Spatial and temporal distribution of pathogenic Wolbachia strain wMelPop in Drosophila melanogaster central nervous system under different temperature conditions
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Published on: June 27, 2025
Anton Strunov1, Elena Kiseleva, Yuval Gottlieb
1Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Lavrentyeva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia. strunov.anton@gmail.com
Abstract:
The pathogenic Wolbachia strain, wMelPop, of Drosophila melanogaster is propagated in the fly's brain and muscles. To determine how wMelPop spreads in the host's central nervous system (CNS) during its life cycle, we used whole-mount fluorescent in situ hybridization to demonstrate the spatial distribution of wMelPop in D.melanogaster larvae and adults. To assess the effect of temperature on the pattern of wMelPop spread, we performed this analysis under moderate (25°C) and high (29°C) temperature conditions. Wolbachia distribution pattern in the third instar larva and adult brain was similar at both temperatures. wMelPop was generally localized to the subesophageal ganglion and the central brain of the host, whereas optic lobe anlagen cells of third instar larvae and cells of the optic lobe, lamina and retina of adult flies were mostly free of bacteria. Interestingly, high temperature had no significant effect on wMelPop titer or localization in the brain during larval development, but considerably altered it in adults immediately after eclosion. At both temperatures and within all tested stages of the life cycle, the bacterial titer varied only slightly between individuals. The observed differences in wMelPop titers in the central brain, subesophageal ganglion and optic lobe anlagen cells of third instar larva's CNS, together with the observation that these patterns are conserved in the adult brain, suggest that Wolbachia distribution is determined during fly embryogenesis.
Insights
The pathogenic Wolbachia strain, wMelPop, primarily infects the brain and muscles of Drosophila melanogaster. Temperature affects its distribution in adult flies, but not larvae, suggesting embryonic origin.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Entomology
Background:
- The pathogenic Wolbachia strain wMelPop infects Drosophila melanogaster, residing in the fly's brain and muscles.
- Understanding the spread and localization of wMelPop within the host's central nervous system (CNS) is crucial for studying host-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial distribution of wMelPop within the Drosophila melanogaster CNS throughout its life cycle.
- To determine the effect of temperature variations (25°C and 29°C) on wMelPop localization and bacterial titer.
Main Methods:
- Whole-mount fluorescent in situ hybridization was employed to visualize wMelPop distribution in larvae and adult D. melanogaster.
- Analysis was conducted under moderate (25°C) and high (29°C) temperature conditions to assess thermal effects.
Main Results:
- Wolbachia distribution patterns in larval and adult brains were consistent across both tested temperatures.
- wMelPop predominantly localized to the subesophageal ganglion and central brain, with optic lobe anlagen (larvae) and optic lobe, lamina, and retina (adults) largely free of bacteria.
- High temperatures significantly altered wMelPop distribution in newly eclosed adults but not during larval development, with minimal variation in bacterial titer among individuals.
Conclusions:
- The conserved distribution patterns of wMelPop in the larval and adult CNS suggest that Wolbachia localization is established during host embryogenesis.
- Temperature influences wMelPop distribution in adult flies post-eclosion, highlighting stage-specific environmental impacts on bacterial colonization.
