pWCP is a widely distributed and highly conserved Wolbachia plasmid in Culex mosquitoes worldwide

• DOI: 10.1101/2022.09.14.507914
• Publication Date: 2022-09-15T03:50:23Z
• Authors: Amani Ghousein; Jordan Tutagata; Manuel Etienne; Victor Chaumeau; Sebastien Boyer; Nonito Pages; David Roiz; A. Murat Eren; Guillaume Cambray; Julie Reveillaud
• Keywords: Obligate; Culex pipiens; Cytoplasmic incompatibility

Abstract Mosquitoes represent the most important pathogen vectors and are responsible for spread of a wide variety poorly treatable diseases. Wolbachia obligate intracellular bacteria that widely distributed among arthropods collectively represents one promising solutions vector control. In particular, has been shown to limit transmission pathogens, dramatically affect reproductive behavior their host through its phage WO. While much research focused on deciphering exploring biocontrol applications these WO-related phenotypes, extent potential impact mobilome remain appreciated. Notably, several plasmids, carrying WO-like genes Insertion Sequences (IS), thus possibly interrelated other genetic units endosymbiont, have recently discovered. Here we investigated diversity biogeography first described plasmid in Culex pipiens (pWCP) islands continental countries around world—including Cambodia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Thailand, Mexico—together with mosquito strains from colonies evolved 2 30 years laboratory. Together earlier observation, our results show pWCP is omnipresent strikingly conserved populations within mosquitoes distant geographies environmental conditions. These data suggest critical role ecology evolution, great tool further dissection or manipulation endosymbiont.