PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2014) 8 (2 - e2688)

Selected publication you are invited to contribute to the discussion section (above tab)

Francesca D. Frentiu, Tasnim Zakir, Thomas Walker, Jean Popovici, Alyssa T. Pyke, Andrew van den Hurk, Elizabeth A. McGraw and Scott L. O'Neill (2014)
Limited dengue virus replication in field-collected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 8 (2 - e2688)
Abstract:
Introduction
Dengue is one of the most widespread mosquito-borne diseases in the world. The causative agent, dengue virus (DENV), is primarily transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a species that has proved difficult to control using conventional methods. The discovery that A. aegypti transinfected with the wMel strain of Wolbachia showed limited DENV replication led to trial field releases of these mosquitoes in Cairns, Australia as a biocontrol strategy for the virus.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Field collected wMel mosquitoes that were challenged with three DENV serotypes displayed limited rates of body infection, viral replication and dissemination to the head compared to uninfected controls. Rates of dengue infection, replication and dissemination in field wMel mosquitoes were similar to those observed in the original transinfected wMel line that had been maintained in the laboratory. We found that wMel was distributed in similar body tissues in field mosquitoes as in laboratory ones, but, at seven days following blood-feeding, wMel densities increased to a greater extent in field mosquitoes.
Conclusions/Significance
Our results indicate that virus-blocking is likely to persist in Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes after their release and establishment in wild populations, suggesting that Wolbachia biocontrol may be a successful strategy for reducing dengue transmission in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article

Database assignments for author(s): Scott L. O'Neill

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
population dynamics/epizootiology
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aedes aegypti		Australia (NT+QLD)
Wolbachia (genus - entomopathogens)	Aedes aegypti		Australia (NT+QLD)