Ware-Gilmore, Fhallon, Sgrò, Carla M, Xi, Zhiyong et al. (6 more authors) (2021) Microbes increase thermal sensitivity in the mosquito Aedes aegypti, with the potential to change disease distributions. PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES. e0009548. ISSN 1935-2735
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of many disease-causing viruses, including dengue (DENV), Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. As consequences of climate change, we expect an increase in both global mean temperatures and extreme climatic events. When temperatures fluctuate, mosquito vectors will be increasingly exposed to temperatures beyond their upper thermal limits. Here, we examine how DENV infection alters Ae. aegypti thermotolerance by using a high-throughput physiological 'knockdown' assay modeled on studies in Drosophila. Such laboratory measures of thermal tolerance have previously been shown to accurately predict an insect's distribution in the field. We show that DENV infection increases thermal sensitivity, an effect that may ultimately limit the geographic range of the virus. We also show that the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, which is currently being released globally as a biological control agent, has a similar impact on thermal sensitivity in Ae. aegypti. Surprisingly, in the coinfected state, Wolbachia did not provide protection against DENV-associated effects on thermal tolerance, nor were the effects of the two infections additive. The latter suggests that the microbes may act by similar means, potentially through activation of shared immune pathways or energetic tradeoffs. Models predicting future ranges of both virus transmission and Wolbachia's efficacy following field release may wish to consider the effects these microbes have on host survival.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Ware-Gilmore et al |
Keywords: | Aedes/microbiology,Animals,Dengue Virus/physiology,Ecosystem,Hot Temperature,Mosquito Vectors/microbiology,Thermotolerance,Wolbachia/physiology |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Music (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 06 Jul 2022 11:00 |
Last Modified: | 02 Apr 2025 23:24 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009548 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009548 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:188785 |