Cytoplasmic incompatibility in hybrid zones: infection dynamics and resistance evolution

ABSTRACTWolbachiainfections can present different phenotypes in hosts, including different forms of reproductive manipulation and antiviral protection, which may influence infection dynamics within host populations. In populations ofDrosophila pandoratwo distinctWolbachiastrains coexist, each manipulating host reproduction: strainwPanCI causes cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), whereas strainwPanMK causes male killing (MK). CI occurs when aWolbachia-infected male mates with a female not infected with a compatible type ofWolbachia, leading to nonviable offspring.wPanMK can rescuewPanCI-induced CI but is unable to induce CI. The antiviral protection phenotypes provided by thewPanCI andwPanMK infections were characterized; the strains showed differential protection phenotypes, whereby cricket paralysis virus (CrPV)-induced mortality was delayed in flies infected withwPanMK but enhanced in flies infected withwPanCI compared to their respectiveWolbachia-cured counterparts. Homologs of thecifAandcifBgenes involved in CI identified inwPanMK andwPanCI showed a high degree of conservation; however, the CifB protein inwPanMK is truncated and is likely nonfunctional. The presence of a likely functional CifA inwPanMK andwPanMK’s ability to rescuewPanCI-induced CI are consistent with the recent confirmation of CifA’s involvement in CI rescue, and the absence of a functional CifB protein further supports its involvement as a CI modification factor. Taken together, these findings indicate thatwPanCI andwPanMK have different relationships with their hosts in terms of their protective and CI phenotypes. It is therefore likely that different factors influence the prevalence and dynamics of these coinfections in naturalDrosophila pandorahosts.IMPORTANCEWolbachiastrains are common endosymbionts in insects, with multiple strains often coexisting in the same species. The coexistence of multiple strains is poorly understood but may rely onWolbachiaorganisms having diverse phenotypic effects on their hosts. AsWolbachiais increasingly being developed as a tool to control disease transmission and suppress pest populations, it is important to understand the ways in which multipleWolbachiastrains persist in natural populations and how these might then be manipulated. We have therefore investigated viral protection and the molecular basis of cytoplasmic incompatibility in two coexistingWolbachiastrains with contrasting effects on host reproduction.

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Wolbachia-mediated reproductive alterations in invertebrate hosts and biocontrol implications of the bacteria: an update

University Journal of Zoology Rajshahi University ◽

10.3329/ujzru.v26i0.691 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M Saiful Islam

Keyword(s):

Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Disease Vectors ◽

Intracellular Bacteria ◽

Agricultural Pests ◽

Complex Interplay ◽

Male Killing ◽

Infection Dynamics ◽

Control Programmes ◽

Evolutionary Consequences

Wolbachia are obligatory intracellular bacteria that have evolved to manipulate reproduction and/or metabolism of their arthropod and nematode hosts in a number of ways, all designed to the benefit of their own survival and transmission through hosts populations. An updated account of the occurrence, identification, phylogeny and genetics, phenotypic effects, distribution, mechanisms of action, horizontal transmission, infection dynamics, evolutionary consequences and biocontrol implications of the bacteria are presented. Associations between these maternally heritable bacteria and their hosts not only cover the entire range of interactions from parasitism to mutualism but also a complex interplay of both. Wolbachia are transmitted vertically from mothers to offspring, and also horizontally within or between arthropod taxa. They are known to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) via unviable brood, parthenogenesis induction (PI) through asexual reproduction, feminization (F) by converting males into functional females, and male killing (MK) by causing death to sons of the infected mothers. How these bacteria influence host fitness and population dynamics, and could play an important role in speciation have been reviewed. Possible uses of the bacteria and their predominant phenotypes in control programmes for agricultural pests and human disease vectors have been discussed. Key words: Wolbachia, reproductive manipulation, cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis induction, feminization, male killing, biocontrol implications Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 26, 2007. pp. 1-19

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Studying Population Genetic Processes in Viruses: From Drug-Resistance Evolution to Patient Infection Dynamics

Reference Module in Life Sciences ◽

10.1016/b978-0-12-814515-9.00113-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey D. Jensen

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Population Genetic ◽

Resistance Evolution ◽

Infection Dynamics ◽

Patient Infection

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Mutualistic Wolbachia Infection in Aedes albopictus: Accelerating Cytoplasmic Drive

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/160.3.1087 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 160 (3) ◽

pp. 1087-1094

Author(s):

Stephen L Dobson ◽

Eric J Marsland ◽

Wanchai Rattanadechakul

Keyword(s):

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Wolbachia Infection ◽

Host Population ◽

Population Replacement ◽

Infection Dynamics ◽

Model Predictions ◽

Wolbachia Infection Dynamics ◽

Hatching Rates

Abstract Maternally inherited rickettsial symbionts of the genus Wolbachia occur commonly in arthropods, often behaving as reproductive parasites by manipulating host reproduction to enhance the vertical transmission of infections. One manipulation is cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which causes a significant reduction in brood hatch and promotes the spread of the maternally inherited Wolbachia infection into the host population (i.e., cytoplasmic drive). Here, we have examined a Wolbachia superinfection in the mosquito Aedes albopictus and found the infection to be associated with both cytoplasmic incompatibility and increased host fecundity. Relative to uninfected females, infected females live longer, produce more eggs, and have higher hatching rates in compatible crosses. A model describing Wolbachia infection dynamics predicts that increased fecundity will accelerate cytoplasmic drive rates. To test this hypothesis, we used population cages to examine the rate at which Wolbachia invades an uninfected Ae. albopictus population. The observed cytoplasmic drive rates were consistent with model predictions for a CI-inducing Wolbachia infection that increases host fecundity. We discuss the relevance of these results to both the evolution of Wolbachia symbioses and proposed applied strategies for the use of Wolbachia infections to drive desired transgenes through natural populations (i.e., population replacement strategies).

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