreading, virus-blocking Wolbachia bacteria are being deployed to suppress dengue transmission. However, there are challenges in applying this technology in extreme environments. We introduced two Wolbachia strains into Ae. aegypti from Saudi Arabia for a release program in the hot coastal city of Jeddah. Wolbachia reduced infection and dissemination of dengue virus (DENV2) in Saudi Arabian mosquitoes and showed complete maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia reduced egg hatch under a range of environmental conditions, with the Wolbachia strains showing differential thermal stability. Wolbachia effects were similar across mosquito genetic backgrounds but we found evidence of local adaptation, with Saudi Arabian mosquitoes having lower egg viability but higher adult desiccation tolerance than Australian mosquitoes. Genetic background effects will influence Wolbachia invasion dynamics, reinforcing the need to use local genotypes for mosquito release programs, particularly in extreme environments like Jeddah. Our comprehensive characterization of Wolbachia strains provides a foundation for Wolbachia-based disease interventions in harsh climates.
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Ross PA, Robinson KL, Yang Q, Callahan AG, Schmidt TL, Axford JK, Coquilleau MP, Staunton KM, Townsend M, Ritchie SA, Lau MJ, Gu X, Hoffmann AA. A decade of stability for wMel Wolbachia in natural Aedes aegypti populations. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010256. [PMID: 35196357 PMCID: PMC8901071 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia endosymbionts are being released in many countries for arbovirus control. The wMel strain of Wolbachia blocks Aedes-borne virus transmission and can spread throughout mosquito populations by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying wMel were first released into the field in Cairns, Australia, over a decade ago, and with wider releases have resulted in the near elimination of local dengue transmission. The long-term stability of Wolbachia effects is critical for ongoing disease suppression, requiring tracking of phenotypic and genomic changes in Wolbachia infections following releases. We used a combination of field surveys, phenotypic assessments, and Wolbachia genome sequencing to show that wMel has remained stable in its effects for up to a decade in Australian Ae. aegypti populations. Phenotypic comparisons of wMel-infected and uninfected mosquitoes from near-field and long-term laboratory populations suggest limited changes in the effects of wMel on mosquito fitness. Treating mosquitoes with antibiotics used to cure the wMel infection had limited effects on fitness in the next generation, supporting the use of tetracycline for generating uninfected mosquitoes without off-target effects. wMel has a temporally stable within-host density and continues to induce complete cytoplasmic incompatibility. A comparison of wMel genomes from pre-release (2010) and nine years post-release (2020) populations show few genomic differences and little divergence between release locations, consistent with the lack of phenotypic changes. These results indicate that releases of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes for population replacement are likely to be effective for many years, but ongoing monitoring remains important to track potential evolutionary changes. Wolbachia are endosymbionts that can block the transmission of arboviruses by mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the wMel strain of Wolbachia have been released in ‘population replacement’ interventions, which aim to establish wMel in mosquito populations, thereby reducing their ability to spread disease. Wolbachia population replacement programs began only a decade ago, raising uncertainty about their long-term effectiveness. Here we provide a comprehensive assessment of the long-term stability of wMel from the very first Wolbachia population replacement release. We show that there is no evidence for changes in the phenotypic effects of wMel in mosquitoes, and confirm that the wMel genome has changed very little in the decade since field releases began. wMel remains at high levels within mosquitoes, suggesting that its ability to block virus transmission has been retained. Our data provides confidence that Wolbachia population replacement releases will provide ongoing protection against arbovirus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Katie L. Robinson
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Qiong Yang
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ashley G. Callahan
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thomas L. Schmidt
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jason K. Axford
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marianne P. Coquilleau
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kyran M. Staunton
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Townsend
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott A. Ritchie
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Meng-Jia Lau
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xinyue Gu
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute and the School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Wolbachia detection in Aedes aegypti using MALDI-TOF MS coupled to artificial intelligence. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21355. [PMID: 34725401 PMCID: PMC8560810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00888-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the major vector of arboviruses like dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses. Attempts to reduce arboviruses emergence focusing on Ae. aegypti control has proven challenging due to the increase of insecticide resistances. An emerging strategy which consists of releasing Ae. aegypti artificially infected with Wolbachia in natural mosquito populations is currently being developed. The monitoring of Wolbachia-positive Ae. aegypti in the field is performed in order to ensure the program effectiveness. Here, the reliability of the Matrix‑Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization‑Time Of Flight (MALDI‑TOF) coupled with the machine learning methods like Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to detect Wolbachia in field Ae. aegypti was assessed for the first time. For this purpose, laboratory reared and field Ae. aegypti were analyzed. The results showed that the CNN recognized Ae. aegypti spectral patterns associated with Wolbachia-infection. The MALDI-TOF coupled with the CNN (sensitivity = 93%, specificity = 99%, accuracy = 97%) was more efficient than the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and as efficient as qPCR for Wolbachia detection. It therefore represents an interesting method to evaluate the prevalence of Wolbachia in field Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.
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