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Updated: May 7, 2026
Maintaining Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Infected with Wolbachia
Published on: August 14, 2017
Wolbachia and arbovirus inhibition in mosquitoes
1Biomedical & Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK and University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, NDM Experimental Medicine, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK. s.sinkins@lancaster.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Wolbachia is a maternally inherited intracellular bacteria that can manipulate the reproduction of their insect hosts, and cytoplasmic incompatibility allows them to spread through mosquito populations. When particular strains of Wolbachia are transferred into certain Aedes mosquito species, the transmission capacity of important arthropod-borne viruses can be suppressed or abolished in laboratory challenges. Viral inhibition is associated with higher densities of transinfecting Wolbachia compared with wild-type strains of the bacterium. The upregulation of innate immune effectors can contribute to virus inhibition in Aedes aegypti, but does not seem to be required. Modulation of autophagy and lipid metabolism, and intracellular competition between viruses and bacteria for lipids, provide promising hypotheses for the mechanism of inhibition. Transinfecting virus-inhibiting strains can produce higher fitness costs than wild-type mosquito Wolbachia; however, this is not always the case, and the wMel strain has already been introduced to high frequency in wild Ae. aegypti populations.
Insights
Certain Wolbachia bacteria strains, when introduced to Aedes mosquitoes, can block the transmission of viruses like dengue. This discovery offers a new strategy for controlling mosquito-borne diseases.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Entomology
- Virology
Background:
- Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria maternally inherited in insects.
- Cytoplasmic incompatibility drives Wolbachia spread in mosquito populations.
- Certain Wolbachia strains inhibit arthropod-borne virus transmission in Aedes mosquitoes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which Wolbachia strains suppress virus transmission in Aedes mosquitoes.
- To understand the role of bacterial density and host immune response in virus inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory challenges of Aedes mosquitoes with specific Wolbachia strains and arthropod-borne viruses.
- Quantification of Wolbachia densities and assessment of viral loads.
- Analysis of host innate immune responses, autophagy, and lipid metabolism.
Main Results:
- Transinfecting Wolbachia strains significantly suppressed or abolished virus transmission in laboratory settings.
- Higher densities of transinfecting Wolbachia correlated with enhanced virus inhibition.
- Modulation of autophagy and lipid metabolism, along with intracellular competition for lipids, are proposed mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Wolbachia represents a promising tool for controlling the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses.
- Further research into the molecular mechanisms of Wolbachia-mediated virus inhibition is warranted.
- The wMel strain's successful introduction into wild Aedes aegypti populations demonstrates feasibility for disease control.
