Abstract
Author summaryWolbachia bacteria live inside the cells of many insects including mosquitoes. Wolbachia strains can block the transmission of dengue and other arboviruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and are being introduced around the world for disease control. The success of this strategy relies on the ability of Wolbachia to spread locally by causing cytoplasmic incompatibility (embryo death when infected males mate with uninfected females), on Wolbachia having limited fitness costs in local mosquito hosts, and on Wolbachia persisting in the local mosquito background in the environmental conditions that mosquitoes encounter. Here we comprehensively assess the feasibility of using two Wolbachia strains in releases with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the challenging environment of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We show effective dengue virus blocking and incompatibility in both strains in the local mosquito genetic background but higher fitness costs for one strain which may offset its ability to maintain higher infection levels under the fluctuating temperatures expected in Jeddah. We find that the Jeddah Ae. aegypti are more resistant to desiccation, highlighting the importance of establishing infections in the local genetic background. These findings directly inform the employment of Wolbachia strategies in Jeddah and emphasize the value of testing the local context.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying self-spreading, virus-blocking Wolbachia bacteria are being deployed to suppress dengue transmission. However, there are challenges in applying this technology in extreme environments. We introduced two Wolbachia strains into Ae. aegypti from Saudi Arabia for a release program in the hot coastal city of Jeddah. Wolbachia reduced infection and dissemination of dengue virus (DENV2) in Saudi Arabian mosquitoes and showed complete maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia reduced egg hatch under a range of environmental conditions, with the Wolbachia strains showing differential thermal stability. Wolbachia effects were similar across mosquito genetic backgrounds but we found evidence of local adaptation, with Saudi Arabian mosquitoes having lower egg viability but higher adult desiccation tolerance than Australian mosquitoes. Genetic background effects will influence Wolbachia invasion dynamics, reinforcing the need to use local genotypes for mosquito release programs, particularly in extreme environments like Jeddah. Our comprehensive characterization of Wolbachia strains provides a foundation for Wolbachia-based disease interventions in harsh climates.