High temperature cycles result in maternal transmission and dengue infection differences between Wolbachia strains in Aedes aegypti

Mancini, M. V., Ant, T. H., Herd, C. S., Martinez, J. , Murdochy, S. M., Gingell, D. D., Mararo, E., Johnson, P. C. D. and Sinkins, S. (2021) High temperature cycles result in maternal transmission and dengue infection differences between Wolbachia strains in Aedes aegypti. mBio, 12(6), e00250-21. (doi: 10.1128/mBio.00250-21) (PMCID:PMC8576525)

Abstract

Environmental factors play a crucial role in the population dynamics of arthropod endosymbionts, and therefore in the deployment of Wolbachia symbionts for the control of dengue arboviruses. The potential of Wolbachia to invade, persist, and block virus transmission depends in part on its intracellular density. Several recent studies have highlighted the importance of larval rearing temperature in modulating Wolbachia densities in adults, suggesting that elevated temperatures can severely impact some strains, while having little effect on others. The effect of a replicated tropical heat cycle on Wolbachia density and levels of virus blocking was assessed using Aedes aegypti lines carrying strains wMel and wAlbB, two Wolbachia strains currently used for dengue control. Impacts on intracellular density, maternal transmission fidelity, and dengue inhibition capacity were observed for wMel. In contrast, wAlbB-carrying Ae. aegypti maintained a relatively constant intracellular density at high temperatures and conserved its capacity to inhibit dengue. Following larval heat treatment, wMel showed a degree of density recovery in aging adults, although this was compromised by elevated air temperatures.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The study was supported by Wellcome Trust (202888, 108508) to SPS.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sinkins, Professor Steven and Murdochy, Mr Shivan and Ant, Dr Thomas and Herd, Dr Christie and Johnson, Dr Paul and Martinez, Dr Julien and Mancini, Dr Maria Vittoria and Gingell, Mr Daniel
• Authors: Mancini, M. V., Ant, T. H., Herd, C. S., Martinez, J., Murdochy, S. M., Gingell, D. D., Mararo, E., Johnson, P. C. D., and Sinkins, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: mBio
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• ISSN: 2161-2129
• ISSN (Online): 2150-7511
• Published Online: 09 November 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Mancini et al.
• First Published: First published in mBio 12(6): e00250-21
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
174018		Wolbachia-based control of virus transmission by the mosquito Aedes albopictus	Steven Sinkins	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	108508/A/15/Z	III-MRC-GU Centre for Virus Research
173477		Wolbachia-mediated arbovirus inhibition in mosquitoes	Steven Sinkins	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	202888/Z/16/Z	III-MRC-GU Centre for Virus Research