Scholarlink

<p><i>Wolbachia</i> <i>pipientis</i> is a maternally transmitted endosymbiont infecting more than half of terrestrial arthropod species. <i>Wolbachia</i> can express parasitic phenotypes such as manipulation of host reproduction and mutualist phenotypes such as protection against RNA virus infections. Because <i>Wolbachia</i> can invade populations by reproductive manipulation and block virus infection, it is used to modify natural insect populations. However, the ecological importance of virus protection is not yet clear, especially due to scarce information on <i>Wolbachia</i> protection against viruses that are common in nature. We used systemic infection to investigate whether <i>Wolbachia</i> protects its host by suppressing the titer of DMELDAV and DMelNora virus, two viruses that commonly infect <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> flies in natural populations. Antiviral protection was tested in three systems to assess the impact of <i>Wolbachia</i> strains across species: (1) a panel of <i>Wolbachia</i> strains transfected into <i>Drosophila simulans</i>, (2) two <i>Wolbachia</i> strains introgressed into the natural host <i>D. melanogaster</i>, and (3) two native <i>Wolbachia</i> strains in their natural hosts <i>Drosophila baimaii</i> and <i>Drosophila tropicalis</i>. We showed that certain <i>Wolbachia</i> strains provide protection against DMelNora virus and DMELDAV, and this protection is correlated with <i>Wolbachia</i> density, which is consistent with what has been observed in protection against other RNA viruses. Additionally, we found that <i>Wolbachia</i> does not protect its original host, <i>D. melanogaster</i>, from DMELDAV infection. While native <i>Wolbachia</i> can reduce DMELDAV titers in <i>D. baimaii</i>, this effect was not detected in <i>D. tropicalis</i>. Although the <i>Wolbachia</i> protection-induced phenotype seems to depend on the virus, the specific <i>Wolbachia</i> strain, and the host species, our findings suggest that antiviral protection may be one of the mutualistic effects that helps explain why <i>Wolbachia</i> is so widespread in arthropod populations.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Wolbachia Offers Protection Against Two Common Natural Viruses of Drosophila

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月9日

查看全文
  • André C. Pimentel,
  • Cássia S. Cesar,
  • Arthur H. B. Martins,
  • Marcos Martins,
  • Rodrigo Cogni

摘要

Wolbachia pipientis is a maternally transmitted endosymbiont infecting more than half of terrestrial arthropod species. Wolbachia can express parasitic phenotypes such as manipulation of host reproduction and mutualist phenotypes such as protection against RNA virus infections. Because Wolbachia can invade populations by reproductive manipulation and block virus infection, it is used to modify natural insect populations. However, the ecological importance of virus protection is not yet clear, especially due to scarce information on Wolbachia protection against viruses that are common in nature. We used systemic infection to investigate whether Wolbachia protects its host by suppressing the titer of DMELDAV and DMelNora virus, two viruses that commonly infect Drosophila melanogaster flies in natural populations. Antiviral protection was tested in three systems to assess the impact of Wolbachia strains across species: (1) a panel of Wolbachia strains transfected into Drosophila simulans, (2) two Wolbachia strains introgressed into the natural host D. melanogaster, and (3) two native Wolbachia strains in their natural hosts Drosophila baimaii and Drosophila tropicalis. We showed that certain Wolbachia strains provide protection against DMelNora virus and DMELDAV, and this protection is correlated with Wolbachia density, which is consistent with what has been observed in protection against other RNA viruses. Additionally, we found that Wolbachia does not protect its original host, D. melanogaster, from DMELDAV infection. While native Wolbachia can reduce DMELDAV titers in D. baimaii, this effect was not detected in D. tropicalis. Although the Wolbachia protection-induced phenotype seems to depend on the virus, the specific Wolbachia strain, and the host species, our findings suggest that antiviral protection may be one of the mutualistic effects that helps explain why Wolbachia is so widespread in arthropod populations.