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Maintaining Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Infected with Wolbachia
Published on: August 14, 2017
Wolbachia strain wAu efficiently blocks arbovirus transmission in Aedes albopictus
Maria Vittoria Mancini1, Christie S Herd1, Thomas H Ant1
1MRC- University of Glasgow- Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
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.
Insights
Researchers developed a new Wolbachia strain for the Asian tiger mosquito, enhancing its ability to fight arboviruses like dengue and Zika. This breakthrough offers a promising new strategy for controlling mosquito-borne diseases globally.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Vector-Borne Diseases
- Microbial Symbiosis
Background:
- Arboviral diseases (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika) transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes are a growing global health concern.
- Current control strategies using Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti are limited by the presence of the secondary vector, Aedes albopictus.
- Aedes albopictus is expanding its global range, posing a significant challenge to arbovirus control efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of introducing novel Wolbachia strains into Aedes albopictus.
- To develop a new Aedes albopictus line with enhanced resistance to arboviruses.
- To assess the characteristics and efficacy of a triple-strain Wolbachia infection in Aedes albopictus.
Main Methods:
- Selection of the wAu Wolbachia strain from Drosophila simulans for transfer.
- Creation of a novel triple-strain Wolbachia infection in a Malaysian Aedes albopictus line.
- Evaluation of the resulting mosquito line for self-compatibility, fitness costs, and resistance to Zika and dengue viruses.
Main Results:
- A novel triple-strain Wolbachia-infected Aedes albopictus line was successfully generated.
- The new line exhibited self-compatibility and a moderate fitness cost.
- Complete resistance to Zika and dengue virus infections was observed in the modified mosquito line.
Conclusions:
- The development of a triple-strain Wolbachia infection in Aedes albopictus represents a significant advancement in vector control.
- This novel mosquito line demonstrates potential for controlling arboviruses transmitted by Aedes albopictus.
- Further research and field trials are warranted to explore the application of this technology in endemic regions.
