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Chimeric symbionts expressing a Wolbachia protein stimulate mosquito immunity and inhibit filarial parasite development
Wolbachia can reduce the capability of mosquitoes to transmit infectious diseases to humans and is currently exploited in campaigns for the control of arboviruses, like dengue and Zika. Under the assumption that Wolbachia -mediated activation of insect immunity plays a role in the reduction of mosqu...
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Published in: | Communications biology 2020-03, Vol.3 (1), p.105-105, Article 105 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Wolbachia
can reduce the capability of mosquitoes to transmit infectious diseases to humans and is currently exploited in campaigns for the control of arboviruses, like dengue and Zika. Under the assumption that
Wolbachia
-mediated activation of insect immunity plays a role in the reduction of mosquito vectorial capacity, we focused our attention on the
Wolbachia
surface protein (WSP), a potential inductor of innate immunity. We hypothesized that the heterologous expression of this protein in gut- and tissue-associated symbionts may reduce parasite transmission. We thus engineered the mosquito bacterial symbiont
Asaia
to express WSP (
Asaia
WSP
).
Asaia
WSP
induced activation of the host immune response in
Aedes aegypti
and
Anopheles stephensi
mosquitoes, and inhibited the development of the heartworm parasite
Dirofilaria immitis
in
Ae. aegypti
. These results consolidate previous evidence on the immune-stimulating property of WSP and make
Asaia
WSP
worth of further investigations as a potential tool for the control of mosquito-borne diseases.
Epis and Varotto-Boccazzi et al. show that
Wolbachia
surface protein (WSP) activates host innate immunity in mosquitoes, inhibiting the development of the heartworm parasite in its insect host. This study suggests the possibility that the WSP-expressing symbiont may be harnessed to control mosquito-borne diseases. |
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ISSN: | 2399-3642 2399-3642 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s42003-020-0835-2 |