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Mancini MV, Murdochy SM, Bilgo E, Ant TH, Gingell D, Gnambani EJ, Failloux AB, Diabate A, Sinkins SP. Wolbachia strain wAlbB shows favourable characteristics for dengue control use in Aedes aegypti from Burkina Faso. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16588. [PMID: 38450576 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Dengue represents an increasing public health burden worldwide. In Africa, underreporting and misdiagnosis often mask its true epidemiology, and dengue is likely to be both more widespread than reported data suggest and increasing in incidence and distribution. Wolbachia-based dengue control is underway in Asia and the Americas but has not to date been deployed in Africa. Due to the genetic heterogeneity of African Aedes aegypti populations and the complexity of the host-symbiont interactions, characterization of key parameters of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes is paramount for determining the potential of the system as a control tool for dengue in Africa. The wAlbB Wolbachia strain was stably introduced into an African Ae. aegypti population by introgression, and showed high intracellular density in whole bodies and different mosquito tissues; high intracellular density was also maintained following larval rearing at high temperatures. No effect on the adult lifespan induced by Wolbachia presence was detected. Moreover, the ability of this strain to strongly inhibit DENV-2 dissemination and transmission in the host was also demonstrated in the African background. Our findings suggest the potential of harnessing Wolbachia for dengue control for African populations of Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vittoria Mancini
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Etienne Bilgo
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest, Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Institut National de Santé Publique/Centre Muraz, Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Thomas H Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel Gingell
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Edounou Jacques Gnambani
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest, Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Institut National de Santé Publique/Centre Muraz, Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit, Paris, France
| | - Abdoulaye Diabate
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest, Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Institut National de Santé Publique/Centre Muraz, Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Steven P Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
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Mancini MV, Tandavanitj R, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Gingell DD, Setthapramote C, Natsrita P, Kohl A, Sinkins SP, Patel AH, De Lorenzo G. Evaluation of an Engineered Zika Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Candidate in a Mosquito-Mouse Transmission Model. mSphere 2023; 8:e0056422. [PMID: 36840596 PMCID: PMC10117074 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00564-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary route of Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission is through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, when it probes the skin of a vertebrate host during a blood meal. Viral particles are injected into the bite site together with mosquito saliva and a complex mixture of other components. Some of them are known to play a key role in the augmentation of the arbovirus infection in the host, with increased viremia and/or morbidity. This vector-derived contribution to the infection is not usually considered when vaccine candidates are tested in preclinical animal models. In this study, we performed a preclinical validation of a promising ZIKV vaccine candidate in a mosquito-mouse transmission model using both Asian and African ZIKV lineages. Mice were immunized with engineered ZIKV virus-like particles and subsequently infected through the bite of ZIKV-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Despite a mild increase in viremia in mosquito-infected mice compared to those infected through traditional needle injection, the vaccine protected the animals from developing the disease and strongly reduced viremia. In addition, during peak viremia, naive mosquitoes were allowed to feed on infected vaccinated and nonvaccinated mice. Our analysis of viral titers in mosquitos showed that the vaccine was able to inhibit virus transmission from the host to the vector. IMPORTANCE Zika is a mosquito-borne viral disease, causing acute debilitating symptoms and complications in infected individuals and irreversible neuronal abnormalities in newborn children. The primary vectors of ZIKV are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Despite representing a significant public health burden with a widespread transmission in many regions of the world, Zika remains a neglected disease with no effective antiviral therapies or approved vaccines. It is known that components of the mosquito bite lead to an enhancement of viral infection and spread, but this aspect is often overlooked when vaccine candidates undergo preclinical validation. In this study, we included mosquitoes as viral vectors, demonstrating the ability of a promising vaccine candidate to protect animals against ZIKV infections after the bite of an infected mosquito and to also prevent its further transmission. These findings represent an additional crucial step for the development of an effective prevention tool for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rapeepat Tandavanitj
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Biologicals Research Group, Research and Development Institute, Government Pharmaceutical Organization, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel D. Gingell
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Chayanee Setthapramote
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Piyatida Natsrita
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Alain Kohl
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Arvind H. Patel
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Giuditta De Lorenzo
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Martinez J, Ross PA, Gu X, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Tong L, da Silva Filipe A, Hoffmann AA, Sinkins SP. Genomic and Phenotypic Comparisons Reveal Distinct Variants of Wolbachia Strain wAlbB. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0141222. [PMID: 36318064 PMCID: PMC9680635 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01412-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular bacterium Wolbachia inhibits virus replication and is being harnessed around the world to fight mosquito-borne diseases through releases of mosquitoes carrying the symbiont. Wolbachia strains vary in their ability to invade mosquito populations and suppress viruses in part due to differences in their density within the insect and associated fitness costs. Using whole-genome sequencing, we demonstrate the existence of two variants in wAlbB, a Wolbachia strain being released in natural populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The two variants display striking differences in genome architecture and gene content. Differences in the presence/absence of 52 genes between variants include genes located in prophage regions and others potentially involved in controlling the symbiont's density. Importantly, we show that these genetic differences correlate with variation in wAlbB density and its tolerance to heat stress, suggesting that different wAlbB variants may be better suited for field deployment depending on local environmental conditions. Finally, we found that the wAlbB genome remained stable following its introduction in a Malaysian mosquito population. Our results highlight the need for further genomic and phenotypic characterization of Wolbachia strains in order to inform ongoing Wolbachia-based programs and improve the selection of optimal strains in future field interventions. IMPORTANCE Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that threatens around half of the world population. Recent advances in dengue control involve the introduction of Wolbachia bacterial symbionts with antiviral properties into mosquito populations, which can lead to dramatic decreases in the incidence of the disease. In light of these promising results, there is a crucial need to better understand the factors affecting the success of such strategies, in particular the choice of Wolbachia strain for field releases and the potential for evolutionary changes. Here, we characterized two variants of a Wolbachia strain used for dengue control that differ at the genomic level and in their ability to replicate within the mosquito. We also found no evidence for the evolution of the symbiont within the 2 years following its deployment in Malaysia. Our results have implications for current and future Wolbachia-based health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Martinez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Xinyue Gu
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Tong
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Bio21 Institute, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Martinez J, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Tong L, da Silva Filipe A, Sinkins SP. Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Wolbachia strain wAlbA reveals Wolbachia-associated plasmids are common. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010406. [PMID: 36121852 PMCID: PMC9560607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are widespread maternally-transmitted bacteria of arthropods that often spread by manipulating their host's reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Their invasive potential is currently being harnessed in field trials aiming to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia genomes commonly harbour prophage regions encoding the cif genes which confer their ability to induce CI. Recently, a plasmid-like element was discovered in wPip, a Wolbachia strain infecting Culex mosquitoes; however, it is unclear how common such extra-chromosomal elements are in Wolbachia. Here we sequenced the complete genome of wAlbA, a strain of the symbiont found in Aedes albopictus, after eliminating the co-infecting and higher density wAlbB strain that previously made sequencing of wAlbA challenging. We show that wAlbA is associated with two new plasmids and identified additional Wolbachia plasmids and related chromosomal islands in over 20% of publicly available Wolbachia genome datasets. These plasmids encode a variety of accessory genes, including several phage-like DNA packaging genes as well as genes potentially contributing to host-symbiont interactions. In particular, we recovered divergent homologues of the cif genes in both Wolbachia- and Rickettsia-associated plasmids. Our results indicate that plasmids are common in Wolbachia and raise fundamental questions around their role in symbiosis. In addition, our comparative analysis provides useful information for the future development of genetic tools to manipulate and study Wolbachia symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Martinez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Tong
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Mancini MV, Ant TH, Herd CS, Martinez J, Murdochy SM, Gingell DD, Mararo E, Johnson PCD, Sinkins SP. High Temperature Cycles Result in Maternal Transmission and Dengue Infection Differences Between Wolbachia Strains in Aedes aegypti. mBio 2021; 12:e0025021. [PMID: 34749528 PMCID: PMC8576525 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00250-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors play a crucial role in the population dynamics of arthropod endosymbionts, and therefore in the deployment of Wolbachia symbionts for the control of dengue arboviruses. The potential of Wolbachia to invade, persist, and block virus transmission depends in part on its intracellular density. Several recent studies have highlighted the importance of larval rearing temperature in modulating Wolbachia densities in adults, suggesting that elevated temperatures can severely impact some strains, while having little effect on others. The effect of a replicated tropical heat cycle on Wolbachia density and levels of virus blocking was assessed using Aedes aegypti lines carrying strains wMel and wAlbB, two Wolbachia strains currently used for dengue control. Impacts on intracellular density, maternal transmission fidelity, and dengue inhibition capacity were observed for wMel. In contrast, wAlbB-carrying Ae. aegypti maintained a relatively constant intracellular density at high temperatures and conserved its capacity to inhibit dengue. Following larval heat treatment, wMel showed a degree of density recovery in aging adults, although this was compromised by elevated air temperatures. IMPORTANCE In the past decades, dengue incidence has dramatically increased all over the world. An emerging dengue control strategy utilizes Aedes aegypti mosquitoes artificially transinfected with the bacterial symbiont Wolbachia, with the ultimate aim of replacing wild mosquito populations. However, the rearing temperature of mosquito larvae is known to impact on some Wolbachia strains. In this study, we compared the effects of a temperature cycle mimicking natural breeding sites in tropical climates on two Wolbachia strains, currently used for open field trials. When choosing the Wolbachia strain to be used in a dengue control program it is important to consider the effects of environmental temperatures on invasiveness and virus inhibition. These results underline the significance of understanding the impact of environmental factors on released mosquitoes, in order to ensure the most efficient strategy for dengue control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christie S. Herd
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Julien Martinez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - Enock Mararo
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul C. D. Johnson
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Mancini MV, Herd CS, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Sinkins SP. Wolbachia strain wAu efficiently blocks arbovirus transmission in Aedes albopictus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007926. [PMID: 32155143 PMCID: PMC7083328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The global incidence of arboviral diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika, has increased dramatically in recent decades. The release of Aedes aegypti carrying the maternally inherited symbiont Wolbachia as an intervention to control arboviruses is being trialled in several countries. However, these efforts are compromised in many endemic regions due to the co-localization of the secondary vector Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. Ae. albopictus has an expanding global distribution following incursions into a number of new territories. To date, only the wMel and wPip strains of Wolbachia have been reported to be transferred into and characterized in this vector. A Wolbachia strain naturally infecting Drosophila simulans, wAu, was selected for transfer into a Malaysian Ae. albopictus line to create a novel triple-strain infection. The newly generated line showed self-compatibility, moderate fitness cost and complete resistance to Zika and dengue infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christie S. Herd
- MRC- University of Glasgow- Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC- University of Glasgow- Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC- University of Glasgow- Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC- University of Glasgow- Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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