title: Limited dengue virus replication in field-collected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dengue is one of the most widespread mosquito-borne diseases in the world. The causative agent, dengue virus (DENV), is primarily transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a species that has proved difficult to control using conventional methods. The discovery that A. aegypti transinfected with the wMel strain of Wolbachia showed limited DENV replication led to trial field releases of these mosquitoes in Cairns, Australia as a biocontrol strategy for the virus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Field collected wMel mosquitoes that were challenged with three DENV serotypes displayed limited rates of body infection, viral replication and dissemination to the head compared to uninfected controls. Rates of dengue infection, replication and dissemination in field wMel mosquitoes were similar to those observed in the original transinfected wMel line that had been maintained in the laboratory. We found that wMel was distributed in similar body tissues in field mosquitoes as in laboratory ones, but, at seven days following blood-feeding, wMel densities increased to a greater extent in field mosquitoes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that virus-blocking is likely to persist in Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes after their release and establishment in wild populations, suggesting that Wolbachia biocontrol may be a successful strategy for reducing dengue transmission in the field.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Francesca D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Frentiu
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Tasnim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zakir
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popovici
authors.affiliation: Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alyssa T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Pyke
authors.affiliation: Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van den Hurk
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: McGraw
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D020577:Wolbachia
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral