Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China

Abstract Background Aedes albopictus is naturally infected with Wolbachia spp., maternally transmitted bacteria that influence the reproduction of hosts. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of infection, multiple infection status, and the relationship between Wolbachia density and deng...

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Main Authors: Yaping Hu, Zhiyong Xi, Xiaobo Liu, Jun Wang, Yuhong Guo, Dongsheng Ren, Haixia Wu, Xiaohua Wang, Bin Chen, Qiyong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-01-01
Series:Parasites & Vectors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-3899-4
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author Yaping Hu
Zhiyong Xi
Xiaobo Liu
Jun Wang
Yuhong Guo
Dongsheng Ren
Haixia Wu
Xiaohua Wang
Bin Chen
Qiyong Liu
author_facet Yaping Hu
Zhiyong Xi
Xiaobo Liu
Jun Wang
Yuhong Guo
Dongsheng Ren
Haixia Wu
Xiaohua Wang
Bin Chen
Qiyong Liu
author_sort Yaping Hu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Aedes albopictus is naturally infected with Wolbachia spp., maternally transmitted bacteria that influence the reproduction of hosts. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of infection, multiple infection status, and the relationship between Wolbachia density and dengue outbreaks in different regions. Here, we assessed Wolbachia infection in natural populations of Ae. albopictus in China and compared Wolbachia density between regions with similar climates, without dengue and with either imported or local dengue. Results To explore the prevalence of Wolbachia infection, Wolbachia DNA was detected in mosquito samples via PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and the surface protein gene wsp. We found that 93.36% of Ae. albopictus in China were positive for Wolbachia. After sequencing gatB, coxA, hcpA, ftsZ, fbpA and wsp genes of Wolbachia strains, we identified a new sequence type (ST) of wAlbB (464/465). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that wAlbA and wAlbB strains formed a cluster with strains from other mosquitoes in a wsp-based maximum likelihood (ML) tree. However, in a ML tree based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST), wAlbB STs (464/465) did not form a cluster with Wolbachia strains from other mosquitoes. To better understand the association between Wolbachia spp. and dengue infection, the prevalence of Wolbachia in Ae. albopictus from different regions (containing local dengue cases, imported dengue cases and no dengue cases) was determined. We found that the prevalence of Wolbachia was lower in regions with only imported dengue cases. Conclusions The natural prevalence of Wolbachia infections in China was much lower than in other countries or regions. The phylogenetic relationships among Wolbachia spp. isolated from field-collected Ae. albopictus reflected the presence of dominant and stable strains. However, wAlbB (464/465) and Wolbachia strains did not form a clade with Wolbachia strains from other mosquitoes. Moreover, lower densities of Wolbachia in regions with only imported dengue cases suggest a relationship between fluctuations in Wolbachia density in field-collected Ae. albopictus and the potential for dengue invasion into these regions.
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spelling doaj.art-129bfc6d80804af0b3b1d88e6844d3342022-12-22T03:14:40ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052020-01-0113111410.1186/s13071-020-3899-4Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in ChinaYaping Hu0Zhiyong Xi1Xiaobo Liu2Jun Wang3Yuhong Guo4Dongsheng Ren5Haixia Wu6Xiaohua Wang7Bin Chen8Qiyong Liu9State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionKey Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University–Michigan State University Joint Center of Vector Control for Tropical Diseases, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionState Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionState Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionState Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionState Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionHaikou Center for Disease Control and PreventionInstitute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Background Aedes albopictus is naturally infected with Wolbachia spp., maternally transmitted bacteria that influence the reproduction of hosts. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of infection, multiple infection status, and the relationship between Wolbachia density and dengue outbreaks in different regions. Here, we assessed Wolbachia infection in natural populations of Ae. albopictus in China and compared Wolbachia density between regions with similar climates, without dengue and with either imported or local dengue. Results To explore the prevalence of Wolbachia infection, Wolbachia DNA was detected in mosquito samples via PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and the surface protein gene wsp. We found that 93.36% of Ae. albopictus in China were positive for Wolbachia. After sequencing gatB, coxA, hcpA, ftsZ, fbpA and wsp genes of Wolbachia strains, we identified a new sequence type (ST) of wAlbB (464/465). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that wAlbA and wAlbB strains formed a cluster with strains from other mosquitoes in a wsp-based maximum likelihood (ML) tree. However, in a ML tree based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST), wAlbB STs (464/465) did not form a cluster with Wolbachia strains from other mosquitoes. To better understand the association between Wolbachia spp. and dengue infection, the prevalence of Wolbachia in Ae. albopictus from different regions (containing local dengue cases, imported dengue cases and no dengue cases) was determined. We found that the prevalence of Wolbachia was lower in regions with only imported dengue cases. Conclusions The natural prevalence of Wolbachia infections in China was much lower than in other countries or regions. The phylogenetic relationships among Wolbachia spp. isolated from field-collected Ae. albopictus reflected the presence of dominant and stable strains. However, wAlbB (464/465) and Wolbachia strains did not form a clade with Wolbachia strains from other mosquitoes. Moreover, lower densities of Wolbachia in regions with only imported dengue cases suggest a relationship between fluctuations in Wolbachia density in field-collected Ae. albopictus and the potential for dengue invasion into these regions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-3899-4Aedes albopictusWolbachiaInfectionMLST genesPhylogenetic analysisDengue virus
spellingShingle Yaping Hu
Zhiyong Xi
Xiaobo Liu
Jun Wang
Yuhong Guo
Dongsheng Ren
Haixia Wu
Xiaohua Wang
Bin Chen
Qiyong Liu
Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China
Parasites & Vectors
Aedes albopictus
Wolbachia
Infection
MLST genes
Phylogenetic analysis
Dengue virus
title Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China
title_full Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China
title_fullStr Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China
title_full_unstemmed Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China
title_short Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China
title_sort identification and molecular characterization of wolbachia strains in natural populations of aedes albopictus in china
topic Aedes albopictus
Wolbachia
Infection
MLST genes
Phylogenetic analysis
Dengue virus
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-3899-4
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