Introduction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying wAlbB Wolbachia sharply decreases dengue incidence in disease hotspots

Hoffmann, Ary A.; Ahmad, Nazni Wasi; Keong, Wan Ming; Ling, Cheong Yoon; Ahmad, Noor Afizah; Golding, Nick; Tierney, Nicholas; Jelip, Jenarun; Putit, Perada Wilson; Mokhtar, Norhayati; Sandhu, Sukhvinder Singh; Ming, Lau Sai; Khairuddin, Khadijah; Denim, Kamilan; Rosli, Norazman Mohd; Shahar, Hanipah; Omar, Topek; Ridhuan Ghazali, Muhammad Kamarul; Aqmar Mohd Zabari, Nur Zatil; Abdul Karim, Mohd Arif; Saidin, Mohamad Irwan; Mohd Nasir, Muhammad Nizam; Aris, Tahir; Sinkins, Steven P.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.108942

Cited by 16 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The potential of Wolbachia in controlling MBDs has been proven for years, having been corroborated by numerous studies. In fact, the “forced” introduction of some strains of Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti has shown great efficacy in reducing dengue virus and its competence for transmission [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. It has also been consistently demonstrated that Ae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…aegypti , being resistant to dengue virus infection, is capable of rapidly displacing natural/susceptible populations. Consequently, dengue control with Wolbachia -based strategies is still ongoing today in various regions of the world [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Similar approaches have also been proposed for other mosquito species, including some malaria vectors [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Wolbachia and Asaia Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species

Ilbeigi Khamseh Nejad,

Cappelli,

Damiani

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microbial communities play an important role in the fitness of mosquito hosts. However, the factors shaping microbial communities in wild populations, with regard to interactions among microbial species, are still largely unknown. Previous research has demonstrated that two of the most studied mosquito symbionts, the bacteria Wolbachia and Asaia, seem to compete or not compete, depending on the genetic background of the reference mosquito host. The large diversity of Wolbachia–Asaia strain combinations that infect natural populations of mosquitoes may offer a relevant opportunity to select suitable phenotypes for the suppression of pathogen transmission and for the manipulation of host reproduction. We surveyed Wolbachia and Asaia in 44 mosquito populations belonging to 11 different species of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex using qualitative PCR. Through quantitative PCR, the amounts of both bacteria were assessed in different mosquito organs, and through metagenomics, we determined the microbiota compositions in some selected mosquito populations. We show that variation in microbial community structure is likely associated with the species/strain of mosquito, its geographical position, and tissue localization. Together, our results shed light on the interactions among different bacterial species in the microbial communities of mosquito vectors, and this can aid the development and/or improvement of methods for symbiotic control of insect vectors.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wolbachia and Asaia Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species

Ilbeigi Khamseh Nejad,

Cappelli,

Damiani

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…aegypti populations have led to its spread and the replacement of local mosquito populations in numerous field trials [ 8 – 11 ]. High rates of Wolbachia infection in mosquitoes post-release have then been associated with substantial reductions in dengue fever incidence in humans [ 10 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of repeat feeding on dengue virus transmission potential in Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti following extended egg quiescence

Lau,

Valdez,

Jones

et al. 2024

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As Wolbachia pipientis is more widely being released into field populations of Aedes aegypti for disease control, the ability to select the appropriate strain for differing environments is increasingly important. A previous study revealed that longer-term quiescence in the egg phase reduced the fertility of mosquitoes, especially those harboring the wAlbB Wolbachia strain. This infertility was also associated with a greater biting rate. Here, we attempt to quantify the effect of this heightened biting behavior on the transmission potential of the dengue virus using a combination of assays for fitness, probing behavior, and vector competence, allowing repeat feeding, and incorporate these effects in a model of R0. We show that Wolbachia-infected infertile mosquitoes are more interested in feeding almost immediately after an initial blood meal relative to wild type and Wolbachia-infected fertile mosquitoes and that these differences continue for up to 8 days over the period we measured. As a result, the infertile Wolbachia mosquitoes have higher virus prevalence and loads than Wolbachia-fertile mosquitoes. We saw limited evidence of Wolbachia-mediated blocking in the disseminated tissue (legs) in terms of prevalence but did see reduced viral loads. Using a previously published estimate of the extrinsic incubation period, we demonstrate that the effect of repeat feeding/infertility is insufficient to overcome the effects of Wolbachia-mediated blocking on R0. These estimates are very conservative, however, and we posit that future studies should empirically measure EIP under a repeat feeding model. Our findings echo previous work where periods of extensive egg quiescence affected the reproductive success of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti. Additionally, we show that increased biting behavior in association with this infertility in Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes may drive greater vector competence. These relationships require further exploration, given their ability to affect the success of field releases of Wolbachia for human disease reduction in drier climates where longer egg quiescence periods are expected.

show abstract

“…

The maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia pipientis, is becoming an important tool in reducing the transmission of dengue and other viral pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes (Hoffmann et al, 2024;Indriani et al, 2023;Ryan et al, 2019). The endosymbiont can have two important impacts on mosquitoes that influence pathogen transmission, the first being the ability to cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in hosts that causes females lacking Wolbachia to become effectively sterile when mated with males carrying Wolbachia (Hoffmann & Turelli, 1997), and the second being the ability of the endosymbiont to directly impact through multiple mechanisms the ability of the mosquitoes to pass arboviruses picked up from a person to another individual (Ant et al, 2018;

…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting Wolbachia detections: Old and new issues in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and other insects

Ross,

Hoffmann

2024

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wolbachia continue to be reported in species previously thought to lack them, particularly Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The presence of Wolbachia in this arbovirus vector is considered important because releases of mosquitoes with transinfected Wolbachia are being used around the world to suppress pathogen transmission and these efforts depend on a lack of Wolbachia in natural populations of this species. We previously assessed papers reporting Wolbachia in natural populations of Ae. aegypti and found little evidence that seemed convincing. However, since our review, more and more papers are emerging on Wolbachia detections in this species. Our purpose here is to evaluate these papers within the context of criteria we previously established but also new criteria that include the absence of releases of transinfections within the local areas being sampled which has contaminated natural populations in at least one case where novel detections have been reported. We also address the broader issue of Wolbachia detection in other insects where similar issues may arise which can affect overall estimates of this endosymbiont more generally. We note continuing shortcomings in papers purporting to find natural Wolbachia in Ae. aegypti which are applicable to other insects as well.

show abstract

Introduction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying wAlbB Wolbachia sharply decreases dengue incidence in disease hotspots

Cited by 16 publications

References 30 publications

Wolbachia and Asaia Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species

Wolbachia and Asaia Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species

The effect of repeat feeding on dengue virus transmission potential in Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti following extended egg quiescence

Revisiting Wolbachia detections: Old and new issues in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and other insects

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About