Abstract
At the forefront of vector control efforts are strategies that leverage host-microbe associations to reduce vectorial capacity. The most promising of these efforts employs Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacterium naturally found in 40% of insects. Wolbachia can spread through a population of insects while simultaneously inhibiting the replication of viruses within its host. Despite successes in using Wolbachia-transfected mosquitoes to limit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission, the mechanisms behind pathogen-blocking have not been fully characterized. Firstly, we discuss how Wolbachia and viruses both require specific host-derived structures, compounds, and processes to initiate and maintain infection. There is significant overlap in these requirements, and infection with either microbe often manifests as cellular stress, which may be a key component of Wolbachia’s anti-viral effect. Secondly, we discuss the current understanding of pathogen-blocking through this lens of cellular stress and develop a comprehensive view of how the lives of Wolbachia and viruses are fundamentally in conflict with each other. A thorough understanding of the genetic and cellular determinants of pathogen-blocking will significantly enhance the ability of vector control programs to deploy and maintain effective Wolbachia-mediated control measures.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 141 |
Journal | Viruses |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 21 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Keywords
- Aedes
- Antiviral
- Arbovirus
- Drosophila
- Endosymbiont
- Symbiosis
- Vector control