Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development.
The wMel strain of Wolbachia bacteria is known to prevent dengue and Zika virus transmission in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Accordingly, the release of wMel-infected A. aegypti in endemic regions has been recommended by the World Health Organization as a potential strategy for controlling den...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-07-01
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| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4961373?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818513942765371392 |
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| author | Jill N Ulrich John C Beier Gregor J Devine Leon E Hugo |
| author_facet | Jill N Ulrich John C Beier Gregor J Devine Leon E Hugo |
| author_sort | Jill N Ulrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The wMel strain of Wolbachia bacteria is known to prevent dengue and Zika virus transmission in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Accordingly, the release of wMel-infected A. aegypti in endemic regions has been recommended by the World Health Organization as a potential strategy for controlling dengue and Zika outbreaks. However, the utility of this approach could be limited if high temperatures in the aquatic habitats where A. aegypti develop are detrimental to Wolbachia. We exposed wMel-infected A. aegypti eggs and larvae to fluctuating daily temperatures of 30-40°C for three, five, or seven days during their development. We found that Wolbachia levels in females emerging from heat treatments were significantly lower than in the controls that had developed at 20-30°C. Notably, seven days of high temperatures starting at the egg stage reduced Wolbachia levels in emerging females to less than 0.1% of the wMel control levels. However, after adult females returned to 20-30°C for 4-7 days, they experienced differing degrees of Wolbachia recovery. Our findings suggest that the spread of Wolbachia in wild A. aegypti populations and any consequent protection from dengue and Zika viruses might be limited in ecosystems that experience periods of extreme heat, but Wolbachia levels recover partially after temperatures return to normal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:08:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-24a83f7e71584f03804cefdda3f2a4d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:08:30Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-24a83f7e71584f03804cefdda3f2a4d82022-12-22T01:28:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352016-07-01107e000487310.1371/journal.pntd.0004873Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development.Jill N UlrichJohn C BeierGregor J DevineLeon E HugoThe wMel strain of Wolbachia bacteria is known to prevent dengue and Zika virus transmission in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Accordingly, the release of wMel-infected A. aegypti in endemic regions has been recommended by the World Health Organization as a potential strategy for controlling dengue and Zika outbreaks. However, the utility of this approach could be limited if high temperatures in the aquatic habitats where A. aegypti develop are detrimental to Wolbachia. We exposed wMel-infected A. aegypti eggs and larvae to fluctuating daily temperatures of 30-40°C for three, five, or seven days during their development. We found that Wolbachia levels in females emerging from heat treatments were significantly lower than in the controls that had developed at 20-30°C. Notably, seven days of high temperatures starting at the egg stage reduced Wolbachia levels in emerging females to less than 0.1% of the wMel control levels. However, after adult females returned to 20-30°C for 4-7 days, they experienced differing degrees of Wolbachia recovery. Our findings suggest that the spread of Wolbachia in wild A. aegypti populations and any consequent protection from dengue and Zika viruses might be limited in ecosystems that experience periods of extreme heat, but Wolbachia levels recover partially after temperatures return to normal.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4961373?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Jill N Ulrich John C Beier Gregor J Devine Leon E Hugo Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development. |
| title_full | Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development. |
| title_fullStr | Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development. |
| title_short | Heat Sensitivity of wMel Wolbachia during Aedes aegypti Development. |
| title_sort | heat sensitivity of wmel wolbachia during aedes aegypti development |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4961373?pdf=render |
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