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Dietary cholesterol modulates pathogen blocking by Wolbachia.

Eric P Caragata¹, Edwige Rancès, Lauren M Hedges

¹School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

|July 5, 2013

Summary

Wolbachia bacteria protect flies from viruses, but high cholesterol diets weaken this defense. This study reveals cholesterol

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Area of Science:

Microbiology and Immunology
Insect Pathology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Wolbachia pipientis, a bacterial endosymbiont, confers pathogen resistance to insect hosts.
The mechanism of this "pathogen blocking" is not fully understood, with possibilities including immune priming, resource competition, or direct cellular modification.
Previous research suggests innate immune responses are not essential for pathogen blocking.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of host cholesterol in Wolbachia-mediated pathogen blocking.
To determine if dietary cholesterol affects the efficacy of Wolbachia in protecting Drosophila melanogaster against Drosophila C virus (DCV).

Main Methods:

Drosophila melanogaster were reared on diets with varying cholesterol levels.
Flies infected with Wolbachia strains (wMelPop, wMelCS) were challenged with DCV.
Viral load and mortality rates were monitored to assess pathogen blocking efficacy.

Main Results:

Flies on cholesterol-enriched diets showed reduced pathogen blocking, with earlier mortality after DCV infection.
Higher viral loads were observed in flies on cholesterol-enriched diets.
Dietary cholesterol did not significantly alter Wolbachia density, indicating cholesterol's effect is independent of endosymbiont levels.

Conclusions:

Host cholesterol levels play a role in the ability of Wolbachia-infected flies to resist DCV.
Cholesterol appears to be a contributing factor to the mechanism underlying Wolbachia-mediated pathogen blocking.
These findings suggest a metabolic link between host lipid levels and endosymbiont-conferred immunity.