Wolbachia infection in natural populations of Dictyophara europaea , an alternative vector of grapevine Flavescence dorée phytoplasma: effects and interactions

2017 ◽  
Vol 172 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Krstić ◽  
T. Cvrković ◽  
M. Mitrović ◽  
S. Radonjić ◽  
S. Hrnčić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Flavescence Dorée

Offsetting Effects of Wolbachia Infection and Heat Shock on Sperm Production inDrosophila simulans: Analyses of Fecundity, Fertility and Accessory Gland Proteins

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda R Snook ◽  
Sophia Y Cleland ◽  
Mariana F Wolfner ◽  
Timothy L Karr
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Reproductive Factors ◽  
Male Gamete ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Accessory Gland Proteins ◽  
Mating Conditions

AbstractInfection in Drosophila simulans with the endocellular symbiont Wolbachia pipientis results in egg lethality caused by failure to properly initiate diploid development (cytoplasmic incompatibility, CI). The relationship between Wolbachia infection and reproductive factors influencing male fitness has not been well examined. Here we compare infected and uninfected strains of D. simulans for (1) sperm production, (2) male fertility, and (3) the transfer and processing of two accessory gland proteins, Acp26Aa or Acp36De. Infected males produced significantly fewer sperm cysts than uninfected males over the first 10 days of adult life, and infected males, under varied mating conditions, had lower fertility compared to uninfected males. This fertility effect was due to neither differences between infected and uninfected males in the transfer and subsequent processing of accessory gland proteins by females nor to the presence of Wolbachia in mature sperm. We found that heat shock, which is known to decrease CI expression, increases sperm production to a greater extent in infected compared to uninfected males, suggesting a possible link between sperm production and heat shock. Given these results, the roles Wolbachia and heat shock play in mediating male gamete production may be important parameters for understanding the dynamics of infection in natural populations.

Wolbachia and Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in the CaliforniaCulex pipiensMosquito Species Complex: Parameter Estimates and Infection Dynamics in Natural Populations

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 165 (4) ◽  
pp. 2029-2038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason L Rasgon ◽  
Thomas W Scott
Keyword(s):  
Species Complex ◽  
Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Infection Frequency ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Vector Borne

AbstractBefore maternally inherited bacterial symbionts like Wolbachia, which cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI; reduced hatch rate) when infected males mate with uninfected females, can be used in a program to control vector-borne diseases it is essential to understand their dynamics of infection in natural arthropod vector populations. Our study had four goals: (1) quantify the number of Wolbachia strains circulating in the California Culex pipiens species complex, (2) investigate Wolbachia infection frequencies and distribution in natural California populations, (3) estimate the parameters that govern Wolbachia spread among Cx. pipiens under laboratory and field conditions, and (4) use these values to estimate equilibrium levels and compare predicted infection prevalence levels to those observed in nature. Strain-specific PCR, wsp gene sequencing, and crossing experiments indicated that a single Wolbachia strain infects Californian Cx. pipiens. Infection frequency was near or at fixation in all populations sampled for 2 years along a >1000-km north-south transect. The combined statewide infection frequency was 99.4%. Incompatible crosses were 100% sterile under laboratory and field conditions. Sterility decreased negligibly with male age in the laboratory. Infection had no significant effect on female fecundity under laboratory or field conditions. Vertical transmission was >99% in the laboratory and ∼98.6% in the field. Using field data, models predicted that Wolbachia will spread to fixation if infection exceeds an unstable equilibrium point above 1.4%. Our estimates accurately predicted infection frequencies in natural populations. If certain technical hurdles can be overcome, our data indicate that Wolbachia can invade vector populations as part of an applied transgenic strategy for vector-borne disease reduction.

Molecular Evidence of Wolbachia Infection in Natural Populations of Tropical Odonates

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Apisit Thipaksorn ◽  
Wanwisa Jamnongluk ◽  
Pattamaporn Kittayapong
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Molecular Evidence

scholarly journals Detection of Wolbachia Infections in Natural and Laboratory Populations of the Moroccan Hessian Fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say)

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 340
Author(s):  
Naima Bel Mokhtar ◽  
Amal Maurady ◽  
Mohammed Reda Britel ◽  
Mustapha El Bouhssini ◽  
Costas Batargias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Hessian Fly ◽  
Mayetiola Destructor ◽  
Laboratory Population ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
16S Rdna Pcr ◽  
Hessian Flies

Mayetiola destructor (Hessian fly) is a destructive pest of wheat in several parts of the world. Here, we investigated the presence of reproductive symbionts and the effect of the geographical location on the bacterial community associated to adult Hessian flies derived from four major wheat producing areas in Morocco. Using specific 16S rDNA PCR assay, Wolbachia infection was observed in 3% of the natural populations and 10% of the laboratory population. High throughput sequencing of V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene revealed that the microbiota of adult Hessian flies was significantly influenced by their native regions. A total of 6 phyla, 10 classes and 79 genera were obtained from all the samples. Confirming the screening results, Wolbachia was identified as well in the natural Hessian flies. Phylogenetic analysis using the sequences obtained in this study indicated that there is one Wolbachia strain belonging to supergroup A. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Wolbachia in Hessian fly populations. The observed low abundance of Wolbachia most likely does not indicate induction of reproductive incompatibility. Yet, this infection may give a new insight into the use of Wolbachia for the fight against Hessian fly populations.

Wolbachia infection status and genetic structure in natural populations of Polytremis nascens (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 202-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weibin Jiang ◽  
Jianqing Zhu ◽  
Minghan Chen ◽  
Qichang Yang ◽  
Xuan Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Infection Status

scholarly journals Cytoplasmic incompatibility in Drosophila simulans: dynamics and parameter estimates from natural populations.

Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 1319-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Turelli ◽  
A A Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Drosophila Simulans ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Maternal Transmission ◽  
Egg Hatch ◽  
Pcr Assays ◽  
Parameter Values

Abstract In Drosophila simulans, cytoplasmically transmitted Wolbachia microbes cause reduced egg hatch when infected males mate with uninfected females. A Wolbachia infection and an associated mtDNA variant have spread northward through California since 1986. PCR assays show that Wolbachia infection is prevalent throughout the continental US and Central and South America, but some lines from Florida and Ecuador that are PCR-positive for Wolbachia do not cause incompatibility. We estimate from natural populations infection frequencies and the transmission and incompatibility parameter values that affect the spread of the infection. On average, infected females from nature produce 3-4% uninfected ova. Infected females with relatively low fidelity of maternal transmission show partial incompatibility with very young infected laboratory males. Nevertheless, crosses between infected flies in nature produce egg-hatch rates indistinguishable from those produced by crosses between uninfected individuals. Incompatible crosses in nature produce hatch rates 30-70% as high as those from compatible crosses. Wild-caught infected and uninfected females are equally fecund in the laboratory. Incompatibility decreases with male age, and age-specific incompatibility levels suggest that males mating in nature may often be 2 or 3 weeks old. Our parameter estimates accurately predict the frequency of Wolbachia infection in California populations.

scholarly journals Persistent deleterious effects of an unstable deleterious Wolbachia infection

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perran A. Ross ◽  
Jason K. Axford ◽  
Ashley G. Callahan ◽  
Kelly M. Richardson ◽  
Ary A. Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Dengue Transmission ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Laboratory Colonies ◽  
Virus Blocking

AbstractWolbachia are being used to reduce dengue transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes around the world. To date releases have mostly involved Wolbachia strains with limited fitness effects but strains with larger fitness costs could be used to suppress mosquito populations. However, such infections are expected to evolve towards decreased deleterious effects. Here we investigate potential evolutionary changes in the wMelPop infection transferred from Drosophila melanogaster to Aedes aegypti more than ten years (~120 generations) ago. We show that most deleterious effects of this infection have persisted despite strong selection to ameliorate them. The wMelPop infection is difficult to maintain in laboratory colonies, likely due to the persistent deleterious effects coupled with occasional maternal transmission leakage. Furthermore, female mosquitoes can be scored incorrectly as infected due to transmission of Wolbachia through mating. Infection loss in colonies was not associated with evolutionary changes in the nuclear background. These findings suggest that Wolbachia transinfections with deleterious effects may have stable phenotypes which could ensure their long-term effectiveness if released in natural populations to reduce population size.Author summaryMosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria are being deployed into the field where they can suppress mosquito populations and reduce dengue transmission. These programs rely on the use of Wolbachia strains that have desirable phenotypes, which can include deleterious fitness effects, reproductive manipulation and virus blocking. However, theory predicts that Wolbachia will evolve to become less costly to their hosts, reducing the effectiveness of these programs. We investigate the potential for evolutionary changes by performing a comprehensive phenotypic analysis of a deleterious Wolbachia strain, wMelPop, that was introduced to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Drosophila over ten years ago. In contrast to theoretical expectations and research from Drosophila, our results suggest that Wolbachia strains with deleterious effects may have stable phenotypes, ensuring their long-term effectiveness if released into natural populations.

scholarly journals Life History Effects Linked to an Advantage for wAu Wolbachia in Drosophila

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Jun Cao ◽  
Weibin Jiang ◽  
Ary A. Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Offspring Number ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Fitness Advantage ◽  
History Effects ◽  
Insect Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Endosymbiont

Wolbachia endosymbiont infections can persist and spread in insect populations without causing apparent effects on reproduction of their insect hosts, but the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Here, we test for fitness effects of the wAu infection of Drosophila simulans by comparing multiple infected and uninfected polymorphic isofemale lines derived from nature. We show a fitness advantage (higher offspring number) for lines with the wAu Wolbachia infection when breeding on grapes, but only where there was Talaromyces and Penicillium fungal mycelial growth. When breeding on laboratory medium, the wAu infection extended the development time and resulted in larger females with higher fecundity, life history traits, which may increase fitness. A chemical associated with the fungi (ochratoxin A) did not specifically alter the fitness of wAu-infected larvae, which developed slower and emerged with a greater weight regardless of toxin levels. These findings suggest that the fitness benefits of Wolbachia in natural populations may reflect life history changes that are advantageous under particular circumstances, such as when breeding occurs in rotting fruit covered by abundant mycelial growth.

Population Dynamics of the Wolbachia Infection Causing Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in Drosophila melanogaster

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ary A Hoffmann ◽  
Miriam Hercus ◽  
Hayat Dagher
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Exact Nature ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Factors Influencing

Abstract Field populations of Drosophila melanogaster are often infected with Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted microorganism. Under laboratory conditions the infection causes partial incompatibility in crosses between infected males and uninfected females. Here we examine factors influencing the distribution of the infection in natural populations. We show that the level of incompatibility under field conditions was much weaker than in the laboratory. The infection was not transmitted with complete fidelity under field conditions, while field males did not transmit the infection to uninfected females and Wolbachia did not influence sperm competition. There was no association between field fitness as measured by fluctuating asymmetry and the infection status of adults. Infected field females were smaller than uninfecteds in some collections from a subtropical location, but not in other collections from the same location. Laboratory cage studies showed that the infection did not change in frequency when populations were maintained at a low larval density, but it decreased in frequency at a high larval density. Monitoring of infection frequencies in natural populations indicated stable frequencies in some populations but marked fluctuations in others. Simple models suggest that the infection probably provides a fitness benefit for the host in order to persist in populations. The exact nature of this benefit remains elusive.

scholarly journals Artificial Triple Wolbachia Infection in Aedes albopictus Yields a New Pattern of Unidirectional Cytoplasmic Incompatibility

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (17) ◽  
pp. 5887-5891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqing Fu ◽  
Laurent Gavotte ◽  
David R. Mercer ◽  
Stephen L. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Population Replacement ◽  
Asian Tiger ◽  
Spread Of Infection

ABSTRACT Obligately intracellular Wolbachia bacteria infect numerous invertebrates and often manipulate host reproduction to facilitate the spread of infection. An example of reproductive manipulation is Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which occurs commonly in insects. This CI has been the focus both of basic scientific studies of naturally occurring invasion events and of applied investigations on the use of Wolbachia as a vehicle to drive desired genotypes into insect populations (“gene drive” or “population replacement” strategies). The latter application requires an ability to generate artificial infections that cause a pattern of unidirectional incompatibility with the targeted host population. A suggested target of population replacement strategies is the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), an important invasive pest and disease vector. Aedes albopictus individuals are naturally “superinfected” with two Wolbachia types: wAlbA and wAlbB. Thus, generating a strain that is unidirectionally incompatible with field populations requires the introduction of an additional infection into the preexisting superinfection. Although prior reports demonstrate an ability to transfer Wolbachia infections to A. albopictus artificially, including both intra- and interspecific Wolbachia transfers, previous efforts have not generated a strain capable of invading natural populations. Here we describe the generation of a stable triple infection by introducing Wolbachia wRi from Drosophila simulans into a naturally superinfected A. albopictus strain. The triple-infected strain displays a pattern of unidirectional incompatibility with the naturally infected strain. This unidirectional CI, combined with a high fidelity of maternal inheritance and low fecundity effects, suggests that the artificial cytotype could serve as an appropriate vehicle for gene drive.

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