A naturally isolated symbiotic bacterium suppresses flavivirus transmission by Aedes mosquitoes

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2024-04, Vol.384 (6693), p.eadn9524-eadn9524
• Main Authors: Zhang, Liming, Wang, Daxi, Shi, Peibo, Li, Juzhen, Niu, Jichen, Chen, Jielong, Wang, Gang, Wu, Linjuan, Chen, Lu, Yang, Zhenxing, Li, Susheng, Meng, Jinxin, Ruan, Fangchao, He, Yuwen, Zhao, Hailong, Ren, Zirui, Wang, Yibaina, Liu, Yang, Shi, Xiaolu, Wang, Yunfu, Liu, Qiyong, Li, Junhua, Wang, Penghua, Wang, Jinglin, Zhu, Yibin, Cheng, Gong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetobacteraceae - physiology; Acidification; Adults; Aedes; Aedes - microbiology; Aedes - virology; Aedes albopictus; Animals; Aquatic insects; Bacteria; Biological control; Blood; Community structure; Culicidae; Dengue - prevention & control; Dengue - transmission; Dengue - virology; Dengue fever; Dengue Virus - physiology; Disease control; Disease transmission; Epithelial cells; Epithelium; Female; Flavivirus - genetics; Flavivirus - physiology; Flowers; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gluconic acid; Glucose; Glucose dehydrogenase; Hemocoel; Infections; Insects; Intestinal microflora; Larvae; Livestock; Malaria; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mosquito Vectors - microbiology; Mosquito Vectors - virology; Mosquitoes; Nectar; Offspring; Pest outbreaks; Populations; Public health; Salivary gland; Salivary glands; Symbiosis; Vector-borne diseases; Vertebrates; Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; Viral Envelope Proteins - metabolism; Viral infections; Virions; Viruses; Zika virus; Zika Virus - physiology; Zika Virus Infection - transmission; Zika Virus Infection - virology
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adn9524

The commensal microbiota of the mosquito gut plays a complex role in determining the vector competence for arboviruses. In this study, we identified a bacterium from the gut of field mosquitoes named sp. YN46 ( YN46) that rendered mosquitoes refractory to infection with dengue and Zika viruses. Inoculation of 1.6 × 10 colony forming units (CFUs) of YN46 into mosquitoes effectively prevents viral infection. Mechanistically, this bacterium secretes glucose dehydrogenase ( GDH), which acidifies the gut lumen of fed mosquitoes, causing irreversible conformational changes in the flavivirus envelope protein that prevent viral entry into cells. In semifield conditions, YN46 exhibits effective transstadial transmission in field mosquitoes, which blocks transmission of dengue virus by newly emerged adult mosquitoes. The prevalence of YN46 is greater in mosquitoes from low-dengue areas (52.9 to ~91.7%) than in those from dengue-endemic regions (0 to ~6.7%). YN46 may offer an effective and safe lead for flavivirus biocontrol.