title: Inhibition of Zika virus byWolbachiainAedes aegypti.
abstract: Through association with cases of microcephaly in 2015, Zika virus (ZIKV) has transitioned from a relatively unknown mosquito-transmitted pathogen to a global health emergency, emphasizing the need to improve existing mosquito control programs to prevent future disease outbreaks. The response to Zika must involve a paradigm shift from traditional to novel methods of mosquito control, and according to the World Health Organization should incorporate the release of mosquitoes infected with the bacterial endosymbiontWolbachiapipientis. In our recent paper [Dutra, HLCet al., Cell Host & Microbe 2016] we investigated the potential ofWolbachiainfections inAedes aegyptito restrict infection and transmission of Zika virus recently isolated in Brazil.Wolbachiais now well known for its ability to block or reduce infection with a variety of pathogens in different mosquito species including the dengue (DENV), yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses, and malaria-causingPlasmodium, and consequently has great potential to control mosquito-transmitted diseases across the globe. Our results demonstrated that thewMelWolbachiastrain in BrazilianAe. aegyptiis a strong inhibitor of ZIKV infection, and furthermore appears to prevent transmission of infectious viral particles in mosquito saliva, which highlights the bacterium's suitability for more widespread use in Zika control.
authors.affiliation: Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eric Pearce
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Caragata
authors.affiliation: Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heverton Leandro Carneiro
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.affiliation: Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Andrade
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreira
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Wolbachia; Zika virus; mosquito-transmitted disease