Developing Wolbachia-based disease interventions for an extreme environment

PA Ross; S Elfekih; S Collier; MJ Klein; SS Lee; M Dunn; S Jackson; Y Zhang; JK Axford; X Gu; JL Home; MS Nassar; PN Paradkar; EA Tawfik; FM Jiggins; AM Almalik; MB Al-Fageeh; AA Hoffmann

Journal article

Developing Wolbachia-based disease interventions for an extreme environment

PA Ross, S Elfekih, S Collier, MJ Klein, SS Lee, M Dunn, S Jackson, Y Zhang, JK Axford, X Gu, JL Home, MS Nassar, PN Paradkar, EA Tawfik, FM Jiggins, AM Almalik, MB Al-Fageeh, AA Hoffmann

Plos Pathogens | Published : 2023

DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011117

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Abstract

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying self-spreading, virus-blocking Wolbachia bacteria are being deployed to suppress dengue transmission. However, there are challenges in applying this technology in extreme environments. We introduced two Wolbachia strains into Ae. aegypti from Saudi Arabia for a release program in the hot coastal city of Jeddah. Wolbachia reduced infection and dissemination of dengue virus (DENV2) in Saudi Arabian mosquitoes and showed complete maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia reduced egg hatch under a range of environmental conditions, with the Wolbachia strains showing differential thermal stability. Wolbachia effects were similar across mosq..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Perran Ross Author

Sophie Collier Author

Xinyue Gu Author

Ary Hoffmann Author

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Grants

Awarded by KACST-CSIRO co-investment collaborative research

Awarded by CSIRO Julius career award

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was funded under the KACST-CSIRO co-investment collaborative research agreement [ETSC & KACST-CSIRO-2018-12-30-21] on "Management strategies of vector-borne disease in Saudi Arabia: feasibility of the Wolbachia-based approach as an alternative to chemical pesticides." SE was sponsored by the CSIRO Julius career award (WBS: R-91040-11); AAH was partly supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (1132412, 1118640, www.nhmrc.gov.au). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.