A decade of stability for wMel Wolbachia in natural Aedes aegypti populations

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010256
• Publication Date: 2022-02-23T18:41:28Z
• Authors: Perran A. Ross; Katie L. Robinson; Qiong Yang; Ashley G. Callahan; Thomas L. Schmidt; Jason K. Axford; Marianne P. Coqui...; Kyran M. Staunton; Michael Townsend; Scott A. Ritchie; Meng-Jia Lau; Xinyue Gu; Ary A. Hoffmann
• Keywords: Cytoplasmic incompatibility; Aedes albopictus

Mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia endosymbionts are being released in many countries for arbovirus control. The wMel strain of blocks Aedes-borne virus transmission and can spread throughout mosquito populations by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were first into the field Cairns, Australia, over a decade ago, with wider releases have resulted near elimination local dengue transmission. long-term stability effects is critical ongoing disease suppression, requiring tracking phenotypic genomic changes infections following releases. We used combination surveys, assessments, genome sequencing to show that has remained stable its up Australian Ae. populations. Phenotypic comparisons wMel-infected uninfected from near-field laboratory suggest limited on fitness. Treating antibiotics cure infection had fitness next generation, supporting use tetracycline generating without off-target effects. temporally within-host density continues induce complete A comparison genomes pre-release (2010) nine years post-release (2020) few differences little divergence between release locations, consistent lack changes. These results indicate Wolbachia-infected population replacement likely be effective years, but monitoring remains important track potential evolutionary