Virus evolution in Wolbachia-infected Drosophila. Issue 1914 (30th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martinez, Julien; Bruner-Montero, Gaspar; Arunkumar, Ramesh; Smith, Sophia C. L.; Day, Jonathan P.; Longdon, Ben; Jiggins, Francis M.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 286:Issue 1914(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-30
• Subjects: Wolbachia -- Drosophila melanogaster -- antiviral resistance -- experimental evolution; Biology -- Periodicals; 570.5
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8452

Abstract

Abstract : Wolbachia, a common vertically transmitted symbiont, can protect insects against viral infection and prevent mosquitoes from transmitting viral pathogens. For this reason, Wolbachia- infected mosquitoes are being released to prevent the transmission of dengue and other arboviruses. An important question for the long-term success of these programmes is whether viruses can evolve to escape the antiviral effects of Wolbachia. We have found that Wolbachia altered the outcome of competition between strains of the DCV virus in Drosophila. However, Wolbachia still effectively blocked the virus genotypes that were favoured in the presence of the symbiont. We conclude that Wolbachia did cause an evolutionary response in viruses, but this has little or no impact on the effectiveness of virus blocking.