Interspecific transfer ofWolbachiainto the mosquito disease vectorAedes albopictus

Abstract

IntracellularWolbachiabacteria are obligate, maternally inherited endosymbionts found frequently in insects and other invertebrates. The evolutionary success ofWolbachiais due in part to an ability to manipulate reproduction. In mosquitoes and many other insects,Wolbachiacauses a form of sterility known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI).Wolbachia-induced CI has attracted interest as a potential agent for affecting medically important disease vectors. However, application of the approach has been restricted by an absence of appropriate, naturally occurringWolbachiainfections. Here, we report the interspecific transfer ofWolbachiainfection into a medically important mosquito. Using embryonic microinjection,Wolbachiais transferred fromDrosophila simulansinto the invasive pest and disease vector:Aedes albopictus(Asian tiger mosquito). The resulting infection is stably maintained and displays a unique pattern of bidirectional CI in crosses with naturally infected mosquitoes. Laboratory population cage experiments examine a strategy in which releases ofWolbachia-infected males are used to suppress mosquito egg hatch. We discuss the results in relation to developing appropriateWolbachia-infected mosquito strains for population replacement and population suppression strategies.