Field- and clinically derived estimates of <i>Wolbachia</i>-mediated blocking of dengue virus transmission potential in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes.

Abstract

The <i>w</i>Mel strain of <i>Wolbachia</i> can reduce the permissiveness of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes to disseminated arboviral infections. Here, we report that <i>w</i>Mel-infected <i>Ae. aegypti</i> (Ho Chi Minh City background), when directly blood-fed on 141 viremic dengue patients, have lower dengue virus (DENV) transmission potential and have a longer extrinsic incubation period than their wild-type counterparts. The <i>w</i>Mel-infected mosquitoes that are field-reared have even greater relative resistance to DENV infection when fed on patient-derived viremic blood meals. This is explained by an increased susceptibility of field-reared wild-type mosquitoes to infection than laboratory-reared counterparts. Collectively, these field- and clinically relevant findings support the continued careful field-testing of <i>w</i>Mel introgression for the biocontrol of <i>Ae. aegypti</i>-born arboviruses.